Cold Blooded

Cold Blooded Kensington Publishing Corp., Lisa Jackson 2002, ppg. 461, $6.99, ISBN 0-8217-6934-0 "It sounds so crazy, but sometimes I get this feeling... its like crystals of ice over the back of my neck, and I feel he's close... closer than I ever imagined..." Several women have been murdered and their corpse have been found throughout New Orleans. The killer thinks he's sly and suspects no one knows of his killer spree, and positive the suspiciousness of the cops doesn't lead to him. But really, Olivia Bechets who is mysteriously connected to the horrific killer by her visions. Frightened and spooked Olivia turns the the police. But skeptical Detective Bentz doesn't believe her even though more bodies turn up in the same gory, ritualistic manner Olivia described in her "so-called" vision as Bentz likes to say. As the merciless killer keeps striking and killing women in New Orleans Olivia becomes frustrated by Bentz's doubtfulness but at the same time is confused at the attraction between herself and Bentz. But her visions turn into premonitions as she sees a murder, one yet to be committed by the killer. Only this time in Olivia's vision she sees the victim's face and recognizes it, but the most shocking thing is that she recognizes the murderer's face as well. And she is closer to the killer than she ever imagined... I recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery and murders. This book is unbelievably awesome, and when I was reading it, I couldn't put it down. This book will have you reading at the edge of your seat. So read Cold Blooded if you want to see who's New Orleans mass murderer, and see how close Olivia really is to the killer.

Cold Blooded picks up a couple months after Hot Blooded left off. Dr. Samantha Leeds, plays only the most minor of parts in this one, leaving room for the enigmatic Olivia Benchet. Olivia, gifted like her VooDoo priestess grandmother, with the Sight, receives visions of a young woman being tortured and then set afire. Taking her concerns to the New Orleans police, she encounters Rick Bentz (a key player from the last one) and his wet-behind-the-ears but charming partner Reuben Montoya. Olivia is at first dismissed as a loony, however when Bentz gets to know her more, he starts to believe her once farfetched tales, and is convinced a serial killer is stalking New Orleans once again.This novel is every bit as good as Hot Blooded, and better. I actually thought this one, while longer,was an easier read. And in response to a few nay-sayers, no paragraphs or descriptions in this book were unnecesary. If you want mindless police procedural and unchecked gore check out the vastly overrated novels of Thomas Harris. Lisa Jackson provides her readers with a great sequel that is more than just a sequel. The suspense is great, the plot intricate and well-explored, and the finale is pure white-knuckle tension. The heart behind this novel, also, is astounding, and yes, Bentz finally gets the girl!In true Jackson fashion, she leaves some questions unanswered, but as she reassures in the afterword to this book, they will be answered in her next book, The Night Before.

Olivia Benchet returns to New Orleans when her grandmother dies.She had inherited her Grandmother's house, but more importantly she had also inherited her ability to "see" things. Olivia's dreams become filled with visions of a young woman being tortured and murdered. After the first dream the police rebuff her attempts to report a possible murder. When a second, even more disturbing dream occurs she returns to the New Orleans Police Department and tells her story to Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya. Both men are skeptical, but Bentz finds himself returning to her story and believing her as the first victim is discovered just as Olivia had described. A serial killer calling himself the Chosen One has a time table that he has devised for killing more women. Bentz is a driven cop who's wife betrayed him with his half brother; Olivia is alone and tortured by a past that includes an alcoholic mother and a father who is a felon. Father James is a priest. The characters are fascinating and ultimately all connected to each other. Cold Blooded is a little "far fetched" but then it is fiction, and it made for a good read.

Randomly picking up the book and glancing at the cover blurb, I was hooked. I had to have this book. I hadn't heard of the author before but I was looking for a tense psychological thriller and this seemed like a good one. WOW! Was I ever impressed. Not wanting to miss sleep, I set it down but finished it the day after I started it. It was a real page turner with dysfunctional relationships on top of the serial killer, all blended with a romantic twist or two. I was hooked; now I can't wait to read the first one and am waiting with baited breath for the next thriller this author has to offer. A definite must-read.