Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Loved!
Review: After reading A Perfect Evil I quickly went out and bought this book! I loved Maggie and the way her character was brought out. The story was creatively written and truely something I enjoyed reading. Cant wait to read Soul Catcher!
Rating:
Summary: AN AMAZING, FAST-PACED, INCREDIBLE SEQUEL!
Review: Alex Kava is one of the best suspense authors that there is. She has only written two novels but both of them are on the same level of a Tami Hoag or Kay Hooper thriller. Make sure that you read Kava's first novel, "A Perfect Evil" before you read "Split Second." Both novels feature the hard-boiled and exciting FBI Agent Maggie O'Dell. She is a very enjoyable character to read about with a great attitude. Maggie put Albert Stuckey, a sociopath that loved to murder women and leave their entrails hanging out, away in prison about eight months ago after being forced to watch Stuckey perform one of his murders. Unfortunately, Stuckey has escaped from prison after overpowering two guards on the way from the jail to a psychiatric facility. He is now determined to make Agent O'Dell pay for putting him in prison. He is killing every woman who is an acquaintance of O'Dell, like the pizza delivery girl and a waitress. O'Dell is afraid of her own life and the lives of every woman she makes contact with. This is a pulse-pounding, non-stop action thriller, that keeps readers on the edge of their seat all the way until the shocking finale, that could easily be a major movie. Alex Kava will definitely make it "big" with this suspense masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: SECOND TIME AROUND
Review: Alex Kava's "Split Second", in my opinion, is a much better book than her debut, "A Perfect Evil." Although "Evil" was entertaining and intriguing, Kava didn't seem to have her finger fully on the characters and spent a lot of time with romantic fluff scenes. However, in this book Alex brings much more depth and understanding into some of her characters. Even though Maggie O'Dell starts out being a little hard to like, a little paranoid, and belligerent, by the end of the book, Maggie has finally come to grips with her ghosts. Her reunion with Nick Morelli is especially well done. In "Evil," Nick came across as a woman chasing stud, with only one thing on his mind. This time around, Nick seems to really have matured, and with his new job in Boston, he has a new outlook on how to show a woman he loves her. It was nice after the Barbara Caitlin scenarios Kava gave us last time. The supporting characters in this one are far from cardboard cut-outs, as one reviewer surmised. Tess McGowan is a strong female character, and almost steals the book away from Maggie. Complete with a horrendous childhood and a life as a prostitute, Tess has bounced back and come into her own as a real estate salesperson. Her current boyfriend, Daniel, is a real jerk, but Kava gives her a one-night stand with a young stud lawyer named Will Finley, and establishes an entirely different relationship for such a one-night stand. When Tess finds herself kidnapped by Stucky, she shows fortitude and strength, and refuses to let him control her. Maggie's partner, Tully, is also a well-drawn character: disorganized; a recent divorcee trying to understand his 14 year old daughter, but actually a genuinely nice guy. Some of the other characters do well, too: stuffy and stubborn Detective Manz; Maggie's psychiatrist friend, Gwen Peterson; FBI Chief Kyle Cunningham is both stern but compassionate. The villain or villains (?) in "Split Second" are completely despicable and even if one reviewer thinks Stucky's antics are implausible, this is fiction, and considering how the FBI bumbled some important cases (remember Timothy McVeigh), one can see how someone as brilliantly insane as Stucky could outwit them. I'm sure in her next adventure, Maggie will return to Father Michael Kelly, and hopefully, her relationship with Nick will continue to grow. I wouldn't mind having Tess and Will around as secondary characters, too. I liked this book a lot and recommend both Ms. Kava's novels.
Rating:
Summary: Suspense
Review: I'm about 2/3 of the way through this book and trying to decide whether to finish. It is not a compelling story, and it seems very derivative. I've noticed several places where a small amount of research would have helped get the details straight. For example, Tess's boyfriend rejects the Californian Bordeaux and asks for a New York one. I believe that, as with most French regional wines, the label Bordeaux can't be used unless the wine comes from Bordeaux. Therefore, there's no such thing as a Californian or New York Bordeaux. The interactions among the various law enforcement personnel don't seem very convincing to me, either, but I can't believe at all in Maggie O'Dell as a convincing agent. A woman who leaves her gun in the desk drawer for the movers to find? She is so terrorized that if she was a responsible professional she would have taken herself off the case to begin with.
Rating:
Summary: You'll ask for Seconds of this edge-of-your-seat thriller!
Review: In this excellent follow up to Alex Kava's debut novel, "A Perfect Evil," FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell is again haunted (and hunted) by her crazed nemesis, Albert Stucky. O'Dell and Stucky have a sordid history together, as O'Dell spent two years studying the gory bodies and crime scenes left behind by Stucky, each one drawing her closer to him. His eventual arrest nearly cost O'Dell her life and has left her with deep physical and emotional scars. Now that he has escaped from prison, O'Dell is obsessed with stopping him and is convinced she has the best shot at succeeding. Author Kava does an excellent job of weaving emotional development into this fast-paced, suspenseful pursuit of evil. Maggie O'Dell is a fascinating character, remaining strong and resourcesful while going through turmoil in both her personal and professional lives. She is only able to do this through the faith and support of her friends. Encounters with these supporting characters provide a glimpse into the life of the real Maggie O'Dell, the one behind the tough exterior she presents in her professional life. All the while, Maggie's character is both credible and likable. Kava's writing is reminiscent of Patricia Cornwell's in her prime. Like many fans of Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series who have been disappointed with the last couple of books, I have been searching for something similar in the suspense genre. Well, search no more. Kava picks up where Cornwell took a wrong turn, creating a fascinating character in Maggie O'Dell. Give Alex Kava a "Split Second" to win you over; you won't be disappointed. Reviewed by Maili Montgomery, Mystery Ink
Rating:
Summary: You'll ask for Seconds of this edge-of-your-seat thriller!
Review: In this excellent follow up to Alex Kava's debut novel, "A Perfect Evil," FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell is again haunted (and hunted) by her crazed nemesis, Albert Stucky. O'Dell and Stucky have a sordid history together, as O'Dell spent two years studying the gory bodies and crime scenes left behind by Stucky, each one drawing her closer to him. His eventual arrest nearly cost O'Dell her life and has left her with deep physical and emotional scars. Now that he has escaped from prison, O'Dell is obsessed with stopping him and is convinced she has the best shot at succeeding. Author Kava does an excellent job of weaving emotional development into this fast-paced, suspenseful pursuit of evil. Maggie O'Dell is a fascinating character, remaining strong and resourcesful while going through turmoil in both her personal and professional lives. She is only able to do this through the faith and support of her friends. Encounters with these supporting characters provide a glimpse into the life of the real Maggie O'Dell, the one behind the tough exterior she presents in her professional life. All the while, Maggie's character is both credible and likable. Kava's writing is reminiscent of Patricia Cornwell's in her prime. Like many fans of Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series who have been disappointed with the last couple of books, I have been searching for something similar in the suspense genre. Well, search no more. Kava picks up where Cornwell took a wrong turn, creating a fascinating character in Maggie O'Dell. Give Alex Kava a "Split Second" to win you over; you won't be disappointed. Reviewed by Maili Montgomery, Mystery Ink
Rating: 
Summary: Split Second
Review: Just when you think Ms. Kava is going to leave us hanging with a whole bunch of loose ends she wraps up most of the loose ends and finished this novel very strong. This novel was not as exciting as her first novel but Ms. Kava showed more polish. The plot has been done many times in the past (i.e. Thomas Harris, James Patterson etc......) but Ms. Kava adds her only small touches.
Good second novel!
Rating:
Summary: Edge of the Seat Thriller
Review: Maggie O'Dell returns in Alex Kava's second book and this time, the horrors that were only hinted at in the first book are realised in full when Albert Stucky escapes from prison. And the horror he inflicted in the past resumes, but this time he seems to be homing in on Maggie. Kava has turned up the horror level and preys heavily on the reader's insecurities. It seems that no-one is safe from Stucky. The portrayal of Maggie O'Dell has been fleshed out in this book and we really get a solid feel for what makes her tick. We are given a greater understanding of what she has gone through in the past, and so, can understand why she appears so belligerent and closed to other people. She is becoming a much more likable character through the baring of her soul and fears, giving us even more reason to be terrified of the evil Albert Stucky. This is right up the alley of anyone who loves the honest to goodness psychological thriller-type books complete with totally deranged psychopathic killer. It is strongly recommended that you read A Perfect Evil first (it's a cracking good read, too) in order to get to know the characters and their backgrounds a little better.
Rating: 
Summary: Ms. Kava Is On Her Way!!
Review: Ms. Kava is on her way to becoming a very good suspense writer. Her second book "Split Second" has the scary and chilling killer, the strong and willful heroine (Agent Maggie O'Dell from the first book) and plenty of spine chilling suspense that will keep you glued to the pages until the very end. This was a fast paced read and one that I highly recommend. Ms. Kava is a fresh new voice to this genre and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Ms. Kava Is On Her Way!!
Review: Ms. Kava is on her way to becoming a very good suspense writer. Her second book "Split Second" has the scary and chilling killer, the strong and willful heroine (Agent Maggie O'Dell from the first book) and plenty of spine chilling suspense that will keep you glued to the pages until the very end. This was a fast paced read and one that I highly recommend. Ms. Kava is a fresh new voice to this genre and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
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