Split Second

The standout performance in this book goes to the psychopathic bad guy, Albert Stucjy, Having read about my fair share of serial killers both real and fictional this guy really made me sit up and take notice with his sheer inhumanity and evil. the author unflinchingly probes his incredibly dark soul in a way that will unsettle almost any reader. The other characters are likeable and realistic. Maggie is a good three dimmensional character who has to battle plenty of her own demons while going after Stucky and her befuddled and clumsy but ultimately likeable profiler partner provides a refreshing change from the kind of "hero supercop" who usually proliferate this genre. This is a great book! Although not one for the timid...I found it an improvement over "A Perfect Evil" which turns out to be just an appetizer for this main course.

In this excellent follow up to Alex Kava's debut novel, "A Perfect Evil," FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell is again haunted (and hunted) by her crazed nemesis, Albert Stucky. O'Dell and Stucky have a sordid history together, as O'Dell spent two years studying the gory bodies and crime scenes left behind by Stucky, each one drawing her closer to him. His eventual arrest nearly cost O'Dell her life and has left her with deep physical and emotional scars. Now that he has escaped from prison, O'Dell is obsessed with stopping him and is convinced she has the best shot at succeeding. Author Kava does an excellent job of weaving emotional development into this fast-paced, suspenseful pursuit of evil. Maggie O'Dell is a fascinating character, remaining strong and resourcesful while going through turmoil in both her personal and professional lives. She is only able to do this through the faith and support of her friends. Encounters with these supporting characters provide a glimpse into the life of the real Maggie O'Dell, the one behind the tough exterior she presents in her professional life. All the while, Maggie's character is both credible and likable.Kava's writing is reminiscent of Patricia Cornwell's in her prime. Like many fans of Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series who have been disappointed with the last couple of books, I have been searching for something similar in the suspense genre. Well, search no more. Kava picks up where Cornwell took a wrong turn, creating a fascinating character in Maggie O'Dell. Give Alex Kava a "Split Second" to win you over; you won't be disappointed.Reviewed by Maili Montgomery, Mystery Ink

Alex Kava takes Maggie O'Dell one step closer to the edge and then returns her to solid ground. Alex Kava has the remarkable ability to leave you breathless and wondering until the main event, where the title's meaning becomes as profound as the excitement one feels with Maggie hot on the trail of the killer. It is refreshing to feel how the writing affects us, as Ms. Kava allows our imaginations to make the story as graphic as we deem necessary. Look for the symbolisums of good versus evil. Each novel increases my desire for the next. I have recommended this book to many who, as myself, have not been disapointed. I look forward to Soul Catcher and the continuing drama of Agent O'Dell's life experiences.

Alex Kava's "Split Second", in my opinion, is a much better book than her debut, "A Perfect Evil." Although "Evil" was entertaining and intriguing, Kava didn't seem to have her finger fully on the characters and spent a lot of time with romantic fluff scenes. However, in this book Alex brings much more depth and understanding into some of her characters. Even though Maggie O'Dell starts out being a little hard to like, a little paranoid, and belligerent, by the end of the book, Maggie has finally come to grips with her ghosts. Her reunion with Nick Morelli is especially well done. In "Evil," Nick came across as a woman chasing stud, with only one thing on his mind. This time around, Nick seems to really have matured, and with his new job in Boston, he has a new outlook on how to show a woman he loves her. It was nice after the Barbara Caitlin scenarios Kava gave us last time. The supporting characters in this one are far from cardboard cut-outs, as one reviewer surmised. Tess McGowan is a strong female character, and almost steals the book away from Maggie. Complete with a horrendous childhood and a life as a prostitute, Tess has bounced back and come into her own as a real estate salesperson. Her current boyfriend, Daniel, is a real jerk, but Kava gives her a one-night stand with a young stud lawyer named Will Finley, and establishes an entirely different relationship for such a one-night stand. When Tess finds herself kidnapped by Stucky, she shows fortitude and strength, and refuses to let him control her. Maggie's partner, Tully, is also a well-drawn character: disorganized; a recent divorcee trying to understand his 14 year old daughter, but actually a genuinely nice guy. Some of the other characters do well, too: stuffy and stubborn Detective Manz; Maggie's psychiatrist friend, Gwen Peterson; FBI Chief Kyle Cunningham is both stern but compassionate. The villain or villains (?) in "Split Second" are completely despicable and even if one reviewer thinks Stucky's antics are implausible, this is fiction, and considering how the FBI bumbled some important cases (remember Timothy McVeigh), one can see how someone as brilliantly insane as Stucky could outwit them. I'm sure in her next adventure, Maggie will return to Father Michael Kelly, and hopefully, her relationship with Nick will continue to grow. I wouldn't mind having Tess and Will around as secondary characters, too. I liked this book a lot and recommend both Ms. Kava's novels.

Alex Kava is one of the best suspense authors that there is. She has only written two novels but both of them are on the same level of a Tami Hoag or Kay Hooper thriller. Make sure that you read Kava's first novel, "A Perfect Evil" before you read "Split Second." Both novels feature the hard-boiled and exciting FBI Agent Maggie O'Dell. She is a very enjoyable character to read about with a great attitude. Maggie put Albert Stuckey, a sociopath that loved to murder women and leave their entrails hanging out, away in prison about eight months ago after being forced to watch Stuckey perform one of his murders. Unfortunately, Stuckey has escaped from prison after overpowering two guards on the way from the jail to a psychiatric facility. He is now determined to make Agent O'Dell pay for putting him in prison. He is killing every woman who is an acquaintance of O'Dell, like the pizza delivery girl and a waitress. O'Dell is afraid of her own life and the lives of every woman she makes contact with. This is a pulse-pounding, non-stop action thriller, that keeps readers on the edge of their seat all the way until the shocking finale, that could easily be a major movie. Alex Kava will definitely make it "big" with this suspense masterpiece.