What do you think?
Rate this book
Gray Foxx Thriller #1
The Killing Ground
A serial killer is working his way through Chicago. His victims have nothing in common except being pregnant. Detective Rebecca Foxx of the Chicago Detective Division has her hands full trying to catch the murderer before he kills again. She has enough pressure without the overbearing FBI butting in.
FBI Special Agent Jordan Gray isn’t sure what she is in for when a midnight call brings her to her boss’s office. She asks her to take an assignment off the records. Investigate the attack of her partner, but don’t let anyone outside her office know.
It soon becomes obvious that Rebecca resents the FBI’s intrusion and it seems Jordan’s personal attention. With no breaks in the case, she is forced to accept the FBI’s help, but she’ll be damned if she is taking anything else from Jordan.
What follows is a series of missteps and twists and turns that leaves both women wondering if they will ever catch the killer and trying to figure out how to keep their feelings for each other from becoming a distraction.
FBI Special Agent Jordan Gray isn’t sure what she is in for when a midnight call brings her to her boss’s office. She asks her to take an assignment off the records. Investigate the attack of her partner, but don’t let anyone outside her office know.
It soon becomes obvious that Rebecca resents the FBI’s intrusion and it seems Jordan’s personal attention. With no breaks in the case, she is forced to accept the FBI’s help, but she’ll be damned if she is taking anything else from Jordan.
What follows is a series of missteps and twists and turns that leaves both women wondering if they will ever catch the killer and trying to figure out how to keep their feelings for each other from becoming a distraction.
226 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2012
15 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Syd Parker
12 books56 followersSyd Parker was born in 1975 in California and now lives in Indiana with her partner. Syd loves to reminisce about growing up the oldest of seven kids. There were plenty of shenanigans with that many kids, many of which have ended up in Syd's novels. In school, Syd loved all things English, but put dreams of writing aside to concentrate on her studies. She set off for college with the goal of being a nurse, but ultimately opted for a much more sexy and debonair day job in financing. Not picking up a pen again until she was thirty-four, Syd hit the ground running, penning six novels in three years. She has finally realized her lifelong dream of being an author and telling her stories to the masses.
Having long realized her dream of playing pro golf will probably not happen with a wicked slice, Syd spends her free time three-putting on the golf course, riding her road bike Hammer or training to be a professional runner. The moments in between are sprinkled with a gaggle of nieces and nephews that she adores and spoils all the time. She fancies herself a down home gourmet chef and has an unnatural addiction to Doritos. She loves to read a good love story and thoroughly enjoys writing them as well. "It isn't just about writing a story, it's about creating a world and having the reader climb into it, experiencing it in first person.That's my goal...that's why I write." (from the author's website)
Having long realized her dream of playing pro golf will probably not happen with a wicked slice, Syd spends her free time three-putting on the golf course, riding her road bike Hammer or training to be a professional runner. The moments in between are sprinkled with a gaggle of nieces and nephews that she adores and spoils all the time. She fancies herself a down home gourmet chef and has an unnatural addiction to Doritos. She loves to read a good love story and thoroughly enjoys writing them as well. "It isn't just about writing a story, it's about creating a world and having the reader climb into it, experiencing it in first person.That's my goal...that's why I write." (from the author's website)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 24, 2024
4☆
A Detective and a Special agent have to work together to catch a brutal serial killer. The hunt was thrilling, and I really wanted them to catch this monster. We'll paced plot with a few surprising twists.
A Detective and a Special agent have to work together to catch a brutal serial killer. The hunt was thrilling, and I really wanted them to catch this monster. We'll paced plot with a few surprising twists.
December 27, 2024
3.25 ⭐️ This was a decent mystery. Ok romance, but lacking in emotion.
June 27, 2015
I enjoy a good mystery and this was a good one. The crimes are hideous and unsettling but the story was engaging and kept me on the edge causing me to turn page after page. The detective (Rebecca Foxx) and FBI special agent (Jordan Gray) are likeable characters driven and serious about their work. There is much to like about this story and the characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
August 31, 2012
The story opens immediately with the killer attacking his next victim, who we quickly learn is the wife/partner of the FBI Assistant Director in Charge. Needless to say this results in a very specific and personal interest in having this case resolved as quickly as possible with Special Agent Jordan Gray and her partner being asked to work the case “off the books” because the FBI doesn’t have any specific jurisdiction.
I enjoyed the story but there were a few moments where the story felt a little disjointed, where I actually stopped reading and tried to figure out how we got from point A to point C. I was able to move on from it, but it happened enough that it stuck with me. The only other thing I was disappointed with was the use of certain language when describing the sex scenes.
This is really a personal preference, but I find that when authors/characters use certain phrases it comes across, in my opinion, as if a male porn star were talking. Again, for me, this detracts from the overall story. Then again, I know there are lots of people who would be un-phased.
If Syd Parker comes out with another “Foxx Files Thriller” I would give that one a try because I liked both Jordan and Rebecca, there characters have lot of potential, and I’d like to see what comes of them.
I enjoyed the story but there were a few moments where the story felt a little disjointed, where I actually stopped reading and tried to figure out how we got from point A to point C. I was able to move on from it, but it happened enough that it stuck with me. The only other thing I was disappointed with was the use of certain language when describing the sex scenes.
This is really a personal preference, but I find that when authors/characters use certain phrases it comes across, in my opinion, as if a male porn star were talking. Again, for me, this detracts from the overall story. Then again, I know there are lots of people who would be un-phased.
If Syd Parker comes out with another “Foxx Files Thriller” I would give that one a try because I liked both Jordan and Rebecca, there characters have lot of potential, and I’d like to see what comes of them.
February 14, 2018
I liked the characters, however the edition I had was full or grammar errors and weird spacing. The story was solid, however in my opinion a much simpler solution of the crime would have sufficed and instead I would have liked a bit more in-depth characters.
May 1, 2021
3.5 stars. A serial killer is on the loose, a detective and an FBI special agent are on the case. A recipe for so much potential. This book started so strong. Raw and gritty and should definitely carry a CW when debating whether to read it. The writing hooked me in, the crime was hideous and damn I wanted the bastard caught. Then we got more about the two main characters and while the characters have strong potential, this is where I felt the book struggled. I could see what the author was trying to get at with the characters but it was told to us and we never really saw the development and changes. The two main characters also blended together a little for me and I often had remind myself who was who. Overall it was an ok book, not one of my favourites but I did enjoy the gritty darkness of the crime (even if it make me roll my eyes a little and I had guessed the end about half way through.)
June 14, 2019
It took me awhile to finish this book, wasn't the book's fault I just had too many books simultaneously reading. But that aside and I can tell you this is a riveting and captivating book to read. For me not so much on the romance because I found a number of times rolling my eyes at the soppy emotions between the gals but shared along their frustrations, excitement and chase in their investigations.
I say thumbs up to the author look forward to others in the series!
I say thumbs up to the author look forward to others in the series!
March 24, 2019
Whoa. That was chilling. Onto the next book... 4.5⭐️
October 11, 2021
This book is severely underrated
May 2, 2018
Pedestrian
Sadly both the romance story line and the thriller story line were a bit pedestrian. I also felt the description of the rape scenes was rather prurient and somewhat glorified. I like Syd Parker normally, but this one was a bit of a miss for me.
Sadly both the romance story line and the thriller story line were a bit pedestrian. I also felt the description of the rape scenes was rather prurient and somewhat glorified. I like Syd Parker normally, but this one was a bit of a miss for me.
September 28, 2012
Despite whatever problems there are in the writing (minor grammar or punctuation or whatever errors; let's be honest) I absolutely love everything that Syd Parker puts out- even her first stuff which was chock full of problems. The bottom line is that Ms. Parker has good, well thought out and interesting ideas, her characters are likable, the action keeps you riveted, there are moments that are absolutely hilarious peppered throughout which eases some of the tension which quickly builds back up, and they all have a satisfying conclusion. And there's something special about them that is hard to define, a certain feeling they invoke...I don't know. It's like there's something intrinsic to them all that just leaves you feeling....good. I have to assume that this common thread is Ms. Parker herself, but whatever it is, it's how I can set aside my OCD editor brain and just enjoy it for what it is. A good time read.
This is a new sub-genre for this writer and I think that for a first effort it's really damned good. Of course there are other books in this genre and I've read and loved most of them (I'll review those when the time allows). It's true that those other books might be more polished and the writers that wrote them are more established and learned in that area of writing, but that shouldn't take away from the things that make this book (and all of Ms. Parker's books) special (in addition to the things I've mentioned above). The premise is one I've never seen written before. The twists and turns in the plot keep you guessing right up until the end- even if you think you know who done it.
I eagerly await all of her releases because I know that regardless of whatever issues it might have, it's going to be an adventure-one hell of a ride. And if you can put aside the uber-critical editor in your head it's flippin' fun- and isn't that what reading is all about sometimes?
This is a new sub-genre for this writer and I think that for a first effort it's really damned good. Of course there are other books in this genre and I've read and loved most of them (I'll review those when the time allows). It's true that those other books might be more polished and the writers that wrote them are more established and learned in that area of writing, but that shouldn't take away from the things that make this book (and all of Ms. Parker's books) special (in addition to the things I've mentioned above). The premise is one I've never seen written before. The twists and turns in the plot keep you guessing right up until the end- even if you think you know who done it.
I eagerly await all of her releases because I know that regardless of whatever issues it might have, it's going to be an adventure-one hell of a ride. And if you can put aside the uber-critical editor in your head it's flippin' fun- and isn't that what reading is all about sometimes?
March 2, 2014
Desperately needs a better proof read. "You just think your part of my team now, huh? " "Riley joining them seemed like more of an inconvenience then a benefit" "It's okay. I've got you know." Plus many other glaring errors. Besides that writing style is generally quite juvenile. The make of the lead charterers car is mentioned no less than 6 times during the course of the story, all entirely needlessly. The sex scenes are awkward and read like bad teenage fan-fiction. I won't bother with Gray Foxx #2.
September 11, 2016
I liked this book.
I liked this first book in the Gray Foxx series. I love Syd Parker's books. The romance between a detective and an FBI agent was a little to predictable. I thought the descriptions of the murder victims was a little to graphic and detailed. I will read the next book in the series.
I liked this first book in the Gray Foxx series. I love Syd Parker's books. The romance between a detective and an FBI agent was a little to predictable. I thought the descriptions of the murder victims was a little to graphic and detailed. I will read the next book in the series.
June 3, 2013
Syd Parker has scored a hit with this one, because for me, it has everything. Great characters, plus a cracking story with cliff hangers, and a who dunnit, right up to the end. I couldn't ask for any more in a book, and this writer never fails to deliver.
March 15, 2021
It's a good mystery with a little bit of romance thrown in.
The characters are very likeable and have a good chemistry.
And the story itself is a really nice pageturner that keeps you on edge till the end.
The characters are very likeable and have a good chemistry.
And the story itself is a really nice pageturner that keeps you on edge till the end.
September 8, 2014
spicy romance, horrifying crimes, and enough red herrings and false starts to keep the reader guessing :)
August 25, 2012
I am not too much into mystery books, but this one kept me going from the start to the end.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews