One Scream Away by Kate BrodyTBR Challenge for July

The TBR Challenge for July is to read a book with a criminal/violent act-related word in the title

Examples from Darla shelves:
The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham
The Disorderly Knights by Dorothy Dunnett
Murder on Ice by Alina Adams

Let us know what you read, what you thought about it, and how long it had been in your TBR pile.
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I chose One Scream Away by Kate Brady. I know I'm late in posting my pick for July TBR Challenge and doing review of the book. But it's never too late to post it :) I've been trying to catch up on books currently read, and hope to post my reviews on the other books I delay drafting/posting. See below for my review on One Scream Away......


Kate Brady's website
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pub. Date: July 2009
ISBN-13: 9780446541527
Sales Rank: 64,266
464pp

Back Blurb
ONE STEP AWAY
Seven years ago Beth Denison was attacked by a killer named Chevy Bankes. Since then, she's created a new life for herself and her daughter, one far removed from the night that ended in an awful tragedy. But now Bankes is out of prison, and his chilling phone calls, tell Beth he's coming for her.

ONE BREATH AWAY

Ex-FBI agent Neil Sheridan is driven to investigate a chain of murders eerily similar to a disturbing case from his past. When the killer's trail dead end at Beth's doorstep, Neil finds a beautiful woman with a secret she'll do anything to keep. Yet even as Beth surrenders to Neil's protection-and then his embrace-she still refuses to tell him why Bankes hungers to hear her scream, and why she'll soon consider doing the unthinkable: face Bankes alone.
End Back Blurb

The story began when we see Beth got phone call from Chevy Bankes, who taunt her with wanting to hear her scream for him. Beth was frighten to learn that he is now out of jail, and will be coming after her. She threaten to call the police, but Chevy taunted a warning that if she does, he will tell them everything. Even her secret. A secret she hold into for many years. Now it up to her to keep the secret safe. And that mean she would have to tell a lies, one of the most hardest things for her to do.

Former FBI special agent Neil Sheridan, left the FBI when he was investigating a murders years ago, that causes the death of his wife and son. Since than he never been the same. Then an unexpected news that the man who he have killed may not be the murderer of these young women, many years ago. A new case is open when the murders begin to happen similar to the one that Neil have been investigating years ago. He afraid he may have killed the wrong man. And now Rick want to bring him in to help them solved the case, "unofficially", since Neil knew about the case more than anyone else would. But with Neil and Beth pasts, they don't want to trust anyone into their life. And together as they grow closer and bring down their defensive walls, they were able to trust each other and let the others in.

But with Chevy Banks out of prison on parole, he continue to tortures and murders women to get through Beth and her daughter Abby to set his revenge. Leaving clues for each victims to Beth, scaring her to death. As little piece of puzzles come together, a intense unexpected discovery is reveal behind Chevy's murders spree. Would Neil be able to stop this mad man from killing more women and protect Beth before Chevy get to her?

What to say about this book. First let me say that I started reading the book last month of July. I never finish it, since I was also reading two other books at same time (which I still have not finish yet *sigh*). So I figure I will finish it for the August reading instead. It took me awhile to finish it, not because it wasn't a good book. But because I've been too busy with other stuff with life in general.

From the first few chapters, I wasn't sure how I going to feel about the book at first because I kept thinking in my head "This doesn't seem too scary enough to leave light on at night", as readers have exclaim it was to be. Yes there is some gruesome graphic scenes, but they were not overly disturbing. It does leave you to imagine the violence the victims endure when they are killed. However I think I like the thrilling of cat and mouse confrontations game and the many surprises twist and turn, that I think would leave the reader to keep turning the pages to find out what happen next. We knew who the villain is, but to see what going through his mind as he plan his killing spree, was intense and interesting. Once you discover bits and pieces of his pasts, you would then begin to understand why he done it. In fact I thought he was very strong, smart and clever serial killer. Half way through the middle of the book, I was surprises with what I've learn about not only with Chevy but what happen with Beth and Neil in their past life before they met. And in somewhat way, you can't help but feel sorry for all three people. I think the majority of the book is center more in the suspense than it is with romance. There is romance but only about less than 10% of romance in them. But whatever romance is shown, has it special moments too. I thought that the heroine and hero were strong individual who give enough to hold the story together, even though it may seem like the romance could be done without. Anyone who know me, would know that I want to have 50% of romance and 50% of suspense in books for me to enjoy it. But the plot entertained me enough and the characters kept the story interesting. After passing through right in the middle of the book, it got very interesting! The first chapters grab me from the first pages until I reach the end. And even though I didn't think the book scared me enough, the book itself was still good!

One Scream Away was a plot driven, thrilling, tense, suspenseful and great characters casting. The book kept me turning the pages and on my toes.For a first time author's debut novel, this is a well written good book with good plot, I love it!

Grade: 5 stars