Don't Look Now

by Mary Burton

A homicide detective in the dark. A serial killer on the loose. Both have their obsessions in a nerve-twisting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton.

Austin homicide detective Jordan Poe is hunting a serial killer she fears is the same man who assaulted her sister, Avery, two years ago. The details line up: the victims are the same age, same type, dead by the same grim MO. Luckily Avery survived. But the terrible memories linger, making Jordan more determined than ever to stop this monster in his tracks.

Texas Ranger Carter Spencer isn’t one to poach on a detective’s territory. Yet no matter how resentful a capable lone wolf like Jordan is, when she is attacked at a third crime scene and suffers a trauma that leaves her with limited vision, it’s up to Carter to help Jordan navigate a world she no longer recognizes. He needs her instinct, her experience, and her fearless resolve to crack this case. A case that’s about to get even darker.

A stranger is watching. He’s closing in on his ultimate prey. And no one but the killer can see what’s coming.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

359 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

Mary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.

Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.

A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.

A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.

Reviews

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by Mary Burton and I can see why this prolific author is very popular. This standalone thriller/police procedural had a strong female lead, a logical storyline with a few twists and red herrings to keep the reader guessing and a good pace- no wonder I read it in no time at all.

Detective Jordan Poe is both hard-working and tenacious. She has to be. Her mother had a substance abuse problem and Jordan learnt quickly to take care of herself and her little sister Avery. When their mother died, Jordan had to cope not ony with her own but also with Avery's grief and later her descent into drug abuse. The low point came when she found Avery in her drug dealer Marco's place, tied and suffocating. Avery has been clean and sober ever since, but Jordan cannot help worrying about her.

When the first body of a young woman is found wrapped in plastic, Jordan has very little to go on to identify the victim, but when the second one is found, she has a terrible suspicion that the cases resemble what happened to Avery. The victims were young, blond, petite,and had a history of drug abuse. There is a bit of tension about who should deal with the investigation as Jordan isn't particularly happy to let the case go to Texas Ranger Carter Spenser. Carter has a tendency to rub people the wrong way, but he has experience of dealing with serial killers as well as the wisdom of recognising Jordan's detective skills and tenacity.

What made this book stand out is what happened, while Jordan was trying to save the killer's next victim. This isn't a spoiler (it maybe if you don't read blurbs)- Jordan suffers a blow to her head and is left with impaired vision. Remember she is in the middle of an ongoing investigation, the killer is still on the loose. Jordan is a fiercely independent person, but now she is forced to deal with tremendous changes to her her daily life, career and entire future.

I can't say I found it too easy to guess who the killer was- perhaps other, more savvy readers would see it early on. The plot was logical and everything was tied in the end. The only thing I wasn't sure about was the romance-it came in at a very late point in the book and I didn't feel it was necessary. This is a more plot-driven, action-packed kind of book, so the other characters apart from the protagonist were not as developped, but I think there is a potential for this standalone to become a series.

I liked Jordan and the way she dealt with adversity in her life with determination and compassion and I would certainly like to read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

3.5

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK

Don't Look Now is a captivating story that throws you right into an investigation and doesn't hold back. And even through the gruesome murders and crime scenes there's something about the book that keeps it a fun reading experience without getting too heavy. Which I really enjoyed.

I actually guessed the ending pretty early into the book but the story was written so well that there were still little things happening that shocked me and made it so I never lost interest. Overall, a great read and one I definitely recommend.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, romantic suspense novel. It has a strong and capable female protagonist, a wonderful bond between sisters, murder, mystery, intrigue, a touch of romance, twists and turns, and a happily ever after ending.

[Booktastically Amazing · Rating 2 out of 5]

#5 Twelve days of reviews (ranting ahead!)

"Don't look now."
Oh trust me, I tried-

*as I always say, this is not and will never be against the author, just my personal opinions mushed together in a semi-coherent way*

I can see why many people would like this, I sadly, did not see it.
I feel so bad right now
should I though?

Rating: 🙂🙂2.2 (I will destroy you: faces)

This is going to be a different format from my usual lengthy, fangirling, freak-out-city reviews, since I did not enjoy this book and even though I'm writing a review about it, I don't feel like rehashing all that stuff.

But I still, of course. I'm a little annoyed.
maybe more than a little
Perhaps more at myself than at the book.
Because I had the chance of stopping, yet I didn't.
I want to punch myself
In the chest
with a sharpy knify

Anyhow, anywho, I'll divide this little rantiful, bountiful, bootiful venting session into two equally ranty parts. (I sound high, but I promise I'm not)

The first of which being, what I kind of enjoyed (I would feel supremely evil otherwise. And not even in the 'I'm such a queen, evil' but in the 'mean' evil):

I liked and saw the appeal of the way the chapters were divided and presented.
I sound like I'm grabbing unto straws to prevent drowning, but I'm trying here
With the date and day of the occurrences that made it a tad more bearable to set my sights on the actual murder spree happening and since I was about to give up halfway, I focused on the small things that made it easier for me to encourage myself to like the story as a whole.

I enjoyed how the main character had ambition and this sort of pride that I found myself agreeing with. Yes she was hard-headed, but I saw why (I may or may not be hard-headed as well-). I loved and adored to death (hehe) the fact that the book didn't focus on her being a woman in the police force. Frankly, I think we're a little beyond that avid struggle (read: a little) and the fact that it wasn't the sole purpose of the story, really brought a smile to my face. And don't get me wrong, I love and drool over strong female protagonists who fight against every obstacle, bash in the odds and get out victorious, yet I wanted something different for a change. A woman who was as strong as any man in the force, and she knew it, but the most important thing was being able to solve the case.

Can you hear that? That's the sound of my awesome ✨priorities✨

I liked the romance aspect of it. Nonexistent until the end (that one thing angered me to death, but that's because I was holding unto a thread of sanity by then-), sweet and almost too cute to process among the deaths, torture agenda... slightly concerning motives. You know, the basics for every thriller book out there.

And that's the thing, good thriller books are so hard to find, and I'm sure, harder to write than anything.
Likable characters.
Great plot twits.
Awesome cliffhangers.
= an amazing thiller book recipe.

an actual plot

I didn't expect to feel like my head was about to burst from the pressure of having a plot twist coming out of nowhere and hijacking my senses at the end of this book, yet I still would've loved to have felt... more.

Now the things that well... I didn't appreciate much:

*cue me running a chamomile bath for relaxation*
*grabbing an aromatic stick for niceness and guilt free feelings*
*throwing the book across the roo-*

The writing.
I hate mentioning that the writing is horrible in a book because I feel like that's more on the author than if I were to bash in the characters. Which I will later do, but okay.

The writing was drunk. It was drunk and blind and possibly poisoned (maybe possessed too). The first 80 pages I read were nice, I didn't see much wrong. After that though? Things started going downhill.
See, when I'm reading, I like the show better than the telling. And this book did a heck of a lot of telling.

I don't really care if someone is good at their job, so why write it literally as such?
For example: "Hello," the professor said. He was blond and tall. He was also good at his job. He played the saxophone in third grad-

Bro.
Stop.
No.
(that wasn't a literal excerpt from the writing, but if you go to my updates, I left a clear example of why I was cringing away)
(perhaps more than once)

Secondly (after the more telling than showing), everything felt one dimensional. I didn't care about anything. Unless you count the two action scenes that made my blood pump a little faster. It didn't bother me if the characters were killed. Even if they were murdered viciously. The writing didn't give me enough of a feel of what the characters were like. Yes, they were supposed to be real people, I just simply saw them as paper napkins striving to turn human for a night.

The actual murderer.
If I accurately guess who the killer in a book is, 100 pages in, we have a problem.
I never ever guess them right, like ever.
And for me to guess it so quickly?

*coughing excessively*
Sorry, I choked on my disappointment.

The pace was alright in the great scheme of things. Didn't make me want to pull my hair out in frustration, the cliff jumping with broken parachute was left for another day. But goodness, me (I am eighty years old), I felt like it was eternal.

Wait, let me paraphrase it. It was quick, yet it felt incredibly like a snail trying to stay in line with a Maserati.
I wrote the car name wrong twice, but it sounds fancy. Do I know if it's fast? Pfft, nahhhh.
The only fast thing I have on my body is my cells trying to get my eyes (let's pretend that makes sense) to move faster, so I could finish this in record time.

That record time was three days.
I want to cry.

But I won't. Why? Because I ugly cry, and the last thing I need after that *shudder* ending, is to be reminded yet again that I could've played the part of the pillow I started strangling after reading another chapter where everything was... told.

On a closing note, this review was as short and kind as I could make it. Before I log off to scream into my bedsheets into frustration because THREE DAYS IS A LOT OF TIME WHEN I HAVE SIX MORE BOOKS I WANT TO READ BEFORE DECEMBER ENDS AND I HAVE MY FIRST EXISTENTIAL CRISIS OF 2022, but I know that ultimately it was my fault. I could've stooped, yet I didn't, I wanted to hold out hope that it would get better. There are very few things I liked, but please don't let that stop you from reading it! Maybe you'll find you enjoy it a lot more than I do.

If that happens, porfavor let me know which parts were worth it because dang, I did not see them-

P.S: If the author ever reads this (which I'm sure she won't) (I hope), please know that this was not to offend you. Just how I personally felt about the story in and of itself.

...................

I've been trying to come up with a nice way to express what I feel.

That nice way is that I would not do this again.
the writing frankly, felt a little like a drunk person trying to drive

[Priskah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ✨✨✨

(Audiobook)

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mary Burton stories and this one was no exception! While a crazed killer is busy smothering girls by wrapping them in plastic, Jordan and Spencer are trying to catch him. They begin as adversaries both after the same case, in the end it takes both of them to stop him. Burton's way of writing about crazed, despicable, killers is my kind of writing. She definitely has a great imagination when it comes to murderous strategies!

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B- for narration and a B- for content at AudioGals, so that's 3.5 stars rounded up.

Mary Burton’s Don’t Look Now is a standalone suspense/police procedural novel in which a homicide detective has to confront the possibility that the serial killer she’s now trying to apprehend may be the same person who assaulted her younger sister a couple of years earlier. The book gets off to a bit of a slow start and I almost put it aside to return to later, but it picked up after a few chapters and became a lot more interesting.

We’re plunged right in to the deranged world of the serial killer in the prologue, which depicts the gruesome assault and death of their latest victim. It’s not blood-and-guts gory and I’m not squeamish, but I did find it made for uncomfortable listening. I’m sure that was the intention, but I’m starting to become tired of the way so many thrillers use sickening violence against women as a basic premise. That’s a different issue however and I’m not going to discuss it here; I chose to listen to Don’t Look Now knowing the storyline and I’m not going to diss it on account of a plot point I knew about in advance.

Austin-based Homicide detective Jordan Poe (a Boston transplant) is tough, hard-working and good at her job, although she’s not going to win any prizes for the warmth of her personality. But so be it – she does what she needs to do to get results and get the job done. Her life hasn’t been an easy one; after the death of her drug-addicted mother from an overdose, Jordan was left to bring up her younger sister Avery, having to cope with her sister’s grief as well as her own, and then later the fact that Avery had followed their mother’s path into addiction. After a couple of periods of rehab and relapse, Avery hit rock bottom and is only still alive because Jordan found her at her drug dealer’s place, her hands bound, her head covered with a plastic bag and freed her before Avery suffocated to death. Avery has been sober ever since and is doing really well, but Jordan can’t help worrying about her and looking out for signs of relapse.

When a young woman is found dead, her body wrapped in plastic sheeting, her hands bound, her head encased in a plastic bag, it’s impossible for Jordan not to be reminded of what happened to her sister. When a second body is discovered, bound and wrapped in exactly the same way, she has to wonder if the murders are somehow related to Avery’s assault. The victims certainly bear a physical resemblance to Avery, and they also had a history of substance abuse. Was her sister some kind of practice run for the killer?

Jordan’s investigation is just getting under way when her boss informs her that he’s handing the case over to the Texas Rangers. He insists it’s because the Rangers are much better funded and resourced, but Jordan knows it’s really because he doesn’t want any bad publicity should the killer not be identified and apprehended quickly. Quietly fuming, she liaises with Texas Ranger Carter Spenser, and has to admit – begrudgingly – that he is at least highly experienced and competent, and is surprised when he is prepared to listen to her and take her opinions into account. When Jordan receives a phone call from the killer’s latest victim, Carter is her first call for help; she alerts him and then races to the location obtained from the phone’s GPS signal, desperate to help the terrified young woman. She knows she should wait for backup, but Jordan also knows she has only a small window of opportunity to effect a rescue. Carter has still not arrived when she decides to enter the location and get the young woman out – but before she’s able to do that, Jordan is struck on the back of the head and badly injured.

From here on in, the story – while still focused on the serial killer plotline – broadens out to encompass Jordan’s relationship with Avery and the gradually evolving trust and friendship between Jordan and Carter, as Jordan struggles to come to terms with the fact that the blow to the head damaged her optic nerve and has significantly impaired her vision. These interpersonal relationships together with Jordan’s very realistic reactions to the almost total loss of her sight were what kept me engaged; the suspense plot is fine, but nothing I haven’t heard before, and even though I wanted to know how things would resolve, I’d worked out the identity of the villain well before the end. I really liked Avery, who is determined to keep her life on track but also determined to get on with the process of living it, and although Jordan’s concern sometimes feels a bit suffocating, it’s clear it comes from a good place.

Mary Burton’s books are usually categorised as romantic suspense, but there’s no real romance in this one – we’re told Jordan and Carter are attracted to each other and they do get it on (behind closed doors) late in the story, but there’s no romantic spark there, and I much preferred the mutual respect and understanding they display as friends.

One of the things that caught my eye about Don’t Look Now was the fact that it appeared to be what is generally termed a “full cast recording” – something I’ve only seen in contemporary romance so far. However, that was a mistaken assumption; in a full cast recording, each narrator performs one character throughout the book, but what happens here is that each of the narrators reads chapters/sections from the different PoVs in the book and portrays all the characters in those chapters. (Rather like a dual narration, but with seven PoV characters instead of two!) Thus, Hillary Huber (who I’m guessing is the principal female narrator – there’s no cast list provided) reads all the chapters from Jordan’s perspective and portrays all the characters who appear in those chapters. This isn’t a terrible idea, but it would have worked better if Brilliance had chosen female narrators who sound significantly different from each other; most of the time, I only realised the PoV had changed because of what was in the text as the women’s voices all sound so similar. The two male narrators are easy to tell apart, however – Kirt Graves is the only one of these narrators I’m familiar with, so by a process of elimination, I could tell that Alan Carlson reads Carter’s PoV.

I haven’t listened to Hillary Huber before, although I know she’s a very experienced narrator. She does a decent enough job here, but her pacing is quite slow and in the first few chapters, she sounds bored. She also attempts to adopt a Bostonian accent (dropping the rhotic R so “car” is “caa” etc.) but it’s intermittent and – to my English ears – sounds phony. (Reviews at Audible.com by, I’m guessing, American listeners, say the same thing.) Her performance did grow on me, though, and once I’d got used to the odd accent and slower pacing, I was able to start to enjoy the story more. Alan Carlson is new-to-me as well (although I’m sure I’ve heard him before, maybe under another name?) and I liked his performance from his very first appearance; he’s got an attractive, slightly gravelly voice which worked well to portray a forty-something, been-around-the-block-a-few-times career cop.

Don’t Look Now is unlikely to be an audiobook I’ll listen to again, but on balance, I enjoyed it, especially the exploration of the dynamic between the sisters and of the challenges Jordan faces as the result of her injury. The multi-narrator idea was a good one, but it would have worked better with a wider variety of tone and timbre in the female voices.

Note: This title contains frequent references to drug addiction and includes scenes featuring drug use and sexual assault.

This review originally appeared at AudioGals .

[Celeste Velocci (bookrecs_by_celeste) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one in the beginning but then it quickly fell flat for me. I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I had anticipated that I would. As time went on I continued to be more and more disconnected from the plot. I think a lot of people may enjoy this one even though it was a miss for me. It is also available on kindle unlimited!

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Having heard many great things about Mary Burton’s work, I jumped at the opportunity to read/listen to Don’t Look Now. Narrated by full cast the story I found myself transported on a journey filled with mystery and suspense.

In Burton’s latest romantic thriller, we meet Detective Jordan Poe. A topnotch detective, but stubborn as the day is long. Jordan took on the role of taking care of her younger sister, Avery, after the death of their mother. Since then, their lives did not take the easy road. Avery hung out with the wrong crowd and soon became involved in drugs. The turning point  to getting her life back on track was the day Jordan found her bound, wrapped in plastic and left to suffocate.

Two years later Jordan visited a crime scene and found the victim bound, wrapped tightly in plastic and gagged. Then she found another victim murdered in the same fashion. Immediately, her thoughts flashed back to the day she rescued her sister. She recognized the murders mirrored the manner in which she found her sister two years ago. The only difference her sister lived. The case became personal as a result, so you can imagine  her turmoil when she learnt that Texas Ranger Carter Spencer would take over the case.

I enjoyed the story from start to finish. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The crime scenes are gritty and definitely not for the faint of heart. Jordan’s captain took her off the case, but she went and did her own investigation. Eventually, she and Jordan became a team. I loved how well they worked together, even after an attack left her blind.

Although advertised a romantic suspense, the romance was non-existent. First, I never felt the chemistry between Jordan and Spencer. Also, expressions of feelings were not portrayed until near the end and it didn’t feel authentic.

I had a fair idea as to the identity of the villain. Given the nature of the victims, it wasn’t too hard to figure out the who and the why. However, it would have been nice to have the perpetrator’s back story. I never understood his motive and what compelled him to effect such heinous acts.

Narration

This was my first time experiencing a full cast narration, and I enjoyed the experience. I have listened to Hillary Huber before, but  the other narrators were new to me. They all did a wonderful job bringing the story and the characters to life. I would definitely listen to them again
.
Conclusion/ Recommendation

Despite the issues I had with the romance and lack of backstory for the perpetrator, I enjoyed  Don’t Look Now. I found the suspense to be well done, especially at the point where the end was drawing close. For readers who enjoy mystery, suspense and gritty crime scenes, Don’t Look Now would make a great addition to their reading list.

This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Carvanz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. While it’s all about the mystery, I was able to guess who it was rather early on. Of course, there was always the chance I would be wrong. I was not. However, the reasons behind the murders were quite shocking as were all the murders themselves. This was filled with details. Not only about the murders, but about the drugs, the process of hunting the killer and the battle to overcome adversity.





The romance is really non-existent but I suspected it would be and therefore, did not go into this with any expectations in that department. When it did pop up out of nowhere, it actually annoyed me as there was nothing organic about it. I liked the hero, Spencer, quite a bit and would have loved to see him in the boyfriend role.





Overall, I liked this story and would recommend it to anyone that does not have triggers and is not looking for romance.

Multi POV
Safe no ow/om drama; nothing about either h/H and their past relationships
Triggers drug use - addiction; rape - some of it on page; asphyxiation

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thanks to Montlake, Mary Burton and Netgalley. This was not a book for me. I initially liked the characters, even though I could see a forced romance coming. Which is annoying. Worst of all? By 23% I knew who the killer was. Soon after, I knew his "helper." I quit at 50%. I see no point in continuing to the resolution when I've already figured it out. Not a book I'd recommend to the savvy. Also, while the writing was fine, this won't be an author I'd read again.

[Lady Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Burton is one of my favourite romance-suspense-thriller authors.
She's always a one-click and this book did not disappoint!

My God, she engaged this reader in the first chapter!

This was a well-paced, well-written suspense thriller.
I loved Detective Jordon Poe's strong, smart, and determined character, and Texas Ranger Carter Spencer was her perfect partner and match.

This story was engaging, interesting, (creepy), and throughout the story I suspected two people to be the possible serial killer.
I'm not saying the story was predictable, but really well-plotted and the sequence of events made sense.
When the killer is finally revealed, I was happy that my suspicions were right.

I really enjoyed this story, and I can't wait to read her next book release.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong minded female homicide detective has to dig even deeper into her inner strength when a serial killer she has been chasing, and who may also be the man that attacked her sister two years ago, leaves her blind after a confrontation.

With her sight gone she teams up with a Texas Ranger Carter to continue to hunt the killer. He becomes her eyes but its her honed detective skills that help track down the killer that turns out to be closer than she ever could have imagined.

This was a stand alone suspense not connected to any other series of the authors.

[ci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary, Mary, Mary!!!! Your writing never ceases to amaze me, each book gets better and better.

This book has EVERYTHING!! Its an action packed page-turner with murder, kidnapping, drug addiction, sister drama, twists/turns, unexpected partners/friendship, and just the right amount of romance.

I so hope there is another book in this series as I need to see Avery beat this and get Santiago!!!!

Thank you Netgalley, Mary Burton, and Montlake for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.

#MaryBurtonRocks! #Poe #Avery #Spencer #IFiguredItOut! #INeedMore

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

This one dragged for me. The pacing was slow, the mystery was predictable, and the explicit details of the crimes sickened and saddened in equal measure.

Safety No OP drama, but rape on page, drugging, kidnapping, and murder.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little light on the romance, and I figured the identity of the killer pretty early on, but still an entertaining mystery. I wonder if we'll get a story with Avery (Jordan's sister) and Santiago next?

The audio narrators were all excellent. Love Hillary Huber!

[CaraDico · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Mary Burton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously posted at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/do...

Jordan Poe is a cop to be reckoned with. Known for her incredible dedication to her cases, her newest case is baffling to her. A serial killer is on the loose in Austin, Texas and is suffocating small blonde females with a former drug addiction, specifically.

The murderer wraps them in plastic sheeting and watches them suffocate.

Jordan’s sister, Avery, is a former drug addict who has been in recovery for two years. Girls that look like her are disappearing and all seem to have a connection to the drug dealer that Avery knew while she was using, and Jordan seeks her help in this case. When the petite female detective answers a victim’s call for help, she is assaulted with a billy club and remains blind throughout the rest of the novel. When a Texas ranger is brought in to take over the case, a relationship forms between Jordan and Spencer. She refuses to step back, feeling it has taken a personal turn for her and Ranger Spencer begins taking her with him as he investigates. As the romance between Jordan and Spencer develops, time is running out. When the murderer focuses on Jordan and Avery, this novel turns into a nail biter.

All the characters in Don’t Look Now are relatable. Jordan, as the seasoned cop, is always worrying about her sister. And Ranger Spencer has a dark history, which shows in the way he investigates the crimes. But Avery particularly shines as the tentative addict in recovery, always checking on herself but also wanting to live her life. The book gets very interesting as Jordan loses her sight and navigates life as a vision impaired person.

Don’t Look Now is a page turner. As the reader, I was so invested because I absolutely could not figure out who the serial killer was, though we get a sense it is someone hiding in plain sight. You can always tell a great mystery novel about how long you take to figure out who the perpetrator is. In this novel, it was the very last chapter. This is my first time reading Mary Burton and I am happy to have found an author that I am eager to read the rest of her library.

This book is not for the fainthearted. There are sexual assault, drugs, and graphic scenes of battery. While listed this as a romantic mystery, Don’t Look Now may be best categorized as a mystery/thriller.

[Jasmine Alizaé · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book read like it was intended for someone transitioning from middle grade, Nancy Drew-esque books, to their first adult novel. By chapter nine I’d figured out who the killer was and proceeded with the next twenty-eight only to verify my theory. I found no part of the plot, characters, and their interactions with one another, enjoyable. The dialogue’s were so surface level and repetitive. The only regret for me (other than wasting my time reading this book) was not haven taken any shots every time the words/phrases “right” “sure” and “fair enough” had been used.

Jordan was unbearably arrogant and I felt no sympathy towards her whatsoever.

Avery and Jordan’s bond was lackluster and makes me wonder if the author has ever witnessed any exchanges between siblings, let alone sisters.

Everyone’s storyline in this book only exists as far back as two years ago. Even irrelevant side characters whose sole purpose was to further the plot by being murdered. Ranger Spencer just moved back to town two years ago and not to mention his wife was sexually assaulted and strangled two years ago. Tammy was arrested two years ago. The husband of one of the women Jordan interviewed had passed two years ago. And most importantly, the story the author wouldn’t let us forget, seeing as it came up almost every chapter, Avery’s last relapse and sexual assault happened TWO YEARS AGO.

The motive behind Rogan as the killer made absolutely no sense. He had access to Jordan and Avery all the time, there was no reason why he couldn’t/wouldn’t have been able to attack if he’d really wanted to. And why wait two years…?

Misdirection was attempted and failed pretty early on with Sunday. The alleged involvement he had in trying to scare Jordan was never further investigated. What was the reason he had for leaving strangled rats on her front lawn and slashing her tires? And keying her car in chapter 3? (Also, how does one strangle multiple rats? Where do you even find them?) And visiting her in the hospital to “check on her”? They also mentioned that Sunday visited Ms. Stone in the hospital and then she disappeared and nobody’s been able to get ahold of her and she didn’t end up being one of the next victims so… what was the reason?

Also, this might just be me but I still don’t understand the connection between Rogan and Walker. Rogan was recommending women to Walker who he knew were struggling with their drug addiction therefore Walker was getting more clientele. Except he wasn’t, because he was giving the product out for free and wasn’t charging Rogan because he apparently “owed” Rogan for something we never learned about. And in return Rogan was getting to rape and kill these women?? Seems like a lot of work for someone who was already having contact with said women and could have just cut out the middle man altogether.

It was mentioned too often to have gone unnoticed by a detective and a ranger that all of these victims had the same connections. The connections being drugs, Walker and Sunday, but also Rogan. He was their “drug counselor”. How did he go unmentioned as a potential suspect? He was a reference for every single one of them for either a job, apartment or both. He also fit the description of a medium build man with dark eyes and hair. And we quickly ruled out Sunday because he didn’t fit the description, Walker “committed suicide” so that leaves only Rogan.

The connection between what happened to Ranger Spencer’s wife being sexually assaulted and strangled was never made either. This whole book was abuse just for fun.

[Kristel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why I keep on coming back to reading Mary Burton's books no matter how much disappointment I get from the latest novels I've read from her. I can compare this guilty pleasure to those moments where I keep on listening to catchy songs with horrible lyrics.

Don't get me wrong. This book isn't horrible. It's just that, I've already mastered Mary Burton's formula of writing crime fiction that everything is so predictable. I thought this novel would be different: Detective Jordan Poe suffers limited vision after getting attacked during an investigation. I was so pumped up with that added conflict but it was just poorly executed. I mean, when the killer was revealed (which I've already guessed from the start), it just didn't make sense. Given her reputation as a smart detective, why hadn't she figured it out? I also didn't like how stubborn she got after getting the injury. I understand it was tough to go on after partially losing her sight, but she didn't have to be so b*tchy and all-knowing all the time.

And the romance plot, good God! Please! I thought Mary Burton finally threw away her formula of a late hookup between her characters, but this! Jordan and Spencer have ZERO CHEMISTRY. ZILCH. NADA. It's as cold as ice. I would have appreciated it if the two didn't hook up late in the novel. I mean, they could be good partners. They work well together, but then suddenly, Spencer was also hot and heavy to Jordan and the feeling is mutual? Where the eff did that come from? Spencer didn't show any vibe that he was attracted to Jordan from the start, and then suddenly, poof! They're in bed together. Christ.

The only thing I love in this novel is Avery and Leo Santiago. Jesus, they have better chemistry than Jordan and Spencer despite their limited interactions. I hope they get their own story.

But hey, I'll still keep coming back to reading Mary Burton novels like a catchy song with unflattering lyrics that I couldn't stop listening to.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to keep this review short because, unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I did enjoy some aspects, including the detective story and several of the characters, but I quickly figured out who the bad guy is and found his motivations to be rather dull. I also found the romance to be very forced and unnecessary, and would have preferred to solely stick to the suspense part of the story, which gave me Criminal Minds vibes and reminded me of Long Bright River.

Although I found the story forgettable and personally don’t recommend it, I think readers new to the crime fiction genre who are looking for a quick read might enjoy this one more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This book publishes September 28, 2021.

*To avoid spoilers, please do your own research if you’re looking for trigger warnings.*

[The Humble Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could have been a 5 star but yet again, the love thing didn't fit. The characters Poe and Spencer were totally opposite. They didn't even have a close relationship.
The sex scene wasn't even a sex scene.
The drama was good as well as the mystery. The killer was unexpected. And a cop being disabled was also unexpected. All the characters were well thought out. It was a decent storyline but it didn't need a love romance or sex. If it wasn't for that, I'd rate it a 5.

[Rachel Stansel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great mystery, crime novel from Burton. Both leads are interesting characters and I found the story to be well plotted and a fun read. This one is a standalone story, and just great for a cool weekend day!

Warnings: sexual assault, sex traffic and drug use all play major roles, so if you are bothered by these, I'd skip this one for sure.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t have to read the blurb telling me about the book to know that I’m going to read it if it’s by Mary Burton. I have favorites of course but when I started reading Don’t Look Now, I knew that this was going to be at the top of my list. The book was chilling, exciting and nerve-wracking. The characters came alive in this book for me in a way that I haven’t seen in quite awhile.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Look Now by Mary Burton

Dark, gritty, intense, and compelling – this book had my interest from page one and held it till the very end.

What I liked:
* Jordan Poe: homicide detective, big sister, took on responsibility for her sister when their mother died, dealt with family addiction issues, capable, intelligent, respected, professional, workaholic, interesting.
* Carters Spencer: Texas Ranger, experienced serial killer sleuth, bright, dedicated, widow, capable, professional, intelligent, intriguing, good friend.
* Avery: Jordan’s sister, addiction issues, working to stay sober, loves her sister, survivor.
* The plot and writing
* The police procedural aspects
* That there were believable red herrings
* That the serial killer was not revealed too soon (although I do read the end of books before I get to the end as I need to know what happens)
* The camaraderie of the team working the case
* Wondering if this is a standalone story or perhaps the introduction to a series
* Hoping that I will get to see what happens later in the lives of the main characters
* That everything was tied up at the end – no real loose ends

What I didn’t like:
* Knowing that there are people in the world as bad as the ones in this story
* Not finding out the full backstory of the serial killer – although – nothing would validate or explain the crimes committed

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

[Danneika N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really Good

I Enjoyed this book! Minus the Audio if you get this book DO NOT listen to the audio it throws the whole vibe off. However the story kept me going and wanting more! I had 3 suspects and out of the 3 suspects 1 was killed the 2nd one was questionable and the 3rd suspect I questioned him all throughout the story and come to find out he was the killer!!! Overall and enjoyable read 📚

[Kaitie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This book was highly recommended by a friend! It had a great first chapter, and it was really intense throughout the book. I do feel like the ending felt a little flat… and it took me a while to get through this, but other than that, it was a decent thriller!

[Alyson Lucille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good good
Love the how the title plays into the book unexpectedly!
The very end Just felt like it was on fast forward.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced, non-stop thrill ride! The story of Detective Jordan Poe and her quest for justice is one that is as memorable as it is high-octane. From the beginning, when Jordan is determined to find the killer who is wrapping young woman in plastic and killing them, the atmosphere is dark and forbidding. When Texas Ranger Carter Spencer takes over her case, I could feel her rage boiling over. The case has a lot of twists and turns, including a debilitating injury to Jordan when she goes to a crime scene alone. Her sister Avery is still fighting the demons of drug addiction and is a companion and helper to her injured sibling. The killer was mostly a surprise although I must admit that I did guess correctly about three-fourths of the way through the book. The clues were well hidden, so finding out that I was right was an extra bonus for me. The story itself rocketed its way from the first victim to the conclusion, with a head of steam that would not quit. I discovered a lot to like about Jordan. She is a strong female protagonist who is also independent and a worthy opponent to criminals. She is compassionate and kind to the families of the victims and she is the kind of sister that everyone would like to have, the one who believes in you and who helps you along the way. The characters were important to the story, but the plot carried them in an intriguing and intense way that just did not let up. I raced to finish this book as I just wanted all to be wrapped up with a neat bow in the end. Well, it was, kind of. There was a romantic element to the story, too, but it took second place to the mystery of who the killer was and what his motivation was for his depravity. Fans of mystery, romantic suspense and thrillers will enjoy this new book and look forward to more adventures of Jordan Poe.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in a accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

Don’t Look Now is a new romantic suspense story, publishing on September 28, 2021. The novel follows a homicide detective, Jordan Poe, as she’s put on the case of a potential serial killer in her backyard. Not only that, but it’s a case that hits close to home, as she wonders if the serial killer has a connection to her younger sister. As the case begins to unfold, we’re introduced to Carter Spencer, a Texas Ranger who’s pulled onto the case as it gets darker.

Right off the bat, I must mention that this has a lot of potential triggering topics. I tried to catch them all below in a list, but this is a dark story that has a serial killer at the center and deals with drug use/drug addiction and violence of all kinds.

I’m not going to go into a lot of the plot, for the sake of keeping this a blank slate for those that feel inclined to read it, but I particularly liked Carter Spencer, both as a character and a love interest. Watching the relationship between Carter and Jordan evolve over the course of the novel was a real highlight for me and one of my favorite parts on the book.

I have a hard time putting my finger on what about this book didn’t hit with me. The pacing wasn’t what I was hoping for, as it was slower than I expected a thriller/romantic suspense/murder investigation to go. In some ways it reminded me of Melina Leigh’s romantic suspense books, but I didn’t connect to Jordan as well as I have to other man characters in books like this. A particular section in the middle of the book did pull me in a little bit more with a twist, but I figured out who the killer was early on, and I was a little disappointed that I had figured it out.

All in all, this was an okay read, but it isn’t going onto my list of books I’d like to reread.

Warning: This book discusses some sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers including death of a loved one, murder, physical violence, sexual violence, verbal abuse, drug addictions, drug abuse, traumatic events, and vivid depictions of crime scenes.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[NotTheTea · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all I've read this plot before. I don't know what book but I've read something like this. And it didn't surprise me that Rogan was the killer. Very predictable.
The romance was just for the sake of it just like every other book of Mary Burton. No chemistry nothing hinted and suddenly they're onto each other.
I only liked Avery's character in this book. Everyone else was so annoying. Especially Jordan. I didn't like how she became after her accident. She was going opposite the fact. It was like she was trying to be bothersome. Why would you go to a crime scene in this condition? If she wanted to help she could have done without being a liability so many times. She could have been asked to be Up to date and brainstorm from afar. I couldn't believe when she went to rescue Casey with Spencer in that condition. What if the killer was there when she was lurking blindly (literally). There's a big difference between bravery and foolishness. She constantly make it awkward for everyone. Didn't like Spencer either. Ehhh