Naked Addiction

by Caitlin Rother

When he is transferred to homicide, detective Ken Goode investigates a string of murders that are linked to the same beauty school his sister attends, and he must race against time to catch a killer, while fighting his growing obsession with one of the women he is trying to save. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, True Crime, Crime, Audiobook

350 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2007

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored 14 books, ranging from narrative non-fiction crime to mystery and memoir. Her newest book is DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case (April 27, 2021). Her backlist includes HUNTING CHARLES MANSON; SECRETS, LIES, AND SHOELACES; LOVE GONE WRONG; DEAD RECKONING; THEN NO ONE CAN HAVE HER; I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU; NAKED ADDICTION; POISONED LOVE; BODY PARTS; TWISTED TRIANGLE; LOST GIRLS; WHERE HOPE BEGINS and MY LIFE, DELETED. A Pulitzer Prize nominee, Rother worked as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers for 19 years before quitting the news biz in 2006 to write books full-time. Her journalism has been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The Daily Beast. She has done more than 200 appearances as a crime commentator on TV, radio and podcasts, ranging from "20/20," "People Magazine Investigates," "Nancy Grace," and "Crime Watch Daily," to shows on HLN, Oxygen Network, Investigation Discovery, C-SPAN, XM Radio and PBS affiliates. She also works as a writing-research-promotions coach and consultant.

Reviews

[(the.darkandmoody.reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 - Cool mystery that had me running down all the wrong rabbit holes... I hope this becomes a series. Det. Goode is a sexy and charismatic AND I want more of him.

If you’re looking for a well thought out murder mystery here’s your book. Set in the affluent San Diego area the murder of an enigmatic 20 something is found dead by an off duty undercover narcotics officer, Det. Goode. From that moment the story is a non-stop-read-in-one-setting (or listen to on audio which is what I did) - binge-of-a-book!

The entire cast of characters are all well rounded. The plot builds and builds with an extremely satisfying ending. This story takes you through a world of sex, drugs, and money. And also how police and newsprint reporters work with each other but also against one another.

While there is a short mention of escorting it’s never part of the overall plot, at least not how I read the story. It was never confirmed if the beauty school really was a front or not.

I will say that everything surrounding the chick that is murdered is very Laura Palmer like (Twin Peaks). In fact if you pull David Lynch’s iconic character’s story apart it’s mostly there, just distributed among all the characters in this story.

The author had me totally thinking it was one character that “did it” but then chasing another. Never once did I guess correctly. And for me that’s the mark of a great murder mystery. Or, I’m not that savvy and super gullible?

FYI: there is mention of characters backstory of being sexually assaulted by her grandfather as a child. It’s not graphic but it’s talked about...

[Vicky Carruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! A real page turner!!

My main reading genre is True Crime so it sometimes takes me a little longer to get in to other genres..but that wasn't the case with Naked Addiction!! The author, Caitlin Rother is an excellent True Crime author so I thought I would give this book a try! I was NOT disappointed! I liked the characters and the plot kept me guessing pretty much up to the end!
Another thing that I liked and don't see too often was at the end of the book there is a section titled "BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR NAKED ADDICTION" that were pretty thought provoking.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thing I have to say is I never saw the end coming what a surprise. Each person you come across could be the killer by the time you work it out you find you are wrong. I really enjoyed the plot I am not sure this entire story is believable but it makes for a great listen. This is one author that is holding the clues very close to her chest not giving you much to go on. A lot of innocent people are getting killed along with Ken’s sister coming up missing. He keeps blowing up her phone and going by her house but she is nowhere to be found. Could she have been another of the killer’s victims? I wouldn’t say this is very graphic for the type of book it could have been. The author gives you the facts telling a little about how the victim is found and the area around them. It was an easy story to get into the author has no trouble holding your attention.

I thought Mr. Bruce did a really great job with the narration. His character voices were good you have no trouble understanding who is talking or what they are feeling. At times his voice can be a little flat but you still understand what is going on and that it is very emotional. I enjoyed both his male and female voices. He has a very pleasant voice that does pull the reader in. There are no background noise if any breaks were taken you cannot tell. There are no places where the volume is higher or lower each chapter starts off with the same volume and tones as the one before. Mr. Bruce really pulled me in painting the picture in my mind as the scenes unfold. I haven’t listened to anything by him and look forward to listening to more.


Things I had trouble with are that Ken being a detective works with the narcotics division who wants to work with homicide is given such a big role as heading up this investigation. Also that he would trust a news reporter with his feelings on the crime than get mad when he quotes him knowing he is new and looking for a big break such as he himself is. I also had a little trouble with the report I though some of that story line was a little more than needed. He does add a lot to the story just thought it was a little too much filler.

I did like how it all ties in to the beauty school and the bar. I enjoyed how they got answers and how the author brings in each character giving a full impact to the read. It is hard to tell what is separate or related with so much going on which adds to the read. The story has a great build up with a wonderful plot. Ken really got into the first victim seeing her really affected him even his dreams. My heart really went out to him over him reliving his mother’s death. He and his sister really had a hard growing up. The author really throws in a lot of twists and turns which has your mind all over the place trying to work it out. For me that is a good things I love trying to work out who did it. I really missed it on this one. At first I had it worked out and then let the author talk me out of it lol. My ranting is a high 3 or a low 4. The author keeps the read interesting with a steady pace. The characters are likable even if you are trying to second guess them. I did really enjoy the story and the narration. I do look forward to reading more of this author work. It was worth a listen just to see how this author mind works as she twists a very good plot.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Naked Addiction" which I won through Goodreads Giveaways is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that begins when an undercover narcotics detective discovers the body of a young woman hidden among trashcans in an alley. In an investigation that has Ken Goode proving his skill in uncovering clues to the murder that has ties to a beauty school, escort service and an narcotics ring, he's hounded by a cub report looking for a sensational scoop. When Goode's sister is linked to one of the suspects and she suddenly disappears, his tension mounts as the case takes a sinister turn with the discovery of two more corpses.

The author sets the stage for an intoxicating plot in La Jolla, California with its affluent community, and sinister underbelly. Threads of the plot follow not only the investigation of the murder but also the friends, lover and family impacted by it. With every twist and turn as new victims and crimes are exposed tension and suspense are built into a roller coaster ride that never stops until the killer's identity is exposed. With skillful dexterity the author has woven a plot that not only deals with broken people who use sex, alcohol, drugs and cigarettes to fill their emptiness, but also a hero who's addicted to caffeine and troubled women. In a plot that's well-written and captivating from beginning to end, even the climax holds a shocking surprise.

Cleverly Caitlin Rother fleshs out the personalities of complex and realistic characters that are compelling with all their flaws and faults. Ken Goode a detective who wants to transfer from narcotics to homicide is intense and caring, with a eye for detail and a strong gut instinct. Haunted by a bad marriage and a weakness for damaged women, he becomes fixated on the murder victim through her journal entries. Tania Marcus, the initial victim masks her insecurity and sensitivity behind a tough, irresponsible and stubborn exterior. In contrast her friend Alison Winslow, victimized by an abusive childhood and the violent temper of an older lover is shy, lonely and vulnerable; a young woman searching for a stable relationship. Seth Kennedy is a handsome, self-centered, arrogant real estate agent while Keith Warner is his steadfast, caring friend whose smarts get him into trouble.

Of all the characters that add power, drama and passion to this intriguing plot, I liked Norman Klein, the young non-aggressive but intrepid report who develops not only his journalistic skill but in temperament as the story progresses. Yet it's the helpless instability of Clover Ziegler, the hot tempered violence of Tony Marcus, and the ruthless remorselessness of the killer that lend a dark chill to the story.

I loved "Naked Addiction" which blends murder, sex and drugs into an absorbing criminal investigation. Ken Goode is a fascinating, likable but imperfect detective who I hope Caitlin Rother will resurrect in future novels.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

I was first introduced to Caitlin Rother’s work through her True-Crime stories, Lost Girls, Dead Reckoning and I’ll Take Care of You so I was already a fan. I knew this book was out there and the author was continuing to improve it and get it published. I am so glad things came together. This book started out as a short story and she used the knowledge she gained from writing True-Crime to make this an outstanding fictional story.

What Rother has given us in a complex mystery that brings together sex, drugs and murder. The story has so many layers and more that a few twists. It is so well-written. The authors years as a journalist shine as she draws the reader into the story.

Police Detective Ken Goode is so good! He is juggling several balls in the air and he tries to solve this murder and his police career comes full circle. He is also a man with a tragic past the has shaped the way he looks at life in general.

Norman Klein, the cub reporter has had this murder investigation story dropped into his lap because the regular crime reporter is out sick. He has the editor riding his back continually to get the story first with all the details, even when the police are not releasing much in the way of details. He goes to some very dangerous lengths to deliver what his boss wants. He clearly is not using his head as he goes places he has no business going.

Like most murder investigations there are several leads and not all of them pan out. The reader is taken behind the scenes and into the procedures followed as the investigation takes many different directions and I was totally surprised with the ending. At one point I thought and I knew the who and the why but I was only right on half of my theory and it was a theory I threw out several times as another suspect came to the forefront. So for me this was a perfect read.

I really like these characters and I hope Rother continues their stories in a future novel or series. She is already off to an excellent start.

[Janie Hickok Siess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers familiar with Caitlin Rother’s work may be surprised to learn that she did not initially set out to become a true crime writer. While working as an investigative reporter, she penned a short story inspired by a case she covered. With a then-boyfriend, she attended a wake for a young woman who was murdered in New York City. From Rother’s imagination, fictional Tania Marcus, the strikingly beautiful young woman whose murder sets the action in Naked Addiction in motion, was born, although not modeled on the real victim. From there, the book’s plot began developing. Norman Klein, the enthusiastic but inexperienced and inept cub reporter, and Ken Goode, the surfing detective, followed.

And so did Rother’s extremely long road to publication. Numerous rewrites and critiques from workshop participants, agents, and editors followed, as did rejections and periods of abandoning the unfinished manuscript and worrying that the project was “a vanity exercise.” But Rother was determined to make her dream of being a crime novelist a reality. After turning to nonfiction and publishing Poisoned Love and two other books, Naked Addiction finally went into circulation in 2007. Seventeen years after Rother first began writing it.

Rother’s hard work and tenacity paid off. Naked Addiction is a riveting, addicting murder mystery. It is also an intriguing and thought-provoking look at the ways in which her characters employ a variety of addictions in an attempt to fill voids in their emotional lives and psyches. Rother says that even though her career as a journalist was devoted to covering government and politics, she has always been “interested in stories about bizarre deaths, the psychology of the criminal mind, addiction, murders, and suicide.” Moreover, because, in part, of her experiences with family members, she is “drawn to stories involving addiction.”

Ken Goode is at the center of the story. He is a detective with the San Diego Police Department who is tired of working undercover in the narcotics division. He wants to transfer to homicide. He’s a divorced avid surfer who drives a Volkswagen van. He grew up in La Jolla, California and spent seven years with the Los Angeles Police Department before returning to the San Diego area. The book opens with Rother immediately enlisting readers in his emotionally moving story by taking them with Goode on a ritualistic journey. Each year on the anniversary of his mother’s tragic death, he returns to the very spot on the Coronado Bridge where she perished when he was just six years old. That was also the day he knew he wanted to be a police officer.

Goode’s healthy addiction is to his career. He is a detective for all the right reasons and enjoys his work, although he feels he has “paid his dues” in narcotics and is ready for a more challenging assignment in homicide. He also has a few unhealthy addictions. He absolutely knows he should cut down his intake of caffeine – it disrupts his sleep and gives him headaches – but is powerless to do so, especially given his long and unpredictable workdays. He is also attracted to women with “baggage: the neurotic and the narcissistic, the closet alcoholics and the prescription-drug abusers.” After his heartbreaking divorce, he recognized that dating the wrong women (he admits his “picker” is “broken”) was only making him feel worse, so he has embraced a life of celibacy — at least for now – in order to keep “one part of his life simple” and “his mind clear, which free[s] him up to focus on his career.”

Right after his annual pilgrimage to the bridge, he happens upon Jake Lancaster, a college student, in an alley, standing over “the crumpled body of a raven-haired young woman, stunning even in death,” wearing only a man’s pinstripe shirt. He secures the crime scene and reports the situation to his sergeant and good friend, Rusty Stone. “It’s showtime” for Goode. Because the homicide teams are already working other cases or on leave, Goode is assigned to lead the investigation. And just like that, the chance has been waiting for is his.

The victim, Tania Marcus, bears a strong resemblance to Goode’s deceased mother, who died when she was thirty-six years old. And Goode just celebrated his thirty-sixth birthday. His determination to find Tania’s killer is further heightened when a search of Tania’s apartment yields significant information about her life . . . and lifestyle. She was from a wealthy Beverly Hills family and studying at the Head Forward School of Hair Design, the very school in which his sister, Maureen, recently mentioned she was thinking of enrolling. She learned about it at the Pumphouse, a bar she frequents.

Goode grows increasingly concerned about Maureen when he is unable to reach her. Maureen’s lifestyle and sporadic communication have long concerned Goode, but he has to focus on the case and the opportunity it represents.

Under Tania’s bed, Goode locates a scrapbook. But are Tania’s entries diary-like recitations of actual events or creative writing exercises? Goode becomes obsessed with finding out both because as he reads what she has written, he is increasingly fascinated both with the beautiful young woman who died violently far too soon and her writings. She expressed her dreams, desires, and real or imaginary relationships and encounters. Although the entries are not graphic, Goode learns that Tania was a woman with an “appetite for sexual adventure and exploration, [and] chances were that she could have easily died at the hands of a ‘Mr. Goodbar.'” Her writings reveal a level of sophistication beyond her years, as well as cynicism, and Goode is mesmerized by them. Along with other key pieces of evidence, clues contained in the scrapbook may lead to the identification of her killer.

Norman Klein arrives on the crime scene well after the gaggle of television reporters has departed. His oxford shirt is rumpled, and Goode’s notes the black ink smudges on his his wire-rimmed glasses. But he’s not the beat reporter Goode is accustomed to interacting with. Norman explains that he’s just been promoted from editorial assistant to night cops reporter, but Goode refers him to Sergeant Stone to verify details and obtain a quote. He does not realize yet that Norman is going to doggedly follow the case . . . and perhaps play his own part in apprehending the murderer.

Rother says that even though she wanted to be a crime novelist, “fiction writing didn’t come naturally to me.” She had to learn how investigators think and speak, and the procedural steps they take while tracking a killer. But there is no evidence of any gaps in her knowledge in her virtually flawless narrative. Naked Addiction is a tautly constructed, evenly paced story that alternates smoothly between the perspectives of her fully formed characters. Goode is a seasoned detective, even though it’s his first experience in homicide, and he has the complete, if cautious support of Sergeant Stone as he gathers evidence and draws inferences. His bigger challenge is keeping his emotions in check as he feels himself pulled to Tania through her writings and his findings about the final days of her life, as well as his risky attraction to a key witness in the case. Sergeant Stone warns him not to cross the unambiguous ethical boundaries that govern police procedures and struggles to resist the temptation to do so because of his compelling desire to rescue attractive women he perceives as troubled and needy.

Meanwhile, Norman’s saga provides some much-needed humorous relief from the overarching story. Poor Norman is inexperienced, hapless, and not very resourceful, but intent on getting the facts right and scooping the newspaper’s competitors. He is intent on proving that he capable of being a full-fledged reporter to his ruthlessly tough bosses. At one point, when he doesn’t spring into action quickly enough after being told to follow a lead, Big Ed sarcastically asks, “What are you waiting for, a call from the Pulitzer committee?” Norman gets the hint and heads back out to his old Plymouth Duster. There is a little bit of Norman in everyone, and it is impossible not to cheer him on.

Rother injects twists and revelations that force Goode to adjust his approach to the case and keep readers guessing about the murderer’s identity and motive(s). Before the book concludes, there are more dead bodies, and Rother skillfully ramps up the tension until it culminates in a satisfyingly dramatic conclusion.

Drug dealing and use, sex, obsession, greed, and treachery all figure into Rother’s engrossing and believable character study. Over the course of the story, both Goode and Nathan evolve in credible ways. Nathan’s confidence grows as he learns what being a successful reporter requires. And Goode makes strides in coming to terms with his nearly lifelong feelings of abandonment and grief stemming from his mother’s death as he gains insight into how profoundly his mother’s choices impacted him. Naked Addiction succeeds not just as a gripping thriller, but because Rother has crafted empathetic main characters and surrounded them with a cast of interesting supporting players.

Fortunately, Naked Addiction is just the beginning of Rother’s career as a crime novelist. It is the prequel to Hooked, published February 1, 2026, a “Katrina & Goode” mystery in which Goode returns and is joined by Katrina Chopin, a seasoned investigative reporter who has just moved to San Diego. The story is set in 2015, about a year after the conclusion of Naked Addiction. Hooked will be followed up by Staged in June 2026, and (at least) two additional volumes in the series. Rother is also penning a new series. So it would seem that she has, in fact, made her dream of being a crime novelist a very successful reality. And that’s good news both for her and her readers.

Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.

[StrangeAeons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any of Caitlin Rother's true crime books, but I do recall some articles here and there. This is her first (only?) foray into fiction. I can't say how much it is informed by her reporting work, but I imagine she's writing from informed experience, as much as the creative mind. As the novel progresses you can tell this isn't a typical Law & Order type potboiler.

Naked Addiction is a crime novel about a young detective looking to prove himself on his first homicide case. I was about to give up reading early on (it was free on Kindle Unlimited), as it seemed like the book was setting up a series of procedural plot points connected by the familiar angsty, pulpy character tropes. I kept with it and I'm glad I did. It turns out Naked Addiction is quite immersive, aided heavily by the great use of location (coastal La Jolla, California, with a scene set at Windansea Beach) and a lead detective who is very much a product of his geography as he is his circumstance. The mystery grips you more and more as it unravels.

There's a seriously great ending to be found here, folks.

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Caitlin Rother is well known for her spine-tingling true crime books. Now she has taken her investigative journalistic skills to create an equally chilling novel that will both enthrall and captivate readers with its intriguing twists and turns.

Rother's characters are fully developed and personable, and her storytelling skills are evident in this compelling story. The main character, detective Ken Goode, is a good guy who has had a life full of hard luck and while flawed he overcomes odds to do his job admirably. For me, a sign of a fascinating book is if you can picture it as a movie in your mind - and I easily could see this story playing out on the big-screen!

If you enjoy novels that keep you guessing to the very surprising end, you'll enjoy "Naked Addiction." I highly recommend it!

[Sage Friedman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Finished only by determination to do so.

This book had sex thrown in for readers that need that stuff to keep reading and very little on police procedure. It did a more successful job on showing how newspaper articles get written. Hardest for me was the writing. . . .it was disjointed, poor use of the English language, and sentence and paragraph writing that lacked any beauty or even knowledge of how to do them. I mostly finished it because I was curious how such a book would progress and end. Read only if you have nothing better to do

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rationale for the series of murders seemed a little bazare at times, but could be due to the narrative being loosely based of a factual case that occured years before. The crime sites and places traveled by Ken Goode [the detective] held my interest in reading per the setting is the City in which I live.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is how a story should be told! All the characters were appropriately fleshed out. Each suspect had an angle and could have been the one. I must admit, though, I felt I could identify with this book because I was familiar with the location having lived in the area for a number of years. Regardless---I loved it!

[Jennifer N · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was decent. A young woman, Tania, is found murdered in the parking lot of her apartment building. We get the detective's POV and a crime reporter as they try to figure out who commited the crime. There are a few suspects and the book does leave you guessing. At times it did drag on.

[Steve Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent mystery thriller by a Pulitzer-Prize nominated and New York Times bestselling author.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to be a bit obsessed with this author! So far I haven't been disappointed! Plus - she's local! Go San Diego!

[Isaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Goodreads giveaway win***
First off you cant give 3.5 star ratings but if I could I would. I enjoyed this book. The plot the story a few twists and a lot of thinking.

The story follows a Narcotics Detective Good trying to get on homicide. He had been on the force for awhile and worked his way up. He is haunted by the memory of his mother who passed away after jumping off a bridge into her watery death.

He comes across a women's body after almost hitting a little dog. That women reminded him of his mother. The hair the eyes...Everything. Good get the Sgt. to let him on the case of the women which leads to a few other murders and a twist of tails lover and psychos.

Mr Kline works for the local paper and is trying to move up the news paper hierarchy and leave his little paper behind gets tossed in the middle of the investigation and works his way through cops and family members of the deceased. He crosses goods path many times. Together they land up figure it all out.

This book is told from multiple POV's.

[Scoats · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book started off solid, which was a relief after bailing on two books in a row after the first chapter. The prose was generic but it was solid. The diary entries were quite solid. I was a happy reader.

But not for long, the prose got awful. Laughingly bad, hackneyed writing. Some things, like Edward Burns' Bridge and Tunnel TV series are so bad that they're entertaining. Not this. Just bad.

We're supposed to like and cheer for aspiring homicide detective Ken Goode and cub reporter Norman. But they are both very unlikable. The narration for their various chapters, which I suppose was meant to be from their POV despite being written in the third person, is really tedious. And these people are odious.

For some reason, I kept pushing through to the end. It all wrapped up neatly but in the strangest fashion.

[Scoats · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book started off solid, which was a relief after bailing on two books in a row after the first chapter. The prose was generic but it was solid. The diary entries were quite solid. I was a happy reader.

But not for long, the prose got awful. Laughingly bad, hackneyed writing. Some things, like Edward Burns' Bridge and Tunnel TV series are so bad that they're entertaining. Not this. Just bad.

We're supposed to like and cheer for aspiring homicide detective Ken Goode and cub reporter Norman. But they are both very unlikable. The narration for their various chapters, which I suppose was meant to be from their POV despite being written in the third person, is really tedious. And these people are odious.

For some reason, I kept pushing through to the end. It all wrapped up neatly but in the strangest fashion.

[Bill reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A warning to my fellow true crime readers. This book is a novel. I have read three of Caitlin Rother's true crime books and as I do not read fiction, was misled to this one. As I was reading, I was wondering why Rother had so much dialogue between characters. The story is fine but in the end I was disappointed with the author's explanation of using a creative writing workshop to produce the work. It is a typical girl gets murdered tome with a cop obsessing on the case with a resolve at the end. Looking for Mr. Goodbar seems to have influenced the storyline and I will revisit Rother, but only in my comfort zone of real life mayhem.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I didn’t find the mystery itself particularly engaging, the characters were interesting enough to pull me in completely. Even though I feel there were superfluous scenes that could have been cut, I didn’t hate them because I liked following the characters. That said, there should have been cuts to streamline the plot a bit more, because there are parts that drag. The ending was also more convoluted than it needed to be, which knocked at least half a star off.

[Phil Oakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t Miss This Phenomenal Thriller

Caitlin Rother is a great true crime writer, and she is an even better novelist. She really gets into to the heads of every one of her extraordinary characters, making the reader live through their experiences.
If you reach a point where you believe that you have solved all the crimes, you are wrong. You are in for a lot of surprises.
This process is completely compelling, but be warned. NAKED ADDICTION is not reading. It is a series of personal experiences!

[Wendell H Howell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes good, sometimes not so good

Some character flippant comments were a distraction. At times there was a good flow, then an off the wall comment by a character or by the author did not cluck.

[Sae-chan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was a true crime novel :-(

[Mariana Bezerra · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the first reads from this year and is a big book, but I find it a bit disappointing. Ken Goode is a detective from California who works on narcotics and is trying to apply for a space on the homicides head quarts. Nothing wrong there, Goode works a lot for the position, but it’s a bit disturbing that the sergeant put him on charge for a big case like this one, especially with all the media working around and he is not a homicide detective yet.

Goode has issues from his past, connected with his mother suicide and afterwards his father left him and a little sister. So growing up he had a difficult home which make harder for him some moments to dealt with death so close.

I didn’t like the way the first death was almost the center point for the entire book, especially since it wasn’t the only one. Goode obsessed with the deceased girl and took everything to find the killer. On the other end the author made good characters explaining everyone and how they could be connected with the girl.

The book is a bit slow to get into but after the first results start to show is very interesting to read on. Afterwards a serial killer is killing people and they all are connected with a bar and a beauty school. Different right?

[Micky Parise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay book. Plot was okay but writing style wasn't that great.

[MarytheBookLover]

Jan 11