| Title | : | If She Knew (Kate Wise #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 178 |
| Publication | : | First published August 27, 2018 |
55 year old empty nester—and freshly retired FBI agent—Kate Wise finds herself drawn out of her quiet suburban life when her friend’s daughter is murdered in a home invasion—and she is implored to help.
Kate thought she left the FBI behind after 30 years as their top agent, respected for her brilliant mind, tough street skills and her uncanny ability to hunt down serial killers. Yet Kate, bored with the quiet town, at a crossroads in life, is summoned by a friend she can’t turn down.
As Kate hunts the killer, she soon finds herself at the forefront of a manhunt, as more bodies turn up—all suburban moms in perfect marriages—and it becomes apparent there is a serial killer stalking this quiet town. She unearths secrets from her neighbors she wishes she never knew, discovering that all is not what it seems in this picture of model streets and neighbors. Affairs and lying are rampant, and Kate must sift through the town’s underbelly if she will stop the killer from striking again.
But this killer is one step ahead of her, and it may end up being Kate who is in danger.
If She Knew (Kate Wise #1) Reviews
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This book is really bad. It is unbelievably, inconceivably, earth-shatteringly bad. This is a terrible, terrible book. It's poorly written, poorly researched, poorly executed, poorly edited and since I chose to try the audio-book format, it's important to say that it's poorly narrated (but more on that later).
I'm not going to trash a book this emphatically and fail to give you some reasons why--fortunately, I have plenty to choose from.
A lot of books in this genre, to some extent, follow a certain formula. This book felt like it was written while a copy of Mystery Writing for Dummies was open on the desk and the writer followed along every single step.
The writer spends the first half of the book reinforcing two points. The protagonist, Kate Wise, is not happy being retired and that she's pretty much the best FBI agent of all time. If you listen to the audio book, I recommend taking a shot every time one of these subjects is broached--but only if you don't have to be up early the next morning.
Her struggle with retirement has the depth of an inverted tea spoon. It consists of the writer essentially repeating it over and over again. And again. And again. And again. She only breaks the monotony of telling--not showing--the struggles her character has with retirement to talk about what an amazing agent she used to be.
The improbabilities of this story and book are ridiculous. Kate Wise beats up a 6'4 bodybuilder in the first few chapters but gets her ass handed to her by a much smaller person later--someone who isn't a fighter. The police work--or FBI work, if you prefer--is beyond shoddy. At one point, the great Kate Wise decides not to canvass the neighborhood of a serial killer's crime spree (even though all the killings are in the same area) because "[that rarely does any good.]"
Her former/current boss in the FBI brings her back to work the case then pulls her three days later. He assigns her a young agent for her to smooth out some edges, then decides Kate is too old and it may look bad in the press (she's 55 by the way) and instead of keeping the best FBI agent ever, with over 50 killers in custody because of her--assigns 2 noobies from the academy to replace her--because apparently that's much more suitable to the press in the middle of a killing spree?
When they catch the red herring bad guy, their case against him is silly--and the evidence is handled in such a slipshod way that the blood sticks to the bare hands of Kate Wise's partner. I mean--no reason to wear gloves right? You're only potentially contaminating evidence of a guy who's killed three women in brutal fashion.
It's not just that the characters in this book are shallow and annoying--and they are--but each is more improbable than the next. Each is dumber than the last. The dialogue is insufferable. And not a single character is written in a way that feels true. This is a problem with both the characters and the plot. It's clear that no research was done for this book. The cops don't talk like cops. The people don't talk like...well, people. There is absolutely no understanding of police procedure. There is no understanding of the criminal mind--the pop psychology thrown at the reader is laughable.
Everything about this book is bad, including and especially the end. The reveal/twist (that anyone with half a brain cell knew was coming) was boring--seriously, truly boring. The bad guy is dumb. The killer's reasons are dumb. The motives are dumb. How Kate Wise connects it all by talking to one guy she put away years ago and this situation mirroring that one exactly is dumb. It's just all dumb, dumb, dumb. This book is really terrible.
But I'd be remiss if I failed to mention how poorly this book is narrated. The audio version of this book takes a bad book and makes it so much worse--impossibly worse. It's actually the only reason I stuck with this book--it was my first audiobook. And I wanted to give the book a chance fearing that perhaps it was just the way it was being narrated that bothered me.
It turns out it was both. The narrator uses a ridiculous man-voice for all of the male characters. If a woman was going to mock/make fun of a man with a real deep stupid voice--that's the voice this narrator uses for every single male character. She seemed to emphasize things that didn't warrant it and failed to emphasize things that could have used it. It was awful. A book this bad needs a good narrator to at least try to make up for the poor writing. But this book didn't get that gift.
I can't believe I finished this book. In all honestly, it was morbid curiosity that got me through it. That and the fact that it was so bad, it became funny. I found myself laughing at parts of the book that were supposed to be serious just because they were so terribly written.
Not only did this author not do any research, I'm not sure she's ever even read another book in this genre. Somehow this book has spawned an entire series--5 books long with a sixth on the way and they seem to get decent reviews. Are readers really craving something this dumbed down? I don't understand it. The first book was published in August of 2018. I write this review in September of 2019. How you write 4 additional books in that span of time, I'm not sure. Though, the ability to ignore common sense, the unwillingness to learn the genre you're writing in and ignoring any sense to write real, meaningful characters who live in a real world probably helps.
Just flip Mystery Writing for Dummies back to page one and start all over again, I guess?
I want to close by reminding you this book is bad. If Blake Pierce felt okay with reminding me every other sentence that Kate Wise was amazing or that Kate Wise hated retirement, I feel justified in repeating that this book is bad. It's really bad. Don't read it. It is not good. Also, it's bad. -
IF SHE KNEW is Book #1 in the Kate Wise Mystery series by Blake Pierce.
Kate Wise is a newly retired FBI agent that is feeling a little lost without the daily excitement of “the chase” with the FBI. When tragedy strikes the family of a nearby friend, Agent Wise is asked to see what she can find out about the case as a favor. The psychological mystery begins.
I was all in and enjoyed the premise of the book; and, I really love the author. BUT, I was distracted by the poor proofreading job done for this ebook. Sorry, one of my pet peeves.
Pet peeve aside, I do plan on reading the sequel, IF SHE SAW. I refuse to believe that I will be disappointed a second time 😏 -
Sorry to say, I wish this had been a library read rather than a Nook purchase. I really found it to be formulaic and basic. It's an easy read and would be okay for a beach read or something quick but there's not much to sink my teeth into and I'm not really interested in reading any further books in the series.
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This book was not that good. Needed editing badly. I got very very tired reading about Kate, her retirement and what an absolutely fantastic FBI agent she was. The murderer was a total disappointment. Author could have done much better. Will not read this author again. Thank goodness it was freebie.
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Bit of mixed bag, starts of slowish switch ex FBI agent newly retired and wishing she wasn't. Might be just me but I was getting quite annoyed at the number of times it stated she was in the FBI for 30 years. Felt like it was In every other paragraph, on top of that it kept saying how she had been the best agent ever.
Also curious as to how a 55 year mother gave birth to a 26 year old daughter, 26 years ago? Nitpicking I know, but this and quite a few other grammar and spelling mistakes made me think this was not proof read properly.
Once the the story got going it wasn't bad and at times good. A few procedural faix-pas, like searching chief suspects bag without gloves!
Overall acceptable, shows some promise. I will read book 2 to see if it improves. 3.65 stars rounded up to 4. -
Did you know Kate Wise is retired from the FBI? Now you do, if you haven't read the book, you don't know this. If you have read the book, you were told on nearly every DAMN PAGE!
Besides this, the book was just not that great. I've read far better thrillers and suspense about serial killers than If She Knew. -
Wow! Only a 3.95 average. Way underrated.
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Blake Pierce writes several different mystery/thriller series and this new to me series did not let me down. However, there are a few things that are somewhat unbelievable that occur as part of the police and FBI investigation. I also felt that the ending should have been extended to include more of the interrogation and evidence collection. There were a few editing problems in the kindle version that I read.
Overall, the plot was good. The book did start a little slowly, but it ramped up speed as the story evolved. The slow start did give me a better feel for the main character before the action started.
I believe this book gave extra background information on Kate Wise as a set up for the rest of the series. Overall, I enjoyed the novel and look forward to reading the next one. -
This is a 3.5 star read.
I wasn't quite sure about this one as I wasn't clicking with the main character Kate Wise in the beginning, but I'm glad I persevered.
This ended up being an entertaining read with a look at a retired FBI agent who is drawn back into the fold when a friend's daughter is murdered. Plus who doesn't love a 55yo who can kick the arse of more than a few douches! -
Disappointing writing, predictable story
I was hoping to like this author, but was very disappointed with the wiring. Exposition relief on telling instead of showing. It seemed juvenile. Also, I'm not sure of the author's gender, but Pierce used every possible cliche in the depiction of Kate Wise. And the story itself was extremely predicable. I've read it before, and it's been written much better by other authors. -
I have lost my ability to speak and I'm just AWESTRUCK by the story.🤩🤩
Like WOW!!!
🔥The writing style is Amazing!!✨✨
🔥The plot twist is without a doubt, completely Insane!✨✨
🔥The characters are forever I C O N I C✨✨
I'm just so overwhelmed!! One of the most finest yet the most underrated and misjudged book by Blake Pierce.💜💜
**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**
Trigger Warning: Lot's of blood, sexual assault, physical and verbal abuse.
Usual to Pierce's writing, the story started with a BANG!
A crime.
Yes, a murder of an innocent woman. 👁👄👁
The lady, Julie Hicks is the daughter of Debbie Hicks, who is a close friend of Kate Wise.
And let me give a grand intro to this amazing protagonist of the story.🕵🏼♀️
Agent Wise, or now more of Kate Wise, a retired FBI agent who is terribly missing her life in the bureau. A legend. An amazing woman of 55.
Spent 30 years in the bureau and now finally, as a retired agent, is seem to be quite irritated by her life.
I don't blame her though, I mean how can a person just adjust to the normal surroundings when she spent almost her entire life with a gun in one and a criminal in another hand??🤐😅
Also, Wise, is just 5 months away to become a grandmother! Wow! Yay!!
But How??
Hhhehehe simple!
Kate's daughter, Melissa is ready to be a mom! 🤰☺
Though it's a moment of celebration.. it also is a moment of fear for Kate as she thinks that something bad may happen to Melissa and the little baby aswell...😬
Anyways, skipping the middle chapters lemme move on to the climax--
3 murders.
Housewifes who cheat on their husbands.
Part of the same friend circle.
All in their early 30s.
The killer personally knows these girls.🧤
This can't be just some random killing..can it??🤔🤫
Well, No it can't.
"The first murder, was because of the love for my wife, The second in the anger for her lover and the third, well, that was just for some fun."
What would Agent Wise, now back on the track to her old life, with a new partner Agent DeMarco would do??🩸👀
🔎All the clues, assemble together and form a jig-zaw puzzle.🧩
The only thing needed is to fit those pieces in together to wrap up the case.🔍
Clues, leads, suspects, lust, emotions and secrets, what more do we need in a perfect psychological thriller like this??♥️♥️
As said before, I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!✨
Blake Pierce outdid himself this time!!!
A precious work of magical words with a pinch of insane imagination is how this story was brewed!!🔮
Final Rating- 5/5
Recommended!!!!! -
On the edge of my seat !!!
really enjoyed this one. so many unexpected turns, I really wasn't sure where is was going.
I was gripped from start to finish and cant wait to start book 2 in this series
I have read quite a few by Blake Pierce and overall have found them very good. -
The FBI/police procedural was just to unbelievable to be enjoyable. In retirement, retired/former FBI agent breaks the rules to gather info on a friend’s murdered daughter. Since she’s no longer an FBI agent, Kate is called in FBI office and gets slapped on hand for questioning the guy and injuring him in a physical confrontation. BUT then is offered a very limited position. Solving cold cases. Ok joyous occasion because she bored stiff… she’s glad to be out of retirement. Then offered a kind of a probationary thing for a month as a field agent - super happy with her regained title, and she’s going to get a new young female partner! They both admire each other’s field tenacity very much.
BUT Kate, falls short and doesn’t meet the expectations of the FBI directors to solve multiple murders in parts of 3 days. A killer is targeting women in the same neighborhood that hang out together. This must stop now!
What the heck?? Really??? She’s an extremely seasoned FBI agent (only having been gone 1 year and with 50 solved cases in her her whole career), but she IS 55 now, so I guess she’s a dinosaur in FBI years after being gone a year.
Relieved of duty in less than a week, the FBI assigns her again to just cold cases, and assigns this very complex murder case to a rookie and her partner (yes, the one she was just mentoring). BUT Kate breaks the rules again, because something’s not right. The FBI believes they have their man (she and partner initially believe it too) and wants to hang the suspect on circumstantial evidence. Just to make sure, refusing to leave the case (again breaking FBI directions…. Come on, really?? (How many mulligans can one story have), Kate gets the real killer figured out and captured being battered and bruised in the process, BUT is once again being offered an FBI agent job again despite breaking FBI rules and directions (I forget how many times). And ALL this in a week. Triple murder solved!
Huh?? My aching brain. Seriously, the FBI can’t be that ridiculous, and this character could never get away with so many infractions. I guess I’m more of a realist, and this story probably would have merited a much higher rating from me had she never retired.
Narrator for audiobook read accurately, but without variation in pitch, pace, power or character.
I have enjoyed some of this author’s work before, but unsure where I stand for future reading on this series. -
A pesar de que este escritor tiene varios libros publicados e incluso varios en serie, yo no lo conocía ni había leído nada de él y me ha gustado mucho.
Me ha encantado la protagonista, una mujer de 55 años, viuda y recientemente jubilada del FBI, que debido al asesinato de la hija de una de sus amigas regresa a la investigación activa como consejera externa.
La historia es bastante sencilla pero tiene un buen nivel de suspenso y la investigación me ha resultado de lo más interesante, yo diría que muy al estilo realista, entrevista por entrevista, pista tras pista hasta dar con el asesino. Si bien es verdad que fue predecible para mí, esto no me representó algo que le quitara puntos, sencillamente hay historias que cuando son predecibles te decepcionan y otras, como este caso, es algo que es parte del todo.
No sé para cuándo Blake Pierce pretenda sacar un segundo libro de esta serie, pero sin duda voy a continuar con ella y también, ya que lo he encontrado, seguiré leyendo a este autor, me ha gustado mucho su estilo. -
Primer libro que leo de este autor, animada por una sinopsis interesante y por una alta valoración.
La trama y la parte de la investigación me ha gustado bastante, igual que la relación de Kate Wise con el resto de compañeros y ex-compañeros, especialmente la que se ha formado entre Kate Wise y DeMarco.
Sin embargo, me ha parecido excesivo el tiempo que le ha dedicado al principio a las presentaciones previas de la ex-agente Kate Wise. Llevábamos entre un 15 y un 20% del libro y prácticamente, aún no habíamos "entrado en materia". Una vez pasado este punto, la lectura fluye y se hace interesante.
Suponiendo que en un próximo caso, podría ir más al grano ... podría echar un vistazo a su próximo libro. Pero no tengo claro si este lo recomendaría.
Por todo ello:
Valoración: 7/10
Lectura: Noviembre / 2018 -
I listened to this book on Audio whilst I was out and about.
I found it slow to start with but 1/4 of the way through it did grab me.
It has a real good twist at the end. -
En general estuvo bien, por la forma en que describe los asesinatos, pero no me termino de gustar la historia como conjunto.
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Kindle Reading #4
Forse sono diventata molto selettiva con i crime ma sinceramente Kate Wise non è una di quelle Detective che mi ha preso. Non mi piace il suo atteggiamento ...
Sapete quando ho deciso il voto? All'inizio. Nel momento in cui . Se indaghi come .
E poi dopo il funerale rompere le palle .
Ne ho letti di migliori. Per il momento è nella cartella FLOP!!! sul Kindle. -
An all round horrific book. Poorly written, terrible characters & zero suspense. Do not waste your time.
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Meh.
To be fair, this was my first ever audiobook and I hated the readers voice 😂
It was just okay- the plot had potential, but I feel like the ending was supposed to be a twist that didn’t quite land, I got so tired of hearing about Kate’s retirement (did you know she was retired? If you forget they’ll tell you), the bureau head was just annoying (or maybe it was the female reader trying to read it in a male voice), and... it was meh.
I did appreciate the intensity with which the murder scenes were written, and the conversations with the suspects kept my attention. Those things saved it from a 2-star. Other than that, I feel like I wouldn’t rush out to recommend this to anyone, and I don’t feel like I need to read anymore of the series, but it wasn’t a total waste of time. -
Une nouvelle série de Blake Pierce , j’adorais le caractère de cette agent de FBI à la retraite, son enthousiasme, sa personnalité, sa longue expérience sur le terrain, son intuition, et sa petite fille qui vient d’être accueillie à ce monde ♥️
Son retour au FBI après une année de sa retraite pour élucider une enquête bizarre et sans indice à la fois.
Finalement elle élucidait ce mystère et avait l’opportunité de revenir travailler au tant que Agent De FBI Pendant un an sur des anciennes affaires non résolues. -
Only read to 11%. For Kate having been a dedicated 31 year FBI agent, her waffling in the first few chapters is extremely annoying.
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Una historia entretenida y atrapante.
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Toppertje. Kijk al uit naar een tweede deel ervan.
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A quick read - the story seemed to flow right along. My one major complaint is I felt the build up took a long time and then was a bit rushed at the end.
I enjoyed Kate Wise's character, a retired FBI agent at 55, who finds herself wanting to get back into the field. I think many early retirees can probably relate, when you hustle for 30 plus years and suddenly find yourself with ample free time it can be confusing and it can take quite a bit of adjustment.
Kate gets back into the grind when young women in one particular neighborhood begin showing up murdered (one being a good friends daughter). She can't help but want to track down the killer, when the case proves slow moving she is asked off the case; however, pushes on even knowing it could land her in hot water.
Not my favorite - but I did enjoy Kate and will probably check out another featuring her. -
These books are incredibly addictive and as you can see from my reading list, I am reading them at the rate of knots. I have been devouring this series and every other series this author has written. What I will note, is that the books seem to be getting shorter at the same price point and the editing leaves a lot to be desired. However, the stories just bring me back for more and more and more.
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Secondo me questo libro ha avuto seri problemi di traduzione. Alle volte non si capisce, in italiano, il senso di ciò che viene scritto. Magari in lingua originale sarebbe stato meglio. Un thriller mediocre e un po’ banale, ma comunque la storia è coinvolgente e scorrevole. Non è sicuramente il thriller mozzafiato che la descrizione promette 😅
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2.5/5
I picked it up again.
All in all it's not bad, but it's nothing memorable. Plus the author's tone was a little harsh while describing some of the side characters which I didn't like. -
Decent opening to a series. It's nice having a main character who is not an adorable 20 yr old. It was an odd read as when I was reading it I wanted to keep going, but once I put it down it didn't really make a big difference to me. Ending was a definite surprise and I never really had a good "this character did it" feel though the book, that was refreshing!
