**From New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak comes Face Off, the next installment of Dr. Evelyn Talbot and her murderous home for psychopaths.
SHE VOWED NEVER TO BE A VICTIM AGAIN. BUT NOW A KILLER HAS HER IN HIS SIGHT. . .**
Tortured and left for dead at sixteen, Evelyn Talbot turned her personal nightmare into her life’s work—studying the disturbing psychopathy of some of the world’s most vicious serial killers. Now a leading psychiatrist at Hanover House in a small Alaskan town, she tries to believe the past will never come back to haunt her—until a woman goes missing from a cabin nearby, and every clue points to the man who once brutalized her…
As her boyfriend, who is the area’s only police, begins to investigate—and finds not one but two bodies—Evelyn can’t forget that her would-be killer, Jasper Moore, was never caught. But there are no new faces in tiny Hilltop, no one who seems suspicious or potentially violent. In this twisted game of cat and mouse, Evelyn is certain of only one thing—Jasper must be hiding in plain sight. And if she can’t find him before he comes for her, she won’t be lucky enough to survive twice…
“Novak is a master of suspense.”—RT Book Reviews
“Dark and chilling. Brenda Novak’s latest taut thriller draws you in from the very first page. Another winner!” – New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin
Face Off
By Brenda Novak
Evelyn Talbot anxiety just keeps increasing with her life, trying to find Jasper and has family issues back in Boston. The only good thing in her life is Amarok her boyfriend, who is the police officer in this small remote town but even their relationship is tested. Now to find Jasper, who is hiding in plain site.
This is a book that I read in one day, could not put it down. A cat and mouse game at it’s best, trying to hunt Jasper before he kills the next person. So many twists and turns till the very end! I thought this would be the last book in the series but so excited we will get more of Evelyn Talbot. This is book three in the series but can be read as a stand alone. I highly recommend this book
I really enjoyed this book. Evelyn has drama at work, at home with Amarok, and with her parents & sister back in Boston. Is there are wonder her anxiety is worse & she’s having trouble dealing with memories? As a reader, we are let in on the murderer’s identity early in the plot but the characters are still working to figure it out. The interactions between the characters are realistic & lifelike. As a reader you find yourself hoping Evelyn stays safe & you are invested in her happy ending. The dynamics of her family’s relationship in understandable & you can understand why it’s hard on Evelyn & on her sister. This has been a great series but there is enough background in this book that it can be read as a stand alone.
Only for Brenda Novak would I read a psychological thriller and enjoy it! I do not read or enjoy these kind of books, but because I love Ms.Novak’s writing and characters, I will always read her work. Face Off is the third in this series about Dr. Evelyn Talbot, and although this can be read as a standalone and I believe enough of the back story is told, I do think for a richer experience, the books read in order are preferred. Dr. Talbot runs a psychiatric hospital (that studies the behaviors of serial killers) in a small town in Alaska, and has a romantic relationship with the town sherif. As is the case for the other books in this series, the tension is thick, the plot intense, and this all makes for quite the page turner. Although I won’t say these are my favorite kind of books, i have really enjoyed this series and i will read anything Ms Novak writes. She can plot a story like no other, and even if she can scare the wits out of me with her stories, i wouldn’t miss the ride.
This kept me on the edge of my seat. Evelyn is working to build her life with Amarok while doing her research and just when you think they might get a break, a new mystery surfaces. Of course, Jasper is still out there lurking which keeps them both on edge. How does Evelyn embrace a possible happily ever after knowing Jasper won’t give up? I loved that Evelyn’s sister comes to visit which opens up more details that her family faced after her abduction years ago. This is an intense, compelling series that always keeps me guessing. I’ve enjoyed every heart pounding moment. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
Thank you to Net-Galley, St. Martins Press and the Author for the opportunity to read this book.
I highly recommend this series! This is my favorite series by Author Brenda Novak. If you haven’t read any of this series, go get the first 2 books plus the prequel to the story. You will not be disappointed.
I couldn’t wait for this installment of the Evelyn Talbot story. I am so glad I was able to get an early copy of this story because I wanted this part like I wanted my next breath. This story will pull you in from the get go and hold you captive. I hated to it down to do real life stuff and nasty migraines that made it so I could only read a little at a time. While I wasn’t reading it I was wanting to read it and going over all that had happened in the story and trying to figure it out. This story will have you sitting on the edge of your seat.
I can’t wait to see where the author takes us with the next installment of the series. I am so glad that this series is going to continue and that we will be getting more of Evelyn and Amarok I love the characters and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Face Off picks up where Hello Again left off. Jasper Moore has been biding his time working as a corrections officer at Hanover House. In his spare time, he has been building his own personal torture chamber in the cellar of his house. It is now complete. His plan is to kidnap Evelyn and keep her in this torture chamber while continuing to work at the prison, then watch everyone go out of their minds wondering what happened to her.
In the meantime, Evelyn and Amarok are now living together in Amarok’s house. While Evelyn anticipates the arrival of the first woman prisoner to Hanover House, Amarok is investigating a young woman’s disappearance during a bad snowstorm. Neither realize that young woman was killed by Jasper.
This story will leave you wondering if they will ever catch Jasper! It’s a good story. Brenda Novak does not disappoint!
I have enjoyed the Evelyn Talbot series. I read Blind Spot before this. So, I know how it all ends. Of all 5 books in the series this was my least favorite. There were some places where it lost my interest. Overall it’s still a good read and great series.
Brenda Novak has done it again!
I didn’t think she could write a book with more suspense and surprises than the last book, Hello Again, but she has done it! This is my favorite series that she has written! You know an author has captured your interest when you stay up until the wee hours because you can’t put it down! I recommend this series to anyone who likes books about serial killers and romantic suspense! You will not be disappointed. Brenda has done her homework and researched this subject completely! I can’t wait for the next one to come out in August.
I have to remember to breathe as I’m reading this series — every page has something that tingles the spine. Ms. Novak is a master storyteller. This series is amazing. and, fortunately for us, it continues on in another book. Wow!
Jasper Moore, the psychopathic kidnapper, murderer, and rapist that had attacked and tortured Dr. Evelyn Talbot and murdered three of her girlfriends when they were teenagers is hiding right under her nose in the guise of “Andy Smith, Corrections Officer.” Eight months earlier he’d unintentionally saved her from one of the former inmates of the maximum-security prison where they both work. Jasper had actually been planning to kidnap her himself but was caught in the act after he’d put down Evelyn’s attacker and turned the circumstances to his advantage.
Now with time running short as Evelyn’s significant other, Alaskan State Trooper Sergeant Benjamin “Amarok” Murphy, untangles clues uncovered from some of his other crimes, Jasper steps up his plans to finish Evelyn off once and for good.
“Face Off” is the fourth entry in “The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles” series (including the prequel, “Hanover House”) by Brenda Novak and moves the overall story along nicely with the victim unknowingly sharing her life and space with the murderer hidden right in plain sight. In this continuation of the story, we learn more about Evelyn’s sister and the long-term impacts that the violence done against Evelyn has had on her entire family. In addition, Evelyn must confront the impact of her decision to either pursue a life in Alaska with the man of her dreams or return home to her obviously struggling family.
This book is recommended to those that enjoy romantic suspense and especially those that have read the previous novels in the series.