Review & Giveaway - The Safe Word by Karen Long
Good morning! I have a thriller to share with you today. Welcome Karen Long!
Published January 14th 2014
Genre: Mystery / thriller / crime
Eleanor Raven Series: Book 1
There are rules that every player of every game must abide by, no matter how dangerous the sport. Toronto has become the backdrop to a macabre set of artistic installations: women kidnapped, tortured and horrifically displayed by a killer with a vision. Only someone capable of understanding the killer's creative desire will be able to stop the murders and D I Eleanor Raven is uniquely qualified. Driven by a complex personality she pursues only the facts, only the things she can see, but never casts a judgement. But she also has a dark and dangerous secret - one that will threaten her very survival.
BUY LINKS
My Review
If you like a dark, gritty, crime thriller, then The Safe Word is absolutely for you. It's chilling - in a very good way.
The main protagonist, Eleanor Raven is cool, driven and intelligent. Exactly the right person to bring down a serial killer. As the case unfolds, Eleanor has to take Laurence, her newbie partner, under her wing in order to catch the killer who is murdering women to create their own vision of art. Though I enjoyed Eleanor's strength, I would have liked to have seen some emotion from her, or more backstory. A bit more vulnerability and she'd have completely won me over. But this barrier was actually a good thing. She intrigued me, kept me turning the pages, and as this is the first book in the series I'm guessing we get more Eleanor later. My favourite character however had to be Laurence. The reason why I enjoyed him more was that he was flawed and his weaknesses were there to see. I liked him and I'm kind of hoping that Eleanor softens toward him in the future.
Now I have to say that during the first chapter I had no idea where this story was going to go and what it was going to add. But actually, it added a great deal! In fact it makes the ending incredibly poignant.
Well done to Karen Long for creating such a well developed plot, which is slick and edgy. The author really knows her stuff and the scenes are so vivid that you can instantly visualise them as if you are there. There were quite a few surprise to keep you guessing and rushing right through to the dramatic end. Having read book one, I really have to read the next book in the series.
4 Butterfly Rating
PRAISE FOR THE SAFE WORD
Just read The Safe Word by Karen Long – an unputdownable serial killer tale. James Purefoy For DS Eleanor Raven It's not so much who, what or when but 'why' that leads this powerful read to its conclusion and Karen Long reminds us that a brutal, vicious and destructive act is not something inherently 'Evil' or derived from Satan but is a rational choice made by a human being. The quirky, offbeat and endearing relationship between Eleanor and her partner Laurence Whitefoot shines a light on this dark compelling world of sexual intrigue and mystery. My imagination was certainly held captive! Robson Green Most fictional detectives these days have to have a ‘thing’ to set them apart from the others, and Raven’s is one of the most original for a long time. The plot moves in some unexpected directions, and builds to a genuinely exciting climax. The Safe Word is an impressive, confident debut. Convincing characters and some nice twists make for a compelling, satisfying thriller, and I look forward to seeing what’s next for Eleanor Raven. Killing Time
ABOUT KAREN LONG
Karen Long was born and raised in the English midlands, educated at Bangor University and taught English and Drama for fifteen years. During her teaching years she studied biology and neurology with the Open University and this interest in medicine, forensics and forensic psychology is reflected in her writing. She is an enthusiastic traveller and has spent time in Toronto, which became the backdrop and inspiration for The Safe Word.
She is a keen amateur naturalist with a deep and abiding love for the crow family. She has dedicated time, love and several fingers in an effort to rehabilitate crows, magpies, rooks and ravens.
Karen is happy to correspond with readers and can be contacted through her website KarenLongWriter.com , where she posts regular blogs.
The Safe Word is Karen's first novel and was an Amazon bestseller, soon to be joined by the second in the Eleanor Raven series, The Vault. Karen is working on the third novel in the series.
AUTHOR LINKS
All author or review enquires please contact Karen Long’s Personal Assistant J.B. Johnston – brookbooks@hotmail.co.uk
Check out Book 2 – The Vault - http://amzn.to/1WSnlDn
Did you know that Eleanor Raven is also online?
GIVEAWAY
1ST PRIZE – SIGNED PAPERBACK OF THE SAFE WORD – OPEN INTERNATIONALLY
2ND PRIZE - ECOPY OF THE SAFE WORD – OPEN INTERNATIONALLY
Thank you for visiting today! ~ Tracey
