Rating: 
Summary: Far from perfect
Review: I found it amazing that a competent editor could have read this book without sending it flying back to the author with a resounding "try again". Books in the thriller genre are certainly a mixed bag. The best of them have an internal consistency that pulls the reader along. The worst, such as this book, insult the readers intelligence.
The main characters are almost laughably bad, cardboard cut-outs.
The protagonist is a beautiful, sexy, genius, FBI serial killer profiler who makes one idiotic mistake after another. Example-At one point she has a phone conversation with someone who may have information about the killer and she makes arrangements to meet the informer later, knowing that her prime suspect is in the building with the informer and apparently listening in on the conversation. The genius then blithely goes about her business and is mildly surprized when the informer doesn't show up at the meeting.
The sheriff is even worse. Tall, handsome, studly, ex-football player, Harvard Law grad who couldn't pour water out of his boots if the instructions were on the bottom.
The ending is a completely unsatisfying ploy for a sequel which I will avoid as assiduously as the authors characters avoid common sense.
Rating: 
Summary: Small-Town Serial Killer
Review: This debut novel from Alex Kava is an electrifying thriller set in small-town Nebraska. The local sheriff's office, headed by Nick Morelli, is hopelessly out of its depth in coping with the murders of young boys who are being snatched off the streets with alarming ease. The MO of killer is very familiar to the officers involved in the case. The trouble is, the man who was convicted of those murders has already been executed.So now the sheriff and his men have to work out whether they've got a copycat on their hands, or is it the same killer who has now resurfaced - and they've convicted and executed the wrong man. To help out Morelli, FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell is assigned to the case. O'Dell is just coming off a case where she actually witnessed the killer committing murders. In fact, he forced her to watch, so she's carrying plenty of emotional baggage. This is a very good thriller which manages to give the reader plenty of clues as to the identity of the killer, yet makes it ambiguous enough to cast doubt. Just to make things interesting there is a continuous note of sexual tension growing between ladies-man, stud-muffin Morelli and Agent O'Dell, whose marriage was in trouble anyway. While it's not exactly packed with surprises, this is still a very entertaining book that definitely left the way open for future books to pick up. As a matter of fact, the ending is fascinating enough to compel me to come back to read her next book.
Rating: 
Summary: An Uneven First Novel
Review: There is a theory, mostly among male readers of crime fiction, that female writers in the genre are inclined to be lightweights who pad their stories with too much romance. Well, yeah! Alex Kava, a woman with a man's name, has to plead at least partly guilty to this charge. The novel is loaded with bodice-ripper fantasizing and purple prose. It's the tale of a serial killer kidnapping and murdering young boys in a small Nebraska town. Maggie O'Dell, an FBI profiler is called in to furnish a profile of the killer. The sherif is Nick Morelli, a Marlboro man who sets female hearts a flutter. Nick is out of his depth in this case. He is following in the footsteps of his charismatic father, who ruled over his family with a heavy hand. Maggie is fresh from an encounter with a Hannibal Lecter type who injured her in both body and spirit. Although this serial murderer is now in prison, he haunts her dreams. Maggie is in a troubled marriage and is drawn to the hansome sheriff against her better judgement. As they work together to solve the case, it becomes personal when Nick's nephew is kidnapped by the killer. Along the way we have a generous helping of possible corruption in the Sheriff's Department and perhaps in the local Catholic Church as well. This book is not as well written as it could be, and the characters are a bit wooden. Kava does better with the supporting cast than with Maggie and Nick. The overheated romance novel scenarios really don't work. It would have been a much better story without them. There are enough red herrings scattered about the plot to make a good sized sandwich, and certainly the ending will disappoint a lot of readers. And why would an author create a radio station with the call letters KRAP?? That was a pretty jarring note! Deep media hatred? BUT! But, all that aside, I liked a lot of this book and there is definite promise shown here. Kava just has to trust her story and forget about fervid gropings and embarrassing sex scenes. She got me involved in the plot and despite myself, I enjoyed reading this first novel. I think the next one will be better. I hope so--I just ordered it!
Rating: 
Summary: A Perfect Beginning!
Review: I bought this book some time ago, but didn't start it until a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, I only get to read on the train to and from work, but once I started to read APE, I was hooked. I would exit the train and run into people because I couldn't stop reading. It's an excellent start for a good writer. She makes you visualize and recognize the characters and the settings, which are signs of a good writer, in "my book". I didn't realize there was a sequel to APE, and now that I've found out, I'm so excited. I knew it had to end "without ending". I am definitely buying Split Second, and future books of this writer. I give a definite thumbs up!
Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC FIRST NOVEL!
Review: This is one of the best thrillers I have ever read! I couldn't put it down! I can't wait to read Ms. Kava's next novel, Split Second.
Rating:
Summary: Good first book.
Review: This is a very impressive first book. Subplots tend to drag you away from the actual drama, making you impatient for action. All in all, she creates believable and likable characters you'll want to read about again. She's looking to be a fine series writer.
Rating: 
Summary: Predictable
Review: The book was much to easy to figure out. I was glad when I was done reading it. Just another run of the mill cop, murder story. I won't be reading the next book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Reading!
Review: Loved the book.. I had read Kava's 'Split Second' first as I couldn't get a copy of 'A Perfect Evil' and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book.. Once I did, it was read in one day.. a definite must and can't wait for Kava's next book.
Rating:
Summary: Top of the Line Reading
Review: Alex Kava has a talent for writing and this novel is the best I have read in a long time. You are grabbed in that first paragraph and the quality, excitement, suspence continue until the last word of the book. She is able to blend medicine, law enforcement, and humanity seamlessly and excellently balanced to keep the story flowing without having the reader overwhelmed by one topic. There is a personal aspect to the main characters Nick Morrelli the sheriff and FBI criminal profiler Maggie O'Dell that makes the characters real without turning it into a romance or soap-opera type of story that happens so often. This is a MUST READ! My husband wanted a book to read and grabbed this one, he is not in medical/crime themes but he read this book in one day and asks when I'm getting the second one!
Rating:
Summary: Exacerbating thriller that terrifies and satisfies
Review: Being a graduate student has left me with very little time for leisurely reading. However, this book grabbed my attention and had me hooked by the time I finished the first chapter. Alex Kava keeps your heart pumping and you brain working to try and figure out who the serial killer is. Just when you think you are on the right track, another twist is added to make the mystery that much more exciting. This is definitely a page turning, nail-biting type of book, which leaves you greatly satisfied.
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