Creepy. Keeps you guessing up to the end. The Poet, well he enjoys killing and then leaves some fun little poem for the Detective to “enjoy” while she is trying to solve the mystery. However, there is more that that story then what you first are lead to believe. It took me a bit to dive in and settle down. It was a slow starter for me at first, but I kept coming back as I felt there was promise there. And yup!

I am a big fan of Romance books and I found this one to be a very enjoyable read. I will be looking for more books from this author.

3.5 rounded up to 4...

Serial killers and police procedurals are usually not at the top of my thriller reading list, but this cover and synopsis immediately grabbed my attention, and I’m really glad I gave it a shot! I spent the whole book convinced I knew the outcome, but of course I was wrong haha. I really enjoyed the main character, her strength, but also her vulnerability. If you like mysteries and serial killers def give this a shot!

There is a killer on the loose. He leaves a piece of poetry with his victims. Detective Samantha Jazz has to figure out what the poems mean to stop the madman- the pressure is rising with the body count 👀
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This is book #1 in the Det. Samantha Jazz series.
It is a thriller, but also detective crime fiction/ police procedural, which I love.

The author is great at building suspense and casting doubt everywhere, it kept me guessing until the end! I look forward to book #2.

Very well written book that has me looking forward to reading other books by this author. I also hope to hear about other books with the same main characters to see where their future goes.

This was a great read and well executed on how police work is done to find a serial killer.

I went into this book not sure it would grab my attention, at first. Shortly after I started I could not stop turning the pages. There are many twists and mysteries that do all come together at the end. I enjoyed getting the insight of Detective Jazz's mind while she worked this case. I really enjoyed Detective Lang and Agent Wade's characters throughout the story.

Just when it all seemed to come to a final conclusion of who the killer was it changed directions. If you enjoy a good thriller/suspense read, then this is for you.

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of The Poet .
CREEPY GOOD, love Samantha Jazz hope there's more novels with Sam as the main character.

The Poet by Lisa Renee Jones was an unexpected delight for me! Normally, I won’t read detective type thrillers but since Lisa wrote it, I decided to give it a try. Well, I am so glad I did because I flew through this novel in nearly one sitting! And let me tell you, trying to concentrate on any book has been a feat for me these past two months so the fact that I actually read this one AND enjoyed it immensely tells you something! This is a must read. It’s so different from the authors other novels but also has the same flair readers can expect from her books! What a TREAT! I recommend it for those who like serial killer thrillers with kick ass female detectives!

Ok this was a great police procedural. With a serial killer that is smart, evasive, and mysterious this was a propulsive read. I was turning pages to see what else this killer had up his sleeve. In retrospect the detective Jazz was just as good. She was on her toes all the time. So much to think about and plan, never giving up and keep pushing. Yes, she wasn't perfect and was fooled by some red herrings, in the end she was a tough detective.

The only thing I didn't like was how fast the end wrapped up. We built up to all that to only end in 10 pages. It felt really rushed and I felt like not everything was revealed fully.

A great series to start and be invested in. I'm sure Jazz will duel more great killers.

I hate that life gets in the way when you want to tell the world how obsessed you are about a book. I LOVED THE POET! This is my second book by Lisa Renee Jones. I did read If I Were You in 2015 and inhaled it in two days and this has just reignited my need for more by the author. The Poet was an extraordinary gripping read that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time from page one to the very last. I finished the first 68% in two days then life got in my way and I needed to put it down. Sam is strong and she is determined to bring the Poet down. She's the brainy, intuitive and methodical one. He is the charmer, the sounding board, and the protective voice of reason. You will love the banter that takes part between Sam and Lang and the chemistry between FBI boyfriend Wade adds so much to the story you will love the dynamic between the three of them. Sam is a strong independent woman who does not turn her brain off until the case is solved and it is fantastic. The twists and turns in the story are not predictable and make you more invested in the story. Just about the time you think you have figured it out the plot takes a right turn and off you go in a different direction.
I was so thrilled that Goodreads shows this as book 1 in the Samantha Jazz series because after the last page I was sad that it was over. This book gave me Women’s Murder Club vibes which I inhaled up until book 15 so I need a replacement for a great crime-fighting duo or group and the female lead is amazing! I am totally obsessed with this read everyone needs to read it.

I really liked this thriller featuring Detective Samantha Jazz of the Austin PD. The case of a serial killer involving poetry, jazz and her family is well developed and full of twists and turns. I would read more featuring Sam, Wade and Lang as #thepoet was very enjoyable and a book I would recommend without hesitation. Thanks to #netgalley, the publisher and author for this galley to read and review.

I don't know where to start to properly express my love for Samantha Jazz and her ability to solve the most difficult of puzzles.

In fact I'm a bit worried at the way Lisa Renee Jones' mind needs to work to so effectively come up with a story so full of suspense that it keeps the reader fully invested as this mystery and its resolution unfolds.

I can't wait to see what Detective/Agent Samantha Jazz is tasked with solving in what I hope is a long and lucrative crime fighting career.

For any lovers of crime, suspense or thrillers, Samantha Jazz is the investigator you want to read!

Same title as a Michael Connelly book with same murderer writing poetry. It was hard to get into and took me a while to finish- almost put down, not to pick up again, but I was glad I did. Didn't see the ending coming.

3.5 stars

A serial killer is on the loose, and the only clue is that he leaves scraps of poetry behind...

I had a bit of a hard time with the characters at first, but soon it flowed forward and I felt a bit more connected.

Nice read. Give it a try!

Oh boy!
The Poet is aptly titled where poetry and ‘Jazz’ are the key elements, and no, I am not giving away anything as I would never do that. This suspense novel has all the hallmarks of a police drama and come to think about it, it possibly would make a good TV movie.

The killer is a twisted person who is completely sure of himself.
There were times when I felt the story dragged a little and to be honest I started to scan the words quickly, however, there were many other times when the excitement was turned up to full volume with me sitting on the edge of my seat. I completely slotted each and every character into the killer’s role to see if they fit because I had no idea and trusted nobody! This story is cleverly written to gradually add pieces of the mystery puzzle, but then they get turned around on you, and you end up trying to slot them back together again.

The cat and mouse game the killer played with the lead detective would have spooked me too much but she handled it well, as a police officer of course, but I like how she showed her vulnerabilities too. I liked Detective Samantha Jazz, after her recent trauma, she bounced back quickly. I was impressed with her internal reflection and self-honesty as well.

Oh boy, the ending sure is an exciting and nail-biting time but a true summit where the ‘goodie’ face-off with the ‘baddie’. This is an entertaining read and one where romance is strictly on the back burner, a nice change of pace.

Reviewer: Robyn

Favorite Quotes:

Propped against my headboard, snuggled under my down comforter, the air cranked a little too cold, I read while eating a healthy serving of chocolate. I’ve often wondered if serial killers eat chocolate, with the same conclusion. They do not, and perhaps that’s their problem.

Please don’t judge. That’s what God made my mother for.

Lang had followed him on a grocery run for milk and toilet paper, to which Lang had joked, “We’re so close, he’s shitting himself.” He’s classy like that and I love him for it.

The profiler is Judy Garland. For real. Her parents loved the movie star Judy Garland and named their daughter Judy. No wonder she chose to spend her days hunting killers. She needed to be bigger than the name.

Wade and I are in his fancy black pickup truck, the Texas version of a Mercedes…

“… she works downtown for some senator at the capitol building.” “But she was best friends with a call girl,” Lang says. “Interesting. What better place to get horny men with no morals than in politics?” I snort. “Truth.”


My Review:

This was exceptionally well-plotted and intriguing, I thought I had it solved but was so very, very wrong. Lisa Renee Jones is quite the storyteller. Her plot and storylines were smooth and full of red herrings and Easter eggs as well as being well-crafted and intricately nuanced. Her characters were complicated, compelling, and an odd assortment of potential suspects. No one was above reproach, but then again, I am a die-hard cynic. I am enamored with this crew and hope I’m paying attention when subsequent installments are released. I am hooked and definitely want more of Ms. Jazz.

The Poet is the first in a new series featuring Detective Samantha Jazz. She is on the hunt for a potential serial killer who seems to have his eyes set on her as well. I was looking forward to reading this one because I love female detective stories. Unfortunately, I didn't end up loving it as much as I wanted to.

I'll start by saying that I did really like the main character. Sam was smart and didn't make dumb decisions like ditching her partner to go it alone. I do think I would want to read more about her in other books. I also liked the other peripheral characters in the book as well. Her relationship with her partner was funny.

The thing I didn't love about the book was I kept feeling like I was missing context or back story .It was almost like this was a spin-off series and I should already know all about Sam's father and how he died. It was strange. I also had a hard time with the pacing. I felt like the book really dragged and it took me a long time to finish. I would recommend the book for the characters. The mystery was just not very thrilling.

It hasn’t been too long since I finished Lisa Renee Jones’s Brilliance Trilogy. A Reckless Note, A Wicked Song and A Sinful Encore blew me away. The writing was melodic without being overly flowery – that’s the best way to describe it, for me anyway. The Poet didn’t have the same feel, but it totally fit Jazz and her personality. It was also far removed from anything else I’ve read by this author and it left me impressed.

The Poet falls into the mystery suspense genre with pretty much no romance. Even though Jazz has a romantic connection with one of the characters, the real story is the tension and connection between Jazz and the Poet. Readers are given glimpses into the mind of the Poet, which doesn’t really help in figuring out exactly who he is. With each killing it becomes obvious that there is more than a “cop” vs. “killer” connection. There’s a personal connection that Jazz has to figure out before someone close to her becomes the next victim.

This is a book that definitely kept the pages turning. It didn’t become obvious who the Poet was until near the end. The Poet didn’t make mistakes. He had an agenda and he wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.

I’m looking forward to more from Lisa Renee Jones and I was happy to find out that The Poet was just the beginning of the Samantha Jazz series. In the meantime, I still have some backtracking to do with her other series. 😉

A clever and frightening thriller. I couldn't put this one down. I loved the serial killer's twisted obsession with poetry and how he used it to leave messages to Samantha. The tension and fear in this book were oozing from the pages as the killer stalked Samantha and killed people she knew. The final showdown was a little bit rushed but satisfying none the less. This is a series to follow and I am looking forward to the next one!

DNF at 15%
I really wish Netgalley would stop luring me in with the promise of a romance when there isn’t one. I wouldn’t mind reading a pure mystery book but I wish I knew that going in. However what didn’t work for me was this author’s writing and sometimes you just don’t connect.

The book revolves around the detective heroine who has been put in charge of a murder investigation where the killer has been dubbed “The Poet”.

This book is in first person which isn’t my preference but I will still read them, however this led to me having no clue in the first 2 chapters as characters were swapped out with no warning and I didn’t even know the main character was female until 3 pages in. I think I’m definitely in the mood for a mystery so I will be looking for something else.