Surprisingly lovable and compulsively readable. I couldn’t put it down. I honestly enjoyed every second of it.

I have finally got my reading bug back and slowly making my way through old review books that I haven't had a touch to read or review.

When I started this I didn't realise it was fourth in a series.
It didn't really matter that I came into the series on the fourth book BUT me being me, I always try to not come in mid-series.

I liked the character of Evelyn she was a strong, smart woman and could kick ass.

The storyline was interesting but for me in the end it got to be a bit tedious at them trying to connect the dots. Especially because in some parts it felt like they were really reaching.
If you extend your disbelief a little, then this is very enjoyable.
I liked the characters more than I liked the storyline admittedly but I will definitely keep a look out for others in the series.

If you're reading this, I'm already dead…

That's the note seventeen-year-old Haley Cooke leaves behind when she disappears from inside her high school. FBI profiler Evelyn Baine is called in to figure out who had reason to hurt her. On the surface, the popular cheerleader has no enemies, but as Evelyn digs deeper, she discovers that everyone close to Haley has something to hide. Everyone from estranged parents, to an older boyfriend with questionable connections, to a best friend who envies Haley's life.

Secrets can be deadly…

One of those secrets may have gotten Haley killed. If she's still alive, Evelyn knows that the more the investigation ramps up, the more pressure they could be putting on Haley's kidnapper to make her disappear for good. It's also possible the teenager isn't in danger at all, but has skillfully manipulated everyone and staged her own disappearance. Only one thing is certain: uncovering Haley's fate could be dangerous—even deadly—to Evelyn herself.



* * * * *



The only thing that I regret about reading this book is that I didn't discover this series earlier. STALKED does a wonderful job of standing on its own but I would enjoy reading even more of Evelyn & Kyle's back story.



This book offers an in-depth look at just what a profiler does when they are invited in by a police department. In this case, Evelyn is invited in when a teenage girl is kidnapped and nothing seems to add up. In the course of this investigation, Evelyn also has to deal with some remaining issues from her childhood especially when her estranged mother suddenly appears.



STALKED has a tight plot with a good deal of tension as everyone is hoping to be able to get Haley back alive. There is also a good deal of growth among the well developed characters. This is a book to sink your teeth into.


I do recommend STALKED to any of my readers who enjoy a well written police procedural with a kick-ass heroine. You might want to grab the whole series if you haven't read it up to now.


*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

This is the fourth book in Elizabeth Heiter’s Profiler series, but it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. My fellow readers who know me well know that I normally refuse to read books out of order, but I did a wildly impulsive thing and started with book four. (What? For an introverted book worm… that is how we go wild.) And it didn’t break my brain or implode my little world one bit. I enjoyed the story, and the author did a great job of introducing new and old characters alike. Now, I will be circling back to book one (guess my wild moment was fleeting) because I’m me and because I’m curious about certain details that their history implies – especially the history between FBI special agents Evelyn and Kyle – but it truly isn’t necessary, and readers can feel free to jump in wherever they feel froggy. In this installment, Haley Cooke, a seventeen-year-old high school student, has vanished into thin air; and FBI profiler Evelyn Baine is called in to aid the police investigation. Haley is a very popular and extremely likeable young lady who would be the last person you’d expect to be harboring a secret. But one line in a discovered hidden journal – “If you’re reading this, I’m already dead” – proves everyone has secrets and sends the profiler in a race against the clock to find out what that secret is and who may have gone to great lengths to make sure Haley never shares it.

I enjoyed the writing and the mystery itself. The story contained a plot within a plot that was interesting, and I liked where things led and how the author brought things to a close. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one small possible plot hole and a bit of implausibility that bugged me; but because there were so many moving pieces, it didn’t really take away from the story. I’m looking forward to reading more of the series and getting to know the main characters better. This was a quick read, and I think mystery lovers and fans of crime novels will enjoy this one.

"If you're reading this I'm already dead" is what is found written on a note in a missing girls bedroom between the box spring and bed frame. A month after going missing after being dropped offed at cheerleading practice by her boyfriend her mother receives a note to stop looking for her that she is safe but she won't come home to another beating from her stepfather. Is she really missing or did she disappear on her own? This was a well written thriller that I would recommend to fans of psychological thrillers.

The intense investigation that burst into a riveting action at the moment's notice as the investigators put their own lives at risk as they are trying to solve the myriad of crimes that come to the light while trying to profile the kidnapper of the missing girl.
If you are a fan of the early production of Patricia Cornwell and her Scarpetta novels like I am, you are going to enjoy the profiler series, as they echo the same kind of atmosphere, darkness, and female lead who is not afraid of taking the dangerous leaps that are required in her job, while struggling with her personal life and with her formerly somewhat secretive romantic life.
The book is built upon the investigation of the multiple crimes as the team digs deep in, to find who, what, where, and when. I loved how their actions and the conversations build the case, revealed the clues, and at the same time made my mind work double as trying to figure it out in my head what had truly happened. The detail oriented structure of the story compelled to hang on every word, and not miss a moment to keep up with the clues and the evidence coming forward.
I felt that Haley had warmth and ease within her more than in the previous story, she was easier to approach and had more benevolence than before, and I liked that. It was easier to relate to her, like her and cheer for her. Her family issues brought a human side of her up front and made her more relatable. Kyle is such a natural part of her life now. I loved that they got to work together on the case and that through the story there wasn't a moment when Kyle pulled out superiority on her, they were true equals, even in a gun fight.
In spite of being a part of a series, I think it would be easy to jump into the action from this title on. The author gives enough back information to make it easy to follow the story without having read the previous books, yet the story doesn't feel repetitive to those who have been following the series.
Vivid images of a cruel and callous crimes, the kind that seeps into your dreams, vigorous and determined investigation with brisk energy that kept me on the edge and deliberating on the evidence, kept me guessing and in awe with Haley's ability to turn tidbits of information into a solid lead, and her ability to keep on going despite a several severe attacks towards herself as well.
A story that left me eagerly waiting for more in the series!
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

Stalked was a little disappointing since I really enjoy this series, but for some reason, I just had a hard time getting into this one. The first half of the book to me was just a tad boring and didn't flow.

It seems that everyone has secrets when Evelyn, an FBI profiler is brought into help find Haley, a high school student, who just suddenly vanished with nobody seeing it while she was on her way to cheerleading practice. The more she looks into things it seems to bring her into a case her boyfriend is working on which is a potential sex trafficking case at the college where Haley's boyfriend attends.

I have always liked Evelyn, she has had a hard life, she decided to become a profiler from an early age after her best friend went missing, raised by her grandmother as her mother was a mess and never around. She finally has a nice man for a boyfriend and now she feels responsible for the fact he got injured in the previous book and can no longer work at HRT, at least for now. So he has to take a less exuberant job with the civil division of the FBI. She is definitely put through the ringer in this novel, almost killed in a car (twice), beat up and about froze towards the end.

Though it had a rough start at least for me it did finish pretty good and it was really interesting to finally figure out who was doing and what and what on earth happened to Haley. If there is another one in this series I will probably still give it a try as I know sometimes there is always a bump in the road in a series.

http://fkrants.blogspot.com/2017/01/some-other-books.html

Talented thriller author, Elizabeth Heiter returns with her highly anticipated Profiler series, following Hunted (The Profiler, #1), Vanished (The Profiler, #2), Avenged (The Profiler#2.5), Seized (The Profiler #3), to her latest:

STALKED (The Profiler #4) FBI profiler Evelyn Baine returns, as we delve into the innermost connections of deep secrets of the victim as well as the heroine’s past. An intriguing puzzle, as two cases connect. "The best of the series, thus far!

A teenage girl goes missing. Haley Cook. A straight-A student. It had been a month since she went missing. Haley’s boyfriend Jordan had dropped her off at school for cheerleading practice.

Her mom, Linda stays on top of the police investigation daily as well, and social media. Forcing herself out of the house to hopefully find out information about her daughter’s whereabouts.

How could a seventeen-year-old girl just disappear? What had she got herself into that would get her killed. The media loved to refer to her as “all-American.”

Fans get to catch up with FBI Profiler, Evelyn Baine, and Kyle McKenzie.

They had both worked for the FBI-she as a profiler in the behavioral Analysis Unit and Kyle up until a month ago, as an operator for the Hostage Rescue Team. He had been off work since taking a bullet on a mission. She’d known how risky the mission was and couldn’t help but think she hadn’t pushed hard enough to stop HRT from going in.

Now here they were, he pretending he was Ok, and she pretending she did not feel guilty. They had been dating for six months and she missed seeing him at work. Evelyn had always been a private person in an office full of other profilers.

Of course, Evelyn is reminded of another blond-haired girl from her past. Cassie, her friend who disappearance had sent Evelyn into profiling years ago.

There was a lack of clues yet the story had captivated the country and was well-known. No one had seen Haley since she walked into the high school a month ago. Unless she had been killed there. If so where was the body?

Evelyn had a bad feeling. Then the mom found the note. A key piece of evidence gone unnoticed. If her note was correct, the person had already killed her.

Pete the stepfather, Father, Bill, Mother, Linda, Marissa the friend, Jordan, the college boyfriend.

Who would want to hurt Haley?

She has good friends, including her best friend, Marissa. Haley has also been dating an older college guy, Jordan. By all accounts, Haley doesn't have any enemies, and certainly, no one would ever want to hurt her.

In the midst of the case, old memories resurface from Evelyn’s past.

To the world, family and friends were grieving and searched as hard as they could for Haley. However, up close, there was a strange dynamic in the household. There was a clear animosity between the Varners and Bill (biological father). Where did Haley fit? How many secrets did this family have.?

With more than a half-million people reported missing every year in the US alone. The first twenty-four hours were crucial, the first forty-eight the most likely time to make a live recovery. After a month, the chances were practically nonexistent. Especially when the victim was a beautiful teenage girl.

Meanwhile, Kyle and his partner, Jimmy are looking into an attack in local college student Tonya Klein. Human trafficking. Does this case connect with Haley’s disappearance?

While Evelyn tracks all the secrets in the life of a missing teenager and her family, navigating hidden agendas and motives that might mean the girl’s death, the reader also gets a glimpse into Evelyn’s past and the secret she didn’t keep as a child that changed her own life.

Keeping secrets can have unintended consequences. Evelyn spends two weeks chasing a girl surrounded by secrets that had nearly ended her own life. She goes back to when she was ten years old once again.

At an early age, she put into motion all the things to come in her own life. From FBI agent to Kyle. Her journey to a life of her own, not burdened by secrets and lies from the past.

Elizabeth is a pro at blending police procedures with psychological suspense and mystery with top-notch crime writing. From well-researched material, a fast moving plot, to exceptional character development. She keeps you glued to the pages from the first page to the last.

Since I have read the series from the beginning, it has been fun following bi-racial female profiler, Evelyn, and Kyle (hope we will see more of this team)! She is strong, gutsy, and edgy!

Read more about the inspiration for STALKED from real-life cases featured here: The Big Thrill.

Highly recommend reading all the books in the series. Fans of Mary Burton's Morgans of Nashville series will enjoy!

A special thank you to Mira and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

JDCMustReadBooks

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: If you’re reading this, I’m already dead…

Stalked is book four in Elizabeth Heiter’s suspense filled FBI Profiler series. Easily read as a stand alone, this police procedural fueled thriller offers a convoluted mystery and low key romance elements. Based on special agent Evelyn Baine, Heiter leads our heroine back into the fray when she is tasked with helping the local police to help build a profile based on a note found after 17 year old Haley Cooke seemingly disappears out of thin air from cheerleading practice. Evelyn once again feels a connection between this young victim and Evelyn’s former best friend who was abducted when Evelyn was a child. As Evelyn applies her skills to the investigation, she learns that there were a lot of people interested in Haley Cooke. People who may deem her too much of a hassle if Evelyn doesn’t locate her soon.

The story is heavily vested in procedural investigative work as Heiter in submerges us into the case, bringing us up to date on the investigation and the large suspect pool. From Haley’s parents to her boyfriend-everyone seems to have a secret. Crystal clear contrasts between professional and personal feelings show us how easy it is to fixate on one aspect with little regard to others. Strong narrative and a steady pace holds your interest though at times I felt as though I was looking through a window and simply watching the proceedings without making a connection with the actual happenings. Quite a bit of head and scene jumping gave the book a choppy feeling and caused it to drag at times. I found myself throughout wishing for more physical and less mental action.

Two storylines intertwine throughout. One focuses on the abduction and the other on Evelyn’s boyfriend, fellow FBI agent Kyle MacKenzie, Fans of the series will remember that Kyle was shot in book three-Vanished– which led to him being reassigned from the HRT to field agent. He and a new partner, another familiar face from the series, are pulled into a possible human trafficking case which seems to tie into Evelyn’s case. Unlike the other installments, we get to see Kyle’s investigation from his POV and not just through Evelyn’s. This allows us to not only see Kyle at work but to see how his injury and new assignment is affecting him. The romance between Kyle and Evelyn is stronger but still maintains a very low profile. Evelyn is trying to deal with the fact they can now go public though she prefers to keep her private life private.

Evelyn seems to have settled after the events in Vanished though we can visibly see the issues from her own past tugging at her strongly in this case. We learn more about her childhood and the demons that still ride her. Intelligent, determined, and passionate, Evelyn has learned to push aside her personal feelings and concentrate on wholly on the case at hand. She teams up with the detective handling the case and instead of having to work the case through the eyes of dead or the killer, she has to step into the shoes of the presumably alive victim. This creates some tense scenes as Evelyn and Sophia weed through all the stories surrounding Haley’s life to determine what is fact and what is fiction.

The secondary characters are fully developed and maintain a strong presence. Each one has a personal agenda towards the case(s), adding drama and insight to the story. Heiter does an excellent job of using this cast to help layer the story, giving our heroine the blocks on which she needs to build her profile and solve the case. Misdirection is the key here and the villain(s) are steeped in deception and deceit; wolves in sheep’s clothing. I was shocked by the level of duplicity at work in here.

The ending is an intense undertaking as Evelyn and Kyle finally see the big picture. Here is the action I had been waiting on. Unlike Vanished, Heiter gives clues towards the big reveal throughout the story so we easily understand exactly what has been happening and why. You do not have to read the series in order enjoy this book though you miss out on Evelyn’s evolution. Heiter continues to set up the new storyline(s) and integrate the necessary background information to ensure the reader is in possession of all the facts to jump easily into to the story.

Overall Rating: B-

A young girl disappears from her high school without a trace. FBI profiler Evelyn Baine is called in to help profile the abductor or abductors. Starting with the girls family and friends Evelyn learns she was dating a college guy and heads to him to see when he last saw Haley.
This unravels a string of events you will not see coming. There are man things you will think you have figured out and then BAM! Wait, what just happened. Now, I'm not saying there aren't things you will see coming but for me there were a few that I was not expecting at all.
I love Elizabeth Heiter and am already anticipating her next novel!