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DI Eleanor Raven #1
The Safe Word
There are rules that every player of every game must abide by, no matter how dangerous the sport.
Toronto has become the backdrop to a macabre set of artistic installations: women kidnapped, tortured and horrifically displayed by a killer with a vision.
Only someone capable of understanding the killer's creative desire will be able to stop the murders and D I Eleanor Raven is uniquely qualified. Driven by a complex personality she pursues only the facts, only the things she can see, but never casts a judgement.
But she also has a dark and dangerous secret - one that will threaten her very survival.
Toronto has become the backdrop to a macabre set of artistic installations: women kidnapped, tortured and horrifically displayed by a killer with a vision.
Only someone capable of understanding the killer's creative desire will be able to stop the murders and D I Eleanor Raven is uniquely qualified. Driven by a complex personality she pursues only the facts, only the things she can see, but never casts a judgement.
But she also has a dark and dangerous secret - one that will threaten her very survival.
316 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2014
241 people are currently reading
1376 people want to read
About the author
Karen Long
3 books85 followersKaren Long was born and raised in the English Midlands, read English Literature and Drama at Bangor University and later on studied Neurobiology with the Open University. She began her working life as a secondary school teacher but took up full time writing ten years ago. The Eleanor Raven trilogy is now being republished by @Bookouture. The first book is the series 'Cry For Mercy' is available as a pre-order. Release date 16th November 2020.
She is an enthusiastic traveller dedicating considerable time to pursuing her lifelong obsession with the natural world. There is nothing too slimy, too scaly, too dangerous or toxic for her not to want to observe and photograph it badly. Her particular love is for the crow family and she has looked after and rehabilitated numerous rooks, magpies, carrion crows, jackdaws and raven.
She lives in Los Angeles.
She is an enthusiastic traveller dedicating considerable time to pursuing her lifelong obsession with the natural world. There is nothing too slimy, too scaly, too dangerous or toxic for her not to want to observe and photograph it badly. Her particular love is for the crow family and she has looked after and rehabilitated numerous rooks, magpies, carrion crows, jackdaws and raven.
She lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
January 27, 2021
From the opening scene until the dramatic, action-packed conclusion, this first book in a new series featuring DI Eleanor Raven is compelling and thrilling. The protagonist, although a detective, is unique to the women in many other current novels that are police procedurals and mysteries. In this book, Eleanor and her colleagues of Toronto, Canada, Police Department are on the hunt for a murderer who wants to display his victims as works of art. NO SPOILERS.
I really enjoyed this and am happy to find a new series to continue. I'll be starting the second, PERFECT LITTLE DOLLS, shortly and can't wait to find out more about Eleanor and the other detectives on her team. The narrative was well written and the details were quite interesting describing a world that I knew nothing about -- BDSM. Although the reader knows the identity of the killer early on, the story of how the police come to figure it all out created some great tension and suspense. The climax was a little long and drawn out, but other than that, I was quite satisfied at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
I really enjoyed this and am happy to find a new series to continue. I'll be starting the second, PERFECT LITTLE DOLLS, shortly and can't wait to find out more about Eleanor and the other detectives on her team. The narrative was well written and the details were quite interesting describing a world that I knew nothing about -- BDSM. Although the reader knows the identity of the killer early on, the story of how the police come to figure it all out created some great tension and suspense. The climax was a little long and drawn out, but other than that, I was quite satisfied at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
June 29, 2021
DS Eleanor Raven has a dark and dangerous secret that may destroy her very life.
This book takes us into the seedy and terrifying world of BDSM or “bondage/domination sadomasochism” . Someone is offering a 'pretend' kidnapping to young women who would like to experience the ultimate in mild or simulated pain or humiliation. Anyone involved in these kinds of games must have a safe word .. a word, that when spoken, means the end of the game.
Someone is taking it further .... young women are found tortured, and horribly displayed in public places by a killer with a vision. In his mind, there is no safe word.
Along with her new partner, Detective Laurence Whitefoot, Eleanor needs to stop this psychopath, this vicious killer. He knows Eleanor's secret and he has his eyes set on her.
Creepy reading ... got goosebumps a few times. Great bad guy! I haven't decided yet whether or not I like Eleanor. At times she comes across rude and obnoxious and very bossy. She doesn't think much of her new partner, but I think that will change in Book 2 of the series .....THE VAULT. I like Whitefoot ... he's very considerate of his partner's feelings and tries very hard to not only fit in, but become the kind of partner she can come to depend on.
Many thanks to NetGalley / Lawsome / Bookouture (2021) books for furnishing this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
This book takes us into the seedy and terrifying world of BDSM or “bondage/domination sadomasochism” . Someone is offering a 'pretend' kidnapping to young women who would like to experience the ultimate in mild or simulated pain or humiliation. Anyone involved in these kinds of games must have a safe word .. a word, that when spoken, means the end of the game.
Someone is taking it further .... young women are found tortured, and horribly displayed in public places by a killer with a vision. In his mind, there is no safe word.
Along with her new partner, Detective Laurence Whitefoot, Eleanor needs to stop this psychopath, this vicious killer. He knows Eleanor's secret and he has his eyes set on her.
Creepy reading ... got goosebumps a few times. Great bad guy! I haven't decided yet whether or not I like Eleanor. At times she comes across rude and obnoxious and very bossy. She doesn't think much of her new partner, but I think that will change in Book 2 of the series .....THE VAULT. I like Whitefoot ... he's very considerate of his partner's feelings and tries very hard to not only fit in, but become the kind of partner she can come to depend on.
Many thanks to NetGalley / Lawsome / Bookouture (2021) books for furnishing this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
November 18, 2020
DI Eleanor Raven arrives at a derelict power station briefed on the murder scene inside. A beautiful young woman has been found, her body posed and cherry red lipstick painted across her mouth. Then another woman is found,bound in the same ritualistic stance and wearing the same lipstick. Eleanor's case becomes more twisted.
I liked Eleanor Raven, there was something different about her character that most female Detectives have. This is much more than a whodunit. Everything about this book has been well researched. The pace is fast and the plotline believable. I couldn't put this book down
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #KarenLong for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked Eleanor Raven, there was something different about her character that most female Detectives have. This is much more than a whodunit. Everything about this book has been well researched. The pace is fast and the plotline believable. I couldn't put this book down
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #KarenLong for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2021
Cry for Mercy by Karen Long is the first in the Detective Eleanor Raven series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Information:
Detective Eleanor Raven works for the Homicide Department of the Toronto Police Department. Her boss, Chief Inspector Marty Samuelson has been her boss since she graduated over 10 years ago. Her long-time partner Mo is on leave due to a heart attack. The rest of her team consists of Wadesky (7 months pregnant), and Timms, and her new partner Detective Laurence Whitefoot.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The naked body of a woman is found, wrapped in plastic, red lipstick smeared across her mouth, her body posed.
She is not the first victim of this sadistic killer, nor will she be the last.
Working with a new partner is not easy for Eleanor, but she is going to have to rely on her whole team to find the connection between these two women and stop this killer before he gets his hands on someone else.
But she is unaware that the killer has targeted her for his next art show.
My Opinions:
Okay, anybody else think it's strange that a British author, living in California, sets her series in Toronto Canada? I'm not complaining, just finding it weird. The use of the word "pan" for toilet is not Canadian, and neither is the word "sectioned" used with reference to a mental health commitments.
The above doesn't really matter....the book was good, especially for a debut novel. I absolutely loved the characters. I found that although the books will center around Eleanor, I found that the secondary characters were just as interesting. However, the fact that Eleanor has a rather bizarre secret life made it fun. Unlike other female detectives, I don't feel Eleanor is "flawed". She may have a few issues, but she is a strong and capable leader. I think she and her new partner Whitefoot will be a good pairing, as I liked him as well.
The plot was different, and the pace was good, with quite a bit of suspense.
Bottom line, as long as you are okay with a bit of BDSM and a bit of gore, I'd recommend this one. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including my reason for choosing this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
June 2, 2016
A gripping series opener. 4/5 stars.
This review was originally posted on my book blog.
This first installment in the Eleanor Raven series has everything fans of police procedurals could want. An escalating, chilling serial killer. A competent, hard-boiled female detective on his tail, struggling as she totes round a new partner who also happens to be an irritating rookie. A likeable cast of colourful secondary characters. Hell, there’s even a dog! Ultimately, the experience reminded me of watching some of the best crime drama I’ve seen. In fact, this book could easily be adapted into a cracking TV mini series.
The plot is skillfully handled. The threads draw together slowly, switching between various points of view on the police and criminal side of the story. But, despite all this viewpoint hopping and a couple of decent red herrings, we’re never confused as to what’s going on.
Another refreshing touch, setting this book apart from many thrillers I’ve read, is that the seasoned cops are actually competent and it’s not only the main character who is any good at her job. For me this added to the credibility of the story because I can never quite believe that all the detectives in a police precinct are unobservant, bumbling twits unable to solve crimes.
The dialogue was lively and convincing. And that’s not reviewer code of “swear-tastic”, although there is a fair bit of cursing. But, again, this added to the realism. I’ve never been convinced that the police, who have to deal with the worst of humanity, don’t feel the need to use expletives. I know I would.
The thriller/crime genre is necessarily formulaic and what distinguishes the reader’s experience of one book from another is the connection they feel to a particular set of characters. In the case of The Safe Word, I felt more drawn to the secondary characters than to Eleanor and this is probably why this was a 4, rather than 5-star read. However, this is the first installment in a series, and attachments to characters are built over time and books.
Overall: this is a gripping series opener which promises future outstanding installments. I look forward to reading book 2, The Vault.
Thank you to Karen Long for sending me a copy of The Safe Word in return for an honest review.
This review was originally posted on my book blog.
This first installment in the Eleanor Raven series has everything fans of police procedurals could want. An escalating, chilling serial killer. A competent, hard-boiled female detective on his tail, struggling as she totes round a new partner who also happens to be an irritating rookie. A likeable cast of colourful secondary characters. Hell, there’s even a dog! Ultimately, the experience reminded me of watching some of the best crime drama I’ve seen. In fact, this book could easily be adapted into a cracking TV mini series.
The plot is skillfully handled. The threads draw together slowly, switching between various points of view on the police and criminal side of the story. But, despite all this viewpoint hopping and a couple of decent red herrings, we’re never confused as to what’s going on.
Another refreshing touch, setting this book apart from many thrillers I’ve read, is that the seasoned cops are actually competent and it’s not only the main character who is any good at her job. For me this added to the credibility of the story because I can never quite believe that all the detectives in a police precinct are unobservant, bumbling twits unable to solve crimes.
The dialogue was lively and convincing. And that’s not reviewer code of “swear-tastic”, although there is a fair bit of cursing. But, again, this added to the realism. I’ve never been convinced that the police, who have to deal with the worst of humanity, don’t feel the need to use expletives. I know I would.
The thriller/crime genre is necessarily formulaic and what distinguishes the reader’s experience of one book from another is the connection they feel to a particular set of characters. In the case of The Safe Word, I felt more drawn to the secondary characters than to Eleanor and this is probably why this was a 4, rather than 5-star read. However, this is the first installment in a series, and attachments to characters are built over time and books.
Overall: this is a gripping series opener which promises future outstanding installments. I look forward to reading book 2, The Vault.
Thank you to Karen Long for sending me a copy of The Safe Word in return for an honest review.
July 19, 2019
This is incredibly hard to believe that The Safe Word is the very first novel by Karen Long. I wouldn't hesitate to read another book by Karen Long. Here I have just found my self a new author to follow. D I Eleanor Raven has a dark secret life outside from being D I Raven. When she is D I Raven on a murder case two victims have been heavily smeared with read lipsticks is there a link to the murder of Belinda Myrtle and that of Lydia Greystein?. D I Eleanor Raven and will focus her attention to the crime scene and she barks her orders. Sharp straight to the point D I Raven won't tolerate being lied to and she bluntly tells everyone that she only wants the facts from now on. The Safe Word spread the word Karen Long is new voice of crime novels. I would like to thank Brook Cottage Books for sending me this page turning crime novel.
July 10, 2015
Title: "The Safe Word" - author's first publication and start of a series.
Author: Karen Long
Published: January, 2014
Genre: Fiction, adult fiction, BDSM (NOT MUCH), erotica, adult themes, adult language, mystery, law enforcement, British literature (author is British), murder, thriller, violence, mental illness.
Read: July, 2015.
Format: this electronic book was provided free of charge via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
My rating (scale: 1-5 stars): 3.5 stars.
My thoughts:
When I requested this book, I was expecting something WAY more BDSM/erotica focused as it begins this way. Much to my surprise, there's really only that one scene! Bondage and sex in general are more referred to and implied than actually presented. I did find this surprising as the book was classified as "erotica".
Nonetheless, what we end up reading is a nursery mystery-thriller-who dunnit story. Now this is one of my favorite genres to read so I was not exactly sad about that! Lol. The story is centered around a group of cops trying to solve the serial murders of s few young women with no leads, etc. there is a lot of interpersonal drama amongst the characters (the cops) and I found it EXTREMELY baffling how a cop would stand up in front of his coworkers, make a presentation using the word "ain't" amid other casual slang expressions then two paragraphs later, that same dude is having thoughts using words such as "saccaded" (which I found out is basically a rapid eye movement) and "ameliorated" (something "bad" basically). That to me is an odd mix of languages, you know? Maybe I'm weird and quite possible too fussy, but that type of thing (combining slang and thesaurus worthy language) makes me crazy! I can overlook typos, run I sentences missing commas, etc, but I often fall into a grammar policing role.
The story itself is sufficient; solidly a three star plot, if we remember to think of the book as a mystery of course.
It is a pretty long book and I can NOT even imagine how much work went into writing a book like this! That alone is worthy of a bump in the rating, in my opinion. My respect for ALL authors dies not waver, whether I like their book(s) or not. It is an amazing and enviable talent indeed!
I will probably eventually read the next book written by Ms. Long in this series as I hope to see these characters develop more and the relationships evolve as the author's skill and confidence does too! I am glad I had the opportunity to read this FIRST work by Long; it'll be fun to see how she counties to develop her skill.
Thank you for reading my review! Please feel free to ask questions if you would like more specific information. :))
Original review posted: www.netgalley.com/NurseLisainOhio or "Lisa Ridenour".
https://s2.netgalley.com/images/badge...
Cheers!
Lisa
Author: Karen Long
Published: January, 2014
Genre: Fiction, adult fiction, BDSM (NOT MUCH), erotica, adult themes, adult language, mystery, law enforcement, British literature (author is British), murder, thriller, violence, mental illness.
Read: July, 2015.
Format: this electronic book was provided free of charge via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
My rating (scale: 1-5 stars): 3.5 stars.
My thoughts:
When I requested this book, I was expecting something WAY more BDSM/erotica focused as it begins this way. Much to my surprise, there's really only that one scene! Bondage and sex in general are more referred to and implied than actually presented. I did find this surprising as the book was classified as "erotica".
Nonetheless, what we end up reading is a nursery mystery-thriller-who dunnit story. Now this is one of my favorite genres to read so I was not exactly sad about that! Lol. The story is centered around a group of cops trying to solve the serial murders of s few young women with no leads, etc. there is a lot of interpersonal drama amongst the characters (the cops) and I found it EXTREMELY baffling how a cop would stand up in front of his coworkers, make a presentation using the word "ain't" amid other casual slang expressions then two paragraphs later, that same dude is having thoughts using words such as "saccaded" (which I found out is basically a rapid eye movement) and "ameliorated" (something "bad" basically). That to me is an odd mix of languages, you know? Maybe I'm weird and quite possible too fussy, but that type of thing (combining slang and thesaurus worthy language) makes me crazy! I can overlook typos, run I sentences missing commas, etc, but I often fall into a grammar policing role.
The story itself is sufficient; solidly a three star plot, if we remember to think of the book as a mystery of course.
It is a pretty long book and I can NOT even imagine how much work went into writing a book like this! That alone is worthy of a bump in the rating, in my opinion. My respect for ALL authors dies not waver, whether I like their book(s) or not. It is an amazing and enviable talent indeed!
I will probably eventually read the next book written by Ms. Long in this series as I hope to see these characters develop more and the relationships evolve as the author's skill and confidence does too! I am glad I had the opportunity to read this FIRST work by Long; it'll be fun to see how she counties to develop her skill.
Thank you for reading my review! Please feel free to ask questions if you would like more specific information. :))
Original review posted: www.netgalley.com/NurseLisainOhio or "Lisa Ridenour".
https://s2.netgalley.com/images/badge...
Cheers!
Lisa
March 30, 2015
This is one of those books that I suddenly noticed everyone raving about on Twitter so I was very happy when the author sent me a copy for review purposes – and blimey it packed a HELL of a punch with one of the best openings I’ve seen in a crime novel for a while which was then followed by a highly compelling story with some terrifically drawn characters.
Eleanor Raven is a beautifully drawn character, dark and delicious, highly intelligent and one who doesnt suffer fools gladly OR apologise for who she is. This makes for a great read especially when she is faced with a dangerous killer, one she is uniquely placed to capture. Still, he leads her on a merry dance and it is fascinating and addictive storytelling with a seductive and sensual edge.
The mystery element is well imagined and will keep you guessing – the dark underbelly of Toronto comes to vivid life as Eleanor and cohorts follow the trail that leads to danger and desire – a really terrific tale that will keep you up long into the night.
Overall a really most excellent read – definitely comes highly recommended from me and I’m looking forward to reading the next Raven novel which is lined up on my Kindle as we speak.
Happy Reading Folks!
Eleanor Raven is a beautifully drawn character, dark and delicious, highly intelligent and one who doesnt suffer fools gladly OR apologise for who she is. This makes for a great read especially when she is faced with a dangerous killer, one she is uniquely placed to capture. Still, he leads her on a merry dance and it is fascinating and addictive storytelling with a seductive and sensual edge.
The mystery element is well imagined and will keep you guessing – the dark underbelly of Toronto comes to vivid life as Eleanor and cohorts follow the trail that leads to danger and desire – a really terrific tale that will keep you up long into the night.
Overall a really most excellent read – definitely comes highly recommended from me and I’m looking forward to reading the next Raven novel which is lined up on my Kindle as we speak.
Happy Reading Folks!
November 16, 2020
Flawed DI Eleanor Raven, the main character in author
Karen Long’s
novel
Cry for Mercy
has a secret she keeps from her colleagues and it's one that could end her career and land her in grave danger. Along with her new partner, Detective Laurence Whitefoot, she’s also chasing a serial killer who is torturing young women after first wrapping them in plastic sheets and then leaving them horribly displayed in public places. Initially, the detectives are struggling to determine the killer’s motivations until Eleanor finds a link between the victims and a cold case, an unsolved death with a connection to her own personal life...
Cry for Mercy had me so engrossed from the first chapter until the final page. This speedily-paced, tense and completely gripping mystery thriller has a brilliant opening and really packed a helluva punch! Eleanor Raven was a wonderfully drawn character, dark and highly intelligent who didn't suffer fools gladly. She made Cry for Mercy a great read, faced as she was with an evil killer, and one she was in a unique position to capture. Karen Long’s fascinating and addictive storytelling really worked for me and I loved that this story had a seductive edge. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series - Perfect Little Dolls and I highly recommend Cry for Mercy.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
Cry for Mercy had me so engrossed from the first chapter until the final page. This speedily-paced, tense and completely gripping mystery thriller has a brilliant opening and really packed a helluva punch! Eleanor Raven was a wonderfully drawn character, dark and highly intelligent who didn't suffer fools gladly. She made Cry for Mercy a great read, faced as she was with an evil killer, and one she was in a unique position to capture. Karen Long’s fascinating and addictive storytelling really worked for me and I loved that this story had a seductive edge. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series - Perfect Little Dolls and I highly recommend Cry for Mercy.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
November 17, 2020
A gritty tale that soon pulled me into the depths of illicit pleasures and games. Cry for Mercy by Karen Long had one of the most shocking first chapter I have read in a long time. And the pages too flew fast.
DI Eleanor Raven had a secret life, but that didn’t stop her from rushing headlong into the investigation of the kidnapping and murder of women who were posed post their deaths in a gruesome manner. With a new partner Laurence, it was up to her to scan all the pleasure points of the city to find out who was playing the most dangerous game.
The writing had a darkness imbibed in it, somehow it felt that the words took on the intentions of the author and reflected the claustrophobic atmosphere she wanted to create in the book. It was distinctly eerie and left me with a sense of disquiet.
I was no stranger to blood and gore in books; I usually read them during breakfast. But this gave me the intense feel of being in a dark tunnel with only Eleanor pulling me on. Some of the pathways were distinctly uncomfortable. And Eleanor too was not very likable. I hoped she’d settle down in the next book.
The book had a darker than normal plotline, but all the cops worked cohesively where each pulled his weight. There was a careful weaving of the scenes, orchestrated seamlessly by the author. The killer was always one step ahead, and Eleanor had to scramble to catch up with him. That made it a race to the dungeons. Literally.
A book I could finish in one sitting, a great entertainer.
DI Eleanor Raven had a secret life, but that didn’t stop her from rushing headlong into the investigation of the kidnapping and murder of women who were posed post their deaths in a gruesome manner. With a new partner Laurence, it was up to her to scan all the pleasure points of the city to find out who was playing the most dangerous game.
The writing had a darkness imbibed in it, somehow it felt that the words took on the intentions of the author and reflected the claustrophobic atmosphere she wanted to create in the book. It was distinctly eerie and left me with a sense of disquiet.
I was no stranger to blood and gore in books; I usually read them during breakfast. But this gave me the intense feel of being in a dark tunnel with only Eleanor pulling me on. Some of the pathways were distinctly uncomfortable. And Eleanor too was not very likable. I hoped she’d settle down in the next book.
The book had a darker than normal plotline, but all the cops worked cohesively where each pulled his weight. There was a careful weaving of the scenes, orchestrated seamlessly by the author. The killer was always one step ahead, and Eleanor had to scramble to catch up with him. That made it a race to the dungeons. Literally.
A book I could finish in one sitting, a great entertainer.
May 20, 2014
Karen Long introduces her readers to DI Raven in the first chapter of The Safe Word. This is an introduction that is certainly very different to the usual 'meet the Detective' passages.
It's clear from the outset that DI Raven is a little bit different, she has a secret. Her secret could do lots of harm.
And then, bang! The reader finds themselves at the scene of the crime, explicitly described in all of it's gory detail. Due to the nature of these crimes, there is that feeling that DI Raven is going to be the one to solve these - after all, her out of work interests are not that far away from these horrific crimes.
Enough! I'm not going to say any more about the story - read it for yourself!
Raven is a great character, and this is a good story that explores the human mind as well as detailing the police procedures. The characters are well created, and work well together as a team.
Intriguing and clever.
It's clear from the outset that DI Raven is a little bit different, she has a secret. Her secret could do lots of harm.
And then, bang! The reader finds themselves at the scene of the crime, explicitly described in all of it's gory detail. Due to the nature of these crimes, there is that feeling that DI Raven is going to be the one to solve these - after all, her out of work interests are not that far away from these horrific crimes.
Enough! I'm not going to say any more about the story - read it for yourself!
Raven is a great character, and this is a good story that explores the human mind as well as detailing the police procedures. The characters are well created, and work well together as a team.
Intriguing and clever.
November 14, 2020
A gripping and addictive story from another new to me author.
It drew me into it from the first chapter and I had to read it all in one sitting because the twist and turns didn’t stop at all.
I found the storyline very interesting because it’s not very often when an author takes a chance into certain taboo topics and all the mysterious characters and the way they solved the crimes made up for a great few hours of reading.
Eleanor was a great female character that has many secrets on her own and many times, keeping secrets is not a good thing because everything can blow up and destroy the life you know. Catching the killer is definitely not an effortless task, but the author added so many layers to unveil into the story that is making this novel a must-read.
Police procedural details series that I’m sure many lovers of the genre will enjoy.
Arc provided by the publisher through NetGalley
It drew me into it from the first chapter and I had to read it all in one sitting because the twist and turns didn’t stop at all.
I found the storyline very interesting because it’s not very often when an author takes a chance into certain taboo topics and all the mysterious characters and the way they solved the crimes made up for a great few hours of reading.
Eleanor was a great female character that has many secrets on her own and many times, keeping secrets is not a good thing because everything can blow up and destroy the life you know. Catching the killer is definitely not an effortless task, but the author added so many layers to unveil into the story that is making this novel a must-read.
Police procedural details series that I’m sure many lovers of the genre will enjoy.
Arc provided by the publisher through NetGalley
August 2, 2015
A decent thriller/mystery that would have earned another star from me if not for a few reasons:
1) Most of the characters were not very likeable. This alone never turns me off of a book because, let's face it, most people in our lives aren't very likeable a lot of the time. However, if you want me to feel some emotional attachment to your main protagonist you have to give me SOMETHING to admire about them or a reason for their detachment. Eleanor just came across as a cold bitch for the majority of the story.
2) The switching from one scene to a completely different one with other characters was not clearly marked in this book with a little line, or symbol, or ANYTHING. So you finish one page and get a bit lost until you realize the very next page you're reading is no longer in the same time/place/characters. This greatly affected the flow of the story for me.
3) A little closer editing would have gone a long way. There were some confusing moments because of lack of quotation marks or ones placed in the wrong area, as well as some other spelling and things like that. Don't get me wrong, these things didn't take away from the story, but they did cause a bit of confusion at times until I figured out what the author was trying to convey.
Now, the story itself -- that was really good and the killer is a ruthless one. I was surprised several times and honestly didn't figure out for sure what was going on until almost right before the author revealed it.
I liked this book well enough to read the next one, but I do hope we get a little more glimpse into what makes the members of this squad tick. I would really like to feel more connected to the characters of Eleanor and Laurence especially and see how their partnership progresses.
1) Most of the characters were not very likeable. This alone never turns me off of a book because, let's face it, most people in our lives aren't very likeable a lot of the time. However, if you want me to feel some emotional attachment to your main protagonist you have to give me SOMETHING to admire about them or a reason for their detachment. Eleanor just came across as a cold bitch for the majority of the story.
2) The switching from one scene to a completely different one with other characters was not clearly marked in this book with a little line, or symbol, or ANYTHING. So you finish one page and get a bit lost until you realize the very next page you're reading is no longer in the same time/place/characters. This greatly affected the flow of the story for me.
3) A little closer editing would have gone a long way. There were some confusing moments because of lack of quotation marks or ones placed in the wrong area, as well as some other spelling and things like that. Don't get me wrong, these things didn't take away from the story, but they did cause a bit of confusion at times until I figured out what the author was trying to convey.
Now, the story itself -- that was really good and the killer is a ruthless one. I was surprised several times and honestly didn't figure out for sure what was going on until almost right before the author revealed it.
I liked this book well enough to read the next one, but I do hope we get a little more glimpse into what makes the members of this squad tick. I would really like to feel more connected to the characters of Eleanor and Laurence especially and see how their partnership progresses.
August 21, 2015
Also reviewed on my blog:
http://www.gobookyourself.info/2015/0...
The Safe Word Grips its readers from the very first page. I was hooked right from the beginning. The first chapter was really different, but in a good way.
Eleanor Raven is not your typical murder mystery novel detective. She has a dark and rather erotic side. In her work she is top dog, always in control but in her private life she seems to want to surrender all of that control. This made for really interesting reading. I’d never read anything like this in a crime novel before.
When a women is found dead, dangling form a chain in a warehouse it’s up to Eleanor to get to the bottom of it. The killer leads Eleanor and her team on a cat and mouse chase. Just when they think they’ve discovered something that will help them identify the killer a new curve ball is thrown.
The pace is fairly evenly fast the whole way through the book which kept me turning the pages. It kept me up late for more than a few nights.
The Safe Word reminds me of Karin Slaughter’s earlier novels. I think the characters have the same potential to grow and develop. I was really excited to learn that there is a follow up novel, The Vault and she is currently working on a third.
Detectives in crime novels often have a quirky trait or personality but Karen took this a step further with Eleanor. She is such an original character and I can’t wait to read the follow up.
I’d highly recommend The Safe word to any crime fiction fan
http://www.gobookyourself.info/2015/0...
The Safe Word Grips its readers from the very first page. I was hooked right from the beginning. The first chapter was really different, but in a good way.
Eleanor Raven is not your typical murder mystery novel detective. She has a dark and rather erotic side. In her work she is top dog, always in control but in her private life she seems to want to surrender all of that control. This made for really interesting reading. I’d never read anything like this in a crime novel before.
When a women is found dead, dangling form a chain in a warehouse it’s up to Eleanor to get to the bottom of it. The killer leads Eleanor and her team on a cat and mouse chase. Just when they think they’ve discovered something that will help them identify the killer a new curve ball is thrown.
The pace is fairly evenly fast the whole way through the book which kept me turning the pages. It kept me up late for more than a few nights.
The Safe Word reminds me of Karin Slaughter’s earlier novels. I think the characters have the same potential to grow and develop. I was really excited to learn that there is a follow up novel, The Vault and she is currently working on a third.
Detectives in crime novels often have a quirky trait or personality but Karen took this a step further with Eleanor. She is such an original character and I can’t wait to read the follow up.
I’d highly recommend The Safe word to any crime fiction fan
June 26, 2015
At first when I started reading this I was like mmmm, I checked this out and it's supposed to be about a killer on the loose, not a chapter from 50 Shades of Grey. Thankfully, after the first few pages, it went on to become the book I thought I had chosen.
This one gets a little creepy just because of the way the scenes play out. And I seriously thought I knew who the killer was until the very end. And, I was wrong. I think this was an entertaining story and I liked the characters. There were even a few, very few, chuckles.
Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
This one gets a little creepy just because of the way the scenes play out. And I seriously thought I knew who the killer was until the very end. And, I was wrong. I think this was an entertaining story and I liked the characters. There were even a few, very few, chuckles.
Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2017
Ouch - dark and compelling with some pretty disturbing moments.
November 15, 2020
3.5 stars
This is a good read but had something missing for me to make it a great read.
The book begins with DI Eleanor Raven taking part in a BDSM session, then she’s called straight away to a murder scene.
A woman has been hung in a plastic bag and the killer has put red lipstick on her face.
Her fiancé thought she was taking part in a kidnapping ‘game’ but didn’t expect her to be murdered.
It seems people pay to be kidnapped as some kind of turn on but someone is taking it too far.
Soon another woman is found, again with the red lipstick.
Raven has a new partner to get used to and he gets left his ex’s dog to look after, and it seems Monster is a bit of a character.
This is a good crime thriller that I did enjoy but I’m not sure if it tempted me enough to read any more in the series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a good read but had something missing for me to make it a great read.
The book begins with DI Eleanor Raven taking part in a BDSM session, then she’s called straight away to a murder scene.
A woman has been hung in a plastic bag and the killer has put red lipstick on her face.
Her fiancé thought she was taking part in a kidnapping ‘game’ but didn’t expect her to be murdered.
It seems people pay to be kidnapped as some kind of turn on but someone is taking it too far.
Soon another woman is found, again with the red lipstick.
Raven has a new partner to get used to and he gets left his ex’s dog to look after, and it seems Monster is a bit of a character.
This is a good crime thriller that I did enjoy but I’m not sure if it tempted me enough to read any more in the series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
February 13, 2014
Flawed detective, DI Eleanor Raven, the hero of author Karen Long’s new book “The Safe Word” has a secret she hides from her colleagues — a secret that could end her career and land her in grave danger. She’s into BDSM! To top it all, she’s chasing a serial killer who hangs his victims by a hook through their neck, after first wrapping them in plastic sheets. He’s a sick boy, of that there is no doubt, and Eleanor needs to catch the monster before he kills again.
“What!” you say, “No. Don’t put spoilers in a review please!”
I’m not giving anything away as DI Raven’s sexual proclivities are revealed in the first chapter. There will be no spoilers in this review – promise.
Now, for the purposes of this evaluation I have to say, I’m not into BDSM, not in the slightest, and Eleanor’s preferences instantly set me against her. I mean, I want to identify with my heroic leads and I didn’t see how I could grow to like this flawed police officer.
However, due to the author’s skilful writing, and her effortless command of her characters and plotting, I fell for the flawed police officer, and her assorted colleagues. Karen Long has assembled a cast of believable, fully developed characters, both human and animal (the dog, Monster, is a delight). The excellent observations and intricate plotting is a joy to read. The gore and violence is never gratuitous, and the police procedure, from crime scene re-enactment, through forensics, and on to the dénouement is a stunning read.
Whitefoot, Monster’s owner, and Eleanor’s new sidekick and potential future love interest, is a rugged and dependable foil to her incisive and mercurial police work.
I don’t give out 5-star reviews lightly and I considered taking of a star for the couple of tiny typos early on, but decided that would be churlish of me considering they didn’t affect my enjoyment of what is an excellent debut novel from an exciting new talent.
I’m so glad I stumbled across this gem. I’ll be keeping an eye open for the next instalment in the DI Raven portfolio and anything else Karen Long publishes.
Nice one, Ms Long, nice one.
“What!” you say, “No. Don’t put spoilers in a review please!”
I’m not giving anything away as DI Raven’s sexual proclivities are revealed in the first chapter. There will be no spoilers in this review – promise.
Now, for the purposes of this evaluation I have to say, I’m not into BDSM, not in the slightest, and Eleanor’s preferences instantly set me against her. I mean, I want to identify with my heroic leads and I didn’t see how I could grow to like this flawed police officer.
However, due to the author’s skilful writing, and her effortless command of her characters and plotting, I fell for the flawed police officer, and her assorted colleagues. Karen Long has assembled a cast of believable, fully developed characters, both human and animal (the dog, Monster, is a delight). The excellent observations and intricate plotting is a joy to read. The gore and violence is never gratuitous, and the police procedure, from crime scene re-enactment, through forensics, and on to the dénouement is a stunning read.
Whitefoot, Monster’s owner, and Eleanor’s new sidekick and potential future love interest, is a rugged and dependable foil to her incisive and mercurial police work.
I don’t give out 5-star reviews lightly and I considered taking of a star for the couple of tiny typos early on, but decided that would be churlish of me considering they didn’t affect my enjoyment of what is an excellent debut novel from an exciting new talent.
I’m so glad I stumbled across this gem. I’ll be keeping an eye open for the next instalment in the DI Raven portfolio and anything else Karen Long publishes.
Nice one, Ms Long, nice one.
June 26, 2015
ARC for review from NetGalley.
A little surprised at all the love out there for this title - it's a perfectly serviceable police procedural/thriller, but nothing special and the "thing" that is supposed to be so exciting? Perhaps a bit more shocking (not) if I hadn't just read a police procedural/thriller featuring a female detective with the exact same "thing."
I'm guessing this is the first book in a planned series about Detective Inspector Eleanor Raven and her new partner Detective Laurence Whitefoot (yeah, I could have done without the obviously names, especially since the yin yang symbol also features in the book). DI Raven has a chip on her shoulder a mile wide (due to a childhood trauma and her refusal to accept a new partner), and rather than make her sympathetic, I just found her grating. Whitefoot has some serious anger management problems and is not kind to his sweet dog, which automatically makes me dislike him. So, if you are looking for the detective team most likely to kill themselves, each other or an innocent bystander, you may have found them.
Anyway, there's a serial killer on the loose in Toronto. He finds his victims by offering to kidnap them (for BDSM purposes) then turns their corpses into works of art. There isn't much that thriller writers haven't seen before, and that's true here too.
Long does a decent job with writing (though she could work on her dialogue which is sometimes a bit stilted and there were some grammatical errors that her editor should have caught) and her secondary characters are fairly memorable. Overall, though, I can't say that the story or DI Raven will stick with me, but avid thriller readers may feel differently.
A little surprised at all the love out there for this title - it's a perfectly serviceable police procedural/thriller, but nothing special and the "thing" that is supposed to be so exciting? Perhaps a bit more shocking (not) if I hadn't just read a police procedural/thriller featuring a female detective with the exact same "thing."
I'm guessing this is the first book in a planned series about Detective Inspector Eleanor Raven and her new partner Detective Laurence Whitefoot (yeah, I could have done without the obviously names, especially since the yin yang symbol also features in the book). DI Raven has a chip on her shoulder a mile wide (due to a childhood trauma and her refusal to accept a new partner), and rather than make her sympathetic, I just found her grating. Whitefoot has some serious anger management problems and is not kind to his sweet dog, which automatically makes me dislike him. So, if you are looking for the detective team most likely to kill themselves, each other or an innocent bystander, you may have found them.
Anyway, there's a serial killer on the loose in Toronto. He finds his victims by offering to kidnap them (for BDSM purposes) then turns their corpses into works of art. There isn't much that thriller writers haven't seen before, and that's true here too.
Long does a decent job with writing (though she could work on her dialogue which is sometimes a bit stilted and there were some grammatical errors that her editor should have caught) and her secondary characters are fairly memorable. Overall, though, I can't say that the story or DI Raven will stick with me, but avid thriller readers may feel differently.
June 15, 2015
DI Eleanor Raven has a past she would prefer her colleagues not know about brought on by the death of her childhood friend that she still wishes she had been able to foresee and prevent. Now she is on the trail of a ritualistic killer that comes perilously close to the secret life she has chosen. This makes her a target for the killer. As she and her new partner try to solve these crimes before more bodies can be displayed for viewing she has been placed in the killer's sites. Now they must find her before she becomes the next artistic display on the killer's path to recognition.
February 20, 2014
A friend recommend I read this after she had seen James Purifoy post about it on Twitter. I was skeptical but am glad that I did. I finished it in two days and must agree that it is "unputdownable". The book kept me interested from start to finish. Eleanor Raven is an amazing female character with enough depth to be interesting for years to come. I look forward to reading more books in this series and adding Karen Long to my "watch" list.
November 29, 2020
From the very first chapter right through the twists and turns into the depravity of the human mind, this book had me intrigued. Eleanor Raven is an enigma and I loved how the author has created a character like no other - unique, intriguing and complex - and she has a secret! I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel and cannot wait to read The Vault - anxious to see how the tension between Raven and her police partner Laurence unfolds.
November 17, 2020
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. WOW! What an opening to a book. The first chapter immediately grips you.
Our main character is Eleanor Raven. Eleanor is very clever, she is straight talking and doesn't take any sh*t. Eleanor is who she is and no one is going to change that! I liked that about her. She is sure of who she is and what she wants. I feel there is a back story behind Eleanor and I can't wait to learn more about her in the coming books.
Eleanor has a new partner, Laurence Whitefoot. Now she's not particularly happy about this. Her previous partner was her mentor and this new one is a bit of a rookie and quite frankly she doesn't have time for rookies. They have quite a rocky relationship in this book and aren't quite at the I've got your back stage. I like Laurence and I can't wait to see more of him.
One character I felt sorry for was poor Monster. That dog just needs a bit of TLC and some training. I really hope that Laurence puts him through the K9 training. I think he would make an excellent police dog.
The case was very interesting and very disturbing. There were quite a few twists in the story which kept you on the edge of your seat. The pace was good. I never felt like the book was lagging. I was so invested I just whizzed through most of it.
I love the cover for this book and it’s one of the reasons I wanted to read it but once you have read the book it becomes even more terrifying!
I really enjoyed my time with Detective Eleanor and I can’t wait to read the second book in the series.
Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour.
Our main character is Eleanor Raven. Eleanor is very clever, she is straight talking and doesn't take any sh*t. Eleanor is who she is and no one is going to change that! I liked that about her. She is sure of who she is and what she wants. I feel there is a back story behind Eleanor and I can't wait to learn more about her in the coming books.
Eleanor has a new partner, Laurence Whitefoot. Now she's not particularly happy about this. Her previous partner was her mentor and this new one is a bit of a rookie and quite frankly she doesn't have time for rookies. They have quite a rocky relationship in this book and aren't quite at the I've got your back stage. I like Laurence and I can't wait to see more of him.
One character I felt sorry for was poor Monster. That dog just needs a bit of TLC and some training. I really hope that Laurence puts him through the K9 training. I think he would make an excellent police dog.
The case was very interesting and very disturbing. There were quite a few twists in the story which kept you on the edge of your seat. The pace was good. I never felt like the book was lagging. I was so invested I just whizzed through most of it.
I love the cover for this book and it’s one of the reasons I wanted to read it but once you have read the book it becomes even more terrifying!
I really enjoyed my time with Detective Eleanor and I can’t wait to read the second book in the series.
Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour.
March 17, 2021
Cry For Mercy is a really fast-paced thriller. It’s the first book in Karen Long’s Detective Eleanor Raven series, and I loved it. It’s dark, gruesome, and the writing kept me turning the pages. I’ve already bought the second book in the series, and I can’t wait to read it.
Karen Long opens her novel with a really gruesome opening chapter. She sets the tone for what to come. Straight away, we know that we are dealing with a terrifying killer here. This is a killer who enjoys torturing their victims. But when the body of the woman is located and identified, the police investigation becomes really complicated.
If you love a good serial killer thriller, then you really need to add this book to your TBR pile. I liked Eleanor Raven right from the start. I thought the rest of her team were really likeable characters as well, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they develop from here. Eleanor did remind me of the character DI Helen Grace in M.J. Arlidge’s crime series. So if you’re a fan of his books, I think you’ll enjoy this one. I also really liked that this book was set in Toronto, Canada, which made it feel very fresh to me as I was reading it.
The tension never drops as the police race to find the killer, and it soon becomes clear that they have DI Eleanor Raven in their sight as well. It’s what keeps the tension turning up a notch as the police race to catch them as they set their plan in motion. You know that they are determined to see their plan through, regardless of what this may mean for them if anything goes wrong, particularly as they are targeting a police officer. I raced through the final chapters; I was desperate to know what was going to happen.
Cry For Mercy is a really exciting start to a new series, and I’m sure that it’s one I’m going to be sticking with. I highly recommend it!
Karen Long opens her novel with a really gruesome opening chapter. She sets the tone for what to come. Straight away, we know that we are dealing with a terrifying killer here. This is a killer who enjoys torturing their victims. But when the body of the woman is located and identified, the police investigation becomes really complicated.
If you love a good serial killer thriller, then you really need to add this book to your TBR pile. I liked Eleanor Raven right from the start. I thought the rest of her team were really likeable characters as well, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they develop from here. Eleanor did remind me of the character DI Helen Grace in M.J. Arlidge’s crime series. So if you’re a fan of his books, I think you’ll enjoy this one. I also really liked that this book was set in Toronto, Canada, which made it feel very fresh to me as I was reading it.
The tension never drops as the police race to find the killer, and it soon becomes clear that they have DI Eleanor Raven in their sight as well. It’s what keeps the tension turning up a notch as the police race to catch them as they set their plan in motion. You know that they are determined to see their plan through, regardless of what this may mean for them if anything goes wrong, particularly as they are targeting a police officer. I raced through the final chapters; I was desperate to know what was going to happen.
Cry For Mercy is a really exciting start to a new series, and I’m sure that it’s one I’m going to be sticking with. I highly recommend it!
October 21, 2020
2.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Cry for Mercy.
I love mysteries, and am always on the lookout for a series featuring a female protagonist so I was pleased when my request was approved.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
DI Eleanor Raven is not a typical detective.
She enjoys certain 'extracurricular' pursuits' and when bodies of young women are found in elaborate, artistic poses, investigation into these terrible murders may expose her own secrets.
There were a few things I enjoyed about Cry for Mercy:
Raven is a realistic, capable, and relentless character. I wish I liked her better; exposition is sparse concerning Raven's personal life, which is understandable, but at times she felt brusque, almost cold. She doesn't have to be warm and cuddly, but I didn't warm up to her.
Raven counseling her new partner on how to be a good detective; what kind of questions to ask; withhold judgement was a nice direction to take.
Usually, in books like these, the male detective is teaching his younger, female partner but not here.
Her partner, Whitefoot, is a good and decent man, along with his canine companion, Monster, who provided necessary comic relief during the sordid mystery.
All of the supporting characters, the medical examiner, Raven's colleagues, especially her relationship with her former partner who is on medical leave, Mo, were all relatable and good people; loyal, competent and hard working.
The mystery isn't bad; an underground world of BDSM where consensual parties agree to participate in certain acts for sexual gratification takes a wrong turn when someone uses this method to hunt for victims.
There's nothing illicit or graphic about the content; the author takes care with her words and descriptions.
What I didn't like:
I felt the narrative read a bit long toward the end; my attention waned drastically especially when the bad guy was revealed.
I seriously dislike mysteries that reveal the identity of the villain; I read mysteries so I can solve it alongside the detectives and figure out whodunit. Revealing who the perp is takes all the 'mystery' out of it and I sort of feel cheated after spending time reading this in the first place.
I think the previous title for this book was more appropriate.
I may check out the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Cry for Mercy.
I love mysteries, and am always on the lookout for a series featuring a female protagonist so I was pleased when my request was approved.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
DI Eleanor Raven is not a typical detective.
She enjoys certain 'extracurricular' pursuits' and when bodies of young women are found in elaborate, artistic poses, investigation into these terrible murders may expose her own secrets.
There were a few things I enjoyed about Cry for Mercy:
Raven is a realistic, capable, and relentless character. I wish I liked her better; exposition is sparse concerning Raven's personal life, which is understandable, but at times she felt brusque, almost cold. She doesn't have to be warm and cuddly, but I didn't warm up to her.
Raven counseling her new partner on how to be a good detective; what kind of questions to ask; withhold judgement was a nice direction to take.
Usually, in books like these, the male detective is teaching his younger, female partner but not here.
Her partner, Whitefoot, is a good and decent man, along with his canine companion, Monster, who provided necessary comic relief during the sordid mystery.
All of the supporting characters, the medical examiner, Raven's colleagues, especially her relationship with her former partner who is on medical leave, Mo, were all relatable and good people; loyal, competent and hard working.
The mystery isn't bad; an underground world of BDSM where consensual parties agree to participate in certain acts for sexual gratification takes a wrong turn when someone uses this method to hunt for victims.
There's nothing illicit or graphic about the content; the author takes care with her words and descriptions.
What I didn't like:
I felt the narrative read a bit long toward the end; my attention waned drastically especially when the bad guy was revealed.
I seriously dislike mysteries that reveal the identity of the villain; I read mysteries so I can solve it alongside the detectives and figure out whodunit. Revealing who the perp is takes all the 'mystery' out of it and I sort of feel cheated after spending time reading this in the first place.
I think the previous title for this book was more appropriate.
I may check out the next book in the series.
November 15, 2020
Eleanor closed her eyes tightly against the image in front of her. Another innocent life taken, another family left grieving.
When DI Eleanor Raven is called out to a murder scene she is not prepared for what faces her, the body of a young woman has been found, but this is no regular murder, the body has been posed, almost like a work of art, with cherry red lipstick painted across her mouth. Eleanor and her team set to work to determine who the killer is and bring them to justice. Then another woman is discovered with the same MO, could these be ritual killings or a very sadistic serial killer? The team are struggling to find the motivation behind the murders until Eleanor discovers something that links this to a cold case, but could this link ultimately put Eleanor at risk, because she has a secret that nobody else knows except, unbeknown to her, the killer! Could she be his next victim?
Cry for Mercy is a debut novel and the first in this series for Karen Long, it was originally published back in 2014 as The Safe Word. It's a dark crime thriller with a very macabre concept, the story is quite drawn out but ramps up a notch in the last third, with an explosive ending. Definitely worth a read.
I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
When DI Eleanor Raven is called out to a murder scene she is not prepared for what faces her, the body of a young woman has been found, but this is no regular murder, the body has been posed, almost like a work of art, with cherry red lipstick painted across her mouth. Eleanor and her team set to work to determine who the killer is and bring them to justice. Then another woman is discovered with the same MO, could these be ritual killings or a very sadistic serial killer? The team are struggling to find the motivation behind the murders until Eleanor discovers something that links this to a cold case, but could this link ultimately put Eleanor at risk, because she has a secret that nobody else knows except, unbeknown to her, the killer! Could she be his next victim?
Cry for Mercy is a debut novel and the first in this series for Karen Long, it was originally published back in 2014 as The Safe Word. It's a dark crime thriller with a very macabre concept, the story is quite drawn out but ramps up a notch in the last third, with an explosive ending. Definitely worth a read.
I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
June 24, 2016
Originally posted at: https://bookboodle.wordpress.com/2016...
I met Karen at an author/blogger meet up in March and I’ve finally got around to reading her book that she offered me for review...as a side note how do such nice people come up with such horrific plotlines???!!
Anyway, this is the first in the DS Eleanor Raven series and to be fair is a pretty good series opener. A book that gets straight into the action but still giving you enough back story to be invested in the characters.
However, I wasn't really taken with the main character Eleanor (not necessarily a prerequisite) – the opening chapter gives you a taster of her darker sexual side that I guess is supposed to make her edgy and set this book apart from the crowd but I found her to be cold and stand-offish, maybe a requirement for the job, but I did really take to her new partner though; Whitefoot, I think he has a lot of potential. He reminded me of Hathaway in the TV detective series Lewis.
Interesting that the author set the book in Toronto, because I felt it could have been anywhere as there was a lack of distinguishing landmarks and places. Not a deal breaker in terms of the story but maybe would have added a sense of place.
This is quite a graphic novel, in terms of the murders and crime scenes therefore probably not one for the more squeamish. Overall, a cleverly constructed and played out plot. Although I thought the murderer was revealed a little soon for me after the investigative team were handed this big whopp off clue from the pathologist (I think it was) which gave them their lead suspect. I do like to be kept in the dark right till the very last possible moment.
I met Karen at an author/blogger meet up in March and I’ve finally got around to reading her book that she offered me for review...as a side note how do such nice people come up with such horrific plotlines???!!
Anyway, this is the first in the DS Eleanor Raven series and to be fair is a pretty good series opener. A book that gets straight into the action but still giving you enough back story to be invested in the characters.
However, I wasn't really taken with the main character Eleanor (not necessarily a prerequisite) – the opening chapter gives you a taster of her darker sexual side that I guess is supposed to make her edgy and set this book apart from the crowd but I found her to be cold and stand-offish, maybe a requirement for the job, but I did really take to her new partner though; Whitefoot, I think he has a lot of potential. He reminded me of Hathaway in the TV detective series Lewis.
Interesting that the author set the book in Toronto, because I felt it could have been anywhere as there was a lack of distinguishing landmarks and places. Not a deal breaker in terms of the story but maybe would have added a sense of place.
This is quite a graphic novel, in terms of the murders and crime scenes therefore probably not one for the more squeamish. Overall, a cleverly constructed and played out plot. Although I thought the murderer was revealed a little soon for me after the investigative team were handed this big whopp off clue from the pathologist (I think it was) which gave them their lead suspect. I do like to be kept in the dark right till the very last possible moment.
November 16, 2016
Excellent debut and first book in the Eleanor Raven thriller series. Detective Inspector Raven is a paradox, a tough and very competent police officer with a potentially very dangerous, complex private life, which could leave her vulnerable and in jeopardy….especially if there is the slightest lack of caution.
The story centres around a succession of gruesome serial killer murders. A woman is found hanging from a hook and when the second murder is discovered in similar circumstances, it’s obvious the victims are deliberately posed. As Eleanor and her team, including her new and unappreciated partner, Detective Laurence Whitefoot, who is an excellent foil for Eleanor, delve deeper into the cases, they find themselves steered into the dark underbelly of Toronto’s deviant sexual practices.
The story includes everything a good crime novel should; a fast paced gripping storyline, a complex and intelligent main protagonist and a great supporting cast of credible characters. I hope their back stories will explored more in forthcoming books, and I’d like to see how relationships evolve. An added extra is a fabulous, havoc creating German Shepherd called Monster!
A very well crafted and suspenseful plot, told from several perspectives including the killer’s, builds the layers and brings them together nicely, as we rattle along to a gripping and chilling conclusion that had me on the edge of my seat.
The only real problem I had was the lack of paragraphs in the kindle edition, making it slightly confusing when the narrative jumped from scene to scene without warning, and some punctuation issues, but it wasn’t enough to put me off. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have the next one lined up.
The story centres around a succession of gruesome serial killer murders. A woman is found hanging from a hook and when the second murder is discovered in similar circumstances, it’s obvious the victims are deliberately posed. As Eleanor and her team, including her new and unappreciated partner, Detective Laurence Whitefoot, who is an excellent foil for Eleanor, delve deeper into the cases, they find themselves steered into the dark underbelly of Toronto’s deviant sexual practices.
The story includes everything a good crime novel should; a fast paced gripping storyline, a complex and intelligent main protagonist and a great supporting cast of credible characters. I hope their back stories will explored more in forthcoming books, and I’d like to see how relationships evolve. An added extra is a fabulous, havoc creating German Shepherd called Monster!
A very well crafted and suspenseful plot, told from several perspectives including the killer’s, builds the layers and brings them together nicely, as we rattle along to a gripping and chilling conclusion that had me on the edge of my seat.
The only real problem I had was the lack of paragraphs in the kindle edition, making it slightly confusing when the narrative jumped from scene to scene without warning, and some punctuation issues, but it wasn’t enough to put me off. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have the next one lined up.
June 2, 2014
Read the full review on my blog: http://polkadotbookblog.blogspot.co.u...
She tried again "Ca-leb" Laurence cradled her tightly, feeling his throat tighten as he recognised the word and its meaning.
To start with, Wow!, this is a dark but thrilling serial killer tale. Normally I tend to stick to the more young adult/new adult genre, but when I read the description of this book I thought I would give it a go. Personally I am quite fond of the crime and mystery genre when it comes to television, so I think I connected this book with an idea of the television series Criminal Minds and Hannibal, which is ultimately why I was interested and gave it a go. And let me tell you I am so glad that I did because this book, while dark and slightly terrifying, is a very good read.
Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 because even though at first I found this book hard to get into. (I think that was more because it was a new genre for me to read.) I stuck with it and after I got past the halfway point I was completely and totally gripped. I could not put it down! Every little twist and turn completely surprised me and I just had to know what happened! The only downside and reason I didn't give this book the full 5 was the fact that I could not connect with main character. Yet I still think this book is a fantastic read and I am really looking forward to the rest of the series, because that ending?! It left me wanting more!
She tried again "Ca-leb" Laurence cradled her tightly, feeling his throat tighten as he recognised the word and its meaning.
To start with, Wow!, this is a dark but thrilling serial killer tale. Normally I tend to stick to the more young adult/new adult genre, but when I read the description of this book I thought I would give it a go. Personally I am quite fond of the crime and mystery genre when it comes to television, so I think I connected this book with an idea of the television series Criminal Minds and Hannibal, which is ultimately why I was interested and gave it a go. And let me tell you I am so glad that I did because this book, while dark and slightly terrifying, is a very good read.
Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 because even though at first I found this book hard to get into. (I think that was more because it was a new genre for me to read.) I stuck with it and after I got past the halfway point I was completely and totally gripped. I could not put it down! Every little twist and turn completely surprised me and I just had to know what happened! The only downside and reason I didn't give this book the full 5 was the fact that I could not connect with main character. Yet I still think this book is a fantastic read and I am really looking forward to the rest of the series, because that ending?! It left me wanting more!
June 2, 2016
There is a new DI in town called Eleanor Raven and what a series this is going to be, I absolutely loved it. I was lucky enough to meet Karen Long who is lovely. Then I was asked to take part in this blog tour how could I refuse. Well first of all I have to say what a dark horse Karen is with this stunner of a book. I can't believe I haven't read it sooner seeing as it's been out two years…...where have I been LOL
We are introduced to Eleanor Raven from the first page she has a dangerous secret women kidnapped, tortured and horrifically displayed by a killer. Eleanor and Detective Laurence Whitefoot must find this killer. OMG what an opening talk about being hooked. This one one gritty read and boy the crime scenes are gruesome the hairs on the back of your neck will stand up.
This book is refreshing and very well written I felt like I was there in the story. Karen has a very unique style of writing that's for sure.
Eleanor is one hell of a strong character and I loved the relationship between her and Lawrence, that grew throughout the story. It will be interesting to see what happens between them in the next book.
And what a nail biting ending, which left me wanting more. I really can't wait to read The Vault. The words "OH WOW" left my mouth when I realized I had finished it! That's how much I enjoyed it.
This is a must read for all crime fans it ticked all the boxes for me. I highly recommend this book giving it 5 massive stars.
We are introduced to Eleanor Raven from the first page she has a dangerous secret women kidnapped, tortured and horrifically displayed by a killer. Eleanor and Detective Laurence Whitefoot must find this killer. OMG what an opening talk about being hooked. This one one gritty read and boy the crime scenes are gruesome the hairs on the back of your neck will stand up.
This book is refreshing and very well written I felt like I was there in the story. Karen has a very unique style of writing that's for sure.
Eleanor is one hell of a strong character and I loved the relationship between her and Lawrence, that grew throughout the story. It will be interesting to see what happens between them in the next book.
And what a nail biting ending, which left me wanting more. I really can't wait to read The Vault. The words "OH WOW" left my mouth when I realized I had finished it! That's how much I enjoyed it.
This is a must read for all crime fans it ticked all the boxes for me. I highly recommend this book giving it 5 massive stars.
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