I have real mixed feelings with this book at first I thought this book was going to be brilliant but I was wrong.
We meet FBI special agent Jessica Bishop who has to solve the case of the dead body that has been found which is hard because she has been attacked by alligators.

So we meet her partner Adam Chan and even though they have been working together for a while there is no connection between them.

Then Jessica's ex-partner Jamison Briggs reappears after being undercover and then suddenly they are partners again and it's goodbye Adam.

The book is very complicated and not enough detail. Sometimes you want the author to take a step back and let the book flow better.

It felt like in places it was written by two different people and even though there is a killer on the loose, we don't get to know what he's looking for in a victim or why he attacks the people he does.

I read half this book and gave up it was so hard to follow not good.

This is a good thriller. It is a slow burner that is worth reading. It is very slow at the start. I am glad I read to the end as the ending was a total shock to me. I had not guessed the killer at all. The ending is what made it a 4 star read for me. Jess is trying to solve a series of murders. We find out about Jess's past bit by bit and we are slowly given clues as to the identity of the killer. This would not normally be my type of thriller. It is still a good read.

I choose this book while I was, unknowingly, very ill with severe pneumonia and acute hypoxia. I thought it was something other than it is and also discovered that, though I tried, I was unable to finish the book. Thus, I really cannot objectively review the book. My apologies to the author and publisher.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

Beware up front that this features graphic violence against women. On the positive side, Jess Bishop is the FBI agent you want to find the serial killer. Bishop is a classic damaged (female) law enforcement officer, only she's got a connection to this case. She has a dynamic relationship with her partner Jamison. A good start for a new series, with lots of room for Jess to grow. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC- this is a page turner.

This review is written with thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of Now You See Me.
When the body of a young woman is found in a swamp, FBI Agent, Detective Jess Bishop is called to investigate. The murder is very similar to two previous murders to which Jess has been called, and she recognises the marks that the killer has left on their victims' bodies. They are marks that are a stark reminder of Jess' past, a past that she would rather forget. Will Jess be able to conquer her demons to find the killer?
I love a new detective series and the opportunity it gives me to meet a new character! Jess Bishop is more complex than most detectives out there, but I soon grew to love her quick-witted and feisty nature. Her relationship with Jamison is also fascinating, and gives the reader some insight into how her past has affected the way she interacts with others. It also adds an extra layer to Jess' character and the dynamic between them helped me to root for them, even though at times Jess' love life does get a little messy!
As I am not familiar with the American police system, it did take some time for me to become familiar with the protocol which Jess and her team followed. It is also unusual that the reader joins the investigation at the point where the third body is found, rather than at the beginning. However, once Now You See Me grabbed me, it did not let go. It has everything I love in a police procedural novel, including blood, guts and gore. It is full of tension and I could not stop reading until I knew who the killer was.
There are lots of twists and turns in Now You See Me and when the killer was revealed, it came as a surprise to me. In hindsight, there were probably clues that I missed or disregarded, but it is testament to Scott's brilliant writing that I was continuously taken aback by this plot as it developed.
I look forward to reading more about Jess Bishop as the series continues.

This new series is somewhat of a miss for me. I struggled to get into this book, it took a few chapters to really start drawing me in. I believe the past between our two main characters Jess and Jamison needed their own story before this one as there was not enough info on their past, but you knew there was more of a story there. So, throughout the book it played on my mind that I needed to know more of their pasts to understand them. I was left at the end of the book still with too many questions.

The story starts off with Jess and her partner Chan been called to Louisiana to investigate a dismembered body. They know that this is the work of a serial killer. The body has the same marks on it as the other two already found. This case is digging up Jess’s past and she is worried that it is linked somehow. But Jess does not say anything about it to her partner. The story has it twists and turns, which helps to keep you reading to see what’s around the corner. The serial killer case was an intriguing part of the story. 

Her ex-partner of 8 years returns after working undercover for the past two years. She was not expecting him back. Things are not the same between them now there is a lot of strain in their friendship. This is where the story needs a lot more detail on these characters.

Detective Jess Bishop is an interesting character, she uses sex with strangers to numb her emotions. She has her secrets that she won’t let anyone know about. She is a character you are either going to love or hate.

I hope that Kierney Scott will divulge more about her characters in the next book. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for an open and honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and bookouture for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
This book felt really familiar to me and I am not sure if that’s why I marked it down. The similarities to other crime novels were a bit too frequent to overlook.
There is the troubled but sexy detective, in love with her married partner, who takes up with an apparently nice guy from work, all on the back drop of multiple murders, which appear to be targeting Jess! Bring in the murder of her partners wife and his subsequent arrest that tries to lead us down the wrong path! Sadly I saw straight through it, there is such a thing as “too nice”!! However, overall it was a good read and I will seek out novel 2 for sure when It comes out! Let down for me by the fact I often felt I knew what was coming before It did.

Oh, I am hooked on Jessica Bishop! My kind of female character...clever, stubborn, different and an FBI agent to boot. Much of the story is taken up by character development but I can see the reason for the style of writing. Jessica is called in when a body is found in a Louisiana swamp. The story has violent murders and body dismemberment, so be aware if you are not a fan. Lovers of this type of story will enjoy it though. I would read the next in the series. Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads and Amazon.

This is one for those who like their murders gritty and don’t mind graphic descriptions. It is one helluva well plotted thriller.

First in a new series in what I understand is a new genre for author Kierney Scott, and it makes for compulsive reading. I love the lead character of FBI Special Agent Jess Bishop who comes complete with flaws and she makes for riveting reading. Slowly, bit by bit her history comes to light as the layers are peeled back in tandem with the case progression. There is plenty to mull over as you read on – this book is packed with information.

Whilst realising that the details are integral to solving the murders, for me personally I could have done without quite as many gory descriptions – but that’s just me. I have plenty of friends where that will be the big attraction! I tend to take crime thrillers as they come, rarely working out who did what and to whom but I worked this one out about half way through – it seemed so obvious to me and despite a few red herrings along the way I never doubted who the killer was. Unusually, I was right!

However, that said I would love to read more about Jess and her colleagues and will surely be looking out for the second book. As long as you aren’t squeamish, I would certainly recommend this one!

My thanks to Bookouture for allowing me to access an arc via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

We’ve all established that I have a morbid fascination with serial killer thrillers by now, right? I’m always on the hunt for a new book, or even better a series to follow featuring a kick ass detective or FBI agent and I’m SO excited that Now You See Me is the start of a new series following Jess Bishop, an agent with flaws galore and the kind of backstory that can take several books to unravel.

Jess is not the most likable woman, but as much as she tried to be that way, I liked her anyways. She’s completely closed off, she keeps her inner circle super tight and she comes across as cold and unfeeling, but she’s actually anything but. She takes her job and the responsibility that comes along with it very seriously and is so hyper focused when she’s working a case trying to talk to her is like speaking to a brick wall. Her current partner is Chan and they work alright together but her old partner, Jamison is truly her right hand man. The chemistry between Jess and Jamison was great, there’s so much underlying tension based on several old happenings and there is so much to explore with these two.

Scott has a graphic writing style, she’s not afraid to write extremely detailed descriptions of the victims of the sadistic killer and the crime scenes. The guy Jess and team are tracking is clever and is clearly loving taunting law enforcement making for an interesting read, edge of your seat read. This was one hell of a roller coaster ride with a ton of red herrings, I swear I changed my mind every few pages and had no idea who to trust! This was exciting, intense with plenty of heart pounding moments and an ending that while resolved left plenty open for the next book, I can’t wait!!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Bookouture for forwarding me the ARC of Now You See Me in return for an honest review.
This is the first book I've read by Kierney Scott and it definitely won't be my last. Now You See Me is the first book in the Jessica Bishop series. FBI agent Jessica Bishop and her partner Alex Chan are called upon to work on a pretty gruesome case, a serial killer is murdering women and dismembering them and keeping their heads. Jessica's character was slow to warm to but as the book went on and you learned more about her back story I became more understanding of her. I really enjoyed this book and read it in very few sittings highly recommend it to anyone who loves thrillers with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. Can't wait for book 2 in this exciting new series.

Jess Bishop is burning a candle at both ends in this book. She has a serial killer out there and she has an emotional past that keeps flashing up during the investigation. Jess is an FBI agent, and a good one! She is her own person, but works well with others until they bring in Jamison Briggs.
Jamison is Jess's old partner, one they have history together and not just at work.The serial killer is pretty twisted in his own mind, I say that due to the 'trophies' he collects from his victims. Can Jess and Jamison work together and find this killer before the body count gets too high? If so how we they be able to do that? You will have to read this crime drama to find out. I highly recommend it! I would like to thank Net Galley for a copy of this
'buckle up butter cup, your in for a wild ride' story. The review is done voluntarily and of my own opinion.

Jess Bishop has problems and she knows it. Her childhood hero, her father, did the unthinkable and till this day Jess can’t coop with he damage he inflicted on her. She has a hard time trusting people and always holds them at arms length. One of the few people she let into her life, her FBI partner Jamison, left her for a undercover job and when he is back, he seems to be a changed man. When there are bodies found decapitated and the limps cut off, suspicions arise. Could it be the work of a law enforcement worker?
This was a really great read. It was easy to get drawn into the story and feeling the anxiety and horror Jess must have felt with every new body found. And when everything was solved, the killer unmasked, it felt good. But there is so much more I want to know about Jess, that I can’t wait for the next book. I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Endeavour Press!

The first hopefully of a continued series surrounding Detective Jess Bishop, Now You See Me by Kierney Scott. There is certainly plenty of scope to further advance the pursuits of Jess, so many questions are unanswered and each additional book could reveal more of Jess’s past and future.

Its easy to be ensnared in a new book and Now You See Me is no exception, the first couple of chapters help set the scene, at a nice slow pace but its not long before the thrills grip you and the pages begin to turn.

Detective Jess is called to a barbaric crime scene where a young mother is discover mutilated and decapitated, no identification and very few leads drag the investigation almost to a standstill, until evidence comes to light which identifies the victim as Lydia Steiner. The death of Lydia has all the hallmarks matching three other victims, is it the same person…….a serial killer. Jess has to contend with a change of partner, Alex Chan is reassigned, Jamison Briggs a previous partner returns from undercover and becomes embroiled in the case with Jess. Can Jess work with Jamison now that things have changed. Jess leads you uncertainly into a past which may prevent further deaths in the present, does Jess hold the key, will she risk everything and become bait to trap a killer.

Jess is a character with hidden depths, she’s antagonistic at times, intelligent but a little formidable proving difficult to approach, ultimately headstrong when it comes to decisions of a controversial nature. Even with all these slight character flaws its difficult not to take an interest in Jess as the book progresses, revealing the past she is trying so hard to hide.

I’m not going to say this is a fast paced book because its not, its steady, Lately the books I’ve read recently tended to rip roar along at a hunner miles an hour, I enjoyed the fact that Now You See Me didn’t, it was perfect due to the basis of this particular storyline making it easier for me to determine what was happening in the true sense.

Thank you to Bookouture and Noelle Holten for an advanced readers copy of Now You See Me by Kierney Scott in exchange for an honest review. Its been a pleasure Kierney Scott to read the first in the series surrounding Detective Jess Bishop and I look forward to reading more in the future.

Now You See Me is a new crime procedural featuring a bad-ass female FBI agent investigating a series of murders in Louisiana. Jessica Bishop has a dark past that wishes to keep secret and she's used to deal with men who don't take her seriously. I loved how she managed the relationships with her partners and defended the victims no matter their profession or status. She was strong and brave and I admired her for that.

The book was gripping and entertaining, and the Louisiana setting was great. I felt like I was there. The writing was engaging and I was never bored. Overall, this is a solid crime novel, but I can't say I loved this book because of the predictability and the romance-focused relationships. I was silently begging for someone not to be the killer. It was way too obvious, I thought. It can't be that person. I'm sure it won't. And for a while, I was glad. But then I realized it was exactly who I thought it would be and that had me quite disappointed. In addition, there was way too much focus on Jess's romantic life and her jealousy towards her partner's wife and that bothered me because the case was more interesting than that and, to be honest, I believe that a man and a woman can be friends and that's it.

A fabulously dark and disturbing thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. It introduces Detective Jess Bishop, and is a promising start to what could become the next big crime thriller series. A fast paced and gripping story that had me racing through the pages. I can’t wait to see what Kierney Scott will have in store for us next. A promising 4 stars.

First of all, let me make something clear - this book is not for the faint hearted. Trust me. As an ex-wimp when it came to crime/psychological thrillers, I would have read this book through my fingers. Now that I can read this genre without acting like a complete and utter wuss, I was able to rub my hands together with glee the more descriptive this book got. And by golly did this book get descriptive!

We start off learning about a body and a conscientious detective who goes by the name of Bishop. Jess Bishop (sorry, always wanted to do that). As far as Detective Bishop is concerned, their killer is a dab hand at what he does. Who knows, maybe the killer might even blow his own trumpet and believe that too. I mean, they are dismembered bodies....

At first I really liked Jess. Her professionalism was on point and she didn't seem to be one of those detectives who is unable to take anything seriously. Bishop did things by the book. But, as the storyline progressed, something about her started to grate on me. I know that the case was starting to hit a raw nerve, but at that point in the book, I didn't know the ins and outs, yet I still took that into consideration. It seemed like her guard was starting to come down big time, which revealed a completely different side to Jess. It almost was as though it was a brand new character. Unfortunately I found it quite difficult to put the two sides of Jess back together, which meant that my opinion changed of Jess changed drastically as there was no seamless difference between work Jess and personal Jess.

As for the storyline itself, I found the groundwork really clever. It was very clear that a lot of thought and research had gone into creating an authentic and stone clad base for the authors story. Two words - vapour rub. Who knew! Ingenious!

'Now You See Me' has such an addictive and gripping storyline - it didn't take me long to find myself under Kierney Scott's spell with this book, that's for sure. The author took me down so many different paths as a reader, my mind started to play tricks on me and I no longer knew who I could trust. How crazy is that?! Clever of course, but what a head funk! Even my nerves were starting to fray in the lead up to the conclusion! I have to be honest though, I did have a slight inkling but I dismissed it straight away due to how this particular came across in the book. Obviously I'm not going to tell you who that is, but I can't wait to read other reviews to see if anyone else thought the same!

Whilst 'Now You See Me' had me on the edge of my seat with goosebumps the size of Mount Everest, the concluding chapters didn't seem as clean-cut and believable as the rest of the book. Don't get me wrong, I was still entertained by it, but I couldn't help but think that it was a teeny bit rushed. That is my own personal opinion of course - nothing to do with the style of the authors writing at all. I mean come on, Kierney Scott can write - look how she got me liking a character to then disliking her! This author allowed me to become rather invested in her complex and out there storyline, igniting multiple reactions throughout the duration of the book.

Due to the intense and graphic details within the book, I really would love to know what goes through this authors mind to be able to write a storyline so detailed that they're able to put you slap bang in the middle of the action. Plus, I would really love to know what goes through the author's mind as in a 'how on earth do you come up with this sort of stuff!'. Impressively mind-boggling! 

Addictive from the get go, memorable for the future, and fantastically gruesome for the entire duration. Roll on book two!

Thanks Bookouture.

Jessica Bishop is an FBI agent. She is currently working on a case where the victims’ limbs and heads are cut off.
Part of the ritual of the killer reminds her of something in her past.
As the story goes, we learn more and more about that past.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Even though it felt pretty short, I still felt deep connections to the characters, especially Jess.
I really liked her, her spirit and even her faults. I was rooting for her from beginning to end. The friendships she had to other women in the book were pretty great and well built. As were her other relationships, workwise or personal-wise.
I liked the case storyline as much as I liked every personal thing that was going on with Jess.
The case part was really captivating. I had my own theories but couldn’t really pick between two main choices until the killer was revealed...
I also really liked how the book was built, how we sometimes had other point of views.

I could not put this book down. I’m really looking forward to a sequel, I can’t wait to see more of these great characters!

Now this is a book which will get your attention. Someone is targeting lone women, luring them into a trap and then murdering them, leaving all the hallmarks of a case which is very personal for one of the Agents working the case. FBI Agent Jess Bishop has a somewhat checkered past, not of her making, but something which has affected her whole life. As she begins to recognise echoes of her past in some of the key evidence from her current case she faces the dilemma of being honest with her boss and risk being pulled from the case, or continue to investigate and hopefully bag a dangerous killer before they claim too many more victims.

I really liked the character of Jess Bishop. She’s someone it takes a short while to warm to as she can be spiky, controlled and quite serious, but the more the story develops, the more you get to know her and the easier she is to like. I think once the whole history of her character is revealed you begin to understand her better and her choices make greater sense as a result. One of her key flaws, potentially fatal, is a lack of trust. This could cost her dearly and as the potential to also harm those around her as she struggles to open up to those who care.

Speaking of which, the return of her former partner, Jamison Briggs, is one of the elements of conflict which will see Bishop well and truly distracted. There is a clear chemistry between the two but Briggs isn’t quite the man he was when he left, and the secret he is keeping from Bishop has the ability to complete throw her from her investigation. It certainly puts the cat amongst the pigeons as far as their partnership goes. I like Briggs. He is the polar opposite of Bishop, quick to point out her errors and pull her up on bad decisions but also backing her one-hundred percent. They have a clear chemistry but the road for them is not clear and I’ll be intrigued to see how the author develops this relationship in future books. It could be fun.

The story itself is really quite compelling and the killer’s motivations are somewhat twisted, as you would expect from someone who is murdering women. I did have to suspend disbelief a little in imagining that Bishop was the only person to spot the similarities in the case and the case from her past, as it was clear that others, her boss especially, were aware of what had happened. I did guess the how pretty early on, there are some less than subtle hints dotted throughout, but the identity of the killer, and of their final victims, did come as a surprise though. While the manner of death is not described in any real level of gory detail, the manners of the murders is quite gruesome, as are the souvenir’s or rather trophies that the killer keeps.

This was a great start to the series, the pacing fast enough to keep me turning page after page and itching to know what Bishop’s big secret was and how they would nail the killer. The author has done a great job of creating setting and in developing a varied cast of characters you can both like and hate, laugh with and laugh at. The conclusion is quite tense, the action really picking up in the dying pages with both of our protagonists placed in mortal danger. You kind of feel for Bishop, placed in an impossible position and having to make a really tough choice under pressure, even if I was ultimately frustrated by the one she made. What a plank. Why? Why would you do that? The girl has serious, and I mean serious, trust issues.

I look forward to seeing where the author takes our characters next. It’s not going to be an easy ride for anyone, that’s for sure.

I received an advanced copy of this via Netgalley. I liked the sound of it and the cover. I'm so glad I tried because I might have another new favourite detective! I thought Jess was a great character. Reminds me a lot of Karen Rose, so if you like her books then give this a go! I'd love to say that the author tricked me but I'm on the ball and I had this figured out quite early on, not that it spoiled it for me because I do like to be right! I can't wait for another instalment and to see what happens with Jess and Jamison.