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Jake Carrington #3
All the Pretty Brides
Homicide detective Jake Carrington has an engagement that can’t wait—with a killer.
Haunted by the murder of his sister, Lieutenant Jake Carrington struggles to control his personal demons as he stands over the brutalized body of a young woman found dead on the railroad tracks. The victim disappeared on July 6th, the fifth woman in as many years to go missing on that date. The fifth happy bride-to-be. The only one whose body has turned up.
Soon the killer is sending personal messages to Jake. They refer to an unidentified brother he believes Jake hates as much as he does. With his partner distracted by turmoil at home, Jake is on his own. Drawn deeper and deeper into a murderous family feud, his mission is to find out who the killer’s brother is—and stop him before another innocent woman’s life is cut tragically short.
“Tense and authentic—a suspenseful page-turner!”
—Leo J. Maloney
Haunted by the murder of his sister, Lieutenant Jake Carrington struggles to control his personal demons as he stands over the brutalized body of a young woman found dead on the railroad tracks. The victim disappeared on July 6th, the fifth woman in as many years to go missing on that date. The fifth happy bride-to-be. The only one whose body has turned up.
Soon the killer is sending personal messages to Jake. They refer to an unidentified brother he believes Jake hates as much as he does. With his partner distracted by turmoil at home, Jake is on his own. Drawn deeper and deeper into a murderous family feud, his mission is to find out who the killer’s brother is—and stop him before another innocent woman’s life is cut tragically short.
“Tense and authentic—a suspenseful page-turner!”
—Leo J. Maloney
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2018
41 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
Marian Lanouette
12 books305 followersMarian's book All the Pretty Brides is a 2019 Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence in Mystery/Suspense Finalist. Stay tuned, winners announced in July.
“ A self-described tough blonde from Brooklyn, Marian is the Amazon bestselling author of The Jake Carrington Mysteries, a gritty romantic suspense series.
As far back as she could remember, Marian loved to read. As a child, she was especially intrigued by the Daily News crime reports.
In her youth she knew someone who was murdered. The killer was never found. This event ignited Marian’s desire to write books where good prevails, even in the darkest times.
Marian lives in New England with husband. They have been married for more than forty years.
“ A self-described tough blonde from Brooklyn, Marian is the Amazon bestselling author of The Jake Carrington Mysteries, a gritty romantic suspense series.
As far back as she could remember, Marian loved to read. As a child, she was especially intrigued by the Daily News crime reports.
In her youth she knew someone who was murdered. The killer was never found. This event ignited Marian’s desire to write books where good prevails, even in the darkest times.
Marian lives in New England with husband. They have been married for more than forty years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 4, 2019
This is 3rd in this crime fiction series featuring Lt. Jake Carrington and Sgt. Louis Romanelli. It is easily read as a stand alone although I recommend starting at the beginning.
Carrington is going after the Bride Murderer. Every year on a particular date, a young woman is abducted. The body he is looking at now is the 5th woman to disappear .. only this time her body has been left where it will easily be found. The previous missing women have never been seen again.
As Carrington and his team start their investigation, the killer sends a personal message with a clue .... he says his brother is someone that Carrington hates as much as he does.
And while this is going on, Mia, Carrington's girlfriend, has a stalker. He or she has sent her dead animals. Are the cases connected? The same killer?
This is an action-packed police procedural that gripped me from the very first page. Carrington and his team spend a lot of time investigating a large number of people, friends, families, co-workers of the missing women. There are many suspects and it's impossible to guess the 'who', although you know the 'why' early on.
Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books - Lyrical Underground / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Carrington is going after the Bride Murderer. Every year on a particular date, a young woman is abducted. The body he is looking at now is the 5th woman to disappear .. only this time her body has been left where it will easily be found. The previous missing women have never been seen again.
As Carrington and his team start their investigation, the killer sends a personal message with a clue .... he says his brother is someone that Carrington hates as much as he does.
And while this is going on, Mia, Carrington's girlfriend, has a stalker. He or she has sent her dead animals. Are the cases connected? The same killer?
This is an action-packed police procedural that gripped me from the very first page. Carrington and his team spend a lot of time investigating a large number of people, friends, families, co-workers of the missing women. There are many suspects and it's impossible to guess the 'who', although you know the 'why' early on.
Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books - Lyrical Underground / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 18, 2018
Review to come.
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December 13, 2018He calls himself, "The Groom," but the press refers to the cases as the Bride Murders. The police know that every July 6, for the past 4 years, a young woman had disappeared. The 5th woman, however, is not missing -- the body of Nadia Carren is found on the railroad tracks She'd been tortured, branded and her throat was slit. Lt. Jake Carrington and his partner, Sgt Louie Romanelli, are in charge of the investigation for the Wilkesbury, CT, police. It seems that in the mind of the sick psycho who is apparently kidnapping and killing these women, he's substituting them for someone in particular -- the woman who jilted him at the altar. This case is going to stretch them to the breaking point as other professional and domestic issues arise. It's going to take an incredible team and strong leadership to see it through...NO SPOILERS.
OK I do like this series, but I truly wish that Jake and Louie would concentrate more on police work and less on their romantic liaisons. I really hate that so much of the pages are wasted on "love" and sex. The details of the investigation are quite good and exhibit just how difficult it is to track and find a killer of this ilk. There are many characters in the book and some have a larger role than others but it sometimes hard to keep everyone straight. Jake Carrington is the protagonist and I run hot and cold with my feelings about him. Obviously he's a good detective and an effective boss, but he's got some serious flaws as well. Louie is a hothead but is Jake's right hand man. They have a long, strong friendship as well as an effective working relationship. Their women mostly annoyed me. The case is complex and the web is pulled tighter very slowly to the ultimate conclusion. Since the narrative flips in point of view and includes the killer's voice, it's not a surprise who has done the deeds, more a procedural of the painstaking work required to narrow down a huge list to the suspect.
After the first one, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this, but I did -- even though I skipped number 2. I surprised myself by putting the 4th on my TBR as I do like the author's methods of demonstrating the workings of a case squad and the politics of the job. In my opinion, the series would be even better with LESS of the romance and probably appeal to a wider audience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for the e-book ARC to read and review.
OK I do like this series, but I truly wish that Jake and Louie would concentrate more on police work and less on their romantic liaisons. I really hate that so much of the pages are wasted on "love" and sex. The details of the investigation are quite good and exhibit just how difficult it is to track and find a killer of this ilk. There are many characters in the book and some have a larger role than others but it sometimes hard to keep everyone straight. Jake Carrington is the protagonist and I run hot and cold with my feelings about him. Obviously he's a good detective and an effective boss, but he's got some serious flaws as well. Louie is a hothead but is Jake's right hand man. They have a long, strong friendship as well as an effective working relationship. Their women mostly annoyed me. The case is complex and the web is pulled tighter very slowly to the ultimate conclusion. Since the narrative flips in point of view and includes the killer's voice, it's not a surprise who has done the deeds, more a procedural of the painstaking work required to narrow down a huge list to the suspect.
After the first one, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this, but I did -- even though I skipped number 2. I surprised myself by putting the 4th on my TBR as I do like the author's methods of demonstrating the workings of a case squad and the politics of the job. In my opinion, the series would be even better with LESS of the romance and probably appeal to a wider audience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for the e-book ARC to read and review.
October 8, 2018
3 and 1 / 2 stars
Lieutenant Jake Carrington and his partner Louie attend the scene of a crime. It is the report of a body found on the railroad tracks and she was murdered. She is just the most recent victim of what the press has termed The Bride Murders.
Jake is frustrated as this is the fifth woman to be killed. What they have in common is that they were all due to be married soon.
Jake has problems of his own. He still agonizes over the murder of his own sister. His partner is distracted by a home situation, so he is not very helpful on the case. Then the killer starts sending him notes saying odd things.
At the end of the book is a truly bizarre family scene. Wow, spare me…
This is a well written and plotted book. Jake can be a bit of a hard case. I’m not sure that I liked him all that much. I didn’t get to know his partner Louie very well. But I do know that Louie was ferocious in supporting and protecting Jake.
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read and review.
Lieutenant Jake Carrington and his partner Louie attend the scene of a crime. It is the report of a body found on the railroad tracks and she was murdered. She is just the most recent victim of what the press has termed The Bride Murders.
Jake is frustrated as this is the fifth woman to be killed. What they have in common is that they were all due to be married soon.
Jake has problems of his own. He still agonizes over the murder of his own sister. His partner is distracted by a home situation, so he is not very helpful on the case. Then the killer starts sending him notes saying odd things.
At the end of the book is a truly bizarre family scene. Wow, spare me…
This is a well written and plotted book. Jake can be a bit of a hard case. I’m not sure that I liked him all that much. I didn’t get to know his partner Louie very well. But I do know that Louie was ferocious in supporting and protecting Jake.
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read and review.
November 6, 2018
Great Thriller
This book is part of a series, but can definitely be read alone. I won this book on Goodreads and am glad that I did. It's a fast paced thriller and I enjoyed it a lot. I will eventually read the rest of the Jake Carrington Thrillers!
This book is part of a series, but can definitely be read alone. I won this book on Goodreads and am glad that I did. It's a fast paced thriller and I enjoyed it a lot. I will eventually read the rest of the Jake Carrington Thrillers!
December 19, 2018
Five young women, all vanished on July 6 in consecutive years. All pretty, fitting the same physical description, and all engaged to be married. Now, for the first time, one of them has been found, gruesomely tortured and killed. For homicide lieutenant Jake Carrington the case brings up ugly memories of his long-lost sister, but he has to set aside personal feelings and find justice for these murdered brides before the killer strikes again.
This is a police procedural with a lot of focus on the nitty-gritty of the investigation, kept interesting in that it’s told through the interpretive lens of Jake’s point of view. We also get a lot of Jake’s personal life with his psychiatrist girlfriend Mia, and that of Jake’s faithful partner Louie and his wife Sophia.
I was disappointed by the lack of female authority figures here. Captain, chief of police, commissioner and mayor were all male and Jake, when given free rein to select his task force from the entire police department, chose all-male detectives. Both Mia and Sophia, the only women with significant page time in the book, are portrayed as victims who have to be taken care of by their menfolk. The one female police officer who features at all, Stella, is basically there to be a babysitter to Mia because Jake’s ego couldn’t stand having a man watch over her.
Though the book starts out with Jake insisting they give the victims the dignity of their names, it ends disappointingly too, with four out of nine murder victims not even identified and the plot sidetracked to catch Mia’s stalker, which was obviously someone who’d appeared in a previous book since I lost track of what was going on at that point.
The most interesting character in the book was the killer, obsessed with the woman who left him at the altar and trying to replace her. I wanted to know more about how he tried to force his victims to fit her mold; he kept them for weeks at a minimum yet we only saw the grisly end. We didn’t get enough time in his PoV to really understand his psychology, even though it was obvious from early on which suspect was the killer.
Though this had its good parts, I found myself frustrated and wishing for a better ending and women with more agency and influence in the story. I wouldn’t read another in this series. Two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
This is a police procedural with a lot of focus on the nitty-gritty of the investigation, kept interesting in that it’s told through the interpretive lens of Jake’s point of view. We also get a lot of Jake’s personal life with his psychiatrist girlfriend Mia, and that of Jake’s faithful partner Louie and his wife Sophia.
I was disappointed by the lack of female authority figures here. Captain, chief of police, commissioner and mayor were all male and Jake, when given free rein to select his task force from the entire police department, chose all-male detectives. Both Mia and Sophia, the only women with significant page time in the book, are portrayed as victims who have to be taken care of by their menfolk. The one female police officer who features at all, Stella, is basically there to be a babysitter to Mia because Jake’s ego couldn’t stand having a man watch over her.
Though the book starts out with Jake insisting they give the victims the dignity of their names, it ends disappointingly too, with four out of nine murder victims not even identified and the plot sidetracked to catch Mia’s stalker, which was obviously someone who’d appeared in a previous book since I lost track of what was going on at that point.
The most interesting character in the book was the killer, obsessed with the woman who left him at the altar and trying to replace her. I wanted to know more about how he tried to force his victims to fit her mold; he kept them for weeks at a minimum yet we only saw the grisly end. We didn’t get enough time in his PoV to really understand his psychology, even though it was obvious from early on which suspect was the killer.
Though this had its good parts, I found myself frustrated and wishing for a better ending and women with more agency and influence in the story. I wouldn’t read another in this series. Two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
November 24, 2018
In Lt. Jake Harrington's latest case, the body of a missing woman is discovered after having been tortured and mutilated. The victim is the fifth in a series of women who had gone missing on the same date over the past few years; however, hers was the first body to be found. Jake leads the investigation into the Bride Murders case, forming a task force of trusted officers in his department. Shortly after starting their investigation, the Groom (as he calls himself) starts sending notes to Jake threatening to kidnap his next victim. While working long hours interviewing suspects and tracking down leads, Jake is also forced to deal with bureaucracy within the police force and the politics that come with it, his girlfriend's stalker, and his partners troubles at home.
This is the third installment in the Jake Harrington series, but the first that I have read. I would definitely recommend reading the first two installments before starting this one; there are several references to things that happen and characters from other books (I'm assuming) and I was a little lost at points.
This is definitely a police procedural novel - the first 3/4 of the book are just Jake and his partner, Louie, tracking down leads, interviewing suspects, and running background checks. There are 2 or 3 sections from the killer's point of view, but for the most part it's just the day to day grind of solving a case. Overall, the mystery was pretty good, but nothing totally mind blowing. The side stories with Louie's family and Mia's stalker are more distracting than anything else. This was just a three star read for me. I probably won't be reading the other books from the series - just not my preference in a mystery.
Thank you to Netgally and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third installment in the Jake Harrington series, but the first that I have read. I would definitely recommend reading the first two installments before starting this one; there are several references to things that happen and characters from other books (I'm assuming) and I was a little lost at points.
This is definitely a police procedural novel - the first 3/4 of the book are just Jake and his partner, Louie, tracking down leads, interviewing suspects, and running background checks. There are 2 or 3 sections from the killer's point of view, but for the most part it's just the day to day grind of solving a case. Overall, the mystery was pretty good, but nothing totally mind blowing. The side stories with Louie's family and Mia's stalker are more distracting than anything else. This was just a three star read for me. I probably won't be reading the other books from the series - just not my preference in a mystery.
Thank you to Netgally and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2018
The prologue leads us into a brutal scene where an obviously deranged killer has a woman chained up and he slashes her throat. Police Lieutenant Jake Carrington and his partner Louie roll up to the scene where the woman's body has been dumped. She's the fifth one that has gone missing on July 6 of the past few years but the only body that has been found so far. The press refers to these as the Bride Murders because all the women were to be married.
Be prepared for a lot of the book to be devoted to the relationships of both Jake and Louie at home. Some short chapters are narrated by the killer. About 60% of the way through the book, the author had given enough clues for me to figure out who the killer was out of all the suspects the detectives were chasing down. I liked that.
At the end, I wondered what were consequences to the moles in Jake's department, so for me, that was a loose thread. Overall, the book was a good police procedural and crime thriller. The police all worked together to methodically follow the leads and narrow down the suspects. I felt the suspense. I liked the respectful manner in which Jake demanded the victims be referred to -- their actual names, not the moniker by the press. I received a Kindle copy in a Goodreads giveaway.
Be prepared for a lot of the book to be devoted to the relationships of both Jake and Louie at home. Some short chapters are narrated by the killer. About 60% of the way through the book, the author had given enough clues for me to figure out who the killer was out of all the suspects the detectives were chasing down. I liked that.
At the end, I wondered what were consequences to the moles in Jake's department, so for me, that was a loose thread. Overall, the book was a good police procedural and crime thriller. The police all worked together to methodically follow the leads and narrow down the suspects. I felt the suspense. I liked the respectful manner in which Jake demanded the victims be referred to -- their actual names, not the moniker by the press. I received a Kindle copy in a Goodreads giveaway.
November 11, 2018
Bride murders
Truly a great story. First book I have read by this Author and she nailed it. The characters are strong with a believable storyline. Even if you can figure out who the killer is the rest of the story keeps you engaged. I will definitely read more from this series.
Truly a great story. First book I have read by this Author and she nailed it. The characters are strong with a believable storyline. Even if you can figure out who the killer is the rest of the story keeps you engaged. I will definitely read more from this series.
December 11, 2018
Jake Carrington, the detective with a heart and an unwavering drive to get the bad guy is back along with his sidekick Louie. All The Pretty Brides is the third in this mystery thriller series and one, I again could not stop turning the pages until I reached the end. What is a little loss of sleep when you have such a wonderful story to read?
This time Jake is after a “bride killer”, one who has just murdered his fifth victim. The case turns personal for Jake when the vicious serial killer sends a message that the detective has two weeks before the next victim is taken.
Author Marian Lanouette does a masterful job of storytelling weaving the day to day life of a detective squad, with the personal and often-fragile matters of the heart as Jake and his squad work to beat a ticking time bomb. I especially like the combination of the strong, fast paced, well thought out plot with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, along with character’s that not only draw you in but keep you emotionally vested in their lives long after the story is done. Looking forward to the next Jake Carrington case.
This time Jake is after a “bride killer”, one who has just murdered his fifth victim. The case turns personal for Jake when the vicious serial killer sends a message that the detective has two weeks before the next victim is taken.
Author Marian Lanouette does a masterful job of storytelling weaving the day to day life of a detective squad, with the personal and often-fragile matters of the heart as Jake and his squad work to beat a ticking time bomb. I especially like the combination of the strong, fast paced, well thought out plot with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, along with character’s that not only draw you in but keep you emotionally vested in their lives long after the story is done. Looking forward to the next Jake Carrington case.
November 16, 2018
This fast-paced thriller with a heart kept me up past midnight. In All the Pretty Brides, the third book in the Jake Carrington detective series, the hunt is on to find the bride-to-be who is the next victim on the serial killers list. Driven by the senseless murder of his sister, his capture is personal for Jake. I swear, no one writes a villain that will make your skin crawl like Marian Lanouette does. The authenticity and insider view of the day-to-day traumas and politics of a town police department make this story a cut above the typical detective story. I especially liked the way the author balances the workday angst with a with Jakes relationships with his partner and love interest. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2019
An engrossing suspense thriller, ALL THE PRETTY BRIDES is the third installment in the Detective Jake Carrigan Series. Set in a city of 100,000 population in Connecticut, the series protagonist is a Homicide detective, now Lieutenant, with tragedy in his past--the murder of his sister at fifteen. Commitment-phobic, he is trying to reestablish a relationship with psychologist--author Mia, when a horribly tortured murder victim is discovered, capping a series of brides-to-be kidnapped on July 6, one each year for the past five years. Then the killer targets both Jake and Mia.
I was riveted. ALL THE PRETTY BRIDES is a marvelous, although gory, page-turner.
I was riveted. ALL THE PRETTY BRIDES is a marvelous, although gory, page-turner.
August 29, 2019
Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist for Excellence in Mystery
Once I learned that All the Pretty Brides was a Daphne du Maurier Award finalist for excellence in mystery, I could hardly wait to read it. And I was immediately transported into the world of police detective Jake Carrington who endeared himself to me as he worked to solve the cases of the missing brides. While this is a police procedural, the story is enriched with subplots, twists, and thriller elements. Both Jake, and his partner, Louie, have complicated personal lives that add to the tension. The book kept me on the edge of my seat while I kept guessing who the perpetrator would turn out to be. This story has many layers and builds so you can’t put it down until the end when Jake finally gets his man. I look forward to reading other mysteries in this series.
Once I learned that All the Pretty Brides was a Daphne du Maurier Award finalist for excellence in mystery, I could hardly wait to read it. And I was immediately transported into the world of police detective Jake Carrington who endeared himself to me as he worked to solve the cases of the missing brides. While this is a police procedural, the story is enriched with subplots, twists, and thriller elements. Both Jake, and his partner, Louie, have complicated personal lives that add to the tension. The book kept me on the edge of my seat while I kept guessing who the perpetrator would turn out to be. This story has many layers and builds so you can’t put it down until the end when Jake finally gets his man. I look forward to reading other mysteries in this series.
April 2, 2019
I received an RAC, and I'm glad I did. Jake Carrington shows his relentlessness in going after the killer, and in protecting tho one he loves.
November 27, 2018
So this is the third in the series but my first read when LT Jake Carrington is called to the crime scene of a body down by the railway track, it seems this is the body of a woman who disappeared on 6th July as with the last previous 5 years, a women has gone missing on this date but although she is the fifth victim, she is the first body to be discovered. The papers have dubbed the case The Bride Murders. With pressure on from both the top brass and the mayor, can Jake and his partner, Louie follow the clues and uncover the truth. With the "groom" now sending personal messages taunting Carrington, can he put his own personal feelings to one side to investigate.
With a couple of side line investigations going on in the background, Jake and Louie are feeling the pressure and with so much redtape and bureaucracy to deal with, it gives a great insight into police procedures and the tedious task of interviewing etc.
I enjoyed this book and delighted to say I have been very lucky that I have found yet another series to add to my collection, I really love books of this genre and will be starting this series from the beginning. Brilliant for those that love mystery/detective series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
With a couple of side line investigations going on in the background, Jake and Louie are feeling the pressure and with so much redtape and bureaucracy to deal with, it gives a great insight into police procedures and the tedious task of interviewing etc.
I enjoyed this book and delighted to say I have been very lucky that I have found yet another series to add to my collection, I really love books of this genre and will be starting this series from the beginning. Brilliant for those that love mystery/detective series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 3, 2018
For fans of serial killer procedurals. I'd not read the earlier books in the series so Jake and Louie were new to me. Jake's determined to find the killer of the young women killed before their weddings. He's motivated in part by the anguish caused by the murder of his own sister. There are alternating chapters with the killer's voice, which allowed me to figure out the identity before Jake did. Not a bad thing, entirely, because then it allowed me to focus on the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
December 12, 2018
Let me begin by saying that the only thing the three books in the series have in common is the main character, his colleagues, and to a certain extent Mia. Otherwise they can all be read and enjoyed as stand alone novels (seriously, having read the second book, but not the first, I expected there to be at least some mention of events that had happened in book two, but there was nothing).
As for the genre, I would definitely classify these more as police procedural novels and not so much a "thriller" novel. There is a lot of "chasing down leads", "getting nowhere" and "dealing with bureaucratic nonsense" that I feel while very realistic in terms of how the police really operate, do not always make for the best reading material. In this case, it was enjoyable, BUT there seemed to be a lot of distractions in the side stories (Louie's drama with his wife, Mia having a stalker) that I felt took away from the story instead of adding to it. In fact, the big reveal as to who Mia's stalker was felt very anti-climatic. I would have enjoyed them more had they added something to the overall story instead of just seeming like "filler". Perhaps it was the authors intent to use them to keep Jake and Louie distracted, but it was a bit over the top for me.
Finally, it rates being mentioned, but I liked Jake less and less during this story. During the course of his investigation he goes into tattoo parlors. And while even he agrees that tattoos, piercings, and other body modifications are not for him, he comes across as being a pretty judgmental jerk when it comes to those who do have them. A nitpick on my part for sure, but this was just one of several reasons that it made it hard (for me) to even care about this character. Coupled with his hot and cold relationship with Mia, and I was definitely left wanting more here.
However, the author does have a strong writing style and this story moves at a fairly steady pace so I am sure there will be a lot of fans. I may finish this series out (as of right now its being billed as a 4 book series). However I would read more from this author.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
As for the genre, I would definitely classify these more as police procedural novels and not so much a "thriller" novel. There is a lot of "chasing down leads", "getting nowhere" and "dealing with bureaucratic nonsense" that I feel while very realistic in terms of how the police really operate, do not always make for the best reading material. In this case, it was enjoyable, BUT there seemed to be a lot of distractions in the side stories (Louie's drama with his wife, Mia having a stalker) that I felt took away from the story instead of adding to it. In fact, the big reveal as to who Mia's stalker was felt very anti-climatic. I would have enjoyed them more had they added something to the overall story instead of just seeming like "filler". Perhaps it was the authors intent to use them to keep Jake and Louie distracted, but it was a bit over the top for me.
Finally, it rates being mentioned, but I liked Jake less and less during this story. During the course of his investigation he goes into tattoo parlors. And while even he agrees that tattoos, piercings, and other body modifications are not for him, he comes across as being a pretty judgmental jerk when it comes to those who do have them. A nitpick on my part for sure, but this was just one of several reasons that it made it hard (for me) to even care about this character. Coupled with his hot and cold relationship with Mia, and I was definitely left wanting more here.
However, the author does have a strong writing style and this story moves at a fairly steady pace so I am sure there will be a lot of fans. I may finish this series out (as of right now its being billed as a 4 book series). However I would read more from this author.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
December 16, 2018
Will you find your bride? Over the last couple of years young women have gone missing and only now a body has been found. But why now? Lt Jake Carrington has been tasked with finding the young woman's killer but it isn't going to be that easy. Now that the mayor has gotten involved Jake knows that him & his partner Louie will need to get this right. The mayor is waiting for the moment to get Jake thrown from the force so can he investigate the murder without the mayor's mole giving all the information away. He has to bring in a new team people that he can trust to bring the killer in, he does have some suspects but other than them been awful sick men he can't pin it on them. They need to figure out why the killer is targeting a specific type as they are all similar and were all about to get married. Can they figure out how he picks the women? But he knows that this case isn't going to get any easier as he is getting pressure from up above and things aren't always going great at home. Jake loves Mia but he just needs space at times his job sees the sicker side of people and he is always fighting for the victim as his sister's death changed everything. Mia knows that Jake pushes himself to hard but all she can do is to give him space and be there for him. Louie is having his own problems at home and he is afraid that his wife's boss will take things too far. Jake has tried to talk to him about it but he doesn't want to open up. Hopefully he can talk before things go horribly wrong. The killer is playing with Jake now as he is angry that Jake didn't release his letter and he will do whatever he has to do end the chase. Can Jake & Louie figure it all out before even more women die?
A good read. Like Jake & Louie they make a good team even when they are having problems. They have a good relationship going. Not too sure about Mia I really didn't get the sense that they will last. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.
A good read. Like Jake & Louie they make a good team even when they are having problems. They have a good relationship going. Not too sure about Mia I really didn't get the sense that they will last. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.
February 16, 2019
I loved this book All the Pretty Brides by Marian Lanouette read it you won't be disappointed, I love drama and who dunit books and this one had it. It kept me in suspense.
January 28, 2019
All the Pretty Brides is book #3 in the Jake Carrington series. This is the first book by this author I have read. That being said, I enjoyed this book as a stand alone and didn't feel completely lost, although there were times while reading I wish I had the background of the previous two books to better my understanding of the main characters.
The story is about a serial killer who finds, tortures and kills women based off of the woman who left him at the alter years ago. The premise is interesting. The writing is incredible. The story is predictable but that did not take away from my reading pleasure. I loved the dynamics between the main characters, the author made me feel like I was really getting to know them and love them. I look forward to reading many more books by Marian Lanouette.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The story is about a serial killer who finds, tortures and kills women based off of the woman who left him at the alter years ago. The premise is interesting. The writing is incredible. The story is predictable but that did not take away from my reading pleasure. I loved the dynamics between the main characters, the author made me feel like I was really getting to know them and love them. I look forward to reading many more books by Marian Lanouette.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 19, 2018
I received this arc from Netgalley.
An engrossing read. This was the first book that I've read of the series but I plan to read the others as soon as possible. I enjoyed reading this book.
An engrossing read. This was the first book that I've read of the series but I plan to read the others as soon as possible. I enjoyed reading this book.
December 19, 2018
Perfect psychological thriller! It moved at a fast pace with twists and turns throughout! I couldn’t put it down! Highly recommend! This was the perfect addition to the series!
December 29, 2018
You should give this suspenseful thriller a try. I have read previous books and this one does not disappoint.
May 8, 2019
I was of two minds about this book.
I liked the basic plot about serial murders of five similar-looking brides, over a five year period. However, three irrelevant side plots slowed the beginning, not to mention the middle.
1. Cliched mayor wants to fire Detective Jake Carrington, so he can play police-politics and get publicity when he runs for governor. I think I know what the author hoped to achieve, but the mayor was a distraction.
2. Carrington has sigh-inducing drama with Mia, his lover. Mia has a stalker, who isn’t given a name until the very last chapter. The stalker could’ve been eliminated.
3. Detective and Mrs. Romanelli have loud arguments/fights about her taking a job. She won’t explain why she needs the job or the money. Their children are upset, and of course, the oldest boy runs to Uncle Jake for help.
I don’t like domestic arguments that persist through an entire police procedural. As this case becomes more trying, detectives become petulant and have on-the-job spats. I was reminded of romance-mysteries, to the point of me saying: “The cops should be named Jane and Louisa, not Jake and Louie!” That stopped me cold! But then, I realized there were NO female detectives. This story—published in 2018–could be set in the 1970s. Not the ‘80s, because of “Cagney and Lacey.” I googled it.
I was disappointed that this story contained so many police procedural stereotypes and tropes.
1. At and around the murder scene, there are ten cruisers with lights blazing, plus a multitude of patrol officers.
2. Carrington takes Detective Romanelli to an Irish pub for lunch. It’s a workday, but they have a couple of beers.
3. The power-hungry mayor, who hates Carrington, struts into the pub with an entourage, sees the cops and has words for the detectives. The mayor has cliched, wrong detectives spying on Carrington.
4. A print reporter—who always gets to murder scenes first—pesters the detectives. Carrington thinks the reporter has a police informant. (The reporter is gone after 8 or so chapters, and there’s no resolution to his thread.)
6. Carrington gets a well-known TV reporter friend to do research. Like Nadine Furst of JD Robb’s Eve Dallas series!
2.5 stars, down to an even 2 stars.
I liked the basic plot about serial murders of five similar-looking brides, over a five year period. However, three irrelevant side plots slowed the beginning, not to mention the middle.
1. Cliched mayor wants to fire Detective Jake Carrington, so he can play police-politics and get publicity when he runs for governor. I think I know what the author hoped to achieve, but the mayor was a distraction.
2. Carrington has sigh-inducing drama with Mia, his lover. Mia has a stalker, who isn’t given a name until the very last chapter. The stalker could’ve been eliminated.
3. Detective and Mrs. Romanelli have loud arguments/fights about her taking a job. She won’t explain why she needs the job or the money. Their children are upset, and of course, the oldest boy runs to Uncle Jake for help.
I don’t like domestic arguments that persist through an entire police procedural. As this case becomes more trying, detectives become petulant and have on-the-job spats. I was reminded of romance-mysteries, to the point of me saying: “The cops should be named Jane and Louisa, not Jake and Louie!” That stopped me cold! But then, I realized there were NO female detectives. This story—published in 2018–could be set in the 1970s. Not the ‘80s, because of “Cagney and Lacey.” I googled it.
I was disappointed that this story contained so many police procedural stereotypes and tropes.
1. At and around the murder scene, there are ten cruisers with lights blazing, plus a multitude of patrol officers.
2. Carrington takes Detective Romanelli to an Irish pub for lunch. It’s a workday, but they have a couple of beers.
3. The power-hungry mayor, who hates Carrington, struts into the pub with an entourage, sees the cops and has words for the detectives. The mayor has cliched, wrong detectives spying on Carrington.
4. A print reporter—who always gets to murder scenes first—pesters the detectives. Carrington thinks the reporter has a police informant. (The reporter is gone after 8 or so chapters, and there’s no resolution to his thread.)
6. Carrington gets a well-known TV reporter friend to do research. Like Nadine Furst of JD Robb’s Eve Dallas series!
2.5 stars, down to an even 2 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2018
Another great book....kept me on edge right to the end. Had Arnie pegged right away...what an arrogant SON...love Jake and Mia. Can't wait for the next one. Great job Marian!!!
Kept me on the edge right to the end. I was right about Arnie right from the interview ...what an arrogant ass he was. Once again...love Jake and Mia and can't wait for the next book...Great job Marian.....
Kept me on the edge right to the end. I was right about Arnie right from the interview ...what an arrogant ass he was. Once again...love Jake and Mia and can't wait for the next book...Great job Marian.....
April 9, 2019
This is a great detective read. I had a hard time putting it down - be sure you have time to read it or you will be up all night - a great thriller! Believable characters. This gave me insight into detective work and crime solving. Good romantic stories too. I’ve just downloaded another in this series.
November 20, 2019
Very interesting story with great build up. I thought o had it figured out but after a while I found out I was wrong. Held my attention with a good story. I plan on reading some of her other books. Glad I won this is a goodreads giveaway.
May 15, 2019
Riveting story from the beginning. Love the authors books. Can't wait to read the next one!
November 4, 2019
This book was hard to put down a real page turner. Gave to my daughter and she felt the same way.Loved how it had twists and turns and kept me riveted. A great mystery for sure.
August 16, 2019
Another solid read.
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