Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
There's a serial killer on the loose in Chattanooga. Maggie Hart, a student at UTC, was abducted on Labor Day. Her body was found five days later on the RiverPark. She'd been strangled multiple times. She wasn't the first, nor would she be the last. Harry Starke, recovering from a near-death experience, is dragged reluctantly into an investigation that quickly turns into a cat and mouse game between Harry and a very clever killer, Harry being the mouse. Emoji is an action-packed, lightning-paced story with an explosive finale you'll not see coming.

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2017

230 people are currently reading
85 people want to read

About the author

Blair Howard

289 books343 followers
Blair C. Howard is a Royal Air Force veteran, a retired journalist, and the best-selling author of more than 50 novels, including the international best-selling Harry Starke series, and 23 travel books. In 2021, having been fascinated by the heavens almost from childhood, and a SciFi fan for almost as long, he decided to try his hand at writing a military space opera. His first journey into this genre resulted in the Sovereign Stars series. Book 1 in the series, Avenger was quickly followed by Gods of War and Armored Fleet.

Blair lives in East Tennessee with his wife Jo, and Jack Russell Terrier, Sally.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
537 (67%)
4 stars
194 (24%)
3 stars
57 (7%)
2 stars
4 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
Profile Image for Tulay.
1,202 reviews2 followers
July 5, 2017
Dark and twisted story.

Liked the Harry Starke character, he is rich and runs a successful business. Recovering from his injuries, was determined to quit PI business, but pulled back in to find the serial killer. Chattanooga university students being kidnapped and killed.
Harry Starke is 47 years old, he is going to be father, he better start killing his language and drinking. Hopefully he'll by a reasonable family car too. His Beast is destroyed now.
6,224 reviews80 followers
November 11, 2018
Still suffering from injuries incurred from the last book, Harry is challenged by a serial killer who leaves a flipping the bird emoji near crime scenes. The killer is also a computer expert who sends Harry messages. With a pregnant wife, Harry has to find Emoji quick before his wife and step mother become victims.

Not bad. The emoji symbol is original.
2,034 reviews8 followers
July 2, 2017
Harry Starke is ready to retire but will that be possible with the serial killer who is targeting UTC students? He tries to resist but when his wife teams up with Lieutenant Kate Gazzara and he makes a visit to the coroner, he knows he will have to help find the killer. This was another great read with some twists along the way and I didn't want to put the book down once I started reading it.
522 reviews3 followers
July 29, 2020
Thoroughly good read.

It's 1am and I have just finished reading this book without a break.Totally engrossing and well followed on from Calaway Jones.
A psychopath with a huge ego decided to try and beat Harry Starke.
Initially the P.I. didn't want to get involved in any more cases, having been almost fatally injured a few months previously.
Amanda & Kate out him on the spot and he is forced to change his mind - once again he is hooked in solving the puzzle and saving lives.
The killer demands attention, from both Harry & Amanda, using an emoji as his signature.
Harry comes back to work on the third in a series of sadistic murders, all victims are posed as if resting.
A fourth girl is abducted and a three day countdown begins.
Harry is haunted by the murdered girls, they disturb his sleep and he is awoken by the image of four dead girls
His instinct, intuition, whatever you want to call it, has him ringing Kate and arranging a search before dawn to find the girl's body, assuming it has been posed in the same area as previous kills. Hoping to catch the killer as he dumps the body.
They find the girl, but miss the killer. Then another student goes missing and it is a race against time to try and find her before it is too late.
Harry is convinced he knows who the killer is, now it is up to him to prove it, before another girl dies.
Long live Harry Rourke and family.
195 reviews3 followers
November 20, 2020
Emoji One of the best books I’ve ever read. Blair Howard tells a great tale and some.

Harry Starke and Kate Gazzara do it again. Investigating the death of a young girl student they quickly find it’s actually the third death in similar circumstance but each time the forensics give up nothing. Whoever the perpetrator is they are very aware how to clean up a scene. The only link seems to be that the girls are all students at the same university. The deeper they dig the less they know. Until they start looking deeper at ex boyfriends. With nothing sticking and the TBI now involved it takes a chance encounter at the country club for Harry to feel his way forward. He’s certain he knows who it is but how does he prove it? The killer is taunting his superiority and names himself emoji leaking all to the press to keep the pressure on the police and Harry dictating their movements. With Tim on the case Harry manages to locate the suspect together with his latest victim. The problem is he’s now alone in a derelict building without guns and phone. Will he manage to save them both? You need to read the book to find out, it’s a real psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns. The deviant mind is clearly something the author is well armed to write about and he does it so well. Just loved it.
1,257 reviews
July 20, 2020
Wow, another nail biting thriller in the brilliant Harry Starke series.
Harry had been seriously injured and as close to death as he could possibly have come without sitting on a cloud playing his harp. He was toying with the idea of retiring and letting his trusted team run his PI business, in fact, yes that's what he was going to do until......
A phone call from a desperate Kate, his ex PD partner, needing his help, Harry had no intention of changing his mind even with encouragement from his worried wife Amanda. There was a serial killer on the loose in Anacola , he/she was kidnapping young girls and slowly killing them, the autopsy results were horrific, Harry had no choice but to go back to work.
The killer was clever, he left no clues, there were suspects but not enough evidence to charge anyone, meanwhile the body count was climbing. Harry needed a break but where was he going to get it from . When a package containing an emoji arrived at his office Harry knew that it was personal and he needed to find the killer quickly.
This book is full of action and edge of your seat suspense, a real roller coaster ride. A well deserved 5 stars.
Profile Image for Donna.
874 reviews4 followers
June 26, 2017
EMOJI is definitely not for the feint of heart or stomach. Blair Howard has actually outdone himself. Poor Harry Starke is still healing up from the almost death at the hands of Calaway Jones and has decided he's done! He's not going to do this type of work any more. Well....that was the plan. However, when old friend/partner Lieutenant Kate Gazzara drags him into a new case, Harry can't say no. Once word is out that the great Harry Starke is on the case, the fun begins. The killer starts playing cat and mouse, and it would appear, his game is with Harry, not the Chattanooga PD. Another well written, fast paced Harry Starke story - although gruesome the murders may be, and psychopath doesn't even come close to describing the murderer, this is a great read! On a side note, one of the really great things about the Harry Starke series is you're never lost. Blair give you enough information in each book, that even if you haven't read the book before, you get the dynamics of the repeat characters.
Profile Image for Cyndi.
425 reviews9 followers
May 17, 2020
This is a really great suspense with romance. I can't call it romantic suspense because there is definitely more suspense than romance. The main character Harry Starke is a great detective, who has a mind that is able to come up with the most unusual ideas that help him to be able to solve crimes. This is the first book that I have read that he is married to Amanda a TV reporter. In the other books I have read he was in a romantic relationship with Kate Gazarra a police detective. Kate and Harry are still working together and they now have the help of Lt. Lonnie. Harry has made a huge decision in this book that makes for great news to his own team at Harry Starke Investigation. He also has some great personal information. He is asked to come work with Kate in a case that she is having difficulties with. I love how Harry's mind works with the most trivial information. Another exciting book in this series and of course I'm looking forward to reading more.
I received a free download of this book from the publisher. This review is totally my own honest opinion of a book I enjoyed.
316 reviews8 followers
May 25, 2020
Emoji by Blair Howard

I did it again; I downloaded Emoji yesterday and finished it today. That is how it usually is with the Harry Starke series by Blair Howard. His books are an easy read; they keep you wanting to keep reading till the end. Once again, I did not figure out who the guilty person was until Harry figured it out. No foreshadowing; no sneak peaks. Thank you, Mr. Blair for writing in the style you do. Thank you for creating characters that come alive in my imagination. Someone asked me if any of your books were made into a movie who could I see playing Harry Starke. I can’t see any one and I don’t want to see anyone. I prefer to keep the characters in my imagination and nowhere else.
Emoji is Book 11 in the Harry Starke series. If you have not read any of them, you must start with Book 1. Even though each is a stand-alone mystery it helps to be part of the development of the characters and the development of the relationships.
05.25.2020
489 reviews6 followers
November 23, 2017
EMOJI (Harry STARKE #11)

Harry's decision to quit after his best death is still keeping him severely depressed and is affecting his relationship with Amanda and his employees at Starke investigation. After a long bout with himself, Harry and Amanda have a serious discussion about his mental state and Harry goes on a bender. Afterward Harry realizes that he has to go back to work on his terms. So, he goes to the office, springs a partnership on Jacque and Don and immediately is drawn into a missing persons case that the killer dubs, "EMOJI". Amanda's back at Channel 7 and the killer demands that she be the lead reporter and broadcast exactly as directed by the killer. The group soon realize they're dealing with a serial killer and his ultimate target is Harry! How Harry brings the case to an end you'll have to read for yourself. Thanks for another great read.
250 reviews2 followers
July 26, 2020
Harry Stark comes out of retirement.

Harry has been in a slump since his last accident. He quit going to work and was just staying at home mostly drinking and being depressed. Kate wants him to be part of a big case but he doesn’t think he can handle any more after the death of the chiefs daughter. He is hardheaded and it takes a lot of persuading to get him on board for a serial murder case involving three college coeds. The killer taunts him and makes it harder to solve. He plays the media against the police force which means husband against wife in Harry’s case. Harry does some soul searching and decides he can find the killer. He knows the girls deserve the truth coming out. Amanda has some surprise news of her own for Harry that will change his outlook on life. He connects with his staff again and those he has ignored for awhile and in the course finds he is still good at what he does.
Profile Image for Gary.
38 reviews1 follower
June 29, 2020
Has Harry Stake met his match?

Two dead college students, then 3. A serial killer has UTC in an uproar. Kate has called Harry in to help with a hard case. Young girls! Killed in a nasty way. Arms taped, legs taped, tape wrapped around the head covering the mouth but not the eyes. The eyes are trapped open. The EMOJI killer, as he has named himself is at work in Chattanooga and Harry and Kate are having trouble finding the killer. The girls are held for the days, starved, then killed three days and then posed on the Riverwalk park.
A great story that's hard to pot down. A thriller for all who love to read them. I recommend this if you enjoy a great thriller that's not filled with explicit sex and morbid crime scene details.
Profile Image for Annette.
84 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2017
Harry keeps getting better. This time there is a serial kidnapper / killer out there targeting young girls and Harry doesn't want to leave his house.

The killer adds a smiley face to his messages to the police, Harry and the news stations. During the most recent abduction, the car is caught on camera with the tag clearly visible - only a smiley face. Harry is again racing the clock to save the last girl that has been taken. The killer doesn't think Harry is smart enough to stop him. Harry is going to prove otherwise. And then he goes into the building alone - without backup.

I have to thank Blair Howard for the advanced copy of this book. Blair and Harry are a very good team =D
Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books82 followers
March 10, 2018
"Again, An Amazing Mystery Novel"

Harry Starke is recovering from a near-death experience. He's hesitant to take on this new murder case. Maggie Hart, a student at UTC was abducted on Labor Day. Her body was found five days later in the River Park. This won't be the last murder and soon the case turns into a cat and mouse game ... and Harry becomes the mouse! This novel is fast paced, with a shocking ending you'll not see coming. I love the stories in this series where the author always writes with a touch of humor. Again, I could not put this novel down, rising at 2 a.m. to finish the story. Highly recommend.
10 reviews
October 29, 2017
I’ve read them all and enjoyed them all

Harry Starke is sort of a Travis McGee character, with Amanda as his susan Silverman. Each mystery is different, though, like Colombo, you kind of know who it is before the denouement. I’ve enjoyed how Harry’s character morphs from a rich playboy type to a mature married man...with no degradation in the plots. They really have to be read in order, as the “bad guy” in subsequent books is named. I’d read more and will soon have the opportunity with the new book focusing on Kate gazzara.
Profile Image for Holly Lenz.
928 reviews2 followers
August 17, 2021
Emoji is an entertaining serial killer mystery featuring private investigator Harry Starke. It’s a great mystery though Harry makes some pretty dumb moves that almost get him killed. You’d think with all his experience, he’d know better. Still, I really liked the book!

Contains violence, sexual content, and some pretty twisted stuff. Recommended for mature readers.

The narrator is the same one who does the rest of the series. He does a nice job.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,636 reviews28 followers
August 25, 2022
EMOJI (The Harry Starke Novels Book 11), my fortieth read from author Blair Howard. Well-written and enjoyable, edge-of-your-seat thriller fiction, a genre I find myself leaning towards. I look forward to his next book no matter the main character, in this case, my next read is Hoodwinked (The Harry Starke Novels Book 12). “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Profile Image for Pat.
13 reviews
July 8, 2017
Another great book!

This is my 10th Harry Starke novel and it is a page turner as all the others were. Fortunately I started this one early enough in the day I was not up all night to finish it. If you are looking for great suspense, action and an all around good read, check out this series. You don't have to read them all to enjoy them but you will as they are that good. Now I have to wait for #11!
96 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2021
Can Harry solve the murders without getting himself into trouble?

Harry is confronted by a series of very disturbing murders. Young college girls were abducted and nastily killed. Lt. Kate Gazzara brought Harry onto the case, even though he did not want to work it. There were very few clues or leads. The perpetrator was a very smart person. Can Harry figure it out? Does Harry solve it and come out unscathed? Another great read from Blair Howard.
1 review
June 25, 2017
Just finished reading this book. I
think it was the best one so far in the series. Once I started reading it couldn't put it down. Blair Howard is an excellent author. I was hooked after book 1 and became an advanced reader club member. I received an advance copy of this book for an honest review after reading it.
Profile Image for Bev.
3,272 reviews98 followers
July 8, 2017
Poor Harry can't get a break! He is trying to recover from an earlier incident when he is called into another case. This one is very different from any of the others Harry has worked. The killer is taunting Harry, just daring Harry to find him. Can Harry get the job done? How many lives will be taken along the way? A very "I did not see that coming!" ending.
10 reviews1 follower
July 16, 2017
This is my first Harry Stark novel. I loved it! You can rest assured that I will now start with book one and start the series from the beginning. Blair did a wonderful job making the reader who hadn't read the series feel like they hadn't missed anything anything. Will be reading all of this auther's previous book and all the future ones too.
Profile Image for Anne G. Kasaba.
1,920 reviews9 followers
April 21, 2018
Fast paced storyline with plenty of twists and turns.

Harry Stark former cop has his own PI firm and does some consulting for the police. He’s called in on a case when female college students are being abducted and turning up dead. Harry knows who the killer is but can he prove it?

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
3,198 reviews26 followers
August 17, 2018
When a private investigator accepts an assignment, generally, the rules of order are followed. However, when a young woman is found murdered the science can change in a heartbeat. What is the killer doing, hopes to accomplish, and how long will they be there. This is a nail buyer and the end will surprise many, but than a few will know the end before they are halfway through the novel. This is another excellent story about Harry Starke.....DEHS
6,028 reviews45 followers
May 9, 2020
When you read a Harry Starke story, it grabs you by the guts, or other places, and hangs on while Harry gets kicked in those other places - visceral

No such thing as a simple recovery for Harry after some recent trouble and injury. No such thing as a simple case or a little help

Intense action, adventure
Profile Image for Lee Brothers.
1,373 reviews14 followers
June 7, 2020
This was another one that was challenging for me because of the violence. I really love the Harry Stark series but some subject matter is very hard for me to read. Mr. Blair writes a complicated and twisted story about the evil that people do to other people. I didn’t figure it out until right at the very end so it was very well woven together. I really do look forward to the next read!!
1 review
August 24, 2020
Another Blockbuster Starke Novel

Once again Blair excels, his writing style pins you to each page and it really is difficult to stop. I quite often am forced to quit at four in the morning simply because my eyes will not stay open. Just give Blair Howard and Harry Starke a try, I guarantee you will not be disappointed

22 reviews
December 19, 2020
Fantastic, unbelievably thrilling

I rated EMOJI five stars because I found this book intense and exciting. Just as I thought I knew who did it, something would change. I love how Blair wraps the whole story up in the end explaining the logic and loose ends. Awesome mystery as always. Thank you.
474 reviews3 followers
March 27, 2021
Fantastic

What again proves this talented author did it again. It took less than 8 hours for me to finish this book. After meeting Dr. Greenwood I knew he was the killer but Harry Starke on the case made it exciting as usual. Will continue to read all of Blair Howards talented work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.