New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones delivers a gripping new thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. A detective with a dark secret… Samantha Jazz used to be one of the top profilers in the Austin PD, living for the chase of hunting down a killer and bringing him to justice. That is, until one bad case nearly destroyed her. A killer with a … nearly destroyed her.
A killer with a hidden agenda…
There’s a new kind of serial killer on the loose–and people are turning up dead. The only clues to their murders lie in the riddles the killer leaves behind. A mystery with more questions than answers, and a suspicion that he’s taunting Samantha.
A dead body wrapped in a riddle…
Samantha will have to use all her wits to solve each new puzzle before the killer can strike again. But the closer she gets to the killer, the more she draws him to her as well. And in this thrilling game of cat and mouse–only one of them will survive.
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The Poet was amazing. Thriller is not my usual go-to stories, but when I see it’s coming from LRJ, heck yeah I will read it! I was not disappointed. The Poet definitely took me on an adventure ride. The story started off with some cruel kids picking on a kid who feels out of place, per say, but it progresses and takes you to the older version of the kid who was picked on. Detective Samantha who I have to say had me on my toes and had me even more glued to the pages, took us on an adventure to say the least. As the poems were being left behind as the bodies were stacking, the poems seemed to get deeper and become more… personal to Samantha.
Samantha is on a mission digging and getting closer to finding out the murderer behind all of the slays going on. This story is crazyyy! Without giving away any spoilers this was a dark read, but definitely held my attention. Poet was one who you could not take lightly. I love when there is a killer and he leaves a sign that he has been there and Poet definitely did that. This is one story that I definitely will have to get the paperback for.
Detective Samantha Jazz has been given a new murder case. The murderer left a note…and it feels directed right at her. It is a poem. Samantha knows this poem very well. She has her guard up but will it be enough.
The story starts with a good bit of police procedure. A lot of readers do not enjoy the hunt…I enjoy the hunt and this author did a great job with the puzzle. She kept the Poet a complete mystery till the end.
Plus, her characters are the best. I enjoyed Samantha. She has had some family trauma and it has affected her career. But, this has not slowed her down. She has an awesome intuition and intellect. But my favorite character is her partner, Lang. He pushes everyone’s buttons and he made me chuckle throughout this novel.
When I first started this book, I thought, well, it’s pretty good. But then…boy did it GET GOOD! Somewhere in the middle I actually slammed my kindle closed and texted my friend and said OMG!
Grab your copy today! And for $5.99 you will not be disappointed! I cannot wait for the sequel!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
I love a book where you think you know what it’s going to be like then you start reading it and it becomes so much more. I love thrillers but not many getting me staying up past my bedtime during the week needing just one more page, just one more page then deciding you will just drink extra coffee at work to counter act the lack of sleep! Detective Jazz is drawn into a case that has her spidey senses going off from the get go so she along with her partner Lange, FBI agent Wade along with Chuck the computer wizard try and track down The Poet who loves to torment Jazz. There are great red herrings along with twists and tension, suspense as well as a few good laughs as we see Jazz and others the other try and get a step ahead of The Poet, but he is ruthless and calculating leaving you at times worried one of the good guys is not going to be there at the end. I absolutely loved this book and I am soo excited it is going to be a series!!!
***I received an ebook copy from the author at no cost***
The Poet is a nail biting read, filled with suspense and turns that will leave readers second-guessing.
Detective Samantha Jazz finds herself assigned to a homicide investigation after the original detective up and transfers. (Hint: there’s more to it than just that.) She quickly realizes she’s on the trail of a serial killer who leaves verses of poetry at the crime scene (hence the nickname The Poet).
Detective Jazz has a partner, Detective Langford—or Lang, as she refers to him. The two have worked together for a while and have a back-and-forth banter that reminded me of an old married couple. For as much as he pokes fun at Jazz, it’s clear that Lang cares a lot about her. He’s like a protective big brother, always looking out for her and trying to stay one step ahead of anyone who dare cross her. I enjoyed the easygoing nature of that friendship, although I admittedly hoped the two would end up as something more later in the book.
Then there’s Wade, who is Jazz’s ex. He’s there to help when needed, as he too is involved in law enforcement. I enjoy a strong willed heroine, and Jazz fits that bill, but it’s also nice to see her have support around her.
I’m a fan of thriller books, especially when they involve murder mysteries or serial killers, and Lisa Renee Jones has certainly brought a unique plot to this book. I was very much convinced I knew who The Poet was by the time I got about 30% of the way into the book. Of course my guess was wrong and by the time I reached the end, I was in shock because things did not go how I expected them to. I enjoy stories that keep me on the edge of my seat, and The Poet did just that. There’s so much suspense in the book, much of which is created by the different twists and turns in the story. Add in the cat and mouse chase between Jazz and the killer, and you have a story that will hook you and keep you guessing, right up until the very end.
I know this is supposed to be more of a romantic suspense story, but it didn’t feel like that to me. I found it to be pure suspense/thriller and I liked that. Perhaps there will be more on the romance front in future stories?
I’m excited to see this is book 1 in a new series. I enjoyed these characters a lot and I hope we get to see more of each in coming stories.
Four heart-pounding stars!
The Poet is a mystery/thriller and very much out of my comfort zone. That said it was thought provoking and kept me guessing. I give this one 4 stars as it was hard for me to read and not get creeped out.
4 Thoughtful Stars!
WOW! This was totally different from what I expected from this author. We are used to her hot and steamy, totally invested and diversely complex characters. What we have with this one is more a police procedural but still fully complex and diverse. There is a serial killer on the loose who leaves poetry lines left in the dead. Detective Samantha Jazz is the lead detective on the case and she has a love of poetry so there is a question whether the killer has targeted her or has an obsession with her. This story is full of lots of twists and turns while it takes us on a wild ride looking for the killer. I was totally invested with this one and had a hard time putting this one down. Sleep…who needs sleep…
The Poet is a standalone book. It is about a detective and a murder. Detective Jazz is well versed in poetry. Her boss put her in charge of murders. Where they find the bodies with words on pieces paper in them. It is a good read.
Detective Samantha Jazz has her hands full with a serial killer, who references pieces of poetry stuffed into the mouths of his victims. As the daughter of a corrupt cop, she feels compelled to capture The Poet, throwing herself into solving this case. When she realizes The Poet has had his sights on her the entire time, will she be able to get herself out of danger or will she be his next victim?
Having read some of this author’s romance books, I decided to give this mystery/thriller a shot. The story dives into both the professional and personal life of Sam, including her partner Lang and ex-boyfriend FBI agent Wade. Sam has to figure out why she’s somehow targeted by The Poet. She’s a tough girl, who doesn’t hide away or let anyone push her down. She takes the brunt of accusations thrown her way based on her father’s past sins. I thought the ending was a bit rushed and would have liked it if it were drawn out a little more. Overall a good read and would read the sequel if there is a book 2.
Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for the opportunity to read this book.
I was completely captivated with this one, I couldn’t put it down to the extent I had to lock myself in the bathroom for the last 15% so I could read it uninterrupted and find out who the Poet was!
This was most definitely a clever cat and mouse story, that will literally have you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think you may have it sorted it in your head a brilliant twist is inserted. The characters were intriguing and drew you in. I was seriously cheering Detective Jazz on. She is having so many obstacles put in front of her.
A slow starter for me, took me awhile to get into… but once I was in, I was totally immersed. What a thrilling ride, to catch a psycho serial killer before he kills again. A killer who is aptly named The Poet due to leaving pages of poetry inside his victims mouths, one who seems to be obsessed with the lead Detective Samantha Jazz the daughter of a disgraced former Police Chief. A really good, gripping suspenseful drama that will keep you guessing right until the very end.
This book is exactly what I love about
murder mystery/psychological thrillers!
Intense, suspenseful and chilling, the whodunnit factor takes front and center seat in this story.
Poetry is the underlying theme in solving a series of crimes.
The hidden meanings of said poetry offer clues in solving this mystery. I loved the building up the suspense, who’s a suspect who isn’t? More importantly WHY?
What’s the motive behinds these crimes?
The author masterfully sets the stage as to who’s who and why. Exciting and thrilling as I felt I went on the hunt to solve these mysteries!
The characters were well developed and the story was well paced and scary!
Can’t say much, without giving clues, except read it!
The beginning of the book offers a clue that lends itself to understanding the birth of this crime story.
Wowza!
I love the murder/mystery type books that this author writes. This one was a bit slower for me to get into, but as usual the writing was incredible and the characters were both likeable and relatable for me. I enjoyed the banter between Samantha Jazz and Detective Lang and it quite often made me laugh out loud while reading. It appeared that the author did her homework on this type of book which left me with a quite enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book, I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
If you enjoy Murder/Mystery/Suspense books, then you will love this one.
We have the prologue to start us off with. Is the killer one of the kids that we briefly meet? All will be revealed, be patient.
Detective Samantha Jazz has being assigned to a serial killer case, it wasn’t hers to start off with, but the detective on this case has been relocated! (I know, strange right?)
The reason why Jazz gets the case, her love of poetry (I’m already shouting at my kindle, YOUR GOING TO BE THE TARGET)
We get both sides of the story in this book (the killer and the detective) and I liked that idea, so often it’s just kill or apprehend the killer and then he/she is carted off….
So to see inside the killers mind made for a different angle.
So…… We have a serial killer who likes to leave poems for the police. Is there a significance to the type of poem? Are the victims known to one another? And why does Jazz have a feeling she’s going to be a critical piece of this puzzle?!
I was so engrossed in trying to figure out who The Poet was along with Jazz that I didn’t want to put the book down. Thank goodness my kindle was fully charged!
I also liked the secondary characters, Detective Lang made me chuckle at some of his comments, and her grandfather was just lovely.
I will admit that the prologue did help a little with figuring out who the killer was, but as we didn’t have a name to go on, we could only put the clues together, and that’s how I couldn’t put the book down, you know it’s on the end of your tongue, it’s almost at the front of your mind, you need just one more piece of the puzzle and your done.
It’s a really well thought out and executed book. The authors attention to detail is very precise, we get all the process, and you feel like your working alongside the police. Very much like a CSI episode.
Oh, and by the way, this would make a great movie.
And rumour has it, Detective Samantha Jazz is a first book in a new series. Keeping my fingers crossed, love a strong and intelligent woman.
The Poet grabbed my attention with the cover and the blurb. The blurb had set my expectations for a suspenseful and twisty thriller, but in turn, it was more of police procedural than anything else. It was not bad, just not what I had anticipated.
A serial killer, nicknamed “The Poet,” is on the loose and leaves behind poems as his signature. Detective Samantha Jazz is called in to take over the case as she has a bit of a background in poems from her college years.
The books flips back and forth between views from both Sam and The Poet. It was interesting to see how Sam takes this case on, digs into things, and tries to figure out who it is. Her “spidey sense” and her process of going through the case file are quite detailed and you can tell that the author did a lot of research in this area to make it more authentic and true to life.
While I enjoyed the book, it was bit a slow, with very little suspense in terms of a thriller. I enjoyed walking through the aspects of how a detective works a case, their nuances and how they piece everything together. There isn’t a lot of action but again – this book was definitely more police procedure and not focused on the killer and his actions.
Overall, it’s a good read and one I enjoyed reading, despite wanting more thriller aspects added in. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I love your mind Lisa Renee Jones. This thrilling murder mystery had me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading. I loved every piece of this book. The characters and their interactions were great, especially Sam Jazz. She was a perfect lead character. You never know who the killer is until the very end. The ending was excellent! I wonder if we will get another story with Agent Jazz? Fingers crossed.
3.25-3.5 STARS
More of a crime novel than an edge-of-your-seat thriller, this whodunit centers around a serial killer with an obsession for both poetry and the detective tasked with solving the series of bizarre murders. While the story itself is fairly interesting, the drawn-out mystery felt rushed at the very end, with no real twists or turns along the way. I never warmed up to the characters, either, so I missed that real connection that allows me to fully immerse myself in the story. That said, I found “The Poet” to be a decent mystery, but not the riveting thriller I was hoping it would be.
4 Stars from Robyn;
The Poet is aptly titled where poetry and ‘Jazz’ are the key elements, and no, I am not giving away anything as I would never do that. This suspense novel has all the hallmarks of a police drama and come to think about it, it possibly would make a good TV movie.
The killer is a twisted person who is completely sure of himself.
There were times when I felt the story dragged a little and to be honest I started to scan the words quickly, however, there were many other times when the excitement was turned up to full volume with me sitting on the edge of my seat. I completely slotted each and every character into the killer’s role to see if they fit because I had no idea and trusted nobody! This story is cleverly written to gradually add pieces of the mystery puzzle, but then they get turned around on you, and you end up trying to slot them back together again.
The cat and mouse game the killer played with the lead detective would have spooked me too much but she handled it well, as a police officer of course, but I like how she showed her vulnerabilities too. I liked Detective Samantha Jazz, after her recent trauma, she bounced back quickly. I was impressed with her internal reflection and self-honesty as well.
Oh boy, the ending sure is an exciting and nail-biting time but a true summit where the ‘goodie’ face-off with the ‘baddie’. This is an entertaining read and one where romance is strictly on the back burner, a nice change of pace.
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4 Stars from Natalie;
A slow starter for me. It took me a while to get into it, but once I was in, I was totally immersed.
What a thrilling ride, to catch a psycho serial killer before he kills again. A killer who is aptly named The Poet due to leaving pages of poetry inside his victim’s mouths, one who seems to be obsessed with the lead Detective Samantha Jazz the daughter of a disgraced former Police Chief.
A really good, gripping suspenseful drama that will keep you guessing right until the very end.
This is another side to Lisa Renee Jones. If you are familiar with her work, you know that she enjoys writing romamntic suspense. The Poet is definitely full of suspense but does not include the romantic aspect. Samantha Jazz is a detective in the Austin Police Department. She entered law enforcement to follow in her fathers footsteps. Throughout the book, Sam is taunted by a killer whose calling card is poetry. Poetry plays a significant role in life. And the killer knows this. She’s intelligent mixed with a bit of a feisty tenacity that can sometimes get het into situations that could end her career.
The Poet is an intensive thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Full of edgy twists and turns, The Poet makes you believe that people are not always who they appear to be. The investigators, the victims, and other supporting characters have their own secrets whether they are revealed or kept within the realm of your own imagination. There is also a complexity to this story that has you second guessing what you believe to be true for not only the killer but the investigators as well. 5 Thrilling Must Read Stars
I received an advance copy from Netgally in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and we’re not influenced by the author or her promotional team.
The Poet leaves notes with every victim, in their mouths. The detective taking lead on the case disappears, and Samantha Jazz takes over the case. Once she starts investigating the case, the poems seem to be aimed at luring her in…. could she be his ultimate victim? She knows poetry, and she the more the story goes on.. it seems she may know who the killer is.
This is not a love story, it’s a police procedural story, be aware! Lisa Renee Jones is an excellent writer, and her stories always leave me wanting more. I liked this story a lot. I am an avid reader… romance and mystery are my ultimate go-to reads. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book from Net Galley.
Omg!!!
I absolutely adored every second of this book. It was the exact mind bender of a book that this self proclaimed suspense junkie needed.
I haven’t read this author in a few years, and definitely won’t be making that mistake again, this book definitely reminded me of why I loved her so much when I first started reading suspense ebooks.
This book may be huge, but I wouldn’t change a sinsingle moment.
This wasn’t a romance, and I think that’s one reason why I loved it even more.
The characters, plot and abundance of red herrings will keep you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover.
Cannot wait to see what happens next in the series.
Would give more stars if I could.