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Darling Killer Trilogy #1
The Tease
Anna Zendel is your average 32-year-old therapist, stressing about clinical exams and struggling to recover from an abusive relationship. But at night she transforms herself into the saucy burlesque dancer Velvet Crush, enchanting Chicago audiences with the art of the tease.
As Anna struggles to keep the therapy and burlesque worlds separate and get over her crush on the troupe's emcee, a new danger threatens women across the city. The papers have dubbed him the Darling Killer, because after strangling his victims, he scrawls the word "darling" on their skin.
When one of Anna's fellow dancers is murdered in the dressing room, she realizes that Darling Killer could be closer than she thought. Could Max, Anna's new therapy client who confessed to fantasizing about dead girls and obsessing over the Darling Killer, have anything to do with the murders?
As more women are murdered, and Anna begins receiving mysterious gifts, this burlesque dancer pits feathers and sequins against foul play in the deadliest dance of all.
As Anna struggles to keep the therapy and burlesque worlds separate and get over her crush on the troupe's emcee, a new danger threatens women across the city. The papers have dubbed him the Darling Killer, because after strangling his victims, he scrawls the word "darling" on their skin.
When one of Anna's fellow dancers is murdered in the dressing room, she realizes that Darling Killer could be closer than she thought. Could Max, Anna's new therapy client who confessed to fantasizing about dead girls and obsessing over the Darling Killer, have anything to do with the murders?
As more women are murdered, and Anna begins receiving mysterious gifts, this burlesque dancer pits feathers and sequins against foul play in the deadliest dance of all.
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2013
5 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Nikki M. Pill
4 books13 followersNikki M. Pill has a BA in English and Philosophy, and an MA in Psychology. Her short story "Shadows on the Pews" appeared in Hell in the Heartland Volume I and received an honorable mention in Best Horror of the Year Volume I. She enjoys her bellydance alter-ego Moxie’s reputation as the Scariest Bellydancer in Chicago. She loves to read, cook, watch movies, do yoga, listen to music, and make things. She lives in Chicago with her husband and their intermittently grateful cats.
You can contact her, find burlesque videos and resources, check out her books’ soundtracks, read her blog, and more at www.nikkimpill.com.
You can contact her, find burlesque videos and resources, check out her books’ soundtracks, read her blog, and more at www.nikkimpill.com.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 21, 2013
There's a first time for everything. I can honestly say that I've never seen this question asked in a book before...
I'm sad to report that the question was never answered. Apparently, it wasn't on a 'need to know' basis.
Can I just say that this question was asked by a doctor to a colleague after a therapy session with a disturbed patient (who was referred to). Doesn't that sort of go against doctor-patient confidentiality? Or am I wrong in thinking this?
Here's another instance where I was bamboozled by a book cover. Judging by the shorter length of the book, racy pic/title, and synopsis, I assumed this was some sort of erotic suspense deal. If you're looking for erotic anything, you won't find it. I'd call The Tease more of a mystery with sex appeal, perhaps?
Whatever this was, it was okay. For entertainment value, the book did the job. Did I want to smack people around once or twice? Sure. However, I think this is just going to be the case in any book when you have a WOMAN WHO WANTS TO INVESTIGATE A CRIME WITHOUT HAVING ANY SORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE. Gah, I don't get it. Killer on the loose = do your own digging? Really? I was surprised that she was so trusting of a couple of the guys who could have been valid suspects. I guess hotness = loss of smarts.
Strong Points :
1. Burlesque is intriguing. I would have loved to have seen even more of the stage setting but the little bits and pieces that were there rocked.
2. There was little down time. Something was always happening. Like the song says, "let the bodies hit the floor." People were dropping like flies.
3. I felt like the woman doing the investigation had an actual reason to want to know what was going on, even if I think she was stupid for getting involved. One of my big issues with the book If I Were You was that the woman had no real vested interest in catching a killer, yet she jumped right in to the fray. At least in this case, most of the connections did tie back to the main character.
Weak Points :
1. The merry go round of men. I don't mean this in a romantic sense - there were just a lot of men hanging around who were tied to this case and I couldn't keep them all straight. Between the ex and the current and the patient and the co-worker and people involved in the investigation and so on and so on...I lost track of which man was who. Sometimes a name would be brought up and I'd have to stop for a moment and try to remember who they were and what their relation to the main character was.
2. I didn't really attach to one of the men who I think I was supposed to attach to. The book wasn't all that sexy for being burlesque themed. I don't always need steamy sex scenes, but I do like some sort of chemistry to be present between characters who are going to interact.
3. The main chick was called by a bunch of names. Xanadu, Anna, Velvet, Zanny...can we just name her Sybil and get it over with?
BTW...I am now unable to get the theme song to Xanadu out of my head. My dreams tonight will be filled with visions of Olivia Newton-John zipping by on roller skates. In fact, it's playing on YouTube in the background right now. :(
Even though the story was definitely misleading in terms of being no where near as sexy as I'd expected, I was alright with the suspense angle. Chances are, I'll check out the next book because I have some theories about who the killer is and want to know if I'm right.
This book was provided from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Is necrophilia treatable?
I'm sad to report that the question was never answered. Apparently, it wasn't on a 'need to know' basis.
Can I just say that this question was asked by a doctor to a colleague after a therapy session with a disturbed patient (who was referred to). Doesn't that sort of go against doctor-patient confidentiality? Or am I wrong in thinking this?
Here's another instance where I was bamboozled by a book cover. Judging by the shorter length of the book, racy pic/title, and synopsis, I assumed this was some sort of erotic suspense deal. If you're looking for erotic anything, you won't find it. I'd call The Tease more of a mystery with sex appeal, perhaps?
Whatever this was, it was okay. For entertainment value, the book did the job. Did I want to smack people around once or twice? Sure. However, I think this is just going to be the case in any book when you have a WOMAN WHO WANTS TO INVESTIGATE A CRIME WITHOUT HAVING ANY SORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE. Gah, I don't get it. Killer on the loose = do your own digging? Really? I was surprised that she was so trusting of a couple of the guys who could have been valid suspects. I guess hotness = loss of smarts.
Strong Points :
1. Burlesque is intriguing. I would have loved to have seen even more of the stage setting but the little bits and pieces that were there rocked.
2. There was little down time. Something was always happening. Like the song says, "let the bodies hit the floor." People were dropping like flies.
3. I felt like the woman doing the investigation had an actual reason to want to know what was going on, even if I think she was stupid for getting involved. One of my big issues with the book If I Were You was that the woman had no real vested interest in catching a killer, yet she jumped right in to the fray. At least in this case, most of the connections did tie back to the main character.
Weak Points :
1. The merry go round of men. I don't mean this in a romantic sense - there were just a lot of men hanging around who were tied to this case and I couldn't keep them all straight. Between the ex and the current and the patient and the co-worker and people involved in the investigation and so on and so on...I lost track of which man was who. Sometimes a name would be brought up and I'd have to stop for a moment and try to remember who they were and what their relation to the main character was.
2. I didn't really attach to one of the men who I think I was supposed to attach to. The book wasn't all that sexy for being burlesque themed. I don't always need steamy sex scenes, but I do like some sort of chemistry to be present between characters who are going to interact.
3. The main chick was called by a bunch of names. Xanadu, Anna, Velvet, Zanny...can we just name her Sybil and get it over with?
BTW...I am now unable to get the theme song to Xanadu out of my head. My dreams tonight will be filled with visions of Olivia Newton-John zipping by on roller skates. In fact, it's playing on YouTube in the background right now. :(
Even though the story was definitely misleading in terms of being no where near as sexy as I'd expected, I was alright with the suspense angle. Chances are, I'll check out the next book because I have some theories about who the killer is and want to know if I'm right.
This book was provided from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2013
Unique murder mystery….with a twist.
Separating yourself from ‘feelings’ is not always easy. Anna Zendel is a therapist…one that believes in the courage her clients exhibit when staring down their demons. When Anna finds herself attracted to one of her patients - Max. She asks to have him assigned to another therapist. When her supervisor declines to accept, Anna is faced with making sure her ethics remain of the highest standards.
In addition to her ‘day job’, Anna is also studying and stressing over her clinical exams. By night, she can be found performing as a burlesque dancer. Velvet Crush dazzles Chicago night life with her perfection of this racy dancing. Keeping her identity under wraps from her clients and co-workers is a high-priority during her shows.
After finding one of her fellow dance members murdered in their dressing room, Anna discovers the Darling Killer could be right under her nose. Anna finds herself wondering if one of her patients could be the killer. Could it be Max? After all - he confessed his fantasies about dead women to her.
As more women connected to the burlesque troupe turn up murdered, Anna begins to wonder what is the connection? The murders also begin to complicate Anna’s new-found romance. Where will the trail lead? Can she figure out the killer before she becomes the next victim?
Separating yourself from ‘feelings’ is not always easy. Anna Zendel is a therapist…one that believes in the courage her clients exhibit when staring down their demons. When Anna finds herself attracted to one of her patients - Max. She asks to have him assigned to another therapist. When her supervisor declines to accept, Anna is faced with making sure her ethics remain of the highest standards.
In addition to her ‘day job’, Anna is also studying and stressing over her clinical exams. By night, she can be found performing as a burlesque dancer. Velvet Crush dazzles Chicago night life with her perfection of this racy dancing. Keeping her identity under wraps from her clients and co-workers is a high-priority during her shows.
After finding one of her fellow dance members murdered in their dressing room, Anna discovers the Darling Killer could be right under her nose. Anna finds herself wondering if one of her patients could be the killer. Could it be Max? After all - he confessed his fantasies about dead women to her.
As more women connected to the burlesque troupe turn up murdered, Anna begins to wonder what is the connection? The murders also begin to complicate Anna’s new-found romance. Where will the trail lead? Can she figure out the killer before she becomes the next victim?
July 1, 2014
Therapist by day, burlesque dancer by night, Anna works hard to keep the two halves of her life compartmentalized. That all falls apart when a patient confesses to a creepy fixation and the latest in a series of bizarre murders hits too close to home.
I really enjoyed this. Well-written, suspenseful, with well-drawn characters and a puzzle that kept me guessing. There are a lot of possible suspects, both obvious and not so obvious, and I found myself really getting nervous whenever Anna interacted with any of these guys in her life who could (maybe?) be the Darling Killer. Is it the guy who's obvious? The guy who's less obvious? The guy who's too obvious? The guy who couldn't possibly be a killer?
And I loved Anna's imperious half-Siamese cat, Caprice.
My only complaint is that the book is a little strident in proclaiming its message of female empowerment through taking your clothes off in front of strangers. Yes, celebrate your body and all that, I agree with the underlying sentiment, but not with that particular expression of it. But, whatever. The burlesque scene (as opposed to more sordid strip clubs) is an interesting setting for a murder mystery, especially in contrast to Anna's straight-laced day job.
Otherwise, I completely enjoyed this book; I stayed up way too late last night to finish it, and then I couldn't sleep because the ending was so creepy. Be warned: this is the first book in a trilogy, so the mystery is only partially solved, but the parting shot is a doozy.
I really enjoyed this. Well-written, suspenseful, with well-drawn characters and a puzzle that kept me guessing. There are a lot of possible suspects, both obvious and not so obvious, and I found myself really getting nervous whenever Anna interacted with any of these guys in her life who could (maybe?) be the Darling Killer. Is it the guy who's obvious? The guy who's less obvious? The guy who's too obvious? The guy who couldn't possibly be a killer?
And I loved Anna's imperious half-Siamese cat, Caprice.
My only complaint is that the book is a little strident in proclaiming its message of female empowerment through taking your clothes off in front of strangers. Yes, celebrate your body and all that, I agree with the underlying sentiment, but not with that particular expression of it. But, whatever. The burlesque scene (as opposed to more sordid strip clubs) is an interesting setting for a murder mystery, especially in contrast to Anna's straight-laced day job.
Otherwise, I completely enjoyed this book; I stayed up way too late last night to finish it, and then I couldn't sleep because the ending was so creepy. Be warned: this is the first book in a trilogy, so the mystery is only partially solved, but the parting shot is a doozy.
February 28, 2013
NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book for my honest review.
Anna is a therapist who moonlights as a burlesque dancer; she is still recovering from an abusive relationship and working to get over her crush on a fellow worker at the club. After one of the dancers is murdered at the club Anna works at, other women around her start dying. Anna is trying to stay safe and find the killer, at the same time she starts a new relationship. This book started out so good I liked Anna in the beginning, she was strong and in control of her sexuality. All the sudden she became a weak and neurotic, it just went down from there. Her obsessive inner monologue and second guessing every single person in her life became repetitive and annoying. After obsessing over every little thing and making bad decisions she finally makes a good one. She makes a few right choices and warns her friends to be careful, and then she isn't careful herself. Ugh this book was so infuriating and to top it all off we are left with a cliffhanger. I won't be reading the next book in this series.
Anna is a therapist who moonlights as a burlesque dancer; she is still recovering from an abusive relationship and working to get over her crush on a fellow worker at the club. After one of the dancers is murdered at the club Anna works at, other women around her start dying. Anna is trying to stay safe and find the killer, at the same time she starts a new relationship. This book started out so good I liked Anna in the beginning, she was strong and in control of her sexuality. All the sudden she became a weak and neurotic, it just went down from there. Her obsessive inner monologue and second guessing every single person in her life became repetitive and annoying. After obsessing over every little thing and making bad decisions she finally makes a good one. She makes a few right choices and warns her friends to be careful, and then she isn't careful herself. Ugh this book was so infuriating and to top it all off we are left with a cliffhanger. I won't be reading the next book in this series.
February 21, 2013
Quick read with many twists and corpses. I enjoyed the mix of psychology and inside glimpse into the burlesque's world.
It is a very feminine thriller.
The reader follows the trail of a serial killer who leaves his victims with the word "Darling" written on a body part with a crime scene usually scripted. In parallel Anna, the heroine, is a therapist waiting to see herself truely graduated who leads a double life.
On the one hand, she uses her brain to help patients. On the other, she uses her body dancing in a burlesque troupe. Through her art, she externalizes her femininity and expresses herself.
When I said that this is a very feminine thriller it's because many women are at the heart of this novel. Heroin, friends, dancers, the detective leading the investigation but also, the questioning mind who decipher the murderer. This role being played by Anna as a profiler, it is with her clinical approach that we follow the investigation.
Of course, to put the spotlight on a troupe also helps to target on the curves and sensuality of women. But it is a feeling that was quite pronounced during my reading.
But that does not diminish the brutality of the murders and the sense of paranoia that install itself. The reader, as the heroin, eventually are suspecting all the characters. Moreover, the end is unexpected. Many questions remain unanswered about Anna's future when the reader close this volume, leaving with the feeling of waiting for more...
A good thriller with likeable characters.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
It is a very feminine thriller.
The reader follows the trail of a serial killer who leaves his victims with the word "Darling" written on a body part with a crime scene usually scripted. In parallel Anna, the heroine, is a therapist waiting to see herself truely graduated who leads a double life.
On the one hand, she uses her brain to help patients. On the other, she uses her body dancing in a burlesque troupe. Through her art, she externalizes her femininity and expresses herself.
When I said that this is a very feminine thriller it's because many women are at the heart of this novel. Heroin, friends, dancers, the detective leading the investigation but also, the questioning mind who decipher the murderer. This role being played by Anna as a profiler, it is with her clinical approach that we follow the investigation.
Of course, to put the spotlight on a troupe also helps to target on the curves and sensuality of women. But it is a feeling that was quite pronounced during my reading.
But that does not diminish the brutality of the murders and the sense of paranoia that install itself. The reader, as the heroin, eventually are suspecting all the characters. Moreover, the end is unexpected. Many questions remain unanswered about Anna's future when the reader close this volume, leaving with the feeling of waiting for more...
A good thriller with likeable characters.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
February 15, 2013
The Tease is the first in a series that follows the Darling Killer. It is a great first glimpse of Darling, as he(?) continues on his serial murdering rampage. The twist at the end caught me, even though I knew it had to be one of three characters (which is obvious throughout the book), I still vacillated between which character with every turn of the page. That is a mark of a great mystery, in my opinion. The major twist, which allows Darling to continue into the next series, was a great ending to this book, and truly left me wanting more. I cannot wait to read the next book, and see where Max and Kevin end up, and not really sure who I am rooting for more as Anna's leading man.
Which is a great segue into Anna. She is an intricately woven character, who I really wondered if I could relate to at the beginning of the book. That fear was quickly quashed. I was so intrigued with her; her thought processes, the balance of therapist (and all the ethical issues involved) and burlesque dancer. Nikki Pill's knowledge of burlesque and belly-dancing enhanced the story, and I was fascinated by the nearly "lost art." I felt like Lynne by the end of the book, wondering if Anna would give me lessons! I was grateful that Pill included the contention between Brack and Anna, forcing me to recognize my own prejudices in dealing with other women, as well as the judgment women carry with them while proclaiming to be feminists.
A multi-layered book, that is a must read!
Which is a great segue into Anna. She is an intricately woven character, who I really wondered if I could relate to at the beginning of the book. That fear was quickly quashed. I was so intrigued with her; her thought processes, the balance of therapist (and all the ethical issues involved) and burlesque dancer. Nikki Pill's knowledge of burlesque and belly-dancing enhanced the story, and I was fascinated by the nearly "lost art." I felt like Lynne by the end of the book, wondering if Anna would give me lessons! I was grateful that Pill included the contention between Brack and Anna, forcing me to recognize my own prejudices in dealing with other women, as well as the judgment women carry with them while proclaiming to be feminists.
A multi-layered book, that is a must read!
February 24, 2013
The Tease is about a woman named Anna Zendel who is a therapist by day & a burlesque performer by night. There is a serial killer killing women & leaving his signature mark, Darling. He's known as The Darling Killer. Anna has a patient who worries her because he's told her he thinks about the murders & talks of being a necrphiliac. So when the killer targets Anna's fellow dancers, she questions (internally) whether or not to bring it to the police (Doctor/Patient Confidentiality). Anna also has Kevin & Grant to deal with. She works with Grant but was introduced to Kevin by Tish, her burlesque boss. As the story continues murders rack up & she doesn't know who to trust & is just trying to figure out who The Darling Killer is. As the story ends, Grant is in a comma & he only confessed to one of the murders Anna still believes the real killer is still out there. She & Kevin decided to just stay friends with all the craziness that's surrounded them. Looking forward to the next installment.
March 1, 2013
NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book for my honest review
Anna is a therapist who moonlights as a burlesque dancer; she is still recovering from an abusive relationship and working to get over her crush on a fellow worker at the club. After one of the dancers is murdered at the club Anna works at, other women around her start dying. Anna is trying to stay safe and find the killer, at the same time she starts a new relationship. This book started out so good I liked Anna in the beginning, she was strong and in control of her sexuality. All the sudden she became a weak and neurotic, it just went down from there. Her obsessive inner monologue and second guessing every single person in her life became repetitive and annoying. After obsessing over every little thing and making bad decisions she finally makes a good one. She makes a few right choices and warns her friends to be careful, and then she isn't careful herself. Ugh this book was so infuriating and to top it all off we are left with a cliffhanger. I won't be reading the next book in this series.
Anna is a therapist who moonlights as a burlesque dancer; she is still recovering from an abusive relationship and working to get over her crush on a fellow worker at the club. After one of the dancers is murdered at the club Anna works at, other women around her start dying. Anna is trying to stay safe and find the killer, at the same time she starts a new relationship. This book started out so good I liked Anna in the beginning, she was strong and in control of her sexuality. All the sudden she became a weak and neurotic, it just went down from there. Her obsessive inner monologue and second guessing every single person in her life became repetitive and annoying. After obsessing over every little thing and making bad decisions she finally makes a good one. She makes a few right choices and warns her friends to be careful, and then she isn't careful herself. Ugh this book was so infuriating and to top it all off we are left with a cliffhanger. I won't be reading the next book in this series.
April 16, 2013
Not a book that I would have picked up off the shelf if I found it in B&N, but I'm glad I got the chance to read it. It really is fantastic, not to mention fantastically creepy. Can't wait for the second in the series next year.
February 11, 2013
Enjoyable murder mystery. Waiting patiently for the next instalment
February 12, 2013
This book has everything I love in it. Burlesque, murder, questioning everything. I was quickly caught and captivated, I'll be definitely reading more from Nikki Pill.
April 4, 2013
Transforming from frazzled therapist Anna Zendel to glamorous starlet Velvet Crush in half an hour was always an adventure...
By day, 32 year old Anna is a licensed therapist, analytically helping her patients work cognitively through their struggles, all the while shadowing her own personal experiences with a past relationship full of emotional abuse. By night, though, Anna is a sexy, saucy Burlesque dancer, boldly flaunting her control over her own sexuality in a strong feminist statement that is drawn from her desire to ensure that no man will ever control her thoughts and actions again.
For professional and ethical reasons, Anna is careful to draw a harsh division between her two careers, knowing that any overlap could destroy her credibility and crumble any semblance of a therapeutic relationship that exists between Anna and her patients.
"It's all about women," he said. "I like - cold women..."
Max is one of Anna's most tempting and alluring patients, confessing a forbidden tendency towards necrophilia and a dangerous obsession with the Darling Killer -- a horrifying serial killer with a trademark for branding his victims with the word darling. Max is the first client to uncover Anna's secret little world of daring sex appeal, but he vows to keep her secret in exchange for a continuance of his therapy sessions.
But things start to go tragically wrong when one of Anna's fellow dancers becomes the next victim to the Darling Killer -- followed by one of Anna's patients and another member of her beloved Burlesque team.
Is necrophilia treatable?
Could Anna's most challenging patient really be the Darling Killer? Or, is there someone far more dangerous on the loose?
THE TEASE is an intriguing tale of murder and suspense with a slightly sexy little twist. That said, my biggest problem with the novel was not the story at all, but the cover art that advertises it...
I mean, Anna is an articulate, analytic woman driven more by her mind than by her libido. Even her reasons for engaging in the art of Burlesque are crafted and concise -- she seeks to claim ownership of her own sexuality in such a way that illustrates her own control over her body after exiting a relationship where she was emotionally and mentally controlled by a man. The cover art of THE TEASE just doesn't convey the strength and precision that encompasses Anna's character -- it instead evokes illusions of gratuitous sex scenes dripping in overdone BSDM, right?
I literally nearly passed this one over based on the cover alone, but I'm glad I gave a second look to the actual plot description because it ended up being a highly enjoyable read that kept me at the edge of my seat, curious to uncover the identity of the killer. I really related to Anna's character and I was intrigued by her day to night transition from therapist to showgirl, especially with respect to the therapist / patient relationship between Anna and Max. And a heroine can never go wrong in my eyes if she quotes the DSM, so I was hooked.
There were a few too many extraneous characters for my taste and I found myself flipping back and forth to remind myself which guy was the ex, which was the emcee, and which were just background characters thrown in to confuse us from solving the murder too quickly. Even so, I think Nikki Pill did a fabulous job with THE TEASE and I definitely look forward to continuing with the trilogy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this story for the purposes of providing an honest and accurate review.
By day, 32 year old Anna is a licensed therapist, analytically helping her patients work cognitively through their struggles, all the while shadowing her own personal experiences with a past relationship full of emotional abuse. By night, though, Anna is a sexy, saucy Burlesque dancer, boldly flaunting her control over her own sexuality in a strong feminist statement that is drawn from her desire to ensure that no man will ever control her thoughts and actions again.
For professional and ethical reasons, Anna is careful to draw a harsh division between her two careers, knowing that any overlap could destroy her credibility and crumble any semblance of a therapeutic relationship that exists between Anna and her patients.
"It's all about women," he said. "I like - cold women..."
Max is one of Anna's most tempting and alluring patients, confessing a forbidden tendency towards necrophilia and a dangerous obsession with the Darling Killer -- a horrifying serial killer with a trademark for branding his victims with the word darling. Max is the first client to uncover Anna's secret little world of daring sex appeal, but he vows to keep her secret in exchange for a continuance of his therapy sessions.
But things start to go tragically wrong when one of Anna's fellow dancers becomes the next victim to the Darling Killer -- followed by one of Anna's patients and another member of her beloved Burlesque team.
Is necrophilia treatable?
Could Anna's most challenging patient really be the Darling Killer? Or, is there someone far more dangerous on the loose?
THE TEASE is an intriguing tale of murder and suspense with a slightly sexy little twist. That said, my biggest problem with the novel was not the story at all, but the cover art that advertises it...
I mean, Anna is an articulate, analytic woman driven more by her mind than by her libido. Even her reasons for engaging in the art of Burlesque are crafted and concise -- she seeks to claim ownership of her own sexuality in such a way that illustrates her own control over her body after exiting a relationship where she was emotionally and mentally controlled by a man. The cover art of THE TEASE just doesn't convey the strength and precision that encompasses Anna's character -- it instead evokes illusions of gratuitous sex scenes dripping in overdone BSDM, right?
I literally nearly passed this one over based on the cover alone, but I'm glad I gave a second look to the actual plot description because it ended up being a highly enjoyable read that kept me at the edge of my seat, curious to uncover the identity of the killer. I really related to Anna's character and I was intrigued by her day to night transition from therapist to showgirl, especially with respect to the therapist / patient relationship between Anna and Max. And a heroine can never go wrong in my eyes if she quotes the DSM, so I was hooked.
There were a few too many extraneous characters for my taste and I found myself flipping back and forth to remind myself which guy was the ex, which was the emcee, and which were just background characters thrown in to confuse us from solving the murder too quickly. Even so, I think Nikki Pill did a fabulous job with THE TEASE and I definitely look forward to continuing with the trilogy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this story for the purposes of providing an honest and accurate review.
February 28, 2013
This review contains spoilers.
Can I first start off by saying that I've forgotten how much I love mystery thriller -- and this was just the book to get be back into the genre. 'The Tease' started off with an unsettling beginning and kept the action and suspense high for the entire novel. The story really kicks off with a termination interview our main character, Anna, has with a long-time client that overcame an abusive relationship. I found that part to very powerful and an excellent way to set the female positive tone of the story.
Pill's creepy narrative resumes with her next client -- a man who is attract to women that are cold and still -- ending the chapter with Anna asking her boss, "Is necrophilia treatable?" -- I have to admit the line prompted a little laugh from me. The author's black humor pops up every once in awhile which is a nice touch as far as I'm concerned.
I loved the dichotomy of Anna's character, a therapist as well as a burlesque dancer and how both parts were equally portrayed -- and equally interesting. You could see how each aspect of her life played a role in the story, and how believably she balanced the two lives. I also like that Anna's choices had believable consequences and that her problems weren't magically solved one way or another. Anna has very real flaws and it makes her compelling as a heroine, someone you want to root for. The story also explored several kinds of abuse in relationships and they were portrayed believably, some of which Anna was subjected to herself.
To be honest there was only a couple of things that really bothered me about the story. The first thing was, I realize that patient/client confidentiality is important -- but when so many 'clues' in a murder mystery point to a client, at what point do you include it in your report to the police? I would like to think a little sooner than Anna did.
Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing but I didn't really get attached to any of the guy characters in the book because I was too busy convicting them all of murder! I swear every time she started getting close to a guy it was 'oh he's the murderer!', 'oooo noooo don't do it he's the murderer!!' I swear half my notes are a jumped mess of "HE'S THE MURDERER!". At one point one of my notes quoted the book and it went something like this, "killer might be here to re live the fantasy" my note: "HE'S BESIDE YOU!!!". I'm happy to report however that this book is far from predictable.
That said, there were only two things that annoyed me about this book. One that she seemed to bounce from guy to guy to guy very easily. I get that it was just dating, but it was a little annoying within the span of such a short book. That was somewhat alleviated for me personally as I was flailing calling every man in the book a murderer (read: I was having a lot of fun with this book). The second annoying thing is -- I have to wait for 2014 for the next book! I can't wait! I do want to take this time to say that the author did an excellent job making sure that this book stood well on its own. The book doesn't feel unfinished, or have that stop in mid-chapter feel. It's excellent!
Rating: 8/10 stars. (see the review policy on my blog for more details on star ratings.)
Can I first start off by saying that I've forgotten how much I love mystery thriller -- and this was just the book to get be back into the genre. 'The Tease' started off with an unsettling beginning and kept the action and suspense high for the entire novel. The story really kicks off with a termination interview our main character, Anna, has with a long-time client that overcame an abusive relationship. I found that part to very powerful and an excellent way to set the female positive tone of the story.
Pill's creepy narrative resumes with her next client -- a man who is attract to women that are cold and still -- ending the chapter with Anna asking her boss, "Is necrophilia treatable?" -- I have to admit the line prompted a little laugh from me. The author's black humor pops up every once in awhile which is a nice touch as far as I'm concerned.
I loved the dichotomy of Anna's character, a therapist as well as a burlesque dancer and how both parts were equally portrayed -- and equally interesting. You could see how each aspect of her life played a role in the story, and how believably she balanced the two lives. I also like that Anna's choices had believable consequences and that her problems weren't magically solved one way or another. Anna has very real flaws and it makes her compelling as a heroine, someone you want to root for. The story also explored several kinds of abuse in relationships and they were portrayed believably, some of which Anna was subjected to herself.
To be honest there was only a couple of things that really bothered me about the story. The first thing was, I realize that patient/client confidentiality is important -- but when so many 'clues' in a murder mystery point to a client, at what point do you include it in your report to the police? I would like to think a little sooner than Anna did.
Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing but I didn't really get attached to any of the guy characters in the book because I was too busy convicting them all of murder! I swear every time she started getting close to a guy it was 'oh he's the murderer!', 'oooo noooo don't do it he's the murderer!!' I swear half my notes are a jumped mess of "HE'S THE MURDERER!". At one point one of my notes quoted the book and it went something like this, "killer might be here to re live the fantasy" my note: "HE'S BESIDE YOU!!!". I'm happy to report however that this book is far from predictable.
That said, there were only two things that annoyed me about this book. One that she seemed to bounce from guy to guy to guy very easily. I get that it was just dating, but it was a little annoying within the span of such a short book. That was somewhat alleviated for me personally as I was flailing calling every man in the book a murderer (read: I was having a lot of fun with this book). The second annoying thing is -- I have to wait for 2014 for the next book! I can't wait! I do want to take this time to say that the author did an excellent job making sure that this book stood well on its own. The book doesn't feel unfinished, or have that stop in mid-chapter feel. It's excellent!
Rating: 8/10 stars. (see the review policy on my blog for more details on star ratings.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2013
This book starts with a fabulous premise, and the writing does set the scene for the reader, placing you in the mix. Anna is an interesting character, with a solid voice and a clear passion for her ‘day job’ as a therapist. Additionally, whether it was her in her character, or a holdover from the professional detachment of a therapist, she was difficult to know, needing a bit more background to offer a more empathetic character. At some points her voice falters, and she seems to question everyone and everything repeatedly: readers see the invasive nature of doubt and suspicion as it infiltrates her every thought.
Including the details of the burlesque troupe and the art form is a wonderful side plot that, while beautifully described and detailed, doesn’t quite fit with the Anna we first come to know: her discomfort with admitting to the night job, even as she obviously enjoys the persona of Velvet Crush, come through in her reactions. I would have liked to feel more connected to the strength and control that she feels in her adopted persona. Her relationship and obvious connection to her cat was well-developed, perhaps because Anna seems very cat-like to me in her observation of those around her.
Other details fully place the reader into the story: perhaps to the detriment of the forward motion, but even that did not detract from what was an engaging and well-crafted mystery with potential for more. Anna seems to be one who “watches” before she acts, so in a strange way the descriptions did feel like her, if slow for the reader. This is a good book, which could be great with a few tweaks. The mystery has a long list of suspects, not only the one that was caught in this story, nor the obvious ones, but the several other potential suspects introduced and still to be introduced as the story moves forward in this trilogy.
I received an eBook from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Including the details of the burlesque troupe and the art form is a wonderful side plot that, while beautifully described and detailed, doesn’t quite fit with the Anna we first come to know: her discomfort with admitting to the night job, even as she obviously enjoys the persona of Velvet Crush, come through in her reactions. I would have liked to feel more connected to the strength and control that she feels in her adopted persona. Her relationship and obvious connection to her cat was well-developed, perhaps because Anna seems very cat-like to me in her observation of those around her.
Other details fully place the reader into the story: perhaps to the detriment of the forward motion, but even that did not detract from what was an engaging and well-crafted mystery with potential for more. Anna seems to be one who “watches” before she acts, so in a strange way the descriptions did feel like her, if slow for the reader. This is a good book, which could be great with a few tweaks. The mystery has a long list of suspects, not only the one that was caught in this story, nor the obvious ones, but the several other potential suspects introduced and still to be introduced as the story moves forward in this trilogy.
I received an eBook from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
March 13, 2013
I don’t normally choose books that I categorize as a thriller but I liked the description of the story so I took a chance on it. I was intrigued from the get go.
The story was well written. There was just the right amount of mystery and “who done it” to keep me turning the pages. It played out nicely and I didn’t figure things out until towards the end.
Anna was a character that took me a while to warm up to. She’s single, working on getting licensed in therapy. She is also a burlesque dancer who goes by the name Velvet Crush. I did warm up to her as I learned more about her character. There was a little bit of a romance developing. I felt Anna’s relationship with Kevin was going somewhere but then it wasn’t. I kind of wanted there to be more. Since this is a trilogy I’m hoping that we see Kevin again. The burlesque girls were fun to read. They all had different personalities that they played on but they were also a tight group.
This book did offer some great moments. Anna’s patient was an interesting fella. I suggest reading the book just for him. The descriptions of the burlesque dances were also worth reading. The second book, The Grind, is expected to release in early 2014. I know I will most likely be reading it. I have a few thoughts that I want to see played out.
*received a copy for an honest review
The story was well written. There was just the right amount of mystery and “who done it” to keep me turning the pages. It played out nicely and I didn’t figure things out until towards the end.
Anna was a character that took me a while to warm up to. She’s single, working on getting licensed in therapy. She is also a burlesque dancer who goes by the name Velvet Crush. I did warm up to her as I learned more about her character. There was a little bit of a romance developing. I felt Anna’s relationship with Kevin was going somewhere but then it wasn’t. I kind of wanted there to be more. Since this is a trilogy I’m hoping that we see Kevin again. The burlesque girls were fun to read. They all had different personalities that they played on but they were also a tight group.
This book did offer some great moments. Anna’s patient was an interesting fella. I suggest reading the book just for him. The descriptions of the burlesque dances were also worth reading. The second book, The Grind, is expected to release in early 2014. I know I will most likely be reading it. I have a few thoughts that I want to see played out.
*received a copy for an honest review
April 1, 2013
I have a friend who introduced me to the world of burlesque and I have always been fascinated with the art form; so much so that I have considered taking classes so that I could do private performances for my partner. I think that is the main reason I got this book – it melds two very separate lifestyles into one that works. I too have done something similar to this. Having a high stress job sometimes makes one do something that is so opposite, just to be able to finally get away from that stress and well, what a greater way to challenge one’self that to practice burlesque. I really enjoyed kicking back and reading this book
Marianne Curtis
Author
Finding Gloria
Moondust and Madness: A collection of Poetry
Finding Gloria ~ Special Edition
Behind Whispering Pines
Brian's Last Ride
Marianne Curtis
Author
Finding Gloria
Moondust and Madness: A collection of Poetry
Finding Gloria ~ Special Edition
Behind Whispering Pines
Brian's Last Ride
March 27, 2013
Anna Zendel is a therapist by day and burlesque dancer Velvet Crush by night. She struggles to keep the two worlds apart, but the Darling killer makes that impossible to maintain. He's called the Darling killer because he writes the word darling on his victims after he kills them.
Up until Anna, the victims seemed to be a one shot sort of deal. But with Anna, he seems obsessed. He sends flowers, jewelry, and starts killing people she knows. Who or what is next?
I couldn't put the book down. I read it quickly - in 3 days. I loved the detail especially about the burlesque side of things since that was less familiar.
Characters seemed well developed. The writing/plot was paced well. Kept me turning pages to find out what happened next. And I couldn't help but suspect each new male character that got close to her of being the killer.
It's not quite a stand alone novel because while the action for the moment is wrapped up, Nikki Pill leaves Anna in a place where she is vulnerable and quite possibly introduced to another suspect. I wish the second book was out already so I could see what happens next.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
Up until Anna, the victims seemed to be a one shot sort of deal. But with Anna, he seems obsessed. He sends flowers, jewelry, and starts killing people she knows. Who or what is next?
I couldn't put the book down. I read it quickly - in 3 days. I loved the detail especially about the burlesque side of things since that was less familiar.
Characters seemed well developed. The writing/plot was paced well. Kept me turning pages to find out what happened next. And I couldn't help but suspect each new male character that got close to her of being the killer.
It's not quite a stand alone novel because while the action for the moment is wrapped up, Nikki Pill leaves Anna in a place where she is vulnerable and quite possibly introduced to another suspect. I wish the second book was out already so I could see what happens next.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
August 2, 2013
I'm not crazy about the rating system here. Three stars says "I liked it" and four says "I REALLY liked it". I did like this book, but three stars feels so --- average. It was a good story with interesting characters and an engrossing mystery. At times I felt like the narrative got bogged down in too much detail, and was overly descriptive, but then at other times it clipped right along.
I will look for the next book in this series, which is described to be a trilogy, although I have a sense of whodunit already. I want to know more about Anna/Velvet, the main character. I want to know more about her budding relationship, and I want to learn more about the detective who seems so cold and stony in this book.
This wasn't an A or a A+ type of read for me (I just had one of those with King's JOYLAND) but it was a solid B. Good plotting and good writing made it an interesting overall read.
I will look for the next book in this series, which is described to be a trilogy, although I have a sense of whodunit already. I want to know more about Anna/Velvet, the main character. I want to know more about her budding relationship, and I want to learn more about the detective who seems so cold and stony in this book.
This wasn't an A or a A+ type of read for me (I just had one of those with King's JOYLAND) but it was a solid B. Good plotting and good writing made it an interesting overall read.
March 22, 2013
I normally avoid self-published fiction. But this one has a professional-looking cover, the story intrigued me, and it was free via NetGalley.
I'm glad I took a chance on it. I've been looking for a good psychological thriller starring a therapist since M. J. Rose stopped writing Butterfield Institute novels. Anna Zendel is a decent replacement. Of course, since this is the first in a trilogy, there's no closure. The Tease has plenty of twists, and the story is far from over. I'd love to read the rest of the series - hopefully those books will also be available on NetGalley.
I'm glad I took a chance on it. I've been looking for a good psychological thriller starring a therapist since M. J. Rose stopped writing Butterfield Institute novels. Anna Zendel is a decent replacement. Of course, since this is the first in a trilogy, there's no closure. The Tease has plenty of twists, and the story is far from over. I'd love to read the rest of the series - hopefully those books will also be available on NetGalley.
March 1, 2013
I wanted to like this book. I read it really quickly but it just didn't cut it with me. I have seen some great reviews for it so it many have just not been my type of book. The worst, although I didn't grade on that, was the ending. I am all for tilogies, whatever, but each book should be able to stand on it's own. It definitely left you hanging.
June 20, 2013
Loved this book, and it's free on Amazon this week, check it out!
http://amzn.to/11IyAMq
I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy and loved it - it's a nail-biting read with an awesome heroine.
http://amzn.to/11IyAMq
I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy and loved it - it's a nail-biting read with an awesome heroine.
March 11, 2013
Read my full review HERE
December 5, 2014
Disclaimer: This ARC was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
June 24, 2013
Can't wait to read the next book. Unfortunately, I found it easy to see the twist at the end, but it was a good turn.
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