When I heard that Lisa Renee Jones had written a mystery I have to admit, I was a little sad. I'm not a huge fan of mysteries and I tend to hate how predictable they are but I love thrillers. If a book can make me want to turn that next page and see what happens, I'm generally in love with it. So when I went into this book, I had hopes that Lisa Renee Jones would delve deeper to the thriller aspect instead of the pure mystery aspect.

One thing that seemed off to me was how many redundant phrases there were. The author really seemed to love "Murder Girl," "Devil in the Details," and "Otherworld." These were used constantly and it became annoying after a bit. The writing was not my favorite either. It could be that Lisa was taking on the Mystery genre so she was trying hard to change her voice, unfortunately it seemed to fall flat to me.

The plot was interesting and it did keep me guessing but I would say this was more of a mystery than a thriller. There were no moments where I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. It's a little disappointing how slow this story was.

The redeeming part of this book is how intricate the plot line was. Though it was slow, it was elaborate and interesting.  I never knew what to expect and I appreciated it. There were of course a few no brainers with the book  but I enjoyed how thought out the plot was. It kept my attention even though it was a slow read.

All in all, it was okay. It wasn't perfect but it wasn't bad.

I was hooked from the get go with this story and I want more! I wasn’t expecting it to end the way that it did and all I can think about is how it’s going to go down!

I was on pins and needles trying to help at least in my mind try and find the killer when I don’t think I’m close at all but once we find out it would have been right in front of my nose, that’s how good this author is.

I enjoyed the characters, the banter between them all and with the seriousness of the story, this was an all around good story. It had been awhile where I had read a murder mystery and enjoyed the hell out of it!

Reviewed by Shay from Mommys a Book Whore

Murder Notes is the first book in a new series by Lisa Renee Jones and while this one isn't as steamy as some of her other books it's a definite must read.

We are taken on a journey to find a killer with FBI profiler Special Agent Lilah Love, is he/she somehow connected to her? Only time will tell because we are left with a cliffhanger, but what I can tell you is that this is not an easy rider for Special Agent Love, no, there are many twists and turns that keep bring up events of her past. Is someone trying to tell her something or is it all just a coincidence?

Part of Lilah's past is Kane, talk about hot men YUM, (there are a LOT of HOT MEN in this story) Kane is much more than he seems. While most have him written off as a piece of crap that Lilah needs to stay away from I see more than just the leader of a cartel that many people think he is. One thing he keeps saying is that he is not his father, and I for one believe him and I really hope I am not proven wrong because I think that if Lilah and Kane can find their way back together again it would be wonderful.

I was so engrossed with this book that I didn't even realize I was at the end until there was no more....I really cannot wait to get my hands on Murder Girl.

Murder Notes is book 1 in the Lilah Love series. Lilah is a woman with a dark past. She works for the FBI as a criminal profiler. She's good at what she does. She's bad at the all the people stuff in her life. People in her life call her "murder girl". At the beginning of the story she gets called to the scene of a crime and finds herself investigating an assassination style killing that forces her to head home and face the demons of her past.

Lilah's boss, Director Murphy, sends her to the New York to investigate a case that might be related to the case she's working in California. Unfortunately for Lilah, another body shows up in the Hamptons around the same time.. Lilah swore to never return to the Hamptons after she left but now she has no choice. She has to confront her family, friends, enemies and her past in order to solve the crime.

The cast of characters isn't huge but it appears that they are all important to the story. Lilah is dating Rich. He wants a relationship with things like public dates and moving in together. His character doesn't get a lot of development in the story. Kane Mendez is the ex-boyfriend. He's a man with ties to the mob and with a set of questionable morals. He still wants Lilah. Eddie Rivera is a police sergeant in the Hamptons who doesn't like Lilah and doesn't want her investigating the case. Lilah's brother, Andrew, is the chief of police. Her friend, Beth, is the medical examiner. And Samantha Young dated Lilah's ex-boyfriend, Kane, before Lilah. There are others but the bottom line is that Lilah thinks it's possible they are all involved in some way with the murders but she just can't figure out how.

Lilah believes that the murders are all related and that they are all assassinations. That is not a spoiler! In the end, Lilah doesn't know who she can trust, who is leaving her threatening notes or who is involved in the murder. It's a sticky situation because her family is clearly tied up in the mess somehow!

The timeline bothered me a bit. Based on the intro, I thought Lilah was in her 30's but she's in her late 20's. While it shouldn't make a difference, I can't understand how she worked for the NYPD and got FBI training and has the reputation she has in such a short time frame. I also struggled with some of the intuitive leaps that LIlah made. I felt like Lilah needed a partner to bounce her ideas off so that the conclusions she was drawing were not quite so out of the blue.

We are left with lots of questions at the end of the story. I think the second book should be an action packed story!

I recommend this story to anyone who likes contemporary mystery stories. There is a "romance" subplot but nothing romantic happens in this story. If you don't like cliffhangers, wait to read this story until the next book comes out.

Quotes:
I don't argue. I step around him and dart for the living room, pausing in the doorway long enough to say, "Lock up when you leave. Sick fucks love me." I take off for the front door.
"What the hell does that make me, Lilah?"
"The exception,".... loc 204

And I don't show emotions because I don't feel them anymore. loc 987

I read an ARC copy of this book

This new suspenseful read by Lisa Renee Jones was hot. Drama, sexy and on edge. I loved every page. And Lisa Renee Jones writing is always on point. Definitely worth of all FIVE STARS.

While I liked the story overall, I did not like that there was a cliff hanger at the end. A lot of loose ends all around, and nothing resolved. I hope to read the next book in the series, but if not then I will be not have any solutions to the issues that are presented in this story. Lilah, an FBI profiler, is sent to the East Coast from her home in LA, following a string of murders. Upon arriving, she is taken to a new murder, and the story brings up a lot of unlikable characters from her past, as this is her hometown. From her father, messing around as a mobster puppet, and her brother messing around with a corrupt woman, while he is the chief of police, and her ex-boyfriend Kane, who has a darkness around him, there is plenty of red herrings. Then the mysterious notes left here and there, and the nightmares of her rape and almost murder years ago keep popping up. Not sure if this will be a trilogy, which seems popular today, or an ongoing series, but I did like the writing and the story, just didn't appreciate the ending leaving me hanging as to what is happening. Would still recommend, but some of the questions answered more would have helped me to enjoy the book more.

"Death simply becomes me. In fact, some might say I'm so fucked up that I do death better than I do life. And while death is attracted to me, my own is not appealing."

Wow. Wow. Wow. This one was all kinds of nothing I expected. Lisa has outdone herself, honestly my favorite by her, the first in this romantic suspense series. Lilah Love is an FBI profiler. She's a no nonsense heroine that holds her own. She's the best in her field, and thinks like a killer. She has to, in order to become them catching them before their next victim turns up in a pool of blood. She's kind of fascinating. Complex and complicated.

Lilah's instincts are seldom wrong, and trust isn't something she's familiar with. A plot full or twists and turns, secrets and lies, and a series of dead bodies that lead her home to the Hampton's, the hometown she desperately never wanted to step foot in again. The town where her father is mayor, her brother the local police chief, and her ex is Kane Mendez, the one and only crime lord of the infamous Mendez Cartel. I couldn't read fast enough, I wanted to figure this out and see who's name, or who's body came up next. The layers were captivating, the characters riveting. Murder Notes was well paced with great word smithing. I'm absolutely in this one for the long haul. Well done Ms. Jones.

"For the guilty, it's all about denying your own ability to do such a thing, and denial can be a slow, brutal sword that carves you inside out."

I really love the plot of this story, it’s very unique and interesting yet a bit slow at first. I had a hard time keeping focus in the beginning. Lilah definitely rambles. I felt like some parts were a bit repetitive which I do believe tracks back to the rambling. Aside from that I like how no nonsense she is. She doesn’t let anyone get over on her though Kane is clearly a weakness she can’t completely seem to tamp down on. Murder Notes is suspenseful with plenty of twists. It’s not easily predictable. There are a lot of moving parts and many names to keep in mind. Lisa Renee Jones has weaved this story to where it’s not only intriguing but it keeps you wanting more. I have so many theories in my head as to what could be going on and it makes me anxious to read the next installment in this series. I can’t wait to see what happens in Murder Girl.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I've been a Lisa Renee Jones fan since I found one of the Walker Security books free on amazon a few years ago. I eagerly devour whatever she writes. The only series that I haven't finished yet is Inside Out, and that's personal choice because I just don't want it to end. This book met my expectations, fast paced, intense, kept you guessing. All the elements I love about LRJ! I knew going in this would end in a cliffhanger, as that's how she always reels you in. I won't deny that I was frustrated at the end, only because I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS! I've got the date marked on my calendar as to when book 2 will be out.
This book is a bit different than some of her others as it's not a clear romance, (think Walker Security). It's more of a mystery. Lilah Love is a FBI profiler, with a bit of a history in the Hamptons. She'll tell you all about it, I don't like to do spoilers. Her current case in Cali, has similarities with some New York cases, and she gets sent back home to connect the dots. She doesn't want to be there, her old circle doesn't want her there anymore than she wants to be there. Too many people have secrets and she's not sure who or what she'll expose as this plays out, maybe even her self...

4.5 stars

I loved Murder Notes by Lisa Renee Jones! This was a great read! It was a suspenseful and thrilling ride from beginning to end!

Lilah Love’s is an FBI profiler. It is her job to catch killers, by thinking like them. She is one badass heroine! But she also has a secret she is keeping. One that drove her from home, across the country. But now she is investigating a case that brings her back. But something is not right.

I loved Lilah. She was strong, determined and had no qualms to go after what she wants. But this secret she is hiding is still haunting her. Underneath all that tough exterior, she is a bit lost and broken.

Now that she is back in her hometown, she is facing all kinds of demons, including her ex, who is the only one who knows her secret. Kane was supposed to be her past, but he has always been the one person who really understood her. They have such a love and hate relationship.

I cannot wait to read the next book! This was a great story, but more of a suspense with lots of mystery. Lilah thinks there is more to this case, but the most obvious suspect, is the one person she trusts. What is going to happen? I cannot wait to find out!

I was in the mood for a Romantic Suspense novel and what better one to get started with than Lisa Renee Jones new and upcoming book "Murder Notes." The only downside with reading this is that as it ended on a cliffhanger, I have to wait a while for the next book to hurry up and be released especially too since this one isn't technically out to the public till March. Murder Notes introduces us to FBI agent Lilah Love, and BTW I adored her name. Murder and Dead bodies seem to follow her around and also she is a hard person to get close too. A series of murders that Lilah's puts down to assassinations have happened in New York, and now one matching the same M.O has been spotted in The Hamptons. This causes Lilah to return home to her old stomping ground where her father is the Mayor and her brother the Chief of the Police. It is also home to Kane Mendez - the heir of the Mendez Cartel and Lilah's complicated ex-lover. Once Lilah returns home, she starts to receive murder notes and threats and of course what's a bit of scandal and dark secrets when it comes to the rich and wealthy. Are these assassinations hits or random murders? What will happen though when Lilah starts to uncover a big conspiracy that everyone seems to have fingers in the pies especially her father? This was a slower paced book and took me longer than usual to read, but I kept reading as murder aside, I was fascinated with Lilah and her dynamics with the other characters. The ending was an OMG moment, and as I had predicted when I started reading the book, it does end on a major cliffie. If you love Romantic Suspense novels, Secrets and Scandals with a bit of Profiling chucked in then check out Murder Notes - Book #1 in the Lilah Love series by Lisa Renee Jones.

I didn't think I would become a fan of reading a murder mystery book but after reading this one I am hooked. From the very beginning it captured my attention and I couldn't put the book down. This was a very good book and I would highly recommended.
Lilah Love comes from a wealthy family. She is an FBI profiler her brother and father are both in law enforcement. Murder happens nd it brings her back to her home town that she had ran away from. The mysteries surrounding all these murders seem to be linking back to a secret she has kept.
Get the book, it will be worth reading.

Murder Notes is the story of an FBI profiler with a dark, secret past. She is quite good at her job and has caught a case that is obviously connected to her past. She ends up back in her hometown facing demons and people she has tried to ignore.

Lilah isn't exactly a likable character. She is gruff, rude, and abrasive. The story is told entirely from her POV and you see how ill tempered she is! As the story goes on you start to understand her, but I still think she was a bit too abrasive for my taste.

The murders are very strange. As the reader, you are trying to figure out who the killer is, but also figure out what exactly happened to Lilah in the past. Lilah's narration provides pieces to the puzzle as you read but its still mysterious and unfinished. There are plenty of possible suspects throughout the story! There is family drama, a hidden past event that could ruin Lilah, political corruption, and a killer on the loose. Lilah has to navigate the local police, whose chief happens to be her brother, in order to get information. Officially, she can't just come in and take over. She also has to face her past sins because they seem connected to the cases she is working. That means facing her ex, Kane.

I wouldn't call Murder Notes a romance. There are sparks between Kane and Lilah, but that relationship is by no means the center of the story. The plot is very twisty and has so many connecting threads you have to pay close attention to keep up with it all. The secondary characters are numerous and you are never sure who is trustworthy. Also, the story is told entirely in Lilah's POV so your views of the characters are clouded by her thoughts of the characters. All the combines for a very compelling read! If you enjoy detective novels, strong female leads, or books with twisty murder plots, Murder notes is a great pick!

This book was just WOW!!!!
I couldn't put it down. It's full of twist and turns and again WOW!
It does end in a cliffhanger which I'm not the biggest fan of but it was just that good!

Review Whoa! This book is quite possibly my favorite Lisa Renee Jones book to date. Murder Notes starts off with a bang, grips you by the lapels and doesn’t even remotely let you go at the end because you are jolted with an ending that leaves you breathless and wishing you had book two waiting to dive into. There are so many twists and turns in this story it leaves you breathless by the time you get to that last sentence. Lilah is one tough FBI agent who is a profiler for the agency in really tough cases, but she has met he match with the case the agency sends her on to solve. The problem is it involves her family and ex lover, and that is the start of one hell of a great suspenseful story. I found it very difficult to put this book down to sleep. If I didn’t have to work, I would have finished it in one day. Loved the intertwining of all the characters, you have your suspicions on who did the crime, but as soon as you think you have figured it out, the author throws another twist your way and you’re left with your jaw hanging down wondering what’s next. There’s no way in hell I would remotely do anything this woman does, staying alone in a house that is clearly being watched, putting herself in situations that you are yelling at her not to, she is definitely struggling with her past and intends on conquering those demons. Loved everything about this book, am very much looking forward to the next book to come my way!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

The book surpasses all ideas of what I expected from Lisa Renee Jones. Murder Notes gives you the typical cliffhanger that you can expect from Lisa's books but the details and story line are superb! Definitely a book I will refer to my friends.

Intriguing, mysterious and an all around fantastic Book!
I could not put this book down and can not wait to read the next one! I was saddened when it ended as I wanted the story to continue!
Lisa nailed it again!

“We refuse to see what we eventually have to cope with, or perhaps even confess.”

I think what I loved so much about Murder Notes was the anticipation and suspense to everything. I wanted to know the mystery, the sizzling chemistry between Lilah and a certain someone kept me on my toes, and best of all was the reality of not knowing a damn thing that was going on. I LOVE that—the story is fast-paced but not predictable in the least. And the only thing I hate about it is the fact that I now have to wait for the next one to come out.

Upon starting the book, I didn’t know if I was going to like it. Lilah is crude, cold, and not a character I liked—at first. Yeah, she’s a badass FBI agent but her cold demeanor wasn’t one I could connect with at all. But we slowly see why she is the way she is and I loved her all the more for it. I started seeing her as the strong and independent woman she was and the type of woman who got things done. And didn’t take no for an answer!

The suspense was on point. So many scare tactics were used to try to get Lilah away but that girl is not scared. She takes everything head on and doesn’t back down! The romance is barely there but I was satisfied with what we do get. The love between Lilah and Kane is the delicious line between hate and love. She hates him but also wants him. Nobody can or ever will satisfy her such as the man who will do anything for her. Even kill.

I shove on his chest, tearing our lips apart. “I hate you right now.”
“Show me,” he says, releasing me to shrug out of his wet jacket.

This is the first time ever reading LRJ—and I’ve got to kick myself for ever putting her on my long list of TBR. I want and need more books just like this. With the way it ended, I’m a bit disappointed that I have to wait so long to read the next one. Lilah’s adventures are ones that I’m more than okay with riding along on. Overall, if you’re into romantic suspense and strong female leads, this is one you won’t want to miss out on.

“Well you know what they say. The devil you know is better than the one you don’t. And you do know me, Lilah. Like no one else.”

This is one of those novel that it is hard to find the words for. It is SO GREAT to jump into a novel and to find yourself able to get completely lost in it. This novel was the perfect blend of Lisa Renee Jone's previous heroines with a new breed of bad-assery. I would say it reminds me of Janet Evanovich or even a non paranormal version of Laurell K. Hamilton's leading lady, Anita Blake and her crime solving antics and attitude. Lilah was a hefty dose of "I Got This" with a mouth to match it. I LOVED the fact that this heroine held her own and didn't need a man to lean on, let alone save her. It was refreshing.



Also, she is hilarious and fantastic. Some of her moment I found myself just laughing because it was TOTALLY something I would say or do.

This was like watching an episode of Rizzoli and Isles, except no Isles and the family aren't exactly chummy. But same feel. This novel was but a compilation of episodes in a series that was going to kill me in the end, and I was right.

Murder, Hidden Past. Drug Cartels. OMG HE WAS NAKED AND SHE SAID WHAT? Yeah, it was that kind of book.

I can't wait to read the next installment in this series. It is a whole new ball game and I am ready to play.

Murder Notes was unlike anything I’ve ever read from Lisa Renee Jones, and I’ve read almost all of her books. This compelling and captivating story was more thriller than romance. FBI profiler Lilah Love is on the hunt for a serial killer that she’s not quite convinced is a serial killer. Her quest to capture the perp ties into a traumatic event from her past and she finds herself surrounded by people she’s not sure she can trust. Which isn’t really saying anything as she doesn’t trust easily. This case has brought her back to her ex, who for all intents and purposes seems like a likely suspect - one she constantly discounts. They share a tragic secret and an incredibly hot love/hate relationship, at least on her part. Strangely enough, it seems he’s the one she trusts most, which is still very little. With dead bodies piling up and more questions than answers, how will Lilah solve this case when the secrets are never-ending?

I have a certain amount of admiration for an alpha heroine, especially when done right, and I believe that LRJ did a great job with Lilah. While she came off as downright rude and abrasive, most of the time I understood where she was coming from. Did I think she had the bad habit of getting in her own way? Absolutely. But she didn’t bemoan or gripe about things not going her way. Nope, this chick pushed through and bulldozed her own path. Someone’s not giving her the answers she’s looking for? Throw her badge around. Someone’s being a condescending, masogynistic ahole? Throw her badge around. Someone gave her a funny look? Yup, that’s right… throw her damn badge around.

Lilah cracked me up more times than not. I’m not sure if her behavior was supposed to be seen as hysterical, but that’s how it came off to me. The author found a way to put me in Lilah’s shoes. It didn’t hurt that this was a crime-fighting novel, which lines up with my obsession of all the great crime shows such as Law & Order, Criminal Minds, CSI, etc. The story, for all its gruesome qualities, had a lot of humor and humanity to spare.

Although Lilah came off as a badass who was more likely to shoot first and ask questions later, there were many instances that showcased her vulnerability and reminded me that she was only human. And that maybe some of her crass behavior was a result of pain. Or maybe I’m trying to rationalize the irrational. Who knows? What I do know is that I’m utterly in love with Kane, Lilah’s ex, and I’m craving his perspective desperately. While Lilah has definitely made me turn the pages, a huge part of my interest is the push and pull between her and Kane. I don’t know much about this man, but the little I do has intrigued the heck out of me and I need more.

Anyhoo, you know this story is amazing because it’s not even due for another couple of months and I had to read it, regardless of the huge cliffy I knew would be coming at the end. I’m not exactly thrilled to have to wait an eternity (that’s how it feels) for the next one, but I have no regrets. If you love an intense mystery thriller, than you’re really going to love this one!

Expected Release Date: March 27, 2018
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
POV: Heroine - 1st person
Heat: 2 out of 5
Series/Standalone: Book #1 of the Lilah Love series