The two plots of The Grave Artist are suspenseful stories that are unique and hold the reader’s interest. There are very well written twists as the book nears its conclusion. Carmen Sanchez and Dr. Jacoby “Jake” Heron, the protagonists, are well-drawn characters who are likable to the reader as well as to each other. My only problem with the book is that there is just too much of it. Everything but the kitchen sink, if you can appreciate the expression, is thrown in to the storyline.
The Grave Artist is the second book in the Sanchez and Heron series. The book stands alone in content but there are carry over plots from the first book. It is not a who-dun-it as the reader knows the killer’s identity from the start.. The setting is the Hollywood Hill and Malibu.
Sanchez is a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) which investigates threats to national security. Carmen had previously been an FBI agent in their cybercrimes division. Heron is a private security expert and hacker. He is termed an “intrusionist” and “a penetration tester” who is hired by governments and corporations to find weaknesses and flaws in the buildings or in their internet presence. Jake is a civilian consultant working with Carmen on a pilot program named “I-Squared” (Intrusion Investigations) for the National Security Division of HSI.
Damon Garr, dubbed the “Honeymoon Killer,” aka HK, is targeting newlywed couples, killing one of the spouses almost immediately after the ceremony and making the death appear accidental. The motive for the killings is purely psychological. Garr is a self-described and diagnosed psychopath. He has his personal deviant motivations for his desire to witness the grief and mourning of the sole survivor of a couple who just exchanged their vows. Garr stages the deaths as to appear like works of art, a manifestation of his love of art and unfilled desire to be an artist.
There is a second criminal plot involving Tristan Kane, a hacker who, for a fee, breaks in to systems for terrorists or to steal from the government, companies, or the wealthy. Years earlier, Kane had tricked Jake in to helping him carry out a terrorist hack and there had been six causalities. So there is a history between the two and Carmen and Jake are determined to bring him to justice.
A subplot involves Jake’s mother and her and Jake’s father’s ties to a cult. She reappears in Jake’s life with a note she leaves for him and a law enforcement officer looking for her. The plot goes no further and really only serves as a cliffhanger.
There are numerous characters, one of which I find unnecessary and the other important but not someone I would enjoy being around, let alone as part of my family. Stan Reynolds is second-in-command and is portrayed as angry, unreasonable and revengeful after being passed over as permanent director of DHS. He holds theories about Garr that he adamantly clings to as he disrupts the investigation and puts I-Squared in jeopardy. Stan Williamson, head of the Long Beach Branch of the National Security Division, created I-Squared and is liked and efficient but his efforts are constantly thwarted by Reynolds. The story could have succeeded without Reynolds and his pettiness. Carmen’s younger sister, Selina, is likewise obsessive in her theories about their father’s death, deemed a suicide but determined to be a murder by a contract killer. Clues are uncovered in a note written just moments before his death. Selena always blamed Carmen for not questioning the death as a suicide and now blames her for not taking time from her investigation in to a serial killer to assist her in finding their father’s murderer. She is whiny and immature and puts herself in danger by going after the alleged murderer. The beliefs of both Reynolds and Selina might have been on point regarding both murders but they both speak and act rashly.
Damon’s dead governess plays a creepy role, providing background to his sociopathic behavior with a somewhat long backstory of their life together. There is Declan (Decorder-Encoder Language Based AI network), a bot who retrieves data needed to solve the crimes while providing some humor, and characters nicknamed Aruba and Mouse who add flavor and skills to the team.
There is plenty of acronyms, computer script and terms, art galley and art references, lengthy references to specific video games, and long soliloquy’s by Garr about art, human nature, introspection in to his own history, and more. Tangents to the plots.
A good tale about an international serial killer, a father’s murder, and the resurgence of a criminal. Strong characters in Carmen and Jake, a uniquely innovative program with a bonded team, and a really unexpected twist of a threat that changes course. Just too much clutter. Read it for the basic plots and for the strong, intelligent Carmen Sanchez.
I would like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advance copy of The Grave Artist. This is my honest review of Jeffery Deaver’s and Isabella Maldonado’s book.

This is the second novel in the Carmen Sanchez and Jake Heron Series. This time they are dealing with a serial killer known as The Honeymoon Killer along with an international tech criminal and involves Carmen’s sister Selina. It is an interesting storyline and a fast read.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, and my fiction book review blog.

Right off the bat, let me begin by saying that although there are two plot-points that carry over from the first novel (I assume based on information given as personally have not yet read the first one), this one can be read as a stand-alone. You are given a pretty good sense of the characters and their relationships with one another. It is also easy to follow the plots that have carried over as they are explained with enough detail that it's easy to familiarize yourself with them without it feeling overwhelming. I also enjoyed the way these authors were able to blend the story so seamlessly that it was impossible to tell who wrote what.

However, part of the problem I had was the fact that two of the secondary characters were so over the top that at times, they overshadowed the main characters, and not in a good way. The first being Renyolds; I understand that he was passed over for a promotion and is bitter because of it. But the way they he just cannot let go of his ideas, even when there is no evidence supporting his theory just grated on my nerves. And then you have Carmen's little sister Selina. And man, I get it. She had a lot of grief, a lot of guilt and a lot of rage pent up inside of her, but she had to be one of the dumbest characters that I have read in a while. Not only is she immature, spoiled and selfish, but she runs off into the worst possible situations by herself with no real plan of action. And the way she berated her sister for being unable to stop hunting a serial killer in order to chase down something that happened years ago instantly turned me off of her. In fact, at one point I found myself rooting for her to get exactly what she deserved.

The second problem I had was with the Honeymoon Killer themself. The concept was a good one, murder staged as accidental death. Even his true reason for the murders was an intriguing one, as was just how he came up with the idea. The problem for me became when the murder became fixated on Sanchez and Heron (which I mean is understandable since they meant to stop him), but he became more erratic because of it and his fixation made him lose that spark that had been so intriguing at first. I do also wish we would have gotten more details about the first two murders, as they seemed to only have been thrown in to show there was a pattern. I was also intrigued by not only by Ms. Person of Interest as they called her, but also the woman the Honeymoon Killer met later on and just how they fit into the story.

So far, this book is listed as book 2 of 2, but I definitely see potential for the authors to continue on with this as a series, and if that is the case, I will definitely read more from them.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Agent Sanchez and computer intrusionist/hacker Heron are after the Honeymoon Killer in the latest novel by Deaver/Maldonado and Tristan Kane who escaped their capture from book 1. Justice is taken care of by the duo, with the help of some colleagues. The book was good, but not great...but the closing chapters did have some poetic justice. Can be read as a stand alone, but might as well read book 1 first, before Sept. 9th. Looking forward to book 3 from Deaver/Maldonado.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC and my review.

The Grave Artist is the 2nd book in the Heron & Sanchez series. One is a Homeland Security Agent and the other is an "intrusionist" (aka hacker). They are called in to investigate the death of a groom at his reception. At first it appears as an accident, but they quickly realize that isn't the case and that it is connected to two other murders in Italy. They name the suspect the Honeymoon Killer or HK. HK doesn't murder for fun, but to watch the spouses grieve at the funeral. When Heron and Sanchez interrupt his routine and prevent another murder, HK turns his attention on them and causing them grief.

There are a couple of subplots, and I believe that one may carry over from the first book which I haven't read. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I do feel like you may be missing a few things from the first book.

The action is fast paced, it keeps you guessing until the very end, and the twist and turns in the last quarter of the book will leave you in shock and awe. After reading this, I plan to go back and read the first book in the series and hope that they continue to do more. I wouldn't expect anything less from two great authors like these.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

#NetGalley #TheGraveArtist

"The Grave Artist" plunges readers into a high-stakes investigation led by the unconventional team of Homeland Security's Carmen Sanchez and "intrusionist" Jake Heron. They are tasked with stopping the "Honeymoon Killer," a murderer with a chillingly unique motive: he orchestrates the deaths of newlyweds to revel in the sorrow of the surviving spouses. The narrative is a fast-paced thrill ride, filled with short, action-packed chapters and an ending that delivers a significant twist. A key feature is that the killer's identity is known to the reader early on, creating a tense game of "how will they be caught?" rather than a classic whodunit. While the book succeeds as a gripping standalone thriller, a common critique is its tendency to juggle too many subplots, from office politics to intricate family backstories. This complexity can sometimes feel convoluted, but the core storyline and the evolving dynamic between the two protagonists provide a strong foundation that keeps readers hooked.

I read this book not realizing it was part of a series but I don’t feel I missed anything. This book had great characters and a compelling story. I had a hard time putting it down. I plan to go back and read the 1st book in the series. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

The second installment in the series functions effectively as a standalone narrative. It delivers an engaging suspenseful experience, even though I was aware of the identity of the serial killer. In fact, I found it quite intriguing to delve into the thought processes of the unsettling antagonist. Additionally, the book excels as a procedural featuring federal agents. The pacing is brisk, complemented by a diverse cast of characters that I thoroughly enjoyed. I eagerly anticipate the next entry in the series.

This is a really solid 2nd book in a series for these authors. I really love both of these and they do work well together. I just wish that there are more scenes of Carmen and Jake investigating together more. Can’t wait for a book 3 if there is a book 3.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

This is pure perfection! I have nothing to critique. Standing ovations!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Sanchez and Heron are a fun duo to follow. This mystery was fast-paced and kept me wanting to keep reading. The villain in this one was dark and twisted, but I didn't find the book to be graphic. I enjoyed the white hat hacking piece and the justice at the end. Overall I recommend.

I'm a huge Isabella Maldonado fan and the stories I've read prior to this have grabbed my attention. However, it was very difficult to follow up on this particular one. It turned out very complicated and more "techie" than I cared for. That is not to say it isn't a great book. The fact of the matter is that it's getting a bit harder for me to read (now at 77 y/o) and battling stage 4 cancer.

Thank you #The Grave Artist #Net Galley for the AC!

Yolie McLaughlin

I really enjoyed this collaboration between Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado. The characters were well crafted and the storyline was fast paced. I would recommend this book and will look for this collaboration in future.

The Grave Artist follows Homeland Security Investigations agent Carmen Sanchez and "intrusionist" Jake Heron as they investigate a serial killer known as the "Honeymoon Killer". (In case you're wondering, there are no spiders in this one.😉) The killer in this book targets newlyweds, making the murders appear to be accidents. When Carmen and Jake pursue the killer, he decides to pursue them. Now HE's hunting those hunting HIM!

I liked The Grave Artist, but I think I would have loved it had there been a little less going on. The primary storyline was fascinating. The second storyline was interesting, too. There was a bit of a third storyline, as well, about Russia. As someone wrote in their review, Too much "just happens." I agree. And some parts felt a little forced. (I guess there was a fourth storyline, too, with a little romance.)

The last part of the book made me smile. It's nice to have something to look forward to.

Thank you, #ThomasAndMercer, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Grave Artist has an expected publication date of September 9, 2025.

#Crime #Mystery #Suspence #StrongFemaleProtagonist

I read this as a standalone as I didn't realise it was part of a series, however, I don't feel like that hindered me, all it has made me want to do is go and read the first one. I loved it, the writing drew me in from the first page and gripped me all the way through I couldn't put it down

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for providing the copy of The Grave Artist by Jeffery Deaver; Isabella Maldonado. I am a big fan of Maldonado and I loved her last collaboration with Deaver , so I jumped at the chance to read this book and revisit the adventures of Sanchez and Heron.The main story was great! I loved the killer’s background and the reason for the murders was intriguing. I liked the killer’s POV more than the chapters about the investigation, but as the investigation went on, it got more interesting. There was a little too much going on in this book, but the reveals were amazing, and I loved the characters. This is a great read and I can’t wait to see what Sanchez and Heron get up to next! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

The Grave Artist is book 2 in the Sanchez & Heron series. Though The Grave Artist contains some references to occurrences from Fatal Intrusion (book 1) it can be read as a stand alone story.
I found the concept of a serial killer using murder as performance art to be interesting. Unfortunately, I found this novel to be lacking in execution. Too much "just happens."
The Grave Artist is a quick read that, in my opinion, could be much better

This book written by talented authors is a quick read. Realistic characters keep the story moving quickly.
Red herrings and secrets…Do not try to guess the ending too soon. It is not easily accomplished. Thanks Netgalley

This is the second in a series by Deaver and Maldonado about Sanchez and Heron. It's just as action-packed and thrilling as the first book in the series was!

Book 2 finds Sanchez and Heron chasing a "honeymoon killer" whose obsession is creating tableaus, works of art, with his death scenes.

The story is dark and suspenseful, and the characters of Sanchez and Heron continue to evolve as we learn more about their individual histories. Of course, they find themselves in some steamy moments, but the "will they or won't they" dance continues without a resolution. Yet.

Maldonado writes strong female leads you can really cheer for. Her voice comes through with its usual strength in this book. I couldn't stop reading even though not putting it down meant it was over much more quickly than I would have liked. I hope this series will continue - I want to see what's next for Sanchez and Heron!

Wowza.

What a crazy ride. I am a HUGE fan of Isabella Maldonado, this is my second book by Jeffrey Deaver. This follow up book did not disappoint. It was fast paced with great characters. I really hope we see more of Sanchez & Heron.