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Homicidal Innocence
What happens when your learned behavior is murder?
From a young age, I thought killing was normal.
Then I was taken away.
They tried to fix me.
They failed.
They thought changing my identity and giving me a fresh start in a new town would help.
They were wrong.
They tried to cast out the demons lurking within my mind.
It didn’t work.
The demons demand satisfaction, regardless of who must die.
Diamond Valley, the land of silicone and plastic, is now my hunting ground.
I take the most beautiful of all, turning them into my trophies—like beautiful butterflies on display for eternity, encased in glass and metal.
The ones I don’t deem worthy are found in the most gruesome ways, for all to see what’s truly on the inside.
Everyone can and will perish in the most horrific ways if we deem it so—except for the most beautiful inside and out. Maya Archer will always be ours—mine and the demons within me.
Detective Cole Silverthorne has spent his entire career chasing me. He has no idea how close I truly am, or that he’s falling in love with what’s mine, which will never do.
Once a killer, always a killer.
From a young age, I thought killing was normal.
Then I was taken away.
They tried to fix me.
They failed.
They thought changing my identity and giving me a fresh start in a new town would help.
They were wrong.
They tried to cast out the demons lurking within my mind.
It didn’t work.
The demons demand satisfaction, regardless of who must die.
Diamond Valley, the land of silicone and plastic, is now my hunting ground.
I take the most beautiful of all, turning them into my trophies—like beautiful butterflies on display for eternity, encased in glass and metal.
The ones I don’t deem worthy are found in the most gruesome ways, for all to see what’s truly on the inside.
Everyone can and will perish in the most horrific ways if we deem it so—except for the most beautiful inside and out. Maya Archer will always be ours—mine and the demons within me.
Detective Cole Silverthorne has spent his entire career chasing me. He has no idea how close I truly am, or that he’s falling in love with what’s mine, which will never do.
Once a killer, always a killer.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2023
7 people are currently reading
1521 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 15, 2024
Cole Silverthorne is a hardnosed detective and at times a pain in the ar$e, letting nothing stand in his way of finding the culprit and this is one killer he has been after for a very long time. A killer he is determined to bring to justice. But he is now stepping on his toes when it comes to Maya. She may just be his downfall.
This psychological and twisted thriller will have you sitting to attention with shivers down your spine and wracking your brain. The twists and turns are well done I worked it out earlyish on, well almost. But of course, I had to keep reading. VJ has you chasing tails all over the place.
Diamond Valley home of the rich has become a killer’s playground. A place for their art to be displayed.
Homicidal Innocence is a cleverly crafted and complex tale and one of those must reads where the intensity, the intrigue, the suspense, the chills may just be too much to bear. Are you brave enough?
This psychological and twisted thriller will have you sitting to attention with shivers down your spine and wracking your brain. The twists and turns are well done I worked it out earlyish on, well almost. But of course, I had to keep reading. VJ has you chasing tails all over the place.
Diamond Valley home of the rich has become a killer’s playground. A place for their art to be displayed.
Homicidal Innocence is a cleverly crafted and complex tale and one of those must reads where the intensity, the intrigue, the suspense, the chills may just be too much to bear. Are you brave enough?
June 20, 2024
3.5 Stars
Homicidal Innocence by V.J. Lee is a gripping and twisty little romantic suspense that had me intrigued right from the outset. This was quite an intense ‘introduction’ to Ms. Lee’s storytelling, as I had never read any of her work before, but now that I have a taste, I will certainly be coming back for more.
I am a sucker for a great psychological thriller/suspense story, and throw in some gritty tension, twists, and some sizzle- and I am all in. This promised all that and more- and I have to say that the author delivered on the promises held in the synopsis.
Maya works as a live-in nanny in a very affluent and ‘exclusive’ gated community where lots of dark secrets are hidden. Things take a darker and sinister turn when a serial killer seems to be using the area as his hunting grounds. Several beautiful young women have vanished, and bodies of other young women are being discovered after being tortured and then brutally murdered. Detective Cole Silverthorne is determined to hunt down the killer before things get even more grim. But there is a bit of a tangle web to unravel in order to get to the bottom of things- which won’t be easy. Things are far more complicated than he can imagine. And the stakes are only going to get higher. Add in some danger, drama, edge of your seat developments, and clever, unexpected twists which all come together seamlessly to make for quite a gripping read.
The story is told from several POVs, which gives us, the readers, a deeper perspective and appreciation of what is going on. It definitely made my reading experience even more intriguing- especially since we also get to ‘hear’ from X, the serial killer. But Ms. Lee doesn’t make things too easy to unravel, keeping a tight rein on my attention and keeping me guessing the whole way through. Even when I thought I knew what was going on, she would then throw something in the mix that had me second-guessing everything all over again.
So why have I rated this 3.5 stars instead of 5, you might wonder. Well, the story itself was well woven and the ‘mystery/suspense’ side of things was clever and tense- which is fantastic- and the characters are complex, well-developed individuals who brought the whole story to life----- BUT, there were a few ‘minor’ issues that I had with character ‘attitudes/thoughts/dialogue etc, which all combined to affect my rating. Plus, there were quite a few moments where Maya’s weight was mentioned (usually in a derogatory manner) and it became a little uncomfortable to read those comments/thoughts, and seemed repetitive after a while. I appreciate that Cole liked a ‘curvy’ woman- but we are told that Maya is a curvy size 14 – which is not really big, or plus size in my opinion. It is a healthy, normal weight for a ‘normal’ woman. She is ‘happy’ with her size and weight- so I don’t understand why her weight was such a factor. Yes, mention it in passing maybe, but I just felt uncomfortable for her after a while. Which affected my reading experience. I should have been focusing on the well-crafted suspense, which I did do to a degree, but the uncomfortable feeling never left and was always in the back of my mind, the whole way through.
But, putting that aside as a ‘me’ thing/issue- like I said earlier, now that I have a taste for Ms. Lee’s work, I will definitely be going back for more.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, V.J. Lee!
Homicidal Innocence by V.J. Lee is a gripping and twisty little romantic suspense that had me intrigued right from the outset. This was quite an intense ‘introduction’ to Ms. Lee’s storytelling, as I had never read any of her work before, but now that I have a taste, I will certainly be coming back for more.
I am a sucker for a great psychological thriller/suspense story, and throw in some gritty tension, twists, and some sizzle- and I am all in. This promised all that and more- and I have to say that the author delivered on the promises held in the synopsis.
Maya works as a live-in nanny in a very affluent and ‘exclusive’ gated community where lots of dark secrets are hidden. Things take a darker and sinister turn when a serial killer seems to be using the area as his hunting grounds. Several beautiful young women have vanished, and bodies of other young women are being discovered after being tortured and then brutally murdered. Detective Cole Silverthorne is determined to hunt down the killer before things get even more grim. But there is a bit of a tangle web to unravel in order to get to the bottom of things- which won’t be easy. Things are far more complicated than he can imagine. And the stakes are only going to get higher. Add in some danger, drama, edge of your seat developments, and clever, unexpected twists which all come together seamlessly to make for quite a gripping read.
The story is told from several POVs, which gives us, the readers, a deeper perspective and appreciation of what is going on. It definitely made my reading experience even more intriguing- especially since we also get to ‘hear’ from X, the serial killer. But Ms. Lee doesn’t make things too easy to unravel, keeping a tight rein on my attention and keeping me guessing the whole way through. Even when I thought I knew what was going on, she would then throw something in the mix that had me second-guessing everything all over again.
So why have I rated this 3.5 stars instead of 5, you might wonder. Well, the story itself was well woven and the ‘mystery/suspense’ side of things was clever and tense- which is fantastic- and the characters are complex, well-developed individuals who brought the whole story to life----- BUT, there were a few ‘minor’ issues that I had with character ‘attitudes/thoughts/dialogue etc, which all combined to affect my rating. Plus, there were quite a few moments where Maya’s weight was mentioned (usually in a derogatory manner) and it became a little uncomfortable to read those comments/thoughts, and seemed repetitive after a while. I appreciate that Cole liked a ‘curvy’ woman- but we are told that Maya is a curvy size 14 – which is not really big, or plus size in my opinion. It is a healthy, normal weight for a ‘normal’ woman. She is ‘happy’ with her size and weight- so I don’t understand why her weight was such a factor. Yes, mention it in passing maybe, but I just felt uncomfortable for her after a while. Which affected my reading experience. I should have been focusing on the well-crafted suspense, which I did do to a degree, but the uncomfortable feeling never left and was always in the back of my mind, the whole way through.
But, putting that aside as a ‘me’ thing/issue- like I said earlier, now that I have a taste for Ms. Lee’s work, I will definitely be going back for more.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, V.J. Lee!
June 28, 2024
THIS . WAS. FRIGHTFULLY. BRILLIANT !
When I started this read thought to myself I better buckle up because this is going to be a ride of note …then it calms down and takes a romantic turn if you like and bam the rollercoaster ride starts and boy do you need to buckle up !!!!
Cole is a strange character but give the man a chance at first I thought he was a bit of a douche and horn dog because he’s only got one thing on his mind and he’s got a dirty mouth but there’s another side to home , a gentle caring side which comes out when he takes care of Maya when she’s most vulnerable , being a fop investigating the case it puts him in quite the predicament and I’m grateful for his protective instincts because Maya is in serious trouble and she doesn’t really know it at the time so much so that I just want to climb into the book and warn her 🙈also Cole’s job is on the line when it comes to light that he’s involved with Maya
Maya is different to the other nannies , she’s real , genuine and honest and she really cares for her charge , little Benji (he’s really cute)and when they meet their demise heart heartbreak is very real and my heart went out to her , not only for her heartache but for the unfair judgment that came with it ….as it is the other nannies are always mean and unkind to her and that just makes sooooo mad
John , our single daddy rearing and home schooling his children ,also notices her and he’s a yummy daddy that everyone wants but can’t have and he hit his fingers badly burnt before with a deceitful Delilah of a nanny he’s got an artistic talent that makes him even more alluring , but his daughter freaks me out with her glares 🤣🙈but she’s not a bad kid , she’s just protective and it would seem his whole family has a thing for Maya and quite honestly it’s quite frightful
Our killer really is one sick puppy and when I tell you he makes Jeffrey dahmer’s antics look like Childs play I’m not kidding and he’s definitely someone I’d want to cross paths with ! Just remember this is a really twisted story ….
The characters all have some darkness and hurt they carry Cole really had a rough and sickening childhood though as did Maya and when they share their stories my heart broke for them ,they try to build walls around themselves but the killer sees everything and he’s really clever , did I mention stalkerish and creepy 🙈
I actually left the stair light on while and after reading this! I’ll also be avoiding Diamond Valley like the plague 🤣🙈and the likes of Emma (Cole’s partner )and the mean nannies😵💫people are so vindictive
It was just terrifying , sick , psychotic and brilliant !
It had me on the edge of my seat and I think my family was rather entertained watching me read this 🙈 and Maya had her hands full with these men wanting het curvaceous bod and good heart 😉
Expect the unexpected….
When I started this read thought to myself I better buckle up because this is going to be a ride of note …then it calms down and takes a romantic turn if you like and bam the rollercoaster ride starts and boy do you need to buckle up !!!!
Cole is a strange character but give the man a chance at first I thought he was a bit of a douche and horn dog because he’s only got one thing on his mind and he’s got a dirty mouth but there’s another side to home , a gentle caring side which comes out when he takes care of Maya when she’s most vulnerable , being a fop investigating the case it puts him in quite the predicament and I’m grateful for his protective instincts because Maya is in serious trouble and she doesn’t really know it at the time so much so that I just want to climb into the book and warn her 🙈also Cole’s job is on the line when it comes to light that he’s involved with Maya
Maya is different to the other nannies , she’s real , genuine and honest and she really cares for her charge , little Benji (he’s really cute)and when they meet their demise heart heartbreak is very real and my heart went out to her , not only for her heartache but for the unfair judgment that came with it ….as it is the other nannies are always mean and unkind to her and that just makes sooooo mad
John , our single daddy rearing and home schooling his children ,also notices her and he’s a yummy daddy that everyone wants but can’t have and he hit his fingers badly burnt before with a deceitful Delilah of a nanny he’s got an artistic talent that makes him even more alluring , but his daughter freaks me out with her glares 🤣🙈but she’s not a bad kid , she’s just protective and it would seem his whole family has a thing for Maya and quite honestly it’s quite frightful
Our killer really is one sick puppy and when I tell you he makes Jeffrey dahmer’s antics look like Childs play I’m not kidding and he’s definitely someone I’d want to cross paths with ! Just remember this is a really twisted story ….
The characters all have some darkness and hurt they carry Cole really had a rough and sickening childhood though as did Maya and when they share their stories my heart broke for them ,they try to build walls around themselves but the killer sees everything and he’s really clever , did I mention stalkerish and creepy 🙈
I actually left the stair light on while and after reading this! I’ll also be avoiding Diamond Valley like the plague 🤣🙈and the likes of Emma (Cole’s partner )and the mean nannies😵💫people are so vindictive
It was just terrifying , sick , psychotic and brilliant !
It had me on the edge of my seat and I think my family was rather entertained watching me read this 🙈 and Maya had her hands full with these men wanting het curvaceous bod and good heart 😉
Expect the unexpected….
October 20, 2023
Diamond Valley is a place where the rich come to live and play. Where nannies are abundant and they all want to marry the rich guy. Except Maya Archer, she is not like the other nannies around, she generally cares for the child she is minding and wants to keep him safe. One day she meets a shy dad and his twins at the park where her and the kids start to form a friendship. Things are going great until nannies are going missing and the house of the people she nannies for goes up in flames. She meets detective Cole Silverthorne a hot cop who has been on this case for a long time. Together they are trying to find out who the killer is and why he is targeting Maya. If they keep their heads about themselves they just might come out of this alive.
Ok this is one of those books that you go into and think ok i can figure out who the killer is and why they are doing it . But the characters are well written and complex . Maya is one of those characters that is sweet and oh so kind, she reminds me of Mary Poppins in a way . There is an underlying strength to her though that will help her get through the worst time of her life. When everyone is against her we see her grow and become a strong woman who will not be pushed around by anyone man nor child. Cole Silverthorne is a hard as nails detective who well doesn't always play by the books by letting relationships get in the way. He is sexy and debonair but he can really be a twit every now and then. He does need a good smack every now and then. He does eventually come around and become the hero that everyone needs him to be. John the nerdy hot next door neighbor is well he is one of those guys who is quiet but he knows more then he is letting on. You really can't trust him but you are also lulled into the quiet of him and his kids . There are also some secondary characters the nannies who I like to call the mean girl club which just adds to the story cause you just don't know what is going to happen and if any of them will survive.
This is one of those books where you sit down and start reading and you can't put it down . I am usually good at figuring out the bad guy but this book had me baffled. The twists and turns through out had me second guessing myself quite a few times. The characters are so well written and complex you can't help but not like them. There is a great mystery. romance and a lot of he said she said that goes on in this book . The author really did me in with this book , I was really wondering what goes on in her mind. So if you want a good mystery with lots of intrigue check it out . I promise you will love it
Ok this is one of those books that you go into and think ok i can figure out who the killer is and why they are doing it . But the characters are well written and complex . Maya is one of those characters that is sweet and oh so kind, she reminds me of Mary Poppins in a way . There is an underlying strength to her though that will help her get through the worst time of her life. When everyone is against her we see her grow and become a strong woman who will not be pushed around by anyone man nor child. Cole Silverthorne is a hard as nails detective who well doesn't always play by the books by letting relationships get in the way. He is sexy and debonair but he can really be a twit every now and then. He does need a good smack every now and then. He does eventually come around and become the hero that everyone needs him to be. John the nerdy hot next door neighbor is well he is one of those guys who is quiet but he knows more then he is letting on. You really can't trust him but you are also lulled into the quiet of him and his kids . There are also some secondary characters the nannies who I like to call the mean girl club which just adds to the story cause you just don't know what is going to happen and if any of them will survive.
This is one of those books where you sit down and start reading and you can't put it down . I am usually good at figuring out the bad guy but this book had me baffled. The twists and turns through out had me second guessing myself quite a few times. The characters are so well written and complex you can't help but not like them. There is a great mystery. romance and a lot of he said she said that goes on in this book . The author really did me in with this book , I was really wondering what goes on in her mind. So if you want a good mystery with lots of intrigue check it out . I promise you will love it
June 27, 2024
"What happens when your learned behavior is murder? From a young age, I thought killing was normal.
Then I was taken away. They tried to fix me. They failed. They thought changing my identity and giving me a fresh start in a new town would help. They were wrong. They tried to cast out the demons lurking within my mind. It didn’t work. The demons demand satisfaction, regardless of who must die. Diamond Valley, the land of silicone and plastic, is now my hunting ground. I take the most beautiful of all, turning them into my trophies—like beautiful butterflies on display for eternity, encased in glass and metal.
The ones I don’t deem worthy are found in the most gruesome ways, for all to see what’s truly on the inside. Everyone can and will perish in the most horrific ways if we deem it so—except for the most beautiful inside and out. Maya Archer will always be ours—mine and the demons within me.
Detective Cole Silverthorne has spent his entire career chasing me. He has no idea how close I truly am, or that he’s falling in love with what’s mine, which will never do. Once a killer, always a killer."
This story was engaging, the characters were great, the storyline was great, lots of suspense and romance, mystery, was little bit of steamy content as well, I'd recommend 18+ to read. First time reading this author. Can't wait to read more from them. I give this book 4 stars.
Then I was taken away. They tried to fix me. They failed. They thought changing my identity and giving me a fresh start in a new town would help. They were wrong. They tried to cast out the demons lurking within my mind. It didn’t work. The demons demand satisfaction, regardless of who must die. Diamond Valley, the land of silicone and plastic, is now my hunting ground. I take the most beautiful of all, turning them into my trophies—like beautiful butterflies on display for eternity, encased in glass and metal.
The ones I don’t deem worthy are found in the most gruesome ways, for all to see what’s truly on the inside. Everyone can and will perish in the most horrific ways if we deem it so—except for the most beautiful inside and out. Maya Archer will always be ours—mine and the demons within me.
Detective Cole Silverthorne has spent his entire career chasing me. He has no idea how close I truly am, or that he’s falling in love with what’s mine, which will never do. Once a killer, always a killer."
This story was engaging, the characters were great, the storyline was great, lots of suspense and romance, mystery, was little bit of steamy content as well, I'd recommend 18+ to read. First time reading this author. Can't wait to read more from them. I give this book 4 stars.
October 19, 2023
In Diamond Valley, the only problems the elite dealt with were keeping their extramarital affairs quiet and portraying the perfectly perfect life to the public. However, someone has now made Diamond Valley their hunting grounds and is murdering and abducting women that have detectives, like Detective Cole Silverthorne, running around in circles to find some kind of clue or lead.
Cole already has a vested interest in finding this killer, but when the killer seems to be stalking and targeting Maya, the clock is ticking before they strike.
When it comes to books like these I think "I'm going to figure out who did it before the end of the book!" And if I do, after finishing the book I feel so proud of myself.
However, this one had me second-guessing for a bit. But I did figure it out... FOR THE MOST PART. At the end of this one book though, I wasn't sure if I should be proud that I had it mostly figured out or just a tad bit scared of the places my mind goes to figure out these types of books.
I've been craving some more psychological thrillers with a bit of a romance element, that is not off the pages. So of course who better than one of my favorite authors to give us that?!?
Cole already has a vested interest in finding this killer, but when the killer seems to be stalking and targeting Maya, the clock is ticking before they strike.
When it comes to books like these I think "I'm going to figure out who did it before the end of the book!" And if I do, after finishing the book I feel so proud of myself.
However, this one had me second-guessing for a bit. But I did figure it out... FOR THE MOST PART. At the end of this one book though, I wasn't sure if I should be proud that I had it mostly figured out or just a tad bit scared of the places my mind goes to figure out these types of books.
I've been craving some more psychological thrillers with a bit of a romance element, that is not off the pages. So of course who better than one of my favorite authors to give us that?!?
June 26, 2024
Homicidal Innocence by V.J. Lee. This book was WOW! I made the mistake of reading it while house/dog sitting for my brother at his house in the woods by myself! I was awake most of the night. I did not want to put this thrilling romance down. Its the story of a child killer who was sent away and they thought they had fixed him. They were wrong. He was a killer to his core and it would never change. Maya is a nanny in the fancy, rich world of Diamond Valley and while most people are being a nanny for the money Maya is in it for the kids. She loves children and she's in college for child psychology. She wants to help kids in need. While money and secrets flow in this valley Maya is only concerned about helping kids when a serial killer gets too close Maya begins to work with Detective Cole in trying to find this guy before someone else dies. What Maya doesn't know is the killer May have her in his sights. I loved this book it is my favorite genre and I hope this author writes another one soon.
June 29, 2024
This is one of the top reads of the year for me, without a doubt! This is the first book I have read by this author and since finishing it, I have picked up more of their work. The cover drew me in, and I didn’t even have to finish the synopsis before I picked it up. I dove straight into the book when I got home and was gripped from the first page of the prologue! Psychological thrillers are one of my favorite genres, so it’s a challenge to catch me off-guard. This story had so many twists and turns, dead ends, and mystery that I second guessed myself the entire way through. I love that this book is told from multiple points of view as we get to delve into the character’s brains and experience the story. What started as a morning plan to read a couple chapters ended up being an entire day spent absorbed into this romantic suspense! If you like thrillers with romance and spice all mixed in, please do yourself a favor and pick this book up. I cannot wait to start reading other stories by this author!
June 24, 2024
Enter the playground of the affluent, Diamond Valley where the rich have everything and are always looking to outdo the neighbors even down to the cooks and nannies.
The nannies don't mind, young beautiful women take on these nanny jobs, not because they love kids but they are hoping to snag a rich life... that is except Maya.
Maya truly adores children, in college for child psychology and wants to be a social worker she doesn't much care for the games the rich like to play and keeps her head down... bit someone else has set foot in Diamond Valley and they are looking for their next trophy.
A serial killer is hunting rhe community torturing and killing in brutal ways and kidnapping others and they stay missing.. and the focus has turned on Emma
With Cole, the area detective , he and Maya will try to unravel the mystery of this child born serial killer before it's too late and the gripping ride you will take in this story is not one you will soon forget.
The nannies don't mind, young beautiful women take on these nanny jobs, not because they love kids but they are hoping to snag a rich life... that is except Maya.
Maya truly adores children, in college for child psychology and wants to be a social worker she doesn't much care for the games the rich like to play and keeps her head down... bit someone else has set foot in Diamond Valley and they are looking for their next trophy.
A serial killer is hunting rhe community torturing and killing in brutal ways and kidnapping others and they stay missing.. and the focus has turned on Emma
With Cole, the area detective , he and Maya will try to unravel the mystery of this child born serial killer before it's too late and the gripping ride you will take in this story is not one you will soon forget.
June 24, 2024
Homicidal Innocence by V.J. Lee - Review by Sue Kemp
This is the first book I have read by VJ Lee, and I have to say that I enjoyed the book from start to finish. If you are some one who loves a thriller with romance chucked in to the mix, then I would highly suggest you read this book. This book has some good twists and turns that it will keep you guessing what is going to happen next. Do not be fooled to think you have worked certain parts of the book all worked out, as the book will prove you wrong. This being my first book by VJ Lee, and I do not normally read thrillers I found the way the book was written held my attention from the second chapter until the end of the book. I do feel that Maya’s weight could have been dealt with once and then forgotten about. That is my only gripe about the book. I am looking forward to reading more of VJ Lee’s work in the future. I am giving this book a 4-star rating.
This is the first book I have read by VJ Lee, and I have to say that I enjoyed the book from start to finish. If you are some one who loves a thriller with romance chucked in to the mix, then I would highly suggest you read this book. This book has some good twists and turns that it will keep you guessing what is going to happen next. Do not be fooled to think you have worked certain parts of the book all worked out, as the book will prove you wrong. This being my first book by VJ Lee, and I do not normally read thrillers I found the way the book was written held my attention from the second chapter until the end of the book. I do feel that Maya’s weight could have been dealt with once and then forgotten about. That is my only gripe about the book. I am looking forward to reading more of VJ Lee’s work in the future. I am giving this book a 4-star rating.
June 27, 2024
Homicidal Innocence is full of twists and turns that you won’t see coming! I love that the perspective changes from X (the murderer), Maya, John, and Cole. Even with reading the perspective of X I still could not figure out the murderer in the end and was shocked. The ending left me wanting more (in a good way!). Maya is a nanny for a wealthy family in Diamond Valley and unlike most nannies she is there for Benji (her charge). John is a single father taking care of twins that has yet to find the right nanny. Cole is a police detective working on figuring out who X is. With X killing and taking nannies around Diamond Valley, Cole has his work cut out for him. The characters are all well thought out. There is a lot of spice and romance in this book but also depictions of violent acts. If you like murder mysteries, being in the murderers’ head, and spice then you’ll love Homicidal Innocence!
June 29, 2024
Once you start this book you won’t stop, I had a hard time outing this down. This was a very intriguing and suspenseful books that had me turning pages like my life was in danger. This book was filled with so much from mystery, suspense, romance, and just about everything but of course vampires not included. This book gave me that feeling that I was right there beside every single character, the feeling you get from them is that you have known them for a long time, like longtime friends. They are very well written, and you almost get that feeling of no, they couldn’t have done it, or did they? The way this book was written it was like you’re in there riding along with everyone, that feeling like you’re the fly on the wall. This was a great mystery that had me constantly second guessing myself. I highly recommend this book but be warned you will not be able to put it down till you read the whole thing.
September 24, 2024
Homicidal psychological thriller with a touch of obsession!
This is an emotionally thrilling suspense with a psychological bent and a splash of tru romance touched with obsession. This author has you hanging white knuckled on the edge of your seat from the onset to the last sentence which may make you read it again to see what you missed. The character development will slay you and the multiple POV's make the story much more succinct and intensely riveting. This story obsessed about the FMC and her weight and how she thumbs her nose at everyone as she is quite happy with herself. The obsession in the story come from so many angles that you will not put this book down but compulsively read it to see who did what. My best advise is to expect the unexpected and I bet you will think you know who is who but the ending will destroy you. This author never fails to amaze me and this is one of the best read this year. Well done.
This is an emotionally thrilling suspense with a psychological bent and a splash of tru romance touched with obsession. This author has you hanging white knuckled on the edge of your seat from the onset to the last sentence which may make you read it again to see what you missed. The character development will slay you and the multiple POV's make the story much more succinct and intensely riveting. This story obsessed about the FMC and her weight and how she thumbs her nose at everyone as she is quite happy with herself. The obsession in the story come from so many angles that you will not put this book down but compulsively read it to see who did what. My best advise is to expect the unexpected and I bet you will think you know who is who but the ending will destroy you. This author never fails to amaze me and this is one of the best read this year. Well done.
July 7, 2025
Homicidal Innocence
by V.J. Lee
This is the first book I have read by VJ Lee, and I have to say that I enjoyed the book from start to finish. If you are some one who loves a thriller with romance chucked in to the mix, then I would highly suggest you read this book. This book has some good twists and turns that it will keep you guessing what is going to happen next. Do not be fooled to think you have worked certain parts of the book all worked out, as the book will prove you wrong. This being my first book by VJ Lee, and I do not normally read thrillers I found the way the book was written held my attention from the second chapter until the end of the book. I do feel that Maya’s weight could have been dealt with once and then forgotten about. That is my only gripe about the book. I am looking forward to reading more of VJ Lee’s work in the future. I am giving this book a 4-star rating.
by V.J. Lee
This is the first book I have read by VJ Lee, and I have to say that I enjoyed the book from start to finish. If you are some one who loves a thriller with romance chucked in to the mix, then I would highly suggest you read this book. This book has some good twists and turns that it will keep you guessing what is going to happen next. Do not be fooled to think you have worked certain parts of the book all worked out, as the book will prove you wrong. This being my first book by VJ Lee, and I do not normally read thrillers I found the way the book was written held my attention from the second chapter until the end of the book. I do feel that Maya’s weight could have been dealt with once and then forgotten about. That is my only gripe about the book. I am looking forward to reading more of VJ Lee’s work in the future. I am giving this book a 4-star rating.
October 17, 2025
Hey, yea so that was insane!
I felt like I was getting slapped in the face every other chapter with the amount of shit going on.
I was reeling throughout the book having suspicions, but not fully knowing who “X”. They took the plot through a fucking world of twisted turns. And it was AMAZING.
I will admit I WAS NOT expecting that in the epilogue and it threw me for a loop and left me so utterly shocked.
Cole lowkey was pissing me off sometimes. My guy I know you were bleeding out and shit but can we level down the self-loathing a few notches? Jesus Christ the man needs that inspirational poster detailing what he can and cannot control. And he’s a fucking idiot with the stunt he pulled with Maya. COMMUNICATION IS A BEAUTIFUL THING. But apparently he only knows how to do it when his life and/or relationship is on the line. Ugh MEN.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I felt like I was getting slapped in the face every other chapter with the amount of shit going on.
I was reeling throughout the book having suspicions, but not fully knowing who “X”. They took the plot through a fucking world of twisted turns. And it was AMAZING.
I will admit I WAS NOT expecting that in the epilogue and it threw me for a loop and left me so utterly shocked.
Cole lowkey was pissing me off sometimes. My guy I know you were bleeding out and shit but can we level down the self-loathing a few notches? Jesus Christ the man needs that inspirational poster detailing what he can and cannot control. And he’s a fucking idiot with the stunt he pulled with Maya. COMMUNICATION IS A BEAUTIFUL THING. But apparently he only knows how to do it when his life and/or relationship is on the line. Ugh MEN.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
June 28, 2024
Homicidal Innocence is a Romantic Suspense for V.J. Lee. This story starts with a great introduction. It grabbed me from the start describing how the character got started killing as a child. We follow Maya, Cole, and X. The multiple points of view work very well. It was fascinating being in the mind of the killer, but you need the balance of the other two characters so that it doesn’t become too much. The juxtaposition between Cole the detective and X the killer is very intriguing. The characters of Cole and Maya were good but less complex than X. I felt the romance plot struggled. It was hard for me to believe that the characters were so in love. There was almost no relationship building and only sex. All in all this was a fast-paced, twisty thriller. The payoff in the end was very satisfying.
June 28, 2024
Homicidal Innocence is a romantic suspense full of danger, action, murder, mystery, intrigue, suspense, tension, and twists and turns. This book had me intrigued from the first few pages and kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. The story is told from multiple POV’s which helps us to get a deeper understanding of each character. A serial killer named X, seems to be using an elite and exclusive gated community as his hunting grounds and Detective Cole Silverthorne is determined to catch him before he strikes again. Maya works as a live-in nanny in the same community that the women seem to be vanishing. The killer is cold, vicious, and unfazed by the determined Detective Silverthorne that wants to stop him. Danger and secrets lurk around every corner and the hunt is on but who is chasing who? A gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.
July 1, 2024
Woah, this isn't what I was expecting in the slightest. It was like watching a train wreck, not because the writing was bad, just that it was so dark and twisted but I couldn't pull away from it. The beginning had me very unsure but as I kept reading I was hooked and had to know what was going to happen next. It was cool to get different POV throughout this story, even from the killers side. Cole bothered me at first but ended up being a good guy who went through a lot as he grew up. Emma irritated me to no end with how she wouldn't take no as an answer and kept trying to sabotage things to get to Cole. Maya was staying in a rich community as a nanny where everyone was fake and plastic but her. She had multiple men drawn to her because she was genuine but she quickly grew feelings for Cole. Cole does whatever he can to win her over and protect her from "X" but who will save who in the end? This was a suspenseful and spicy read, and I would love to read more from this author.
June 14, 2024
About halfway through this book, I thought I had the killer figured out, but I was wrong. There was so much more to it than what I thought. I was maybe 1/8 right, but what a twist in the end. Then that ending, geez. It leaves so many questions and now I need more, I need to know what happened next. It does keep you on your toes.
Besides being a thriller, it also has some romance involved. I do like how the main female character isn't described as being like most main female characters. She doesn't look like a supermodel but the men and some women she comes into contact with become infatuated with her due to her caring and loving nature as well as what is described as a "heavier curvy woman".
Besides being a thriller, it also has some romance involved. I do like how the main female character isn't described as being like most main female characters. She doesn't look like a supermodel but the men and some women she comes into contact with become infatuated with her due to her caring and loving nature as well as what is described as a "heavier curvy woman".
June 25, 2024
Boy, did I like this one. As a romantic suspense, I couldn't help but be hooked from the minute Donny came over to them on the playground and wanted to build sand castles with them. From that moment on, the intrigue was there. What's with the mystery man? I thought he might be the baddie but no, he has mystery of his own. Creepo is out there hunting the women. This will get you with twists and turns. As a thriller, it's fabulous, I found my self holding my breath waiting for this weirdo to pop out. This is one of my favorites for the year. These are amazing characters. I absolutely loved how the author set up the story right from the start. The premise of the story was great for a thriller/romantic suspense. She is a new author to me and I hope to read more from her. Fantastic.
June 28, 2024
**A Riveting Psychological Thriller with a Twist of Obsession**
In "Homicidal Innocence," VJ Lee plunges readers into a chilling world where learned behavior leads to deadly consequences. Set in the superficial glamour of Diamond Valley, the story follows a killer whose twisted sense of justice clashes with Detective Cole Silverthorne's relentless pursuit.
Amidst the darkness, a disturbing romance unfolds, blurring the lines between love and possession. Lee's narrative probes deep into the complexities of identity and the allure of violence, creating a gripping psychological thriller that leaves a lasting impression.
This five-star read combines raw intensity with a haunting exploration of obsession, making it essential for fans of suspenseful and thought-provoking fiction.
In "Homicidal Innocence," VJ Lee plunges readers into a chilling world where learned behavior leads to deadly consequences. Set in the superficial glamour of Diamond Valley, the story follows a killer whose twisted sense of justice clashes with Detective Cole Silverthorne's relentless pursuit.
Amidst the darkness, a disturbing romance unfolds, blurring the lines between love and possession. Lee's narrative probes deep into the complexities of identity and the allure of violence, creating a gripping psychological thriller that leaves a lasting impression.
This five-star read combines raw intensity with a haunting exploration of obsession, making it essential for fans of suspenseful and thought-provoking fiction.
June 25, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The characters were well developed and relatable. The plot was thicker than Maya. The twists and turns along the way kept me on the edge of the page wanting more.
The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because there were a few uncomfortable moments where Maya's weight was mentioned more than I felt was necessary and some of the thought processes were odd for the situation. Overall, I would highly recommend. I loved the back and forth between characters and the different point of views. I loved the POV of the suspect; it gave a different vibe and insight to the story that I feel added a lot to the plot. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because there were a few uncomfortable moments where Maya's weight was mentioned more than I felt was necessary and some of the thought processes were odd for the situation. Overall, I would highly recommend. I loved the back and forth between characters and the different point of views. I loved the POV of the suspect; it gave a different vibe and insight to the story that I feel added a lot to the plot. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
June 26, 2024
Homicidal Innocence by VJ Lee is unlike anything that I have ever read and need to stay for an author to write a book like this, truly has TALENT. The twists and turns leave you shocked and through all this you are in the mind of a child killer. Every character is so complex from Maya, the sweet nurse, to Detective Cole Silverthorne who is hard as nails and John the nerdy neighbor who knows more than he is letting on. You dive into this story that leaves you at the edge of seat and not wanting to stop reading because you HAVE to know WHO the killer is.
THIS IS SIMPLY a great read that you will not put down, and I know I want to read more by this author because WOW, my mind was blown!
THIS IS SIMPLY a great read that you will not put down, and I know I want to read more by this author because WOW, my mind was blown!
June 27, 2024
This book is a gripping thriller that had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. In fact, I was probably like that from the moment I read the description. I just had to read this story and find out what was going on.
The author takes you on such an intense but well craft journey. There are so many twists and turns thrown in that I never knew where it was going to end up. I became really invested in the characters and I think a large part of that is because of the multiple POV. It allowed you, as the reader, to experience things in much more detail and added to the overall suspense. This is an incredible story and, if all her books are like this, I cannot wait to discover more.
The author takes you on such an intense but well craft journey. There are so many twists and turns thrown in that I never knew where it was going to end up. I became really invested in the characters and I think a large part of that is because of the multiple POV. It allowed you, as the reader, to experience things in much more detail and added to the overall suspense. This is an incredible story and, if all her books are like this, I cannot wait to discover more.
June 28, 2024
Homicidal Innocence is a psychological thriller, with a bit of romance in between, by V.J. Lee. I loved this book from the second I opened it, and just could not separate myself from it. The story was engaging, constantly keeping you on your toes. I haven't read from this author before, and i think this book was phenomenal. You think you'll be able to figure it out on your own but this author is really gonna throw you for a loop! I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this author from now on!
June 29, 2024
I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. For me personally it was really triggering because I used to be married to a cop. I still managed to put that to the side and enjoy it. Maya is a nanny who actually cares about the kids in her care unlike most women near her in the same profession. Cole is law enforcement. The way he's drawn to Maya is nothing he's ever experienced. With a serial killer on a hunt leaving some women dead and some missing. With no preference. Cole having a hunch Maya is in danger.
March 17, 2025
This was my introduction to VJ Lee's work and was quite the first impression. Not normally one to pick up on suspense thrillers, I found myself caught up in the story of Maya and Cole, as well as X, and the plethora of intriguing other characters which all gave Diamond Valley it's well developed backdrop.
The twists and turns kept a reader on the edge of their seat. The romance was good. The plot was well built and the characters all developed so well that it felt like we were a part of this place, experiencing this shocking series of events.
The twists and turns kept a reader on the edge of their seat. The romance was good. The plot was well built and the characters all developed so well that it felt like we were a part of this place, experiencing this shocking series of events.
June 26, 2024
Homicidal Innocence is an intense very well-crafted psychological thriller with a little added romance.
So well done that even when I was sure I had it figured out I was wrong. I did a lot of second guessing on this one. Characters are well written, likeable even. This book was so twisted, yet all the twists and turns were done so nicely, so complex and intense that I felt on the edge of my seat most of the time. I can definitely say one of the top books I have read this year.
So well done that even when I was sure I had it figured out I was wrong. I did a lot of second guessing on this one. Characters are well written, likeable even. This book was so twisted, yet all the twists and turns were done so nicely, so complex and intense that I felt on the edge of my seat most of the time. I can definitely say one of the top books I have read this year.
November 6, 2024
Ok, I always know who did it very early in the read... Not in this case! Hats off to V.J. who had me all lost trying to find the culprit and always getting it wrong!! Loved it!!! As always, any book written by VJ is going to be awesomely written and her characters are impressive and well rounded, her story telling skills are on point no matter what she is writing about. Be warned, you will get sucked into this story, make sure you have time and you don't need to sleep before you start, lol
October 5, 2025
Holy cow this book!!
I could not put it down! The talent of this author is unmatched with her ability to write a destroy with romance throne suspense all in one period you will be on the edge of your seat!
The key takeaway points for this book are expect the unexpected and remember the past is never really in the past.
Oh and to the V.J. Lee that epilogue destroyed me if I don't get a subsequent book I may cry.
I could not put it down! The talent of this author is unmatched with her ability to write a destroy with romance throne suspense all in one period you will be on the edge of your seat!
The key takeaway points for this book are expect the unexpected and remember the past is never really in the past.
Oh and to the V.J. Lee that epilogue destroyed me if I don't get a subsequent book I may cry.
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