Title: The Numbers Killer (An Agent Victoria Heslin Thriller #1)
Author: Jenifer Ruff
Narrator: Stephanie Dillard
Link: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Numbers-Killer-Audiobook/B07WP36XQH
Summary
You’ll never view odd numbers the same way again!
When a key witness in an organized crime trial turns up dead in his kitchen with liar and the number two scrawled on his forehead, the FBI assumes the murder was a hit to silence him. Then the calls start coming in – more victims with similar markings and no connection to the mob.
As agents Victoria Heslin and Dante Rivera struggle to catch a break in the case, they receive a series of cryptic personal messages from the killer, complicating the investigation. Something disturbing and frightening is underway, and anyone might be next, including the agents, unless they uncover the common denominator.
Best-selling author Jenifer Ruff delivers a gripping, new psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn as well as serial killer favorites like The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris and Kiss the Girls by James Patterson.
Praise for The Numbers Killer:
“Jenifer Ruff’s best book yet! I was hooked from page one until the very twisty ending.” (Caryn Sutorus, author)
“Shocking, chilling, and fascinating – Jenifer Ruff’s latest book takes us into the twisted mind of a young murderess as she goes on a cold-blooded killing spree.” (Karen D. Scioscia, author and journalist)
“Cancel your plans because you can’t put this book down. A nail-biting, thrill ride from beginning to end.” (Susan Mills Wilson, Author)
”I love this book. The bad guys are really bad, but also interesting and sympathetic; the good guys are pure of heart and determined, but all too human. It’s nonstop, in-your-face storytelling the way only Jenifer Ruff can.” (Dan Alatorre, author of The Navigators and Double Blind)
The Numbers Killer is the first book in the Agent Victoria Heslin series and can be listened to as a stand-alone. Buy the audiobook now!
My Review
5/5 Stars
When the first victim is murdered with a number scrawled on his forehead, the FBI assumes it was a mob hit. After all, he was the key witness in an organized crime trial. However, when more people start to turn up dead, things aren’t so clear. Enter Victoria Heslin. When Victoria starts to receive cryptic messages from who she believes to be the killer, her window of time to solve the case begins to close. Delaying it might mean her own death.
I think the most interesting part of this book was trying to get in the killer’s head and figure out why she was doing what she was. That was the mystery part of this book because we know who the killer is all along. I liked that little mix up on the genre. It made the read a lot more intense to me. The interchanging POVs between killer and special agent amped up the suspense and made it hard to find stopping points. It’s for that reason I tried to listen to the entire book in one go. It had me hooked.
Victoria was a great character. She was kind and determined. A very easy to understand main character and for that reason, it was easy to cheer her on. I think the killer was my favorite character though just because she was such an enigma.
There was plenty of intrigue and foreshadowing, and I love that I couldn’t outright guess what would happen next.
Narration was perfect for this story.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Author Kayla Krantz 