Review: Crimson Lake Road (Desert Plains #2) by Victor Methos

        


Print Length: 380 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (February 9, 2021)

From Goodreads.com:  Retiring prosecutor Jessica Yardley can’t turn down one last investigation. This time, it’s a set of murders inspired by a series of grisly paintings called The Night Things. She’s the only one who can catch the killer, who’s left a trail of bodies in a rural community outside of Las Vegas.

But the more Jessica finds out, the less clear her case becomes. Out of options, she’s forced to consult her serial killer ex-husband—to gain additional insight into the crimes and the killer’s motivations.

By the time Jessica realizes that pursuing this case is a deadly mistake, it’s too late to turn back. Can she catch the killer, or will she be the final addition to a killer’s masterpiece?

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Fair warning this book is not for everyone. There are some pretty gruesome depictions of murders and there is a sub-plot happening at the same time which deals with the abduction and torture of teenage girls.  

One of the big issues I have with this author is their constant switch between a character's first name and their last name. In some passages our main character is Yardley (her last name), in others, she is Jessica (her first name). This is the same for every single character in this story it seems except for her daughter Tara. It bogs things down because it becomes confusing. When I read about a victim named Angela for pages, only to then suddenly read about a victim named River, I start to wonder if I have an incomplete copy of a story. But no, that is just the way it is written.

Another glaring issue is that at times these characters acted completely out of character. (For arguments sake I'm going to call her Yardley) does some things at various points that really just seem unlike her. I also found it completely inconceivable that the "villain" of this piece would just leave one of their victims not only unrestrained, but alone so that they might have the chance of escaping. 

However, from the looks of things this is going to be a three part series, and considering I've read both books one and two? I will read the third just to see how the author chooses to wrap this all up. 

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.

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                                                         Crimson Lake Road  is available from Amazon.com
                                                             (for free if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited)

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