Review: Pretend You're Safe (The Agency #1) by Alexandra Ivy

Print Length: 352 pages

Publisher: Zebra(August 29, 2017)

From Goodreads.com: HE SEES YOU

First came the floods. Then came the bodies. The victims—strangled, then buried along the shores of the Mississippi—have finally been unearthed, years after they disappeared. He remembers every satisfying kill . . . each woman’s terror and agony. But there’s only one he truly wanted. And fate has brought her within reach again . . .

HE KNOWS YOU
Jaci Patterson was sixteen when she found the first golden locket on her porch. Inside were a few strands of hair wrapped around a scrap of bloodstained ribbon. Though the “gifts” kept arriving, no one believed her hunch that a serial killer was at work. Now Jaci has returned home . . . and the nightmare is starting once more.

AND HE’LL NEVER LET YOU GO
Back then, Rylan Cooper was an arrogant deputy sheriff convinced that Jaci was just an attention—seeking teen. It was a fatal mistake. There’s a murderer in their midst, someone determined to settle old scores and keep playing a twisted game. And it won’t end until Jaci is his forever . . .

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

This is one of those novels that had a really good and strong sounding premise, but somehow managed to fall short of the mark. 

To begin with, there was so much unnecessary drama between Jaci and her family that took up more time than I felt was needed. The reader quickly understands the reason they are estranged, it doesn't need to be brought up time and again. Even the ending, instead of bringing some kind of closure to it seems to drag it on even more. I also feel like the constant changing points of view at times became confusing to the point where I had to go back and re-read certain passages to be sure of whom was speaking. 

On the plus side, there were some great red-herrings in this story and the killer was someone I did not expect! In fact, I wasn't sure how the author was going to suddenly say oh hey by the way this person did it, but then it was all nicely wrapped up that made me think back and realize, yeah. I should have seen it coming.

Overall, I am sure this story may still appeal to those who enjoy thriller novels with a bit of romance thrown in. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                            Pretend You're Safe is available from Amazon.com