Lady Killer

Rating:
Summary: Winner of the WordWeaving Award of Excellence
Review: A woman stalks sophisticated black men with a flair for easily picking up ladies and just as easily dropping them. Striking back at men has become her mission. She keeps a canine tooth as a token because men are dogs.

The killer's latest victim just happens to be the brother of Detective Jasper "Jaz" Ballantine. GQ had been Jaz's only brother, and their adoptive father was the former chief of police. The current chief of police, on a vendetta, intends to bury the case even when evidence indicates a serial killing.

Dhana knows that it does not make sense to divorce a man for incapability, and three years later fall back in his arms. But when GQ's murder brings her and Jaz back together, irrepressible passion ignites. Jaz and Dhana best step carefully as this case grows even more personal.

Author Gail McFarland lends the term "lady killer" a unique twist in this novel by the same name. LADY KILLER ignites on the first page, twisting escalating violence, unrelenting tension and chilling intentions into a deftly woven tapestry of exhilarating suspense. McFarland's gift for believable characterizations, powerful drama, and shocking events will leave reader's hoping for more from this memorable author. LADY KILLER earns the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.

Rating:
Summary: Starts SLOW, Ends FAST and INTRIGUING
Review: Beware of a woman scorned, especially a woman with the intelligence and the means to do harm in ways only once thought of as unimaginable.

In Gail McFarland's suspenseful novel, Lady Killer, Detective Jaz Ballantine is on the hunt for his foster brother's murderer. Jaz is bewildered with who could have done this and why the murderer chose to practically mutilate GQ (Jaz's foster brother) and take one of his teeth. What's even more mysterious is the body count at the morgue. It's growing full of young, single, handsome, African American males, all murdered in similar fashion. Jaz realizes that he has a serial killer on his hands, and a unique serial killer at that. It's expected that a WOMAN, an African American woman may be responsible for the murders. Jaz vows to find the killer to GQ's murder, and despite his misgivings, Jaz brings his ex-wife, Dhana, into the case to profile the killer. Through the vigorous twists, turns, and surprises that plague Jaz and Dhana's investigation, the
two find themselves reconnecting on a more personal level. As their love grows and ignite, so does the murderous rampage and the cat and mouse games of the serial killer. Will the duo find the killer and rekindle their love before more bloodshed?

I have to say that I really enjoyed this story, more so at the end than in the beginning. The novel starts off very slow, and I found myself skimming through to get to the more suspenseful parts. I have to state that I read the uncorrected proof, so I'm not sure if all 422 pages of the novel was published; however, I thought the novel could be a lot leaner, especially in the middle. I was interested in the relationship between Jaz and Dhana yet, at the same time, I wanted more of the Lady Killer and her story prior to taking "matters into her own hands."

I can say definitively that McFarland's Lady Killer is the most evil and brilliant female villain I have ever read. She frightened and excited me at the same time and made me want to finish the novel to see what would happen to her.

I would recommend that others pick up this novel and give it a read. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Shon Bacon

Rating:
Summary: Damn! This Sister Is Good!!!
Review: Okay, first I've got to tell you that this one was hard to come by, but worth every second of the trouble I had finding it. I finally wound up buying the Ebook and reading it that way, but hope to have my REAL book in hand soon -- yes, it's REALLY that good.

Gail McFarland's work can't really be compared to anybody else's. Her writing is not mushy or 'girly'. It is strong and evocative, with a syle that makes you want to sit and talk with her. Then, she plotted the Hell out of the story. Everybody else reviewing this one nearly told you the story, and I don't want to ruin it by filling in too many of the gaps, so I will simply say that I hope there's a sequel to this one, 'cause I want MORE. Jaz and Dhana are too real to end here. The killer is one of the best I've ever read, and evil as she is, I was sort of (almost) on her side!

I knew going into this one that Ms. McFarland was a talented storyteller, see, I've read all of her other books and loved them. I waited for almost three years for this one, and she did not disappoint me. Gail did her usual thing with all the characters, and every one of them was almost like somebody I know. From page one, this story had me going, and I turned those pages like a champ!

I have to say it again: Damn! This Sister is good! Just remember when you finally have a chance to read this one, you heard it here first, this book deserves a lot more than five stars! It's a "Keeper" of the highest order.

Rating:
Summary: So ladylike
Review: Some women think all men are dogs. Some women have been hurt by men. Some women seek revenge on their male counterparts who have wronged them. But, how many women would go to the extreme to rid the planet of smooth talking, womanizing players? The Lady Killer did.

After his brother is killed, Jasper "Jaz" Ballantine has a score to settle with the Lady Killer. Hot on her trail, he and his psychologist ex-wife Dhana soon find that they are working on more than just the case.

Filled with romance, a hint of suspense, and psychological thrills, Lady Killer by Gail McFarland kept me turning the pages not only to see if the killer was caught, but also if Jaz and Dhana could reconcile their relationship. It's not really what I would consider a "mystery", as the killer is revealed early on. Instead, I'd call it a worthy piece of supsenseful romance in which the characters are likeable and real, and the crime is deviant, yet possible.

Reviewed by CandaceK

Rating:
Summary: Exciting, suspenseful, and provocative
Review: When young men start disappearing in Atlanta and other high-profile cities, it's not long before connections are drawn and the police realize they are dealing with a serial killer. What's even more strange is the killer appears to be a woman, out to rid the world of womanizing men. Talk about a woman scorned! She calls herself L.K., aka Lady Killer, and leads the police on a chase to find her and the connection between her victims.

Detective Jaz Ballantine is on the case after he loses GQ, his foster brother, to the Lady Killer. Though he's closely linked to GQ, Jaz remains on the case, set on finding out who not only killed him, but also mutilated the body in the process. He calls on his ex-wife Dhana to assist in finding the killer. A psychologist skilled in profiling criminals, Dhana is not convinced working with Jaz is in her best interest. Though divorced for several years, she's still harboring feelings for him and is hesitant to commit to spending more time with him than necessary.

As the story progresses, the Lady Killer seeks out Dhana, feeling a sense of familiarity with her. More bodies are found and the attraction between Jaz and Dhana grows. One is not certain how things will end, but it will definitely be an ending you'll rush to get to.

Gail McFarland has the gift of storytelling and should be commended on how masterfully she crafted Lady Killer. It is an exciting, suspenseful, and somewhat provocative story about what a person is capable of becoming in the future as a result of their past.

Reviewed by Mz. Melody for Loose Leaves Book Review