Kir Jansen comes back to Pike, Wisconsin for the funeral of his father Rudolf who was the former sheriff and disabled in the line of duty. He wasn’t a very good son and hadn’t come to visit his father much since he left for college in Boston since his father fell into the bottle after he couldn’t be sheriff anymore. Lynne Gale is the local vet whose father was really good friends with Kir’s dad before he moved to Florida to retire. Kirs dad Rudolf has been getting letters for years that he thought were from a serial killer even though there hadn’t been any murders in town but with him being a drunk nobody took him seriously. Kir didn’t believe that the letters were legit and he still doesn’t until after his dad’s funeral where he receives an envelope that was left for him with Pastor Ron who presided over the funeral. It contains one of the letters his dad received as well as a list of initials for the victims which wasn’t in his dads handwriting. The next day they find the body of Sherry Higgins who owned the local trailer park and wasn’t very well liked and her initials correspond with the first set of initials on the victims list so they let the sheriff know and kind of start investigating for themselves since it looks like Lynne might be the last target. So the rest of the book is Kir and Lynne falling in love while trying to figure out who the killer and keep Lynne safe as well.

So this was a pretty interesting mystery and while I had my suspicions on who the killer was by the middle of the book it was still an interesting read. The build up to who the killer was and how they figured it out and how it all came full circle connecting to Kirs dad was still interesting even though I suspected the right person as the killer.

Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book kept me reading to see what was going to happen to Kir and Lynne. It seems that her name was on a list of people to be killed by a serial killer, will they find out who did it before he reaches her name? The pace of the book was pretty fast and reading it was smooth going. The plot was well conceived and the reasons for revenge on the killers part made sense. The fact that I did not see who the killer was before the ending of the book shows that the twists were well written since I read alot of mysteries and thrillers. I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley for an honest review.

Kir Jansen returns home to Pike, Wisconsin for his father's funeral. Son of the town's former sheriff, Kir always ignored his father's drunken ramblings about a serial killer sending him letters until the body count starts to rise. The local police are out of their depths, so Kir and local vet, Lynne Gale, join forces to unmask a murderer.

An exciting mystery and a solid romance although the chemistry between the leads is rather lackluster.

While Kir and Lynne are appealing as individuals, and their reasons for becoming involved in the investigation are believable considering the circumstances, their relationship is lacking. Readers are presented with the facts of their attraction, but the reality of it isn't sufficiently tangible.

The serial killer plot is much more compelling. The details of the victims and their murders are well-written without any unnecessarily gruesome detail, and the letters written from the killer's POV add to the tension. It is possible to follow the clues to sort through the numerous red-herrings, and figuring out the villain's identity and motivation is all part of the fun.

Small towns are quite common settings in this type of book, but Pike is somewhat different. Rather than being quaint with quirky locals, the atmosphere is more sad and depressing,. The residents are trying to cope with the realities of a failing economy and the disappointments in their lives, which contributes to the believability.

Overall, a well-written and entertaining read recommended for lovers of a good romance with their mystery.

I didn't find anything I loved about this book. It was just an ok read for me. A small town murder and romance just didnt draw me in. Had a hard time picking this one up.

Thanks to the author,the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

This is a story about murder in a small town.

This was not a perfect fit for me, but I can see qualities that I think a lot of readers will enjoy. If you're someone who likes small town mysteries or thrillers with romance elements, I think this will be a good fit for you. The romance was fairly prevalent, so I could see someone who prefers that genre vs mystery thrillers enjoying this as a slight departure. Additionally, the characters were well crafted so I would absolutely check out future works by the author.

Thank you so much netgalley & Kensington books for this e-ARC.

Don't Look is Alexandra Ivy's new book. I have read several of her other books and particularly enjoy her romantic suspense stories. This book follows Lynne and Kir as they search for a killer stalking their town. Kir is the former sheriff's son and is lured into the mystery his father spoke of after it was too late. Lynne is the local vet and finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer. After several murders in town, the two come head to head with the killer but not before they find themselves getting closer to each other. I would say Lynne and Kir have a much sweeter romance than I have seen in some of her other books, but it is still far from cozy!

IF YOU'RE ON HIS LIST
A woman's naked body is discovered, cold and pale as the surrounding snow--except for the crimson scarf around her neck. The weeks that follow bring more victims and evidence of a terrifying pattern. The killer has a list. And every woman on it will get what she deserves . . .

YOU'RE AS GOOD
Dr. Lynne Gale followed in her father's footsteps to become a vet in Pike, Wisconsin. For years, she's had little contact with Kir Jansen, son of the town's late sheriff. Suddenly he's back, insisting that Lynne's in danger. She can't believe anyone would target her, but someone is hunting the women of Pike, savoring every last moment.

AS DEAD
Kir hoped that his father's frantic calls about a serial killer were just an old man's delusions. But the body count doesn't lie. In this quiet town, a monster stalks and kills. And soon, Lynne's will be the last name on his list . . .- Goodreads

This is the first book to this series but it feels as if this is the second or third book. There is no lead up to things happening. Everything just starts.  Although I enjoyed being instantly invested in the story, it always felt as if something was missing. This feeling continues throughout the book.

Because it has this feeling, there is a lack of build up throughout the novel. The romance is lack luster and the book was slow, which is unfortunate because the first few chapters of the novel after you get pass the feeling, you are invested in the story and the crime. 

There isn't a whole lot to say about the characters because you don't actually grow to love or like them. You read them as if you have known about them previously. As I was reading them they were all shady. 

This book has a good foundation but it wasn't written well unfortunately. 

Overall, I know a short review but it is what it is. 

1 Pickle

Don't Look by Alexandra Ivy Easy read, suspenseful, unexpected ending, romance scenes dragged down the momentum. Good solid read.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This is a great start to a series. I liked the characters and the mystery, The authors ability to make you feel and see the town and the people in, getting the feeling of the desperation and hopelessness, outweighs the somewhat predictable ending. I would absolutely recommend this book. Looking forward to the next.

Absolutely loved this book - so much suspense - and surprise who the villain was. I love Alexandra's stories. She is a great storyteller and is able to weave suspense into a the magic of romance. I can't wait for the next one!

thrilling and spine tingling novel set to make you sleep with the lights on for a while. Alexandra sets a chilling novel about a killer in a little remote town.

This is the first book that I’ve read by Alexandra Ivy and I really enjoyed it. She’s the perfect author for fans of Mary Burton and Lisa Jackson.

Kir Jansen returns home for his fathers and gets drawn into an investigation about a serial killer that his father failed to solve in a bid to protect local vet Lynne.

The story is definitely easy reading and focuses just as much on romance as it does murder. It definitely wasn’t an obvious story though, usually I get a feeling about who the killer is going to be but this story did keep me guessing quite a bit. I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by this author.

Lynne Gale is our main protagonist in this story. She is a vet (animal doctor) in the small town she grew up in, Pike Wisconsin. Kir is just home from Boston, where he lives now and has a successful business, for his father's funeral. Kir and Lynne decide to meet and chat about old times while Kir is in town. But that all changes when a resident of this small town is murdered and it resembles the letters that Kir's father was receiving before he passed. His father was getting letters that appeared to be written by a serial killer, but due to there being no bodies, no one would listen to him or believe the letters. Now the letters are missing and bodies are being found in the way the killer described. Kir is determined to help prove his father was not crazy about the letters and also feels a bit guilty about how his relationship with his father had been over more recent years. Lynne is also looking to prove she is not the killer since items related to the killings were taken from her office. This brings the couple together for more than just murder solving. Kir is immediately attracted to Lynne, but Lynne is recently out of a relationship with Nash, the egotistical ex-football star. I enjoyed the mystery and was was not sure who the killer was until it was reveled. My one not so favorite part was the the sex scene between Kir and Lynne. It was not overly erotic, but I could have done without some of the details. Call me a prude, haha, but I do not need sex scenes in my books or movies. I prefer the topic being eluded to and that be that. I will not deduct stars for that as that is my preference and some might really enjoy that. I am giving this a solid 4 star review. Thank you to NG, the publisher, and author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for this review. .

This was a pretty solid thriller. The setting was a small town, it had a serial killer and some romance on the side. It felt like a lot of other books I've read, but it didn't necessarily stick out.
I liked the setting and the atmosphere, and the main characters were all likable. To me, the romance was a little too much a focus and took away from the mystery sometimes. I also found that storyline a little repetitive and quite predictable, although it wasn't the main focus of the book.
The mystery itself was pretty solid, I liked the ending and how it turned out as well as the killer reveal. I also liked the letters and how the serial killer operated, as well as the little details which added to the murders. I didn't manage to guess who the killer was, my theory was proven completely wrong which was definitely good.
The author definitely managed to create suspense and the writing style was really easy and it was a quick read. I think without the big romance storyline, I would have enjoyed reading this a lot more.

Small Town Murder!!
Icy Pike Wisconsin has a serial killer.
Kir Jansen came home for his father’s funeral. He’s been gone for years.

Eyes aren’t the windows to the soul, funerals are. They reveal precisely how the deceased lived their lives, and how those who remain behind want them to be remembered.
Lynne is the town Vet. She is in danger when women in this small town are being murdered.

There was a vicious monster out there. Kir wasn’t going to sit around twiddling his thumbs while the killer came closer and closer to Lynne.

Action packed and fast paced. This story keeps you guessing until the end. Just when you think you know who the killer is your wrong. A slow burn love story.

He intended to enjoy the sensations that she stirred to glorious life. He hadn’t felt such a potent attraction since ...

The story is set in the small town of Pike where Kir Landon has returned for his father's funeral , after which the Reverend hands him a letter purportedly from his father ...... a list of initials .
When the Town Vet , Dr Lynne Gale , meets her old aquaintance , Kir , sparks fly .......... but they are soon under pressure ......... naked bodies are turning up and the Sherriff seems determined to put the blame on Lynne .
What is the significance of the letters received by his father before his death ? Who is committing the murders and why ?
Kir soon realises that the initials on the list given to him at his father's funeral are the same as the murder vistims ..... with just one set left ...... those that appear to be Lynne's . Can he keep her safe , whilst they race to identify the killer ?
This is an entertaining romantic thriller , although I did find The Sherriff's attitude a little unrealistic .

I was given an arc of the book by NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an an honest review .

I really enjoyed this book. The romance was nice and well done which made me like it all the more, as it gets put on the back burner a little bit in some romantic suspenses sometimes. I really liked both main characters and the story kept me guessing. The killer was someone I'd considered and then discarded, so not a surprise but not entirely expected either. A comforting read. 4 stars.

This is not published yet. Publication date is Dec 1, 2020. Mark your calendars

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Thank you @netgalley , @alexandra.ivy and @kensingtonbooks for accepting my request and providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was gripping and thrilling. It was good mystery and this was a "clean" book. No cuss words were used. The language was lucid and charming. Although, I'm not a fan of mixing romance with mystery, this book tried to balance both.

"Eyes aren't the windows to the soul, funerals are."

The story is set in a small town called Pike. Kir Jansen returns town for his father's funeral. He meets his old acquaintance, the town vet -Dr. Lynne Gale. As soon as they meet, sparks fly and they keep swooning for each other. Kir's father was the town Sheriff but he got shot and couldn't return to office. He subsequently ended up an alcoholic.

Suddenly, there is a series of murders in town. The bodies are found naked in the snow with the throat sliced and red ribbon tied around them. When Kir sees this, he realises that all the frantic calls he got from his father was actually the truth.

His father told everyone that he kept getting letters from a serial killer and no one believed him. They all thought he is raving old man. Kir is left with a letter from his father with initials. All matching the list of victims. The end of this list is- DLG, the woman of his dreams. Together they try to find the killer and they get entangled in a mess.

The ending was good. It was not predictable. I just found the romance a bit tedious and repetitive. A big thumbs up for creating the tension and mystery. I'd totally recommend this book to all mystery lovers.

I picked up this book because I'm a romantic suspense fan and the novel was set in a small town in WI. Since I grew up in a super small town in WI I am perhaps a little judgemental of the setting. I think the author did a fine job with the setting and the mystery but the "romance" was sorely lacking. Perhaps because I came to romantic suspense through greats like Karen Rose, Lisa Jackson, and Linda Howard I'm expecting more heat and passion. Instead this book served up an incongruous mix of a deadly serial killer and super sweet romance that belonged in a Hallmark movie. This is only getting an extra star for being set in WI. Pick up the latest Karen Rose if you want to see how tension can be built in both a mystery and a romantic arc at the same time.

"𝘌𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭, 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦."⁣
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Thank you @NetGalley and @KensingtonBooks for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!⁣ ⁣
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𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝟭𝟮/𝟬𝟭/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬!⁣
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𝗠𝘆 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀⁣
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Everything was peaceful in a small Wisconsin town until the first body was discovered. The victim was left out in the frigid temperatures with a red scarf around her neck. When the second body is discovered, everyone is looking over their shoulder. Kir Jansen, son of the late town sheriff, has been left clues of who could be next. Dr. Lynne Gale is the local vet and a respected member of the community. She doesn't understand why someone is targeting her, but she trusts Kir's warning. She knows he won't stop until the town is safe again. Like father, like son.⁣
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𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄⁣
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Looking for a winter thriller with a bonus steamy romance story? This may be your book! The thriller side of this book was spectacular. It's obvious a lot of time and thought went into the mystery surrounding what was happening to the victims. The letters written by the killer was a great touch and kept me hooked until the conclusion at the end.⁣
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What didn't work for me personally was the romance angle. If that was more present in the summary provided, I probably would've passed on it. I wasn't really a fan of the way the instant-attraction was laid out. Lynne also had multiple scenes where she was drooling over Kir in the morning, which was a little too repetitive throughout the book for my tastes. Personally I would have appreciated if the romance was toned down to keep focus on the thriller aspect, but then again Mandy would probably argue otherwise. It all depends on your taste. Still an enjoyable read you should pick up in the upcoming cold months! ⁣