Ryan’s storytelling skills are superb; she creates complex and believable characters who are, above all, human. Rachel is relatable, smart, and friendly but flawed ... a fantastic story that explores the grey space between right and wrong, how women are sidelined in male-dominated fields, and what happens when you aren’t as smart as you think you are. It is a fast-paced, smart novel with twists that are both believable and unexpected. If you are looking for a story so good you won’t want to put it down, The Murder List will not disappoint.
A compelling legal thriller from the popular author of the Jane Ryland mystery series, this will have readers’ sympathies shifting from one character to another as it winds to an unsettling end.
What looks like a classic romance turns into something else. And while every character has two distinct faces --- at least --- it can be hard to recognize if you’re seeing the yin or the yang. They wear different hats, assume different personas, and show the world what they want the world to see at that point. These characters are all very flawed, making them easy --- and hard --- to like. The Murder List is a new animal in the world of legal thrillers. Predatory and lethal.
... ertainly investigative reporter and author Ryan's past successes are impressive. Unfortunately, her latest legal procedural will not join them. At the center of it is an unrealistic and poorly developed character ... Obviously, most suspense novels rely on keeping the reader in the dark about something. But a big, glaring omission in what is presented as first-person interior monologue—as if the person is redacting their own thoughts—is one of the least impressive gambits. It is central here .... If you like subtlety and interesting characters in your crime novels, look elsewhere.
... disappointing ... Details that don’t ring true to life only accentuate the soap opera–ish plot, which builds to an unsatisfying ending. Ryan has done better and will do so again.
