DON’T LOOK (Pike, Wisconsin Book 1) By Alexandra Ivy
This new thriller by Alexandra Ivy is solid, very well written, has characters with chemistry, lots of angst, suspense, mystery and murder. I have read Alexandra’s books for years. This is a 4 star read.

Kir left Pike, Wisconsin a long time ago but he's back for his father's funeral. Unfortunately, he finds himself caught up in the hunt for a serial killer of women who his father had long warned about and Lynne Gale is on the list of targets. She's the local vet and a solid protagonist. This one strains credulity a bit re their involvement in the murder investigation but it did keep me guessing. I liked the relationship between Kir and Lynne. I have to admit, though, that I found Kir's name distracting- I kept thinking about creme de cassis. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of the genre.

Alexandra Ivy is so good at writing these dark murder mysteries. During the bitter winter, the town of Pike set a scene that had me wrapping my sweater around me tighter, and I had no idea who the killer was until the very end. I'm usually pretty good at figuring it out sooner. but the twists and turns kept me guessing. Lynne and Kir were a great team, and I'm hoping they will pop up in more books. A not to be missed book!

This was a clever, well constructed thriller. The characters of Lynne and Kir were immensely likeable and I thoroughly enjoyable their connection. I would have preferred there to have been more of a build up to their relationship though, since they had a history together. I expected more of a slow burn to increase the tension between them for longer.
The tension with the murders however, was their in spades! It was fast paced and twists galore, and the addiction of the killer's perspective added another edge.
I would have benefitted from a cast list though, as there were lots of characters to keep track of.

This was a very good read. It definitely kept me guessing and there was so much suspense throughout the storyline. The thrill of this book took twist and turns I'd not expected. The character development was nice. The story flowed effortlessly and maintained my interest. I give this a 4.5 star rating.

Kit has come home for his fathers funeral and reconnected with an old friend. When the local preacher who spoke at his dads funeral hands him a list with some initials on it. When a dead body is found and matches a set of initials on the list KIR STARTS LOOKING INTO his fathers theory that a serial killer was communicate with him he finds that Lynne’s name is on the list.

A solid four star read. Good premise. Great characters. Enjoyed the writing style. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. It even had a twist that I didn’t see coming. Would definitely read her next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

I am afraid I didn't like this at all. The premise was forced, the writing was very, very clunky and the characters were unbelievable.

Dr. Lynne Gale is the local veterinarian in Pike, Wisconsin, a small town in the heart of Dairy Country. Other than urgent calls regarding sick or injured animals in the middle of the night, her life is relatively normal until someone begins murdering the women of her town. Kir Jansen returns to Pike upon the sudden death of his father, and while cleaning out his home, the murders begin. Kir is forced to reconcile with the reminder that his father had reached out him about letters that he was receiving from a stranger with dark intentions. As the bodies start to pile up, they realize that a piece of paper with letters on it are the initials of the killer's victims, with Lynne being the final name on his list.

While the mystery was extremely well-written, the romance fell flat for me. There was no tension or build to it, and I felt that some of the language that Ivy used would have been far more appropriate in a Historical Romance. For example, shortly after their first kiss (which was very early in the book), Ivy wrote “Kir lifted his head, struggling to leash his hunger. He wanted to spend the rest of the night tasting Lynne’s honeyed passion.” While I didn't always love Kir or the romance between him and Lynne, I did appreciate his support and understanding of her career.

On the other hand, the mystery captivated me. I was left guessing (I considered almost everyone a suspect at one point in time or another by the end of the book), and I loved sections told from the killer's point of view. Ivy’s incorporation of the letters to Rudolf were downright chilling, and I couldn’t wait to find out who it was. The conclusion to the mystery was extremely satisfying, as it didn't feel rushed, and it was fully fleshed out. However, there were times that Kir was far too aggressive with his investigation, and during one encounter, he even internally agrees that his suspect of the moment had no reason to answer him, as he "wasn't a cop, or a Fed, or a private eye", which definitely bothered me. He also was quick to assume that someone was the killer without any concrete evidence to back it up. Understanding that it is part of his inherent nature, I would have loved to see some of his impulsivity reined in, especially when his search for the killer bordered on the fine line of lawlessness.

I would recommend Don't Look to anyone that enjoys traditional romance writing and books/TV shows about serial killers. This book read like an episode of Criminal Minds (with a romance), and I loved that. Thank you to Zebra Books and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A little bit of small town drama, a little bit of romance, and a whole lot of murder in this jam packed story. Kir returns to his hometown after the unexpected death of his father, former Pike, Wisconsin police chief. At the funeral, Kir is given a letter by the preacher from his father containing a list of letters with not much meaning behind them. Then people whose names are the same initials in the letter start being murdered, one by one. Kir banding together with his childhood friend and local vet, Lynne, launch their own "amateur sleuth" investigation to get answers on what is happening in their quiet town.

This was an awesome mystery read and the character development was so good. Considering Alexandra Ivy is a series writer, I really would not hate if there was another book following this one.

Thank you Alexandra Ivy, Zebra, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the book. The mystery was good and difficult to guess . The romance was slow burn in spite of it being insta attraction .

Wow! What a action packed thriller.
Kir returns home for his fathers funeral. Now he is wondering if his father was correct all along about a serial killer. His father always said a killer was leaving him notes, but no one believed him. Now bodies are turning up and Kir is trying to figure it out. Lynne is by his side helping to solve this before it’s too late.
All the while, you can feel the sparks between the two.
I thought I had it but was so wrong. The ending was definitely a shock.

I absolutely loved this new thriller from Alexandra Ivy! It's not your typical casting for leading characters to solve a murder; a Vet and the owner of a tasking company.

Kir may be a small-town boy but he's been gone a long time, now he runs his own business taking on tasks that people don't have time to do themselves. He always looked up to his dad but when he was injured on duty as the former sheriff, he began to drink heavily and become a nuisance. Kir hasn't been back to town for a while and now he's back for his father's funeral. But did Kir's father have it right; Is there a serial killer targeting the inhabitants of Pike? Has the killer really been taunting the former sheriff?

Lynne Gale took over being the town Vet from her father. She lives for her job, to the detriment of every relationship she's had, and even her own good health. She always had a soft spot for Kir but she always knew she was never leaving Pike and he couldn't wait to leave. But at the funeral, she and Kir connect. Little does she know that they are about to be dragged into the hunt for a serial killer!

This is most definitely a thriller/suspense read with romantic elements. The romance does take a back seat f you will to the action. It's still romantic suspense just a bit lighter on the romance front than I'm used to reading. And that kinda makes sense, who has time for lengthy passion sessions when there is a killer on the loose?

The letters from the killer are totally creepy and chilling. I can sometimes guess who the bad guy is or at least narrow the suspect pool down. Not this time, I had to wait for that final little "clue" to be revealed. Murders in a small town make compelling reading cause you know that the killer is hiding in plain sight. Pike is almost a character itself in the book. Most small-town books are full of happy, smiling residents. Pike's inhabitants seem to be sad, reserved almost as if Pike is unsettling in itself.

Great suspense read and I'm thrilled at the thought of the series continuing!

This is an interesting story with nice characters.

I liked the whole idea. Small town, serial killer, red ribbons around victims' necks, letters written to ex-sheriff. It all created quite a remarkable atmosphere. Though I would rather have the cops solve the mystery, or for example Sheriff Kathy Hancock and Nash Cordon. They would make such a fascinating couple!

Not that I didn't like Lynne and Kir as the main characters. They are fine and make a cute couple. There is no doubt that there is an attraction between them. But I feel like the whole serial killer case is a little too serious for two total amateurs, and their investigation is a little too professional. That's why I felt some dialogues are too forced. People are too willing to answer Lynne and Kir's questions and to give them too much information that you don't usually tell strangers.

But otherwise the story is fine. There are several suspects and any of them could be a murderer. Suspicions are appropriately distributed between the various characters. And the stakes are high, especially since the murderer acts quickly and brutally. There are also some interesting supporting characters, such as the above-mentioned Nash and the sheriff.

Even though I didn't like everything, I generally enjoyed the story. I may read another book in this series.

Don't Look (Pike, Wisconsin #1) by Alexandra Ivy

Dr. Lynne Gale and Kir's story.. I will admit this book kept me on the edge of my seat...It scared me ..but in a good way.. There us a serial killer in Pike and he has a list. There suspense that keeps you on the edge .. there is some laughter, angst, memories of the past, romance, broken trust, tears, terror, building trust, some steam leading to their HEA... and I dare you to figure it out before the end... I thought I did and then I didn't... thank you Alexandra

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Romantic Tragic Scary Unpredictable Great world building Entertaining Page-turner Happily Ever After Wonderful characters Twisted Steamy Witty Easy-to-read Action-packed

I received this book from NetGalley as an eARC in exchange for a review.

Don't Look follows Kir and Gayle as they try to solve a small town whodunit serial killer. This book wasn't bad but it wasn't anything that felt particularly new. I was able to guess who ended up being the killer at about 20% completed. However, if you really like murder mysteries than this will satisfy that itch for you. I don't think I will remember much of this book after I finish another book or two.
I did really not like the random one smut part in the book. It seemed really out of place. I don't dislike smut, just dislike it when it doesn't seem to fit the story.

It's been a while since I've read Alexandra Ivy, not sure why I lost track of her! A nice start to a new series set
in Pike, WI featuring Lynne Gale, the local vet, & Kir who has returned home for the funeral of his father..
Soon after Kir arrives in Pike, WI a serial killer begins his killing spree and Lynne & Kir get involved in searching for
clues. Fast paced, couldn't put it down! Looking forward to more in this series. Thank you NetGalley!

Great read. The author really draws the reader into the story. Will definitely read another book by this author. Such a gripping story.

After high school Kir couldn’t wait to pack his bags and head to Boston to attend college. Once he graduated he started his own business never to return to Pike until a call came in that his father had died. Kir returned to Pike for his fathers funeral and then he planned to pack up his fathers belongings and return to Boston. He didn’t expect Lynne the girl who went to the same school as him growing up to catch his eye. Lynne was the town veterinarian. He was eager to spend some time with her.
Meanwhile a serial killer was murdering citizens from Pike causing quite a stir. This type of crime never took place in Pike. Pike wasn’t equipped to handle a serial killer case. Kir was determined to protect Lynne from the dangers of this killer began investigating the murders himself. The only way he could make amends to his father was by catching the killer.

Overall:
Pike, Wisconsin is a series of book that have yet to be released. This is book 1. It’s about a small town in Pike, Wisconsin where a serial killer is targeting the citizens of Pike as an act of revenge. Pike is a small town with limited resources. The police department isn’t equipped to handle a serial killer.
The killers voice is heard thru letters written to Rudolf as well as when the killings occur. When the first letter was introduced I hadn’t known it was from the killer, but it gets mentioned later on helping to clarify its placement.
Kir worked as an amateur investigator starting his investigation with the letters and the list, but his investigation only produced more character introductions. Although, He seemed to produce more results than the town sheriff or police investigators. In fact, most of what Kir or Lynne discovered had me questioning if the sheriff was even investigating this case. The author validated the limited resources of this small town with the use of a Kir and Lynne playing detectives.
As small towns go...it’s slow moving. Pike, Wisconsin, was a small, rural town in the heart of dairy country where neighbors were closely acquainted with one another. At least the story didn’t address gossipmongers. It was refreshing not having to read about small town gossipmongers. This small town was known for being close and neighborly.
Although, the story’s not as exciting as I would’ve liked. While I appreciated Kir’s dedication at becoming an amateur detective I found the process rather dull. The problem is the reader learns much about nothing. Every clue leads to another new character. As the body count continues to rise is when the pressure gets turned up to investigate.
“Crimson blood stains the pure white snow. Life spills from warm to frozen. Don’t look. The pain is gone.” This referenced quote from the killer gave me preconceived ideas about the direction of this story. I was prepared for a dark grueling story about a violent angry killer. Instead I got a blossoming romance, a veterinarian who works too much, an entrepreneur who returns to his hometown, and a killer stalking the citizens in Pike. Too many components made up this story and it felt like the killer was not the main topic. The story was focused more on Kir and Lynne while the killer remained as an afterthought until he killed again. Not to mention, the reader rarely heard from the sheriff or team of officers working the case.
Every thought was put down taking away the readers ability to draw their own conclusions. Even the killer made the job easy with the letters.
While I appreciate Kir playing amateur investigator what he produced for information didn’t produce results.

When murder hits the small town of pike, local authorities don't know what to do. With a list of initials and a growing attachment to the village girl what are you going to do? Stand in this man's shoes and watch the puzzle spread out in this thrilling suspense. You won't regret it!