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Keye Street #3
Don't Talk to Strangers
He likes them smart. In the woods of Whisper, Georgia, two bodies are one recently dead, the other decayed from a decade of exposure to the elements. The sheriff is going to need help to track down an experienced predator—one who abducts girls and holds them for months before ending their lives. Enter ex–FBI profiler and private investigator Keye Street. He lives for the struggle. After a few weeks, Keye is finally used to sharing her downtown Atlanta loft with her boyfriend, A.P.D. Lieutenant Aaron Rauser. Along with their pets (his dog, her cat) they seem almost like a family. But when Rauser plunks a few ice cubes in a tumbler and pours a whiskey, Keye tenses. Her addiction recovery is tenuous at best. And loves the fear. Though reluctant to head out into the country, Keye agrees to assist Sheriff Ken Meltzer. Once in Whisper, where the locals have no love for outsiders, Keye starts to piece together a psychological The killer is someone who stalks and plans and waits. But why does the sociopath hold the victims for so long, and what horrible things must they endure? When a third girl goes missing, Keye races against time to connect the scant bits of evidence. All the while, she cannot shake the chilling Something dark and disturbing lives in these woods—and it is watching her every move.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2014
About the author
Amanda Kyle Williams
11 books361 followersAmanda Kyle Williams was an American crime writer best known for her Keye Street series that are psychologically complex thrillers. In 2013 The Stranger You Seek was shortlisted for the Private Eye Writers of America's Shamus Award. She also wrote the Madison McGuire series.
Williams spent her childhood between Colorado and Georgia. She began her writing career as a freelance writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When she decided to experiment with writing crime fiction, she studied criminology to establish background knowledge, and worked with a private investigator firm in Atlanta.
Williams was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in February 2014. She died on August 31, 2018, in Decatur, Georgia.
Williams spent her childhood between Colorado and Georgia. She began her writing career as a freelance writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When she decided to experiment with writing crime fiction, she studied criminology to establish background knowledge, and worked with a private investigator firm in Atlanta.
Williams was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in February 2014. She died on August 31, 2018, in Decatur, Georgia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
January 31, 2015
Keye Street got fired as a FBI profiler. She has set up shop in Midtown Atlanta as a private investigator. Her staff includes a stoner/hacker, a smart mouth 19 year old black diva and herself. She gets a call from a small town sheriff wanting her to consult on two recent 13 year old girls that have been murdered and dumped in his town. Keye has some problems in her life in that she seems to be able to derail herself every-time she is doing well in life. It's hard for her to stay on the straight and narrow. I love her for that. It doesn't come off whiny at all. We just see that everyone has their demons.
Keye Street wins the award for my female character in a book in a long time. She is awesomeness herself. A Chinese/American heroine!! whoohoo. and she is some major bad-ass. She has a cat named White Trash for gawds sake.
There are triggers in this book if you have trouble with that kind of thing. It does feature child abduction, rape and murder. This author handles the investigation of said crimes with some of the best writing I think I have ever read in a crime drama.
The book moves fast and I couldn't put it down. Much to the husband's dismay when I tried to cook dinner while reading my kindle. Hey, back off me!
The author definitely knows Georgia. I would have given the book five stars except for one thing about it that did bug me. Most of the Georgians she portrays are kinda idiots. There are about 5 or 6 people in this state that have some sense! Thank you very much.
I didn't read the first two books in this series and had no problem at all figuring out the story. Now I can't wait to pick them up and spend more time with these characters. Write fast Ms. Willams!
ETA: I forgot something I wanted to add. You have to read this book to see why but it has a scene with a boner and a miniature poodle that can not be missed!
I did receive an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Keye Street wins the award for my female character in a book in a long time. She is awesomeness herself. A Chinese/American heroine!! whoohoo. and she is some major bad-ass. She has a cat named White Trash for gawds sake.
There are triggers in this book if you have trouble with that kind of thing. It does feature child abduction, rape and murder. This author handles the investigation of said crimes with some of the best writing I think I have ever read in a crime drama.
The book moves fast and I couldn't put it down. Much to the husband's dismay when I tried to cook dinner while reading my kindle. Hey, back off me!
The author definitely knows Georgia. I would have given the book five stars except for one thing about it that did bug me. Most of the Georgians she portrays are kinda idiots. There are about 5 or 6 people in this state that have some sense! Thank you very much.
I didn't read the first two books in this series and had no problem at all figuring out the story. Now I can't wait to pick them up and spend more time with these characters. Write fast Ms. Willams!
ETA: I forgot something I wanted to add. You have to read this book to see why but it has a scene with a boner and a miniature poodle that can not be missed!
I did receive an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2018
Fantastic fiction! I loved this book! Amanda Kyle Williams has written an engaging, thrilling crime novel with so much going for it. What a fantastic read this was!
What's the book about?:
He likes them smart.
In the woods of Whisper, Georgia, two bodies are found: one recently dead, the other decayed from a decade of exposure to the elements. The sheriff is going to need help to track down an experienced predator—one who abducts girls and holds them for months before ending their lives. Enter ex–FBI profiler and private investigator Keye Street.
He lives for the struggle.
After a few weeks, Keye is finally used to sharing her downtown Atlanta loft with her boyfriend, A.P.D. Lieutenant Aaron Rauser. Along with their pets (his dog, her cat) they seem almost like a family. But when Rauser plunks a few ice cubes in a tumbler and pours a whiskey, Keye tenses. Her addiction recovery is tenuous at best.
And loves the fear.
Though reluctant to head out into the country, Keye agrees to assist Sheriff Ken Meltzer. Once in Whisper, where the locals have no love for outsiders, Keye starts to piece together a psychological profile: The killer is someone who stalks and plans and waits. But why does the sociopath hold the victims for so long, and what horrible things must they endure? When a third girl goes missing, Keye races against time to connect the scant bits of evidence. All the while, she cannot shake the chilling feeling: Something dark and disturbing lives in these woods—and it is watching her every move.
My Review:
What a character! Keye Street, ex-FBI Profiler, woman of many talents! I really loved her in this book, she's got so much going for her, talented, smart, fearless yet sensitive and emotional too. I liked her character from the first introduction.
Street gets a call from the Sheriff of a small town called Whisper in Georgia, USA. They have uncovered a body of a young girl and now think they may have a serial offender on their hands. They don't want the fuss and attention of the FBI so they call on Keye Street to bring her profiling skills to the team. She faces small town mentality and opposition, a lot of it connected to the fact she is a woman and not only that, she is an Asian woman. She doesn't care. She's awesome.
The book has a great plot, it's all go for the hunt for the killer and even though the book covers a lot of ground with hunting for the killer, methods used, police procedures there is not a minute of it being too much, or over done, you just keep flowing with the words, wanting to see what's next.
Street is turning over every rock and stone in this small town when a third girl is abducted and she knows that she does not have a lot of time before he kills again. She lives for her work. Everybody is a suspect, nobody is ruled out. She NEEDS to get inside the head of this killer.
My ONLY criticism with this great book is that I wanted more written from the killers perspective, we have a few brief chapters where we get inside the killer's head but for me I wanted a bit more of that. However, it did not deter me from giving this five stars and loving the entire read.
All the characters in this book are really well done, some of the despot characters that are met in this book made my skin crawl. The author does a good job at creating atmosphere and tension for the reader. There will be characters through this whole book that will have you thinking "is it you?" until you realise that you have now considered just about everyone. Still it's not clear.
With a town on edge and avenues of investigation ending at frustrating dead ends it's tense and thrilling towards the end of the book. Just as I sat back and said "I knew it!" and felt like a self-satisfied armchair FBI Profiler the book flipped and twisted and left me gaping at the words. OK book, you win, I did not see that bit coming.
We have insight into Street's relationship with her boyfriend back home Rauser and the chance to view the dance of working relationship with the "hot" Sheriff of Whisper, Georgia. Just enough personal stuff to be interesting without detracting from the fact the book is a crime novel. No sickening romance scenes here thank goodness.
An easy five star read for me. Loved it, finished it in hours and ready for the next installment. Bring it on Keye Street!
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What's the book about?:
He likes them smart.
In the woods of Whisper, Georgia, two bodies are found: one recently dead, the other decayed from a decade of exposure to the elements. The sheriff is going to need help to track down an experienced predator—one who abducts girls and holds them for months before ending their lives. Enter ex–FBI profiler and private investigator Keye Street.
He lives for the struggle.
After a few weeks, Keye is finally used to sharing her downtown Atlanta loft with her boyfriend, A.P.D. Lieutenant Aaron Rauser. Along with their pets (his dog, her cat) they seem almost like a family. But when Rauser plunks a few ice cubes in a tumbler and pours a whiskey, Keye tenses. Her addiction recovery is tenuous at best.
And loves the fear.
Though reluctant to head out into the country, Keye agrees to assist Sheriff Ken Meltzer. Once in Whisper, where the locals have no love for outsiders, Keye starts to piece together a psychological profile: The killer is someone who stalks and plans and waits. But why does the sociopath hold the victims for so long, and what horrible things must they endure? When a third girl goes missing, Keye races against time to connect the scant bits of evidence. All the while, she cannot shake the chilling feeling: Something dark and disturbing lives in these woods—and it is watching her every move.
My Review:
What a character! Keye Street, ex-FBI Profiler, woman of many talents! I really loved her in this book, she's got so much going for her, talented, smart, fearless yet sensitive and emotional too. I liked her character from the first introduction.
Street gets a call from the Sheriff of a small town called Whisper in Georgia, USA. They have uncovered a body of a young girl and now think they may have a serial offender on their hands. They don't want the fuss and attention of the FBI so they call on Keye Street to bring her profiling skills to the team. She faces small town mentality and opposition, a lot of it connected to the fact she is a woman and not only that, she is an Asian woman. She doesn't care. She's awesome.
The book has a great plot, it's all go for the hunt for the killer and even though the book covers a lot of ground with hunting for the killer, methods used, police procedures there is not a minute of it being too much, or over done, you just keep flowing with the words, wanting to see what's next.
Street is turning over every rock and stone in this small town when a third girl is abducted and she knows that she does not have a lot of time before he kills again. She lives for her work. Everybody is a suspect, nobody is ruled out. She NEEDS to get inside the head of this killer.
My ONLY criticism with this great book is that I wanted more written from the killers perspective, we have a few brief chapters where we get inside the killer's head but for me I wanted a bit more of that. However, it did not deter me from giving this five stars and loving the entire read.
All the characters in this book are really well done, some of the despot characters that are met in this book made my skin crawl. The author does a good job at creating atmosphere and tension for the reader. There will be characters through this whole book that will have you thinking "is it you?" until you realise that you have now considered just about everyone. Still it's not clear.
With a town on edge and avenues of investigation ending at frustrating dead ends it's tense and thrilling towards the end of the book. Just as I sat back and said "I knew it!" and felt like a self-satisfied armchair FBI Profiler the book flipped and twisted and left me gaping at the words. OK book, you win, I did not see that bit coming.
We have insight into Street's relationship with her boyfriend back home Rauser and the chance to view the dance of working relationship with the "hot" Sheriff of Whisper, Georgia. Just enough personal stuff to be interesting without detracting from the fact the book is a crime novel. No sickening romance scenes here thank goodness.
An easy five star read for me. Loved it, finished it in hours and ready for the next installment. Bring it on Keye Street!
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2015
I wish to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Bantam Dell for the ARC ebook to review. I really enjoyed reading this fast-paced suspense thriller. This is the this third book in the Keye Street series, but the first book I have read by this author. I had no trouble following the story.
Keye Street, divorced and a private detective, a bail recovery agent and former criminal investigative analyst for the FBI, a Profiler, operates her own detective agency out of Atlanta. Her business partner, Neil Donovan is the computer hacker and computer whiz, who looks after all the gismos for the company. Her firm deals with investigations as well as tracking down bail jumpers and serving subpoenas.
Sheriff Ken Meltzer, from the Hitchiti County, contacted Keye after being referred to her based on her expertise as a Profiler in violent crimes with the FBI and with the APD. Now, she's asked to consult on a possible serial murder case in the small town of Whisper, Georgia. The body of a 13-year-old girl has been found deep in the woods in a National Park -- right next to another body of a girl approximately the same age who had been reported missing 11 years previously. There was no obvious connection between the victims. But were these murders related-the work of the same killer? Then when they finally seem to be closing in, another young female victim is abducted. Can they find this sadistic psychopath before she too is murdered?
Nonstop action with a very believable female protagonist. Evidence is revealed through the evidence collection process and the chain-of -command, on a need-to-know basis. It is impossible to put this book down until the identity of the Serial Killer has been revealed!
The Killer is becoming more Violent-more Sadistic- a Psychopath!
I look forward to the next installment in this series! Don't miss out on this sizzling thriller.
Keye Street, divorced and a private detective, a bail recovery agent and former criminal investigative analyst for the FBI, a Profiler, operates her own detective agency out of Atlanta. Her business partner, Neil Donovan is the computer hacker and computer whiz, who looks after all the gismos for the company. Her firm deals with investigations as well as tracking down bail jumpers and serving subpoenas.
Sheriff Ken Meltzer, from the Hitchiti County, contacted Keye after being referred to her based on her expertise as a Profiler in violent crimes with the FBI and with the APD. Now, she's asked to consult on a possible serial murder case in the small town of Whisper, Georgia. The body of a 13-year-old girl has been found deep in the woods in a National Park -- right next to another body of a girl approximately the same age who had been reported missing 11 years previously. There was no obvious connection between the victims. But were these murders related-the work of the same killer? Then when they finally seem to be closing in, another young female victim is abducted. Can they find this sadistic psychopath before she too is murdered?
Nonstop action with a very believable female protagonist. Evidence is revealed through the evidence collection process and the chain-of -command, on a need-to-know basis. It is impossible to put this book down until the identity of the Serial Killer has been revealed!
The Killer is becoming more Violent-more Sadistic- a Psychopath!
I look forward to the next installment in this series! Don't miss out on this sizzling thriller.
September 17, 2014
Don't Talk to Strangers by Amanda Kyle Williams is a 2014 Bantam Publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
If you like a good thriller, or police procedural, or just a good old whodunit, or a gritty crime story, this is book is not to be missed. Keye Street is a character that defies the traditional detective stereotype and gives us a human being with frailties, complications and too many internal battles to name. When she loses her job for being an alcoholic, she cleans up her life, has a relationship and works as a consultant on the side while running a private detective and bail recovery agency.
“ I watched him get in his car. As soon as the the engine started. I hightailed it through the yard and up the sidewalk to mine, a dingy Plymouth Neon with a dent in the hood.- you don't want to spy on a guy who restores vehicles for a living in something flashy. So, my white on white 1969 Impala convertible was at home in the parking garage. Missing me, I thought warmly. I'd had it since high school. And my mother says I can't commit.”
When she gets a call from the sheriff of a small town in Georgia called Whisper, appropriately enough, she begins the hunt for a sadistic sexual predator who has killed to two young thirteen year old girls. Immediately we are swept into the sultry backwoods of Georgia where ten years ago a girl went missing and the case went cold. Now another girl as gone missing, only this time they not only find her body but the body of the other missing girl not too far apart in a little known backwoods area mainly used for hunting and fishing.
Upon arrival in Whisper, Keye who is of Chinese descent, is beset by suspicions and outright rudeness by the the Sheriff's staff and the residents of the small town. But, the sheriff has no such feelings about Keye. In fact he seems to really like her a lot. Keye is confused about her reaction to the man. After all she is in a committed relationship and with her past issues the last thing she needs is more upheaval.
“ We walked for a couple of minutes. I could hear the rustle of this uniform, his breathing, feel his hips lightly bump into me as we walked. And I felt all those dueling emotions, too-- exhaustion, excitement at new evidence, sadness at what the evidence meant, guilt at my attraction to a small town sheriff, and astonishment that the physical pull of his body so close to mine was enough to stir me even in the middle of an investigation. Nothing an addict's brain enjoys more that a little inner chaos. It's like jet fuel. Those pathways had been carved out years ago, and they opened up wide for just about any emotional roller coaster ride I wanted to take. But what rose to the top was sorrow. I felt sick over Skylar, worried, bombarded with images of other victims, dozens of other children in dozens of other cases. I didn't even know this child and I couldn't bear to think about her suffering. Life isn't always kind to the most fragile among us. It's the hardest injustice to contemplate.”
Why, Why, Why are there not more novels like this one in the mystery/ thriller genre today? This was one of the best I have come across in a good long while. Keye is so different, so profound, and so human, someone who can admit to having problems but works so hard to stay on the right path. Her tenacious handling of this super emotional story was superb. Her mind wandered at times, but she always shifted her focus back to where it belonged-- finding a missing girl who was being tortured and held captive and try to stop her from becoming the third victim. Tense, terrifying, a parent's worse nightmare, secrets, cover ups, creepy pedophiles, and incredible plot twist had me riveted . Do not read this one late at night, all alone in the house. It is really creepy, and a word of warning- there are graphic depictions that some readers might find disturbing. This is a gritty story dealing with sexual predators, so you get the idea. I'm not sure where Keye will go from here. She has diagnosed herself, admitting what is really going on in her personal relationships, but what will she do about it? I think she will have a lot to think about but it is also made clear she is about to have a family situation come up which will certainly prove interesting. I can not wait for the next book in this series. Note that while this is a series, this book can be read as a stand alone. 5 stars!!
If you like a good thriller, or police procedural, or just a good old whodunit, or a gritty crime story, this is book is not to be missed. Keye Street is a character that defies the traditional detective stereotype and gives us a human being with frailties, complications and too many internal battles to name. When she loses her job for being an alcoholic, she cleans up her life, has a relationship and works as a consultant on the side while running a private detective and bail recovery agency.
“ I watched him get in his car. As soon as the the engine started. I hightailed it through the yard and up the sidewalk to mine, a dingy Plymouth Neon with a dent in the hood.- you don't want to spy on a guy who restores vehicles for a living in something flashy. So, my white on white 1969 Impala convertible was at home in the parking garage. Missing me, I thought warmly. I'd had it since high school. And my mother says I can't commit.”
When she gets a call from the sheriff of a small town in Georgia called Whisper, appropriately enough, she begins the hunt for a sadistic sexual predator who has killed to two young thirteen year old girls. Immediately we are swept into the sultry backwoods of Georgia where ten years ago a girl went missing and the case went cold. Now another girl as gone missing, only this time they not only find her body but the body of the other missing girl not too far apart in a little known backwoods area mainly used for hunting and fishing.
Upon arrival in Whisper, Keye who is of Chinese descent, is beset by suspicions and outright rudeness by the the Sheriff's staff and the residents of the small town. But, the sheriff has no such feelings about Keye. In fact he seems to really like her a lot. Keye is confused about her reaction to the man. After all she is in a committed relationship and with her past issues the last thing she needs is more upheaval.
“ We walked for a couple of minutes. I could hear the rustle of this uniform, his breathing, feel his hips lightly bump into me as we walked. And I felt all those dueling emotions, too-- exhaustion, excitement at new evidence, sadness at what the evidence meant, guilt at my attraction to a small town sheriff, and astonishment that the physical pull of his body so close to mine was enough to stir me even in the middle of an investigation. Nothing an addict's brain enjoys more that a little inner chaos. It's like jet fuel. Those pathways had been carved out years ago, and they opened up wide for just about any emotional roller coaster ride I wanted to take. But what rose to the top was sorrow. I felt sick over Skylar, worried, bombarded with images of other victims, dozens of other children in dozens of other cases. I didn't even know this child and I couldn't bear to think about her suffering. Life isn't always kind to the most fragile among us. It's the hardest injustice to contemplate.”
Why, Why, Why are there not more novels like this one in the mystery/ thriller genre today? This was one of the best I have come across in a good long while. Keye is so different, so profound, and so human, someone who can admit to having problems but works so hard to stay on the right path. Her tenacious handling of this super emotional story was superb. Her mind wandered at times, but she always shifted her focus back to where it belonged-- finding a missing girl who was being tortured and held captive and try to stop her from becoming the third victim. Tense, terrifying, a parent's worse nightmare, secrets, cover ups, creepy pedophiles, and incredible plot twist had me riveted . Do not read this one late at night, all alone in the house. It is really creepy, and a word of warning- there are graphic depictions that some readers might find disturbing. This is a gritty story dealing with sexual predators, so you get the idea. I'm not sure where Keye will go from here. She has diagnosed herself, admitting what is really going on in her personal relationships, but what will she do about it? I think she will have a lot to think about but it is also made clear she is about to have a family situation come up which will certainly prove interesting. I can not wait for the next book in this series. Note that while this is a series, this book can be read as a stand alone. 5 stars!!
February 17, 2019
This was one of the best mysteries I've read in a long time. I could not put this book down. I was introduced to this author through my Mystery book club and enjoyed my first read by her also. Since then this author has passed and so sorry about this. I would say she is very similar to Karin Slaughter in that she writes about Georgia which I love. This story was an excellent mystery and I thought I had figured out the "who done it" and I partly did, but of course, there was a twist at the end that I did not see coming. very good for story. I definitely recommend the books by this author if you enjoy mysteries.
February 5, 2014
One of my favourite genres that I like to read , though of course I am fussy when it comes to this particular genre is Crime and Mystery. They have to be fast-paced, not go on and on and on about the small details like forensic stuff - for example I can't read Karin Slaughter or Kathy Reichs for that reason. If you are a fan though of Lisa Gardner's books and Tess Gerritsen's then you will love Amanda Kyle Williams's series. When I saw that she had a new one coming soon, I knew I had to read it as I had loved the previous books in the series. Don't talk to Strangers takes Keye Street out of her comfort zone and into a small-town community which A) doesn't appreciate outsiders and B) lean towards the racism side as Keye is Chinese-American. Somebody is killing thirteen year old girls and a new body has been located - they think that they might have a serial killer on hand as this case's MO is similar to a body of a girl found who went missing ten-eleven years ago - 20 miles from the town Whisper. Keye is working hard to try and come up with something new, but it's no help when the sherrif's department are stone-walling her. What will happen though , when another girl goes missing who fits the criminal's MO ? Can Keye help the Sheriff capture the animal before this one's time is up ? What will happen when it turns out to be somebody the whole town trusted ?
Find out in "Don't Talk to Strangers" by Amanda Kyle Williams. Another riveting mystery and crime thriller.
Find out in "Don't Talk to Strangers" by Amanda Kyle Williams. Another riveting mystery and crime thriller.
October 29, 2017
3-1/2 stars.
It had been quite a while since I had visited Keye Street's world, but I have to say even with the amount of time passed, I felt like I was revisiting an old friend. Keye is a great character with a complicated story who sometimes adds to her own chaos by her decisions.
I was a bit disappointed in this book, only because it takes place outside of her normal stomping grounds and, thus, there is a lack of interaction and appearance by her co-workers and her significant other, Rauser. Their absence made this book a little less enjoyable for me.
The crime/mystery in this book is definitely one that keeps you turning the pages and keeps you guessing.
If you haven't read this series, do yourself a favor and pick up the first book.
It had been quite a while since I had visited Keye Street's world, but I have to say even with the amount of time passed, I felt like I was revisiting an old friend. Keye is a great character with a complicated story who sometimes adds to her own chaos by her decisions.
I was a bit disappointed in this book, only because it takes place outside of her normal stomping grounds and, thus, there is a lack of interaction and appearance by her co-workers and her significant other, Rauser. Their absence made this book a little less enjoyable for me.
The crime/mystery in this book is definitely one that keeps you turning the pages and keeps you guessing.
If you haven't read this series, do yourself a favor and pick up the first book.
January 29, 2018
his was the first book I read by Amanda K Williams, I have not read the two previous Keye Street Books, but I didn't feel like I’m missing some or got confused. It reads great as a stand alone.
If you have issues with child abduction, rape and murder I advise to be cautious with this book. It has all those things in it.
You can find my full review here:
http://myreads.booklikes.com/post/904...
If you have issues with child abduction, rape and murder I advise to be cautious with this book. It has all those things in it.
You can find my full review here:
http://myreads.booklikes.com/post/904...
February 14, 2014
Book #3 in this series picks up where the last one left off. Our two main characters, ex-FBI profiler/PI Dr. Keye Street & Atlanta PD Lt. Aaron Rauser are now sharing Keye's condo. It's early in their relationship but after Rauser's house was flattened in a tornado, it seemed the logical thing to do while he waits out the rebuilding process.
However, it's been an adjustment for both of them. Keye has come a long way. After being sacked by the bureau, she started her own agency with partner Neil, a cyber/tech guru. He hasn't always used his computer superpowers for good but his skills combined with her brain are a potent combination & business is booming. They've also altered some personal habits. Keye hasn't had a drink in 4 years & Neil now goes outside to smoke a joint.
Out of the blue, Keye gets a call from Sheriff Ken Meltzer of Whisper, a small town in southern Georgia. The body of a young girl has been found...next to a second one. Both were 13 when they disappeared but one has been missing for 6 months, the other for more than 10 years. Would she consider coming down & having a look?
Keye feels the old rush. This is what she did at the bureau & she was one of the best at crawling into the recesses of a serial killer's mind before her drinking made her crash & burn out. And maybe a few days out of town will give her & Rauser some much needed personal space. So she packs up & hits the road, leaving Rauser to babysit White Trash, her cat who takes machiavellian delight in scaring the crap out of Hank, his poodle.
Meltzer, younger & more attractive than she expected, is happy to have her in Whisper but it soon becomes clear he's in the minority. Detectives Tina Brolin & Robert Raymond can hardly walk upright due to the size of the chips on their shoulders & make it clear she's not wanted. They take her arrival as an insult & proof Meltzer doesn't think they can get the job done. For Keye, it's more of the same old same old. She grew up in the south as the adopted Asian daughter of white parents with a gay, black brother so she's kind of heard it all.
And so her investigation begins. It will take all of her skill as she deals with flawed police work, professional jealousy, small town prejudice, attraction to Meltzer & a twisted killer.
After studying all the reports, Keye knows the horrors this psycho is capable of inflicting & when a a third girl goes missing, all of them hear the clock ticking as they race to bring one home alive.
This is a taut, well plotted thriller that keeps you guessing right up to the last few pages. Ms. Williams is skilled in the art of misdirection & there are several credible candidates as you try to identify the bad guy. It's told in first person so we are privy to Keye's thoughts & deductive process as she struggles with the case, a growing attraction to Meltzer & what that says about her relationship with Rauser. We also enter the chilling mind of the killer in several passages as he zeroes in on Keye & tracks her progress.
The author does a great job of portraying small town life. Everyone knows everyone's business or at least, they think they do. Most cling to the theory of "stranger danger", unwilling to believe someone in their midst could be the monster. Yes, they're friendly but Keye is an outsider in more ways than one & they tend to close ranks around their neighbours.
The characters are fully drawn & feel like real people. Dialogue is tight & pacing well executed to keep you turning the pages as secrets & lies are slowly exposed. You can feel the mounting tension after the third abduction forces locals to regard their peers with suspicion & entertain the possibility their little slice of America is not the safe haven they've always believed.
But the heart of this scary story is Keye. She's a smart, complex character who excels at her job while fighting personal demons one day at a time. It's such a pleasure to follow a protagonist who's not a caricature. So many fictional females in this role are portrayed in one of two ways: tougher than nails with major attitude, or impulsive & emotional, prone to making stupid decisions & requiring frequent rescue. Keye, like most of us, is a combination of both.
The author provides enough of her history so this can be read as a stand alone but I'd recommend reading them in order. Each is a satisfying mystery/thriller with smaller side stories that carry over. You also get the full story on how she & Rauser met & the evolution of their relationship. He's a great character in his own right & plays a larger role in the first two. These are two people that relate to each other in a way that feels authentic & believable & you can't help but root for them.
All in all, a very satisfying read that gives you interesting characters, a creepy bad guy & well plotted story lines complete with a couple of twists that make your jaw drop.
I demolished the first two books in record time so thanks to Netgalley for providing the ARC of this one. It did not disappoint. My only complaint is that the phone call Keye receives on the last page now has me waiting impatiently for book #4.
However, it's been an adjustment for both of them. Keye has come a long way. After being sacked by the bureau, she started her own agency with partner Neil, a cyber/tech guru. He hasn't always used his computer superpowers for good but his skills combined with her brain are a potent combination & business is booming. They've also altered some personal habits. Keye hasn't had a drink in 4 years & Neil now goes outside to smoke a joint.
Out of the blue, Keye gets a call from Sheriff Ken Meltzer of Whisper, a small town in southern Georgia. The body of a young girl has been found...next to a second one. Both were 13 when they disappeared but one has been missing for 6 months, the other for more than 10 years. Would she consider coming down & having a look?
Keye feels the old rush. This is what she did at the bureau & she was one of the best at crawling into the recesses of a serial killer's mind before her drinking made her crash & burn out. And maybe a few days out of town will give her & Rauser some much needed personal space. So she packs up & hits the road, leaving Rauser to babysit White Trash, her cat who takes machiavellian delight in scaring the crap out of Hank, his poodle.
Meltzer, younger & more attractive than she expected, is happy to have her in Whisper but it soon becomes clear he's in the minority. Detectives Tina Brolin & Robert Raymond can hardly walk upright due to the size of the chips on their shoulders & make it clear she's not wanted. They take her arrival as an insult & proof Meltzer doesn't think they can get the job done. For Keye, it's more of the same old same old. She grew up in the south as the adopted Asian daughter of white parents with a gay, black brother so she's kind of heard it all.
And so her investigation begins. It will take all of her skill as she deals with flawed police work, professional jealousy, small town prejudice, attraction to Meltzer & a twisted killer.
After studying all the reports, Keye knows the horrors this psycho is capable of inflicting & when a a third girl goes missing, all of them hear the clock ticking as they race to bring one home alive.
This is a taut, well plotted thriller that keeps you guessing right up to the last few pages. Ms. Williams is skilled in the art of misdirection & there are several credible candidates as you try to identify the bad guy. It's told in first person so we are privy to Keye's thoughts & deductive process as she struggles with the case, a growing attraction to Meltzer & what that says about her relationship with Rauser. We also enter the chilling mind of the killer in several passages as he zeroes in on Keye & tracks her progress.
The author does a great job of portraying small town life. Everyone knows everyone's business or at least, they think they do. Most cling to the theory of "stranger danger", unwilling to believe someone in their midst could be the monster. Yes, they're friendly but Keye is an outsider in more ways than one & they tend to close ranks around their neighbours.
The characters are fully drawn & feel like real people. Dialogue is tight & pacing well executed to keep you turning the pages as secrets & lies are slowly exposed. You can feel the mounting tension after the third abduction forces locals to regard their peers with suspicion & entertain the possibility their little slice of America is not the safe haven they've always believed.
But the heart of this scary story is Keye. She's a smart, complex character who excels at her job while fighting personal demons one day at a time. It's such a pleasure to follow a protagonist who's not a caricature. So many fictional females in this role are portrayed in one of two ways: tougher than nails with major attitude, or impulsive & emotional, prone to making stupid decisions & requiring frequent rescue. Keye, like most of us, is a combination of both.
The author provides enough of her history so this can be read as a stand alone but I'd recommend reading them in order. Each is a satisfying mystery/thriller with smaller side stories that carry over. You also get the full story on how she & Rauser met & the evolution of their relationship. He's a great character in his own right & plays a larger role in the first two. These are two people that relate to each other in a way that feels authentic & believable & you can't help but root for them.
All in all, a very satisfying read that gives you interesting characters, a creepy bad guy & well plotted story lines complete with a couple of twists that make your jaw drop.
I demolished the first two books in record time so thanks to Netgalley for providing the ARC of this one. It did not disappoint. My only complaint is that the phone call Keye receives on the last page now has me waiting impatiently for book #4.
February 12, 2014
Keye Street is a terrific character, one who appears to have grown in confidence and stature and in her third outing here we are introduced to a driven protagonist who is away from home, out of her comfort zone and fighting against a town who definitely don’t want her medalling in their business.
From the moment she arrives in small town Whisper it’s clear she is on her own, apart from an ally in Sheriff Ken Meltzer, a suave and handsome man, and the two set out to investigate the death of two teenage girls and the disappearance of a third. There’s an immediate attraction between the two and along with a fair dose of guilty flirting, Keye has to fight the urge to give in to temptation given her relationship with Atlanta PD’s Aaron Rauser back home.
From the outset the regular characteristics of a Keye Street novel are clear for all to see and read, the subtle humour, addiction, an intelligent narrative and last but not least – the Krispy Kremes. The novel wouldn’t be complete without those giant glazed balls of fun Street hankers for, a substitute for her alcohol addiction, and in reality an example of one addiction replacing the other. I experienced my first Krispy Kreme just before Christmas and all I can say is I know where Keye is coming from!
As I’ve already mentioned above the narrative is intelligent, strong and well-crafted allowing the story to move along at a rapid pace. For me it never falters and the combination of a good plot helps the book reach the heights it deserves. Nothing is ever straightforward in crime novels and Don’t Talk to Strangers is no exception. Slowly but surely the author introduces sub plots and suspects and you never quite know who’s guilty or innocent and the book will definitely keep you guessing right up to the very end.
As the investigation gains momentum, with a little coercion from Keye, the town gives up her secrets, one by one, and with each revelation we are treated to another possible outcome. The pace towards the back end of the story is relentless and everything comes to head with a fitting finale.
Another strength of Amanda’s writing is her explanation as to why the culprit is finally caught. It’s the small things that matter and the attention to detail in all her books is outstanding.
I thoroughly enjoyed Don’t Talk to Strangers, arguably the strongest book of the three, I could see a certain maturity to the writing and delivery, there’s no flannel, and it works incredibly well. The book, although the third in a series, can be read on its own but you will lose a great backstory so I’d advise beginning with book number one. Highly recommended, my favourite book of the series, this is one not to be missed in 2014. There’s only one thing missing, a Krispy kreme.
From the moment she arrives in small town Whisper it’s clear she is on her own, apart from an ally in Sheriff Ken Meltzer, a suave and handsome man, and the two set out to investigate the death of two teenage girls and the disappearance of a third. There’s an immediate attraction between the two and along with a fair dose of guilty flirting, Keye has to fight the urge to give in to temptation given her relationship with Atlanta PD’s Aaron Rauser back home.
From the outset the regular characteristics of a Keye Street novel are clear for all to see and read, the subtle humour, addiction, an intelligent narrative and last but not least – the Krispy Kremes. The novel wouldn’t be complete without those giant glazed balls of fun Street hankers for, a substitute for her alcohol addiction, and in reality an example of one addiction replacing the other. I experienced my first Krispy Kreme just before Christmas and all I can say is I know where Keye is coming from!
As I’ve already mentioned above the narrative is intelligent, strong and well-crafted allowing the story to move along at a rapid pace. For me it never falters and the combination of a good plot helps the book reach the heights it deserves. Nothing is ever straightforward in crime novels and Don’t Talk to Strangers is no exception. Slowly but surely the author introduces sub plots and suspects and you never quite know who’s guilty or innocent and the book will definitely keep you guessing right up to the very end.
As the investigation gains momentum, with a little coercion from Keye, the town gives up her secrets, one by one, and with each revelation we are treated to another possible outcome. The pace towards the back end of the story is relentless and everything comes to head with a fitting finale.
Another strength of Amanda’s writing is her explanation as to why the culprit is finally caught. It’s the small things that matter and the attention to detail in all her books is outstanding.
I thoroughly enjoyed Don’t Talk to Strangers, arguably the strongest book of the three, I could see a certain maturity to the writing and delivery, there’s no flannel, and it works incredibly well. The book, although the third in a series, can be read on its own but you will lose a great backstory so I’d advise beginning with book number one. Highly recommended, my favourite book of the series, this is one not to be missed in 2014. There’s only one thing missing, a Krispy kreme.
February 5, 2014
well, well, well. I am a new fan Amanda Kyle Williams. Don't Talk to Strangers in another book that follow Keye Street. Keye is an interesting character, she is a consultant who has worked serial killer cases, a recovering alcoholic, and a self described self sabotaging person who messes up all the good things in her life, i.e. her career, her marriage, etc.
Keye was not some whiny female but a smart, tough, and well thought out character. I loved all her interactions with Rauser, the Sheriff, the detectives, and even her business partner and employee. She was likeable and REAL.
Keye has been contacted by a local county Sheriff's office in Georgia to assist with two murders that they believe took place two years apart. Of course her presence is met with instant disapproval by the local detectives as she is viewed as a threat. But, the suspect list is long, but the author was certainly up to the task to lay a shadow of doubt in every turn.
I don't want to give too much away, but there were some serious plot twists that surprised me and I must say I will be going back to read the other two books that follow Keye's rise and fall, so to speak. The book does leave with some closure but Keye's story is far from over.
*This honest review was done in exchange for an ARC through Netgalley from Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell *
Keye was not some whiny female but a smart, tough, and well thought out character. I loved all her interactions with Rauser, the Sheriff, the detectives, and even her business partner and employee. She was likeable and REAL.
Keye has been contacted by a local county Sheriff's office in Georgia to assist with two murders that they believe took place two years apart. Of course her presence is met with instant disapproval by the local detectives as she is viewed as a threat. But, the suspect list is long, but the author was certainly up to the task to lay a shadow of doubt in every turn.
I don't want to give too much away, but there were some serious plot twists that surprised me and I must say I will be going back to read the other two books that follow Keye's rise and fall, so to speak. The book does leave with some closure but Keye's story is far from over.
*This honest review was done in exchange for an ARC through Netgalley from Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell *
January 31, 2014
This is a must read book for fans of mysteries/thrillers. A well crafted and tightly written tale with bits of very funny humor tucked in. This non stop thriller captured my attention quickly and held it until the very last page. Once more, Dr. Keye Street consults on a case that requires her special skill set as she struggles to solve a horrific crime. Keye is an imperfect heroine and the author allows us to see her with all of her flaws as she struggles to do what is right. Keye is a very likable character and one that has kept me engaged over the course of three books. I'm already looking forward to book four in this series. Thank you to netgalley for proving an ARC for my review.
May 7, 2014
For those who have been reading the Keye Street series this one is extra good. She is asked to consult on a murder case where 2 13 year old girls are killed 11 years apart but share a single grave. There seems to be no connection between the victims who live in different towns but share the same kind of physical damage. There are twists and turns which makes it hard to put the book down as you want to see what happens next. I highly recommend to those who like suspense/thrillers and serial killers. I received this book from Net Galley for a fair an honest review.
November 5, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful story! It was well written, intelligent and very readable. The author is excellent at communicating her characters emotions and thoughts without actually boring us with the details in that introspective way that so many authors seem to love.
I didn't realize this would be the third in a series when I requested it from Netgalley but I was able to enjoy it and had no trouble getting up to speed.
Keye Street is an engaging and uniquely drawn character who I found smart and funny but not cookie cutter.
If you have a chance, read this. Or better yet; start at the beginning of the series, read her backstory then come back and read this winner!
I didn't realize this would be the third in a series when I requested it from Netgalley but I was able to enjoy it and had no trouble getting up to speed.
Keye Street is an engaging and uniquely drawn character who I found smart and funny but not cookie cutter.
If you have a chance, read this. Or better yet; start at the beginning of the series, read her backstory then come back and read this winner!
June 16, 2014
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this book.
Well, well, well! I can't believe how much I like this book. It was like watching an episode of Criminal Minds. Keye Street was a good detective. She was clever and tough as nails -- perfect for the BAU.
At first I thought the killer was really obvious but when I reached the end I was pleasantly surprised with the turn of events.
It was a well-written novel, full of mystery and suspense. I recommend it to all mystery lovers.
Well, well, well! I can't believe how much I like this book. It was like watching an episode of Criminal Minds. Keye Street was a good detective. She was clever and tough as nails -- perfect for the BAU.
At first I thought the killer was really obvious but when I reached the end I was pleasantly surprised with the turn of events.
It was a well-written novel, full of mystery and suspense. I recommend it to all mystery lovers.
February 7, 2015
Well now, wasn't that a great read. I was convinced I had figured out the killer in this one, CONVINCED.
Yeah, about that. AKW red herringed the shorts right off me. I was so very wrong. I love when that happens. It makes the aha moments that much sweeter.
I agree with BigD that Keye Street is skating very close to the line emotionally but it's that constant internal battle with self doubt that makes her such a fascinating protagonist.
Loved it.
Yeah, about that. AKW red herringed the shorts right off me. I was so very wrong. I love when that happens. It makes the aha moments that much sweeter.
I agree with BigD that Keye Street is skating very close to the line emotionally but it's that constant internal battle with self doubt that makes her such a fascinating protagonist.
Loved it.
September 1, 2015
This series just keeps getting better and better.
I sure do hope Williams is writing another book for this series.
I would hate to see this end. That would not be good in my book.
I sure do hope Williams is writing another book for this series.
I would hate to see this end. That would not be good in my book.
October 22, 2015
Don’t Talk to Strangers by Amanda Kyle Williams is the third book in the Keye Street series. This one is very fast-paced and kept me guessing and flipping pages at a crazy speed. I’m not sure if I would consider this book the best in the series as I really liked the first one, but the characters are more complex, the investigation Keye assists with is much more heart-rending and Williams, as always, vividly creates the world that Keye and the other characters inhabit.
Keye is asked by a sheriff in the small town of Whisper, Georgia to help with a murder investigation. No one wants her to take the case; Neil thinks they are busy enough and Aaron, her boyfriend, is worried about her safety. Keye knows that the office is in disarray because neither she nor Neil enjoy handling the paperwork necessary to run a business. To assist with those chores, she hires Latisha, the 18 year old daughter of Tyrone Eckhart, the bail bondsman who often uses Keye to recover bail-jumpers. I like Latisha. I think she’s funny and smart and her character is a good addition. Despite Aaron’s concern for her, Keye takes the case in Whisper. Two dead girls were found in nearly the same spot; one girl was abducted nearly ten years ago, the other only a year ago. Sheriff Ken Meltzer wants Keye’s help in profiling the suspect so he can be captured before he kills again. Unfortunately, the investigation is complicated by the local police force who are very antagonistic towards Keye and the unexpected attraction Keye and the sheriff have for each other. Then another 13 year old girl is kidnapped and the clock is ticking to discover the identity of the abductor before he kills her.
This is a very intense novel. I was pulled in immediately by the nature of the crimes and complication of the other two detectives being uncooperative and downright nasty to Keye. I was dismayed by the attraction that Keye has to Sheriff Meltzer. Not that he isn’t a good guy, but I like Aaron much better. I also think Aaron is much better looking. When describing the sheriff to her brother Jimmy, Keye says he is hot. Channing Tatum hot or Bradley Cooper hot? her brother asks (which is funny because I don’t think either of those guys is hot). No, he’s Keith Urban hot, Keye replies. That’s ick for me. Keith Urban has a very pretty, feminine face. He is absolutely the complete opposite of hot. No offense, Nicole Kidman. I don’t care how hot you think he is, Keye, keep your lips to yourself! When the third girl, Skylar Barbour, is abducted, I’m horrified. Even though I knew it was going to happen, the idea of a child being abducted and raped is difficult reading, even if it’s fiction. Every so often Williams gives the reader a glimpse of the world from Skylar’s perspective and it’s terrible. I ripped through this book wanting Keye and the sheriff to find this poor girl before she was destroyed by her captor. Because the author does give you clues to figure out who the bad guy may be, I tried to narrow it down. One guess was completely wrong but my second guess was right. More or less. I stayed up till 3am reading this the other night because I was so worried about this kidnapped girl. Williams does an outstanding job of describing the crime and the psychology of the person who would do these horrible things. Although the officers and the family members aren’t major characters or completely fleshed out, the dialog Williams wrote for them and the small glimpses I did get of them made me feel very sympathetic for the parents and the police officers who are horrified by the crime and want the girl found but at the same time are very resentful of Keye’s presence. I’m alerting you to the next sentence because if you do want to read this book yet do NOT want to know what happens, DO NOT CLICK ON THE SPOILER. I’m putting in an extra warning because this is a big spoiler. So. Last warning.
This is a very good book. It’s fast-paced, it’s smart, the characters are well-written and it’s well-researched. This third book more fully explores Keye’s character and darker impulses. It also ends with a tease—a development I’ll definitely want to read about in the next book. I’ve read the author’s bio and I like that she (as well as her characters Aaron and Keye) is an animal lover and has set up an no-kill, nonprofit animal welfare organization in Atlanta. I highly recommend this series and I suggest you read them in order.
Keye is asked by a sheriff in the small town of Whisper, Georgia to help with a murder investigation. No one wants her to take the case; Neil thinks they are busy enough and Aaron, her boyfriend, is worried about her safety. Keye knows that the office is in disarray because neither she nor Neil enjoy handling the paperwork necessary to run a business. To assist with those chores, she hires Latisha, the 18 year old daughter of Tyrone Eckhart, the bail bondsman who often uses Keye to recover bail-jumpers. I like Latisha. I think she’s funny and smart and her character is a good addition. Despite Aaron’s concern for her, Keye takes the case in Whisper. Two dead girls were found in nearly the same spot; one girl was abducted nearly ten years ago, the other only a year ago. Sheriff Ken Meltzer wants Keye’s help in profiling the suspect so he can be captured before he kills again. Unfortunately, the investigation is complicated by the local police force who are very antagonistic towards Keye and the unexpected attraction Keye and the sheriff have for each other. Then another 13 year old girl is kidnapped and the clock is ticking to discover the identity of the abductor before he kills her.
This is a very intense novel. I was pulled in immediately by the nature of the crimes and complication of the other two detectives being uncooperative and downright nasty to Keye. I was dismayed by the attraction that Keye has to Sheriff Meltzer. Not that he isn’t a good guy, but I like Aaron much better. I also think Aaron is much better looking. When describing the sheriff to her brother Jimmy, Keye says he is hot. Channing Tatum hot or Bradley Cooper hot? her brother asks (which is funny because I don’t think either of those guys is hot). No, he’s Keith Urban hot, Keye replies. That’s ick for me. Keith Urban has a very pretty, feminine face. He is absolutely the complete opposite of hot. No offense, Nicole Kidman. I don’t care how hot you think he is, Keye, keep your lips to yourself! When the third girl, Skylar Barbour, is abducted, I’m horrified. Even though I knew it was going to happen, the idea of a child being abducted and raped is difficult reading, even if it’s fiction. Every so often Williams gives the reader a glimpse of the world from Skylar’s perspective and it’s terrible. I ripped through this book wanting Keye and the sheriff to find this poor girl before she was destroyed by her captor. Because the author does give you clues to figure out who the bad guy may be, I tried to narrow it down. One guess was completely wrong but my second guess was right. More or less. I stayed up till 3am reading this the other night because I was so worried about this kidnapped girl. Williams does an outstanding job of describing the crime and the psychology of the person who would do these horrible things. Although the officers and the family members aren’t major characters or completely fleshed out, the dialog Williams wrote for them and the small glimpses I did get of them made me feel very sympathetic for the parents and the police officers who are horrified by the crime and want the girl found but at the same time are very resentful of Keye’s presence. I’m alerting you to the next sentence because if you do want to read this book yet do NOT want to know what happens, DO NOT CLICK ON THE SPOILER. I’m putting in an extra warning because this is a big spoiler. So. Last warning.
This is a very good book. It’s fast-paced, it’s smart, the characters are well-written and it’s well-researched. This third book more fully explores Keye’s character and darker impulses. It also ends with a tease—a development I’ll definitely want to read about in the next book. I’ve read the author’s bio and I like that she (as well as her characters Aaron and Keye) is an animal lover and has set up an no-kill, nonprofit animal welfare organization in Atlanta. I highly recommend this series and I suggest you read them in order.
March 4, 2018
This is such a good series. I can’t wait to read the next one!
April 27, 2014
When I read the first Keye Street novel in the series by Amanda Kyle Williams, I fell in love. I loved Keye’s intelligence and wit and flawed character. Her relationship with the yummy Lieutenant Aaron Rauser felt genuine and sweet. And her work as a detective/former criminal investigative analyst for the FBI had her chasing bail jumpers, missing cows, and dead bodies buried outside a crematorium. Her genius hacker partner is a stoner and her adopted black brother is gay. She daily fights her addiction to alcohol. The first two books were awesome.
This book, however, takes Keye out of her comfort zone of metropolitan Atlanta with her loft apartment and designer office and evolving relationship with Rauser and drops her smack into the tiny rural town of Whisper, Georgia. When Keye is called in as a consultant concerning the murders of two teenage girls, the territorial detectives in Whisper don’t trust her, everyone in town knows how she destroyed her career with the FBI, and the coffee sucks.
It is the best book in the series so far.
This well-paced mystery thriller is intelligent, witty, and is full of twists and monkey wrenches. The thrill Keye once experienced in the field with the FBI is palpable. Her brilliance is more apparent when she is given a job more complex than chasing skanky bail jumpers. But, it is hard to work as a “team” when the detectives of the sheriff’s department in Whisper are distrustful of the outsider Keye. It is equally hard to work with the handsome, too-good-to-be-true sheriff who loves animals and takes care of his elderly mother. Keye is not only faced with the horrific murders of the two girls, she is also confronted by her tendency, alcohol-based or not, to derail her own life. Her former marriage and former job with the FBI are painful testimony to her knack for self-destruction.
Keye’s ironically meticulous ability to read into the minds and motivations of murderers is completely opposite of her inability to control her own feelings. While in Whisper, a third girl goes missing and that torments Keye; her thoughts are haunted by the torture and terror the girl must be experiencing. She is also distracted by her increasing attraction to the sheriff. Her relationship with Rauser is strong and she loves him, but this thrilling chemistry with the sheriff is testing her addiction-prone personality. There were moments that I found myself mentally unsheathing my protective claws and wanting to swat the woman back to her senses.
It’s a gritty, very well written book, with humorous moments that has Keye facing not just a twisted murderer but her own unhealthy nature as well. I would recommend any new reader to start at the beginning of the series with The Stranger You Seek. It will help the reader to better understand Keye’s inner conflicts in this book. The whole series is excellent and the end of this book promises that the next will be just as personally difficult for Keye. And I will definitely read it.
Highly recommended for mystery readers who love a good twist and a kick-ass heroine.
This book, however, takes Keye out of her comfort zone of metropolitan Atlanta with her loft apartment and designer office and evolving relationship with Rauser and drops her smack into the tiny rural town of Whisper, Georgia. When Keye is called in as a consultant concerning the murders of two teenage girls, the territorial detectives in Whisper don’t trust her, everyone in town knows how she destroyed her career with the FBI, and the coffee sucks.
It is the best book in the series so far.
This well-paced mystery thriller is intelligent, witty, and is full of twists and monkey wrenches. The thrill Keye once experienced in the field with the FBI is palpable. Her brilliance is more apparent when she is given a job more complex than chasing skanky bail jumpers. But, it is hard to work as a “team” when the detectives of the sheriff’s department in Whisper are distrustful of the outsider Keye. It is equally hard to work with the handsome, too-good-to-be-true sheriff who loves animals and takes care of his elderly mother. Keye is not only faced with the horrific murders of the two girls, she is also confronted by her tendency, alcohol-based or not, to derail her own life. Her former marriage and former job with the FBI are painful testimony to her knack for self-destruction.
Keye’s ironically meticulous ability to read into the minds and motivations of murderers is completely opposite of her inability to control her own feelings. While in Whisper, a third girl goes missing and that torments Keye; her thoughts are haunted by the torture and terror the girl must be experiencing. She is also distracted by her increasing attraction to the sheriff. Her relationship with Rauser is strong and she loves him, but this thrilling chemistry with the sheriff is testing her addiction-prone personality. There were moments that I found myself mentally unsheathing my protective claws and wanting to swat the woman back to her senses.
It’s a gritty, very well written book, with humorous moments that has Keye facing not just a twisted murderer but her own unhealthy nature as well. I would recommend any new reader to start at the beginning of the series with The Stranger You Seek. It will help the reader to better understand Keye’s inner conflicts in this book. The whole series is excellent and the end of this book promises that the next will be just as personally difficult for Keye. And I will definitely read it.
Highly recommended for mystery readers who love a good twist and a kick-ass heroine.
August 24, 2014
I absolutely adored this one, in that manic page turning way that a well written thriller can sometimes cause – this is actually book 3 in the “Keye Street” series but can easily be read as a standalone with no problem at all.
An extremely engaging and enthralling murder mystery, given added oomph thanks to the main protagonist – Keye Street is wise and wise cracking, with an intriguing background that makes you immediately want to know more about her – and as I said on Twitter the other night, I DO like it when an author can bring the funny to a story that has a heart of darkness. This one certainly has that, as Ms Street is sucked into the vortex of an investigation involving the kidnapping and murder of children.
There is a wonderful mix of storytelling and character development here – and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, the “bad guy” not being immediately obvious, although I did get it before the reveal it was not until late in the game – the author is good at misdirection and superb at weaving a web of intrigue and suspicion whilst making the characters pop off the page. I adored Keye, but I equally adored the Sheriff and even the prickly Brolin had her moments.
I want to go back and read the previous two books – mainly because I did love all the characters so much, and in this instalment, Keye spends the majority of her time in Whisper, so her normal sidekicks only have cameo roles – I’d like to be up to date with everybody before reading book four, which I hope will hurry the heck up!
Talking of Whisper, another thing I really enjoyed about this tale was the look at small town life – everyone knows everyone else pretty much and Keye has a problem persuading residents, even those in law enforcement, that the killer is likely to be someone they know and interact with everyday. It was fascinating and gave an added realism to the whole thing – I mean its true is it not, that we cannot ACTUALLY imagine that our neighbour is also a killer – but in real life as well as fiction this can sometimes turn out to be the case. I also liked that Keye herself does not get everything right – the rather generic theme of “our hero is always right but godarn it no-one is listening” is not a theme of this story, she follows the evidence and things chop and change. Another more realistic look at how such an investigation may progress.
Overall then an addictive, fun, horrifying and scary in places read, with good depth of character and a flowing, captivating story that will keep you up into the early hours. Great stuff. More please.
An extremely engaging and enthralling murder mystery, given added oomph thanks to the main protagonist – Keye Street is wise and wise cracking, with an intriguing background that makes you immediately want to know more about her – and as I said on Twitter the other night, I DO like it when an author can bring the funny to a story that has a heart of darkness. This one certainly has that, as Ms Street is sucked into the vortex of an investigation involving the kidnapping and murder of children.
There is a wonderful mix of storytelling and character development here – and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, the “bad guy” not being immediately obvious, although I did get it before the reveal it was not until late in the game – the author is good at misdirection and superb at weaving a web of intrigue and suspicion whilst making the characters pop off the page. I adored Keye, but I equally adored the Sheriff and even the prickly Brolin had her moments.
I want to go back and read the previous two books – mainly because I did love all the characters so much, and in this instalment, Keye spends the majority of her time in Whisper, so her normal sidekicks only have cameo roles – I’d like to be up to date with everybody before reading book four, which I hope will hurry the heck up!
Talking of Whisper, another thing I really enjoyed about this tale was the look at small town life – everyone knows everyone else pretty much and Keye has a problem persuading residents, even those in law enforcement, that the killer is likely to be someone they know and interact with everyday. It was fascinating and gave an added realism to the whole thing – I mean its true is it not, that we cannot ACTUALLY imagine that our neighbour is also a killer – but in real life as well as fiction this can sometimes turn out to be the case. I also liked that Keye herself does not get everything right – the rather generic theme of “our hero is always right but godarn it no-one is listening” is not a theme of this story, she follows the evidence and things chop and change. Another more realistic look at how such an investigation may progress.
Overall then an addictive, fun, horrifying and scary in places read, with good depth of character and a flowing, captivating story that will keep you up into the early hours. Great stuff. More please.
July 30, 2014
Keye Street is an ex-FBI profiler, fired because of her out of control alcoholism. She's now been sober for four years and is in a relationship with an Atlanta homicide detective named Rauser. They are settling in together comfortably. Keye has started her own detective agency called Corporate Intelligence and Investigations in Atlanta. She and her partner Neil run the business together. Her business varies but her favorite activity is to serve as a consultant to police departments using her profiler knowledge.
Out of the blue, she gets a phone call from a Sheriff Meltzer from the small Georgia town of Whisper. Two corpses of thirteen year-old girls have been found and he believes their murder was committed by a serial killer. Though there are ten years between the murders, the M.O. is the same. Keye accepts the job and drives to Whisper where she is met with suspicion and outright rudeness by the detectives working on the case. Meltzer is friendly, in fact too friendly, and Keye finds that there is chemistry between them. She has a habit of ruining her relationships and does not want to jeopardize her relationship with Rauser.
As Keye puts together a profile of the killer she believes he lives in or near Whisper and is an ordinary citizen who compartmentalizes his psychopathy. She also believes that he must own property where he can hide his victims until he decides to kill them. It appears he has taken his first two victims captive prior to killing them.
This is a mystery with many twists and turns. The characters are fleshed out and realistic and I don't think anyone can guess the outcome until the very last pages. I was stunned. I like the writing and plan to read her other novels.
Out of the blue, she gets a phone call from a Sheriff Meltzer from the small Georgia town of Whisper. Two corpses of thirteen year-old girls have been found and he believes their murder was committed by a serial killer. Though there are ten years between the murders, the M.O. is the same. Keye accepts the job and drives to Whisper where she is met with suspicion and outright rudeness by the detectives working on the case. Meltzer is friendly, in fact too friendly, and Keye finds that there is chemistry between them. She has a habit of ruining her relationships and does not want to jeopardize her relationship with Rauser.
As Keye puts together a profile of the killer she believes he lives in or near Whisper and is an ordinary citizen who compartmentalizes his psychopathy. She also believes that he must own property where he can hide his victims until he decides to kill them. It appears he has taken his first two victims captive prior to killing them.
This is a mystery with many twists and turns. The characters are fleshed out and realistic and I don't think anyone can guess the outcome until the very last pages. I was stunned. I like the writing and plan to read her other novels.
March 2, 2014
I have been waiting for "Don't Talk to Strangers" since I closed the cover on "The Stranger in the Room." This book did NOT disappoint;the book continues to develop the string of rich characters of Keye Street and friends.
Neal the partner,stoner and computer hacker extraordinaire. Rauser the strong rock steady cop Keye is now sharing her life with .Latisha, the wise-cracking office manger. Let's not forget Hank and White Trash, who are always good for comic relief.
Keye Street is called to Whisper to help on a case of missing girls, all smart, pretty,and blond. While working on the case, Keye could find herself in turmoil. Enter the young handsome sheriff Ken Meltzer, who has found chemistry with the smart beautiful ex-FBI profiler Keye Street. The story is filled with some interesting characters who could all be the killer. As you read you think, "Hum. Did he do it?" Then you read some more, meet another savory character and think, "Oh no! It's him.Lots of plot twist and turns you finally meet the killer, but you have to wait until the end for the surprise ending. I have read all three Keye Street thrillers, and I must say the series has developed into one that can sit beside Karin Slaughter,Kathy Reichs and Tess Gerritsen.
I would like to thank Amanda Kyle Williams for the chance of a sneak peek and autographed ARC, in return for my honest review.
If you haven't read Keye Street, you might want to pick up a copy. I must warn you by the time you are finished, you will want to read all three and pick up a dozen of donuts.
Neal the partner,stoner and computer hacker extraordinaire. Rauser the strong rock steady cop Keye is now sharing her life with .Latisha, the wise-cracking office manger. Let's not forget Hank and White Trash, who are always good for comic relief.
Keye Street is called to Whisper to help on a case of missing girls, all smart, pretty,and blond. While working on the case, Keye could find herself in turmoil. Enter the young handsome sheriff Ken Meltzer, who has found chemistry with the smart beautiful ex-FBI profiler Keye Street. The story is filled with some interesting characters who could all be the killer. As you read you think, "Hum. Did he do it?" Then you read some more, meet another savory character and think, "Oh no! It's him.Lots of plot twist and turns you finally meet the killer, but you have to wait until the end for the surprise ending. I have read all three Keye Street thrillers, and I must say the series has developed into one that can sit beside Karin Slaughter,Kathy Reichs and Tess Gerritsen.
I would like to thank Amanda Kyle Williams for the chance of a sneak peek and autographed ARC, in return for my honest review.
If you haven't read Keye Street, you might want to pick up a copy. I must warn you by the time you are finished, you will want to read all three and pick up a dozen of donuts.
August 23, 2014
I have this author's first book in this series, The Stranger You Seek but I have not read it. Now that I have read this book, the third one in the series, I am going back to read it. I really enjoyed reading this book. Keye is great. She is very intelligent and well spoken. The way she assessed a scene or how she pieced together all of the evidence was outstanding. I could not stop being amazed by her. Plus I liked her hard and soft attitude. Since I have not read the other books in this series, I can not compare how Keye's current relationship is to a possible spark with Sheriff Ken in this book. However I am curious to see how it all plays out in the coming books. A quick read with a strong storyline, great characters and a awesome ending.
August 8, 2015
I loved this book! The story line, the characters, the ending!!! I'd give it a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 6, 2016
Good Read!!!! I had no idea who the murderer was...in fact I thought I knew half way through the book "who done it" but will have to back to detective school!!!!
October 24, 2018
Ich sage mal gleich wieder dazu, dieses Buch ist Teil 3 einer Reihe und ich habe es wieder geschafft, diese Reihe von hinten zu beginnen :D. Da mir Keye Street vorher also nicht bekannt war, habe ich mich einfach auf sie und die anderen Protagonisten eingelassen. Man kann dieses Buch ganz super lesen, ohne die Reihe bereits zu kennen, die ersten beiden Teile sind keinesfalls notwendig, um dieses Buch zu verstehen.
Keye Street ist ein ganz ganz toller, starker und tougher Charakter. Ich habe sie sofort geliebt.Sie verschlägt es nach Whisper, soll dort ein Täterprofil erstellen, denn die Leichen zweier Mädchen wurden gefunden. Während sie mit dem Sheriff super zusammenarbeiten kann, machen es ihr die restlichen Kollegen ziemlich schwer und Keye muss sich fast alleine durch eine eingeschworene Gemeinschaft kämpfen. Plötzlich verschwindet noch ein Mädchen....
Der Spannungsbogen ist in dem Buch unermässlich hoch. Auch hätte wirklich jeder, der in dem Buch vorkommt, auch der Täter sein können, jeder hat irgendeine Leiche im Keller und macht sich in irgendeiner Weise verdächtig. Ich hatte mit meinem ersten Verdacht recht, war aber am Schluss nach der Auflösung trotzdem überrascht. Denn irgendwie hatte ich zwar recht, auf der anderen Seite lag ich allerdings doch komplett falsch. DAMIT hätte ich nämlich niemals gerechnet, auf einmal kam so ein großer Schock, absolut genial, ich glaube am Ende war jeder Leser nochmal komplett überrascht! Ganz tolles Buch, in dem nichts so ist, wie es scheint!
Keye Street ist ein ganz ganz toller, starker und tougher Charakter. Ich habe sie sofort geliebt.Sie verschlägt es nach Whisper, soll dort ein Täterprofil erstellen, denn die Leichen zweier Mädchen wurden gefunden. Während sie mit dem Sheriff super zusammenarbeiten kann, machen es ihr die restlichen Kollegen ziemlich schwer und Keye muss sich fast alleine durch eine eingeschworene Gemeinschaft kämpfen. Plötzlich verschwindet noch ein Mädchen....
Der Spannungsbogen ist in dem Buch unermässlich hoch. Auch hätte wirklich jeder, der in dem Buch vorkommt, auch der Täter sein können, jeder hat irgendeine Leiche im Keller und macht sich in irgendeiner Weise verdächtig. Ich hatte mit meinem ersten Verdacht recht, war aber am Schluss nach der Auflösung trotzdem überrascht. Denn irgendwie hatte ich zwar recht, auf der anderen Seite lag ich allerdings doch komplett falsch. DAMIT hätte ich nämlich niemals gerechnet, auf einmal kam so ein großer Schock, absolut genial, ich glaube am Ende war jeder Leser nochmal komplett überrascht! Ganz tolles Buch, in dem nichts so ist, wie es scheint!
July 17, 2018
Overall a 3.5:
This narration was very decent. I enjoyed this audiobook, despite its delicate nature and premise. I have read Williams’ books before, and she is a good writer. The narrator, Ann Marie Lee, did a great job at portraying the different characters. I felt a connection to Keye Street for she was depicted as a real, flawed person. She is smart, compassionate, and cares about her victims. I wouldn’t mind reading/listening to more stories about Miss Kick-Ass Street.
Listening to this, as I reside in Georgia, made the scenes, environment, and climate become even more present. Williams writes her characters and locations accurately and effectively. Give this girl a try when you’re ready to invite some awesome girl power into your day.
This narration was very decent. I enjoyed this audiobook, despite its delicate nature and premise. I have read Williams’ books before, and she is a good writer. The narrator, Ann Marie Lee, did a great job at portraying the different characters. I felt a connection to Keye Street for she was depicted as a real, flawed person. She is smart, compassionate, and cares about her victims. I wouldn’t mind reading/listening to more stories about Miss Kick-Ass Street.
Listening to this, as I reside in Georgia, made the scenes, environment, and climate become even more present. Williams writes her characters and locations accurately and effectively. Give this girl a try when you’re ready to invite some awesome girl power into your day.
June 17, 2019
Fast paced and intriguing, Williams tells a compelling story. This book was hard to put down so I didn't do that often but held off finishing it quickly. Delayed gratification! The final chapter totally blindsided me, even though there were very subtle hints leading up to that.
December 6, 2019
This one really kept me guessing. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, and I am sad to have found the author has passed away.
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