A Perfect Evil

Kava keeps you on the edge of you seat with every chapter! I found this book to very exciting. And I personally LOVE the attitude of Maggie O'dell. As a woman she takes charge and puts her all into the case yet has a soft side underneath the feisty exterior. I love the determination and pride Kava has put into her character.

I found this book so good that it was hard to put down. From the very first page you want to keep on reading it until you've finished it. I look forward to her second book.

Alex Kava really knows how to spin a yarn. From page one till the very end, the story moves swiftly under Kava's expert use of multiple points of view. The narrative is excellent, with many exciting moments and plenty of plot twists and turns. I disagree with the reviewer who called this a mystery. It's not; it's a suspense-thriller, and does not disappoint in that regard. If you want a mystery, read Perry Mason. If you want some thrills 'n chills, read A Perfect Evil. Agent Maggie O'Dell rocks! Hope to see her back in lots of future books. Watch out Grafton and Cornwell ... you've finally got some real competition.

Alex Kava's debut novel is a knot of plot and passion, a riveting read that will test your faith in everything you believe. Did this evil die in the same electric chair that claimed Charles Starkweather? Or is this something new, a power beyond even the reach of God? If you trust and believe and do good deeds, you are the most vulnerable. Bless you, Reader, for you are doomed to a damn fine story.

I honestly couldn't put this one down until I finished it and I'm not usually crazy about books with serial killers. Once I got to know the characters, I had to find out what happened to them.And these are not picture-perfect characters. They make plenty of mistakes and do some rather stupid things. Sheriff Nick Morelli is incompetent as sheriff and even he knows it. But there's something charming about this guy, that makes you want him to do okay. Agent Maggie is tough but vulnerable, dealing with some scars from a past case where things got too personal with another serial killer she had been chasing. Then there's Christine, the news reporter, who should be fired for some of the things she does to get a story, yet you find yourself rooting for her.I picked up an advance copy when I was at the Book Expo of America in Chicago earlier this summer, started reading it when I got home, and then wouldn't let my family talk to me until I finished. If you're looking for an entertaining page turner, I would highly recommend this one.

Just before the state of Nebraska executed him for the heinous murders of three boys, Ronald Jeffrey confesses his sins to Father Francis. Ronald insists that he only killed and raped one of the lads, Bobby Wilson. He swears to God that he never murdered, mutilated, or raped the other two boys. No one including the confessional priest believes Ronald is anything but a serial killing monster.Three months after the electrocution of Ronald, a new corpse of a young butchered boy is discovered in Platte City. Relatively new Sheriff Nick Morelli has no experience with this type of investigation. He asks the FBI to lend him a top profiler. Maggie O'Dell is tired to the bone after a particularly nasty case. Her boss gives her a choice of some R & R or helping Nick. With personal demons that reject any notion of rest, Maggie travels to Platte City to assist the local law enforcement team. As they work together to uncover an evil presence who has murdered again, they fall in love, but as Maggie knows, the aftertaste of a case leaves little room for happiness.A PERFECT EVIL is a near perfect serial killer thriller that will excite fans of the sub-genre and police investigative stories as well. The manhunt story line is fast paced, never slowing down for a moment. However, the plot succeeds because of the depth and understanding of the characters. They seem genuine whether they are police, psychopathic killers, or support cast. Alex Kava has debuted with a winning tale that will leave sub-genre fans anxiously awaiting the obvious sequel that hopefully will close out the few loose ends.Harriet Klausner