A Thriller Award winner, Best Paperback Original Novel.For three years, Detective Jude Fontaine was kept from the outside world. Held in an underground cell, her only contact was with her sadistic captor, and reading his face was her entire existence. Learning his every line, every movement, and every flicker of thought is what kept her alive.After her experience with isolation and torture, she … isolation and torture, she is left with a fierce desire for justice—and a heightened ability to interpret the body language of both the living and the dead. Despite colleagues’ doubts about her mental state, she resumes her role at Homicide. Her new partner, Detective Uriah Ashby, doesn’t trust her sanity, and he has a story of his own he’d rather keep hidden. But a killer is on the loose, murdering young women, so the detectives have no choice: they must work together to catch the madman before he strikes again. And no one knows madmen like Jude Fontaine.
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This book pulled me out of the mystery doldrums into which I’d sunk after being repeatedly underwhelmed by successive books in a series, the first books of which I’d greatly enjoyed. As these series progressed, the once intriguing plots gave way to dramas that sometimes bordered on soap operas involving detectives or PIs and their superiors, partners, miscellaneous staff members, spouses, ex-spouses, etc. When I read several books in a row in which their personal problems so engrossed them that it interfered with their work, I gave up.
After cleansing my literary palette with a few rereads of old favorite, I opted for a new approach: I’d stick to the first books in a series for a while. The Body Reader was my first foray in this new direction. It’s a testament to Anne Frasier’s skill that she opened her book with a prologue of the familiar 4-star creepy ilk common to contemporary mysteries and didn’t lose me right there. She didn’t because from the beginning she presented Jude Fountaine and her reactions to the world around with a depth and degree of sensitivity seldom encountered. Yes, Jude does possess some special skills she developed to survive a horrific situation. But Fasier doesn’t glamorize these. They’re not super powers by a long shot. These might confer some advantages as Jude seeks to resume her job in law enforcement. On the other hand, they could just as easily destroy her too.
In previous reviews, I (think) I mentioned that I divide fiction into 2 broad groups: that written from the outside in and that written from the inside out. Outside in books typically follow a formula and, if the formula agrees with you, you enjoy them. No matter how violent they are, they unfold in a familiar way.
Inside out books are different and less common. Sometimes the extra dimension occurs because the author actually has experienced the events he or she has written about. Other times, these authors possess the confidence and imagination to literally get inside their characters and perceive reality from their perspective. They become body readers themselves. I don’t know what approach Anne Frasier took when she wrote this book, but I truly appreciated the results.
Can’t pick a ‘What did you like about this book’ adjective. Main character is startling, and has a horrendous backstory, but develops into a fully fleshed character in the course of the story. The action is part psychological, nearly thriller, and part police procedural, and has a well balanced uncertainty to it. I will be looking for more this series.
This story grabbed me on the first page and never let go.
A worthy read .
Had me hooked from page 1 until the end. Had to make myself put it down to get anything done.
Very well written. I couldnt put it down, if you decide to get this book and its entire series its well worth the money and will keep you at the edge of your seat!
An original premise that kept me turning page after page. It grabbed me at the get go and kept me entertained until the last page.
Very interesting and intense right from the first page!
Good read … suspense filled
One of the most original books I’ve ever read! Meet Jude, a woman, police detective, survivor of 3 yrs of abuse as a kidnapped victim in Mpls., Mn. Still wanting to be a cop and fighting hard to stay mentally ready for any and everything. Finding her ex cop partner, Grant, a bit off putting as is her ex boyfriend Eric and knowing her new cop partner, Uriah, doesn’t want her…she keeps fighting for her rights to work and be treated with respect.
This is a gritty read, after 3 years in captivity, Jude looks and acts differently. She notices noises and smells and Uriah responds, “Isolation will do that.” They are on a case of a suicide, only to have Jude question it and she is right and down the rabbit hole they go investigating the death of Delilah and then another girl. And the attacks both personal and physical against Jude increase as she pushes for justice.
Uriah has his own issues with drinking and personal loss but he follows Jude’s lead in the crimes. Jude is missing pieces of her past, bits of events right before her kidnapping but as people call on her, she puts the puzzles together including a missing girl from back then, Octavia. You’ll meet the mom, Anna, still holding onto the fact Jude made it, so can Octavia. And Jude finds info on more dead and missing girls and a connection to her…Jude.
The scenery, the atmosphere, the smell of fear and doubt are all here. BUT this is a book of inspiration, Jude apologizes for upsetting people with her appearance, her new ways and displays kindness to everyone.
Jude has a brother and a father that imply she is mentally unstable as soon as she resurfaces alive. Phillip, her dad, is also the governor of Mn….awkward and dangerous for Jude.
Even when she is dismissed by her few friends, Jude hangs on, sitting on the roof of the apartment building…enclosed spaces bother her. SHE is a fighter.
“Now she understood their thinking.(why victims don’t report crimes) Acknowledgement
brought it back. It meant no walking away. No starting over.”
A timely book about abuse, a beautifully written mystery with depth, solid plotting, clues and motives become clear. And gut instinct that serves Jude well. Many insights in this book including, “I wonder how much of a person is simply fabricated by others. None of us see the same person in exactly the same way. We bring ourselves into the equation.” And she is correct!
Terrific mystery with more substance and heart.
Great first book to a series. I am currently reading the 2nd one, and look forward to the 3rd one coming out.
Original idea with excellent writing and well-developed characters. I’ll be reading the other two in the series.
Interesting book, would recommend for those who enjoy detective/mystery novels with a dose of reality. 3 ½ stars.
While this is not my typical book read, I did enjoy it and found myself wanting to find out what happens. Yes, it can be a bit predictable, but what mystery/detective book isn’t to some point?
Some might think this book has to do with the supernatural, but it’s doesn’t. If you are deprived of one your senses, another one will become prominent (or so they say). If you have sensory overload, you will have a better appreciation for this book.
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Jude is a detective who was kidnapped, held captive, and eventually escapes. After her escape she attempts to adjust to basic living in society, but everything is a struggle because of what she endured. She is allowed to rejoin the force in her previous position as a detective and investigates murders of teenage girls. Complicating the investigation is her family (dad is governor of Minnesota and her brother’s murder of her mother years before). Other things to expect: friendships (old and new), her years in captivity, family relationship or lack there of, violence, and struggling with general life. There are multiple story lines going on, some that fit with the book and some that I suspect will unfold later the series.
The book has multiple themes: where do you fit in the world, human compassion, human sickness, mental illness (I applaud the author for bringing talk of mental illness into the book), family problems and probably more I’m forgetting.
The creep factor of this book is that what happened to Jude could happen to anyone at anytime in their life.
The only thing I didn’t care for it was a bit slow in some places and her body reading didn’t develop as much as I thought it would/indicated it would in the beginning of the book. Kind of opportunities missed…(end scene comes to mind but not giving that spoiler). Some reviewers talk about how the book doesn’t make sense- some of it yes (allowed to go back on the force after four months), but other decisions made by Jude- she was held captive in the dark for three years, of course certain things she does will not make sense!
Overall, I would recommend the book, especially if you enjoy detective/mystery novels. I will be checking out the second in the series to see how it progresses. The audio book was easy to listen to and would recommend it.
Parental/trigger warning: This book contains strong adult themes- kidnapping, murder, beheading, rapes, falling in love with the kidnapper, drinking, torture, starvation, psych ward at the hospital, guns, grimy politicians, family conflicts.
A side note to the author: Always interesting reading a book that takes place your state- awesome job on describing the areas.
5 Mind Blowing Stars
Take a chance on a new author if you haven’t read any of Ms. Frasier work this would be a great one to pick but hold your breath it is going to be a bumpy ride. Ms. Frasier will blow you away with another read you won’t be able to put down. Just when I thought I had a handle on the outcome the author sent me on another spin that let me saying WOW. I was hooked from the first page to the last this was not an easy book to lay down. This is one author that has fast become one of my all time favorites that I can’t wait until another book is published. If this isn’t on your TRB list it should be. If you love mystery, thrills and suspense you do not want to miss reading this. I promise you don’t know what you are missing as the author hooks you from start to finish. I have read and listened to the audio I am really having a hard time picking which I like the best. Both have good points but both are outstanding.
Emily Sutton-Smith does an outstanding job of narration. She pulls you in giving you wonderful character voices with outstanding emotions never leaving you guessing how each characters feels. Her tones are right on the money for each emotion that each characters has. She gives you a very rich and clear audio that you get lost in and do not want to put down. Her character voice for Jude is flat like it should be with all this poor women has gone through is there any wonder she shows very little emotion. Emily hits it right on the money. Her male voices are just a wonderful as her female ones giving you an even tone clear listen you get lost in. There are no background noises or any places where the volume is higher or lower that the other. There are no repeats of words, if a break was taken you cannot tell it. This is the first I have listen to this narrator but it will not be the last. She really brought this audio to life for me.
As the story opens you have a lady who is and has been kept in a basement nude, alone with only one person who feeds her and abuses her over and over again. As you turn the pages to start this story your mind will hold a picture of each scene once you close your eyes your mind will replay it over and over again. You will become Jude and feel her pain, you understand her as she takes on a life of hunted to being the hunter looking for her prey at every turn. She can tell what you are thinking by your body language. There are those that think she is crazy but we know her and me that she is most likely the sanest of all. Three years of living this nightmare over and over again each day and night you would think she would have gone crazy but you are very much wrong. When you have nothing but time on your hands for years you watch, look and read before long you know what people are thinking just by the way they hold their head, turn their body or let out a breath. She pulls her inner strength knowing one day somehow some way she will make it out of this alive and when she does someone is going to die. It is kill or be killed so she sets, waits, listen, waiting for the right time to make her move to set herself free. That day is today when the lights go out she makes her move running for her life she is out she is free but for how long and what waits for her on the other side.
I really loved Jude she is so strong yet so cool taking it all in moving around watching reading everyone’s body knowing who is lying and who is hiding things. The author has an outstanding way of making the words flow easy before your eyes taking you in and making you part of the story. Before you know it you are so hooked you can’t put the book down. This is not a story I would want to start at night you really need to start it early so you can give it the time it deserves. As you are drawn in the author will take over and blow your mind again and again. Just when you think you have the answers the author will change it leaving you with your mouth wide open looking back over what your eyes just took in.
The author switches back and forth from today to the past as you learn all that this remarkable lady has went through to become the lovely lady she is today. There is no doubt you will cheer for Jude as you feel the pain she has and must go through to find the answers to so many questions. The ending will blow you out of the water there are so many twist and turns you won’t see coming. Just as you think you have a handle on it Jude takes you down a different road you never saw coming. This is one author who knows how to get control of her readers leaving them handing on asking for more. I so enjoyed the many twist and turns each character adds so much to the read. Some you will like others you will not but by the time you have read the last page you will have relooked at each one over and over again seeing each from a different light.
From the first page you will find you heart beating faster as you turn to the next it is running over time by the time you have finished and turned the last page your find your heart rate is still beating as fast as it was from the start. Leaving your mind in a state of WOW not being able to forget what you just read you play each scene over again and again in your mind as you regroup and close your eyes for the night hoping you never have to life the nightmare this author has given her characters. If you are looking for your next mystery, thriller, suspense read you can stop looking you have found it. This is one book and one author you do not want to miss. I promise this will be your next favorite read!
Well written crime fiction story.. Very flawed leads, but with one of the most interesting heroine’s I’ve read in while.
Police detective Jude Fontaine has lived in hell for the past three years. Kidnapped, abused and tortured in a cold dank basement she had all but given into her fate until one day that same fate gave her the split second she needed to escape. But after what she had been through, once she gets back out into the real world part of her wonders if she wasnt better off in her little room that had been her prison for all those years.
Things I really liked about this book was Jude’s character. She was very unique. She had emancipated herself from her rich political family at 16 (for a very good reason). She went on to become a Homicide detective because she believes in justice due to the circumstances of the death of her mother. Pre-kidnapping she thought she had a great life with her job and a boyfriend thought she loved. Afterwards she sees that so much of her life had been fake. She now walks a fine line of being emotionally broken and a kickass women determined to not let past horror define her.
The other main character in the book is Detective Uriah Ashby (what a unique name). He became a homicide detective after Jude’s kidnapping so he never knew the woman she was before. Uriah has his own tragedy from his personal life that makes him almost as flawed as Jude is. But from the moment Uriah meets Jude, right after she escapes, he becomes her greatest supporter along with eventual partner (when the police department hires her back) and tries to help her acclimate back into the real world.
When bodies of young women start turning up Jude and Uriah’s investigation starts to unravel a long reaching conspiracy of missing girls with surprising tie backs to her own abduction.
The story flowed very well and this author has created some great unique characters but one thing that bugged me was the use of a too familiar trope on the who the kidnappers and killers were and the reveal/conclusion to that was a bit of a let down too. I still recommend this book as it was a very different read that did captivate you from the start.
Not for the faint of heart! It is a bit gritty at times, but I really liked the main characters. Some of the ancillary characters could have been more “fleshed” out, and the ending had some questions…the main problem was that the lead character would be able to resume being a detective so soon after her release, but if you suspend belief enough to get past that, it is an enjoyable mystery.