The 7th Victim (Karen Vail, #1)

The 7th Victim (Karen Vail #1)

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3.59 of 5 stars 3.59  ·  rating details  ·  1,643 ratings  ·  231 reviews
The Dead Eyes Killer lurks in the backyard of the famed FBI Profiling Unit. His brutal murders confound the local task force, despite the gifted profiling skills of Special Agent Karen Vail. But along with Vail’s insight and expertise comes considerable personal and professional baggage.On leave pending a review of her assault on her abusive ex-husband, Vail must battle fo...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published September 23rd 2008 by Vanguard Press (first published September 22nd 2008)
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Community Reviews

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Rebecca
I got this book as a free download, and it was worth the price. :-) SPOILER ALERT--Had it not been for two issues that I could not seem to overcome, I might have rated this book higher. In general, I liked the character of Karen Vail. She's tough, smart, a loving mother and dedicated to to her job. The thing I could not wrap my head around was this devoted mother leaving her son in a coma in the hospital to go on an overnighter to visit her mom with her would-be love interest (but don't worry, t...more
Cheryl
FBI profiler Karen Vail hunts down a serial killer, while battling an abusive ex-husband and dealing with an elderly parent.

The story sounds good .... but .... I really disliked the heroine, who is pushy and arrogant, and just could not suspend disbelief over all the personal connections she has to a case that she is assigned to investigate. Publisher Weekly summarized this book best with "Though Jacobson's research into the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit is evident, he overloads his story with...more
Marcus
It's gotta be tough for an author to distinguish his work from other murder thrillers out there. I guess it is not enough to just write about the murder/hunt-for-the-killer itself anymore so we often see a lot of interpersonal drama added to the mix. Unfortunately, this more often than not detracts from the main story. 7th Victim is like this. I just couldn't finish this one and quit a little over a third of the way in.

Karen Vail has a lot going on. A lot. Not only is she hunting a serial killer...more
Mark
Feb 27, 2012 Mark rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Nobody, really
Shelves: crime
I’ll write more later (honestly, probably not), but a quick sum-up is this: this was my first serial killer novel – it was a bit graphic, but it helped to set the scene for how brutal the serial killer was, adding to the urgency of stopping them. Unfortunately, the writing was pretty bad. Going between very broken up, ‘chunky’ dialog and excessive descriptions including odd product placement (Extra Strength Tylenol was mentioned a half dozen times in one chapter) left me shaking my head wonderin...more
Misty Baker
For those of you who have been keeping track, you know its been a while since I’ve read a novel like this, (The last being a Temperance Brennan Novel) after reading the genre for 4 straight months, book after book, my mind/sanity thought it was necessary to take a break from serial killers and their maniacal crime scenes, so I did… , and in turn wrapped myself in the more mellow reads of the paranormal. (Ok…not all of them were tame…but trust me when I say they are a damn site less descriptive)

I...more
Blood Rose Books
I really enjoyed this book. I was unsure if I was going to read it, as I have found that mystery thrillers, these days, are not as interesting as they used to be, and rely too much, on how much they can shock you, than the actual storyline. This book does focus on the story and it has just enough to shock you as well.

Special Agent Karen Vail, is the only female profiler within the FBI’s profiling unit, which means she has to work twice as hard to prove that she belongs. Vail has been assigned to...more
Book Concierge
Book on CD read by Lila Wellesley

One thing I can’t stand in a thriller/mystery is a hero or heroine who behaves stupidly. The reader is supposed to believe that Karen Vail, FBI profiler, will: 1) marry a total scumbag despite her training in psychology; 2) talk to the cops when she knows she should keep her mouth shut and ask for an attorney; 3) stay on the task force despite the threat of domestic violence case against her; 4) continue working when her child lies comatose in an ICU (even going...more
Jason Edwards
I don't know how this book ended up on my e-reader, but I think it was free. I mean I hope it was free. I mean I hope I didn't pay money for it. This book was an eye-roller on so many levels. I kept looking up to see if there was a secret camera on me, filming my reaction for some hilarious reality-TV show about people reading truly horrible fiction.

Don't let me stop you if you like this sort of thing. I'd never want to keep someone from enjoying themselves... but this book doesn't even qualify...more
Lynnette Hopwood
The 7th VictimI really enjoyed this book. I downloaded it to my Nook, and read several chapters each night. I thought that it was very suspenseful, and a great thriller. For those who do not like a lot of swearing and sex in their books, then this book is for you. However, there is some gore involved (after all, it is a book about a serial killer).

A bit about the book... Karen Vail is an FBI profiler. In fact she likens her job to the show "Criminal Minds." Karen is part of a combined task force out to stop...more
Tammy
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Chibineko
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Mary Grace
This book was a a great book, hands down. I definitely enjoyed how Jacobson pictured a detailed crime scene, how he built each character in the story and how he twisted the plot in every possible way.

When I started reading the book, I was instantly hooked. I couldn't put it down until I finished it. It was definitely worth my time. I just wished Jacobson built Karen's (main character) as strong as she should be being a profiler. I just thought that the character was somewhat week or lacking as h...more
Tqwana
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Madelon
I just finished reading THE 7th VICTIM; it's the middle of the day, which is unusual as I am mostly a late-night reader. This is the first time, here at goodreads that I am reviewing a book so immediately upon completion.

I am torn between a 3 and 4 star rating. There is just something about this book that I didn't like. I read every word and found that the story didn't flow. The story is good but a bit too convoluted in its presentation. There were almost too many plot lines to follow. It felt l...more
TeresaFL
Having debated between 3 and 4 stars I went with 3 on this one. There was a little TOO much going on with this main character for me to believe she could hold it together as well as she did in this book. That's fine, I can suspend my belief for a good book but it did keep me from giving it 4 stars.

There are a lot of points to keep track of and even small things end up making sense in the end. Some are there to try and throw you off track, while others help you begin to see a picture before our...more
Denise
3.0 out of 5 stars Cliche-ridden psycho killer thriller disappoints..., June 30, 2010

This review is from: The 7th Victim (Hardcover)
As other readers have remarked, this book was full of unbelievable co-incidences, tired plot devices, and tepid characters. Riddled with cliches, the novel is overlong and filled with redundant details and minutiae that most of us who read this genre are quite familiar with.

Karen Vail is the only female FBI profiler in the BAU and is working on a case that has been...more
Amber
Started off catching my attention right away, and then well I started to roll my eyes and think "yada yada". Perhaps if I had not been such a fan of everything CSI or Criminal Minds'ish I would have enjoyed the in depth background to profiling. However being someone who has watch and read millions of things evolving around pro filers and case solving the overly descriptive -descriptions of how and why they do what they do in profiling started to irritate em and get in the way of the very good st...more
Brian Steele
This book was the equivalent of a popcorn-muchin' Hollywood blockbuster. Not that THAT is always necessarily a bad thing. A wonderful psycho villain, tons of bloody violence, multiple flawed heroes, and lots of twists. I read it in one sitting, quite engrossed by the story line. And oh, how I love my FBI plots! The whole BAU/BSU bit is a plus.

However...

There were a few too many characters, and let's be honest - I don't care what gender, what training, what experiences you've had; if YOU went thr...more
Kimberly
The 7th Victim has a good plot with a few holes and a heroine I can not seem to like no matter how hard I try. Before I write my problems let me post the good things: the antagonist - I would have never guessed. I was in the ballpark -but did not figure it out and I read enough suspense I usually do. Also, I am halfway through the second novel in the series,Crush; and not only do I have no idea "whodunit" but Mr. Jacobson's writing is much better. As for 7th Victim Karen is not only unlikable, y...more
Amber
This book had a great plot and was actually very well researched and informative about FBI profiling. Since the plot excelled I was able to continue reading the book. However, the characterization is horrible. The main character, Karen Veil, is the only female FBI profiler and is really intelligent, however her character is beyond annoying. She came off as excessively pushy and unwilling to listen to her comrades on anything. I could not have cared less what happened to her in the book, and that...more
Jessica
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Darcy
Nov 22, 2009 Darcy rated it 3 of 5 stars
Shelves: 2009
I liked this book. The thriller aspect was good and kept me guessing until the end. I wasn't sure what to think if Karen the main character, she doesn't come off as sympathetic, just extremely closed up and not approachable. It seemed to me that she liked to put people down if she didn't like what they had to say. I mean I get it that she was the only female profiler, we were hit over the head with that fact. I also can't believe that as "smart" as she was that she would make some of the choices...more
Katrina
Mar 22, 2011 Katrina rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Jacobson Fans
Shelves: adult, fiction, mystery
This was an ok murder mystery. Karen was an interesting character and the action kept the story moving. However, I felt Jacobson tried to cram too much into this book. At one point, Karen is trying to catch a serial killer, manage her mom's dementia, deal with her son being in a coma, battle her ex-husband in court, and refute accusations of being a murderer herself!

I also didn't think the way Karen dealt with her son's hospitalization was very realistic. If my kid had been hospitalized I would...more
Cassy
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Ken
THE 7TH VICTIM examines some of my favorite components of Detective Fiction. The novel dealt with concepts and applications developed by the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit, and it featured a Profile Team which demonstrates how some of these theories could apply to a particular UNSUB. And, the book was a real 'page-turner', however, the entire story was just too far fetched to be believable. I think this paragraph from the end of the novel just about sums it up:

"Let's see, I find out I have a twin...more
Dalene
Original Review

I enjoyed this book for the most part. While I enjoy mystery thrillers and have read several similar books in the past, this book just didn’t pull me quickly through it. I’m not sure why. It was a fairly slow and heavy read.

I enjoyed the main character Karen Vail. However, throughout this book she has more obstacles than one could ever think. At one point, I was against liking this book. I kept going on, just barely turning page by page. I’m glad I did because it really did set up...more
Daena
Nov 19, 2011 Daena rated it 4 of 5 stars
Shelves: nook
Special Agent Karen Vail is having a pretty bad year: her life is falling apart and there's a serial killer loose. Her son is afraid of her ex-husband and wants to move in with her full time; her ex-husband is a violent jerk who knocks her out and imply he's raped her while she was lying on the floor; her coworkers thinks she's bonkers for suggesting the killer has killed one more woman than they've attributed to him, b/c the MO is different--no one wants to listen to her opinions b/c it doesn't...more
Chocbookworm
This was the first book that I have read by Alan Jacobson after seeing a friend reading it stating it was worth the time. Well, she was definitely right! The main character, Karen Vail, is truly a tower of strength who keeps going no matter what gets thrown at her and never gives up. Karen does an excellent job as an FBI profiler even when she lacks support from her co-workers/supervisors. This book is a page turner and keeps you thinking about who is the serial killer. Sometimes the obvious is...more
K.
free download on kindle, but enjoying so far - about 2/3rds done.. I am a little surprised that a chiropractor would write a book with a heroine that eats acetaminophen like candy.. surprising that the character doesn't develop acute liver failure..

30 july: almost done.. so far it's not bad - there is one point when the characters make a ridiculous leap (or atleast ridiculous because it's poorly explained) but the rest of the story is fine, and as for implausible/ unlikely plot twists - isn't th...more
Marie
I read this book a long time ago and loved it so much that I rushed out to get more books by this author. Beware though : I made the mistake of reading his book, The Hunted, after The 7th Victim, and the author foolishly gives away the killer in his book, False Accusations, here in this book (The Hunted). Since he mentioned the person's occupation, I have not been able to get it out of my mind, so I guess I am never going to forget. I may just go ahead and read the book (False Accusations) anywa...more
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Join a bookclub 1 4 Dec 27, 2012 12:38pm  
The 7th Victim (Karen Vail, #1)
The 7th Victim (Karen Vail, #1)
The 7th Victim (Karen Vail, #1)
The 7th Victim (Karen Vail, #1)
The 7th Victim (Karen Vail, #1)

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Alan Jacobson is the bestselling author of the critically acclaimed thrillers False Accusations, The Hunted, The 7th Victim, and Crush. Alan's books have been published in several languages, and The 7th Victim is currently under development as a major motion picture. Alan, a native New Yorker, lives in northern California and holds a doctorate in chiropractic medicine. He now cracks spines of a di...more
More about Alan Jacobson...
Crush (Karen Vail #2) Velocity (Karen Vail #3) Inmate 1577 (Karen Vail #4) The Hunted False Accusations

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