Thursday, October 14, 2010

Jess' Review: Pretty Little Things (Jillian Hoffman)

Author: Jilliane Hoffman
Publisher: Vanguard Press, 2010
Notes: I received this book to review from FSB Associates. My review is 100% my own and is not influenced by any external influences.

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Lainey Emerson is the middle child in a home police are already familiar with: her mother works too much and her stepfather favors his own blood over another man’s problems—namely Lainey and her wild older sister, Liza. So when Lainey does not come home from a Friday night out with her friends, it is dismissed by the Coral Springs P.D. as just another disillusioned South Florida teen running away from suburban drama and an unhappy home life.

But FDLE Special Agent Bobby Dees, who has headed up the Department’s difficult Crimes Against Children (CAC) Squad in Miami for more than a decade, is not quite so sure. Nicknamed “The Shepherd” by colleagues, he has an uncanny ability to find the missing and bring them back home— dead or alive. Haunted by the still-unsolved disappearance of his own daughter, Bobby recognizes the all too familiar up-swell inside him, the gut feeling that Lainey Emerson is no runaway. A search of her computer and a talk with her best friend reveal Lainey was involved in a secret internet relationship, spawned over a chat room, and nurtured through untraceable instant messages. Bobby fears she may be the victim of an online predator, and when chilling hand-painted portraits of other possible victims are mailed to a local television station, he realizes she may not be the only one.

The faceless monster from cyberspace, who has gone to remarkable lengths to stay invisible, now seeks a captive audience. And it is Bobby Dees he wants watching. Can Bobby win this deadly game of cat and mouse, one involving the most prolific killer he has ever encountered? And will he be able to save Lainey and the others before it is too late?

My thoughts: Pretty Little Things immediately struck me as the type of book that a James Patterson might read. The chapters are short, there's a consistent amount of action, and it reads relatively quickly. The subject matter even fits pretty well, since both Pretty Little Things and James Patterson's books fall under the thriller genre.

I enjoyed this book because Jilliane Hoffman did an excellent job at alternating narration. You're constantly wondering who the villain is, what will happen to the victims, and whether the protagonist, Bobby Dees, will figure things out in time. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is easily scared, but I think it's a good thriller and the plot is relatively fast-paced.

One aspect of the book that I didn't love was that the characterization seemed forced or contrived. I didn't feel particularly attached to any of the characters, and sometimes personalities or dialogue felt flat or uninspired.

Overall, I think Hoffman did a great job at addressing a topic that seems to interest people. She also builds suspense and keeps the reader interested, and you'll never guess who the villain is!

Rating: 4 stars

2 comments:

  1. I've been wanting to read this for awhile and now I think I will have to as love a crime thriller in the vein of Patterson

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  2. I recently read this and really enjoyed it...I usually am not into thrillers per say but this one interested me because of the link to social media. Great review! You can check out my review on my blog as well if you would like.

    Courtney

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