What do you think?
Rate this book
Jane Doe #2
Problem Child
She’s cold, calculating, and can deceive with a smile. Jane Doe is back in the Amazon Charts bestselling series - and this time she's met her match.
After a brutal childhood, Jane Doe has been permanently wired to look after herself and only herself. Now, looking next to normal, Jane has a lover and a job. But she hasn't lost her edge. It sharpens when she hears from her estranged family.
Jane's deeply troubled sixteen-year-old niece, Kayla, has vanished, and no one seems to care. Neither does Jane. Until she sees a picture of Kayla and recognizes herself in the young girl's eyes. It's the empty stare of a sociopath.
Jane knows what vengeful and desperate things Kayla is capable of. Only Jane can help her - by being drawn into Kayla’s dark world. And no one's more aware than Jane just how dangerous that can be.
After a brutal childhood, Jane Doe has been permanently wired to look after herself and only herself. Now, looking next to normal, Jane has a lover and a job. But she hasn't lost her edge. It sharpens when she hears from her estranged family.
Jane's deeply troubled sixteen-year-old niece, Kayla, has vanished, and no one seems to care. Neither does Jane. Until she sees a picture of Kayla and recognizes herself in the young girl's eyes. It's the empty stare of a sociopath.
Jane knows what vengeful and desperate things Kayla is capable of. Only Jane can help her - by being drawn into Kayla’s dark world. And no one's more aware than Jane just how dangerous that can be.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2020
1103 people are currently reading
6535 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Helen Stone
12books1,554followersWall Street Journal bestselling writer Victoria Helen Stone, author of the runaway hit Jane Doe, pens critically acclaimed novels of dark intrigue and emotional suspense. Her work includes Follow Her Down, At the Quiet Edge, Problem Child, Half Past, and the chart-toppers False Step, and Evelyn, After. Bald-Faced Liar is her tenth suspense.
Victoria writes in her home office in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, far from her origins in the flattest plains of Minnesota, Texas, and Oklahoma. She enjoys gorgeous summer trail hikes in the mountains almost as much as she enjoys staying inside by the fire during winter. Victoria is passionate about dessert, true crime, and her terror of mosquitoes, which have targeted her in a diabolical conspiracy to hunt her down no matter the season.
Instagram:
Victoria writes in her home office in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, far from her origins in the flattest plains of Minnesota, Texas, and Oklahoma. She enjoys gorgeous summer trail hikes in the mountains almost as much as she enjoys staying inside by the fire during winter. Victoria is passionate about dessert, true crime, and her terror of mosquitoes, which have targeted her in a diabolical conspiracy to hunt her down no matter the season.
Instagram:
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 732 reviews
December 20, 2020
The Written Review :
Annnd here's my .
4.25 stars
Another fabulous buddy-read with Tucker the Reader - thanks for suggesting it!
Jane Doe is...different.
"I'll call a spade a spade and a bitch a bitch. You are a goddamn devil child and you always were."
Has been ever since she was a child and she's learned to accept her differences - even use them to her advantages.
She's already ruined the life of the man who drove her best friend to suicide, completely dominated the corporate world and snagged herself a sweet boyfriend who wants to move in together.
Everything is looking up...and Jane's bored. Very bored.
And when Jane's bored, bad things happen.
Every once in a while, like right here in this moment, I want to be what other people are and I hate who I am.And just when she feels the most trapped, Jane learns that Kayla - her niece - has gone missing.
Vanished without a trace.
Nobody, except for Jane, realizes that Kayla is unique. She's different, different in the very same ways Jane is..
Is it possible? A little Baby Jane out in the world?Jane is on a mission and there is no one alive who would dare stand in her way.
Jane! Jane! Jane! Jane!
As before, I absolutely adored the character of Jane, and not just for her love for the literary world:
"Pardon?"But also in the way her emotions are slowly developing - it makes me sooo happy to see her give in to her emotions.
"Nope," I repeat.
"But I didn't ask anything."
"Well, I'm reading."
Luke is a sweet guy with a bit of a blind spot, which is how he ended up with me.That being said, this one was a smidge less of a thriller than I expected - it was more of a road trip with your friendly neighborhood sociopath (note: still entertaining, just not what I expected!).
I did really love watching Jane and Kayla interact - every time they both were on the page, my anxiety and excitement skyrocketed.
I wish the ending was longer cause there was so much crazy-goodness and I was SUPER hooked.
The one thing that threw me out of the book was the sex. I get adding in sex to enhance the book or bring about another dimension, but at this point it just felt clunky and distracting (it actually is the major thing that knocked down my rating - awkward & painful to read).
Overall, I did enjoy this book (gratuitous sex aside) and it was a fun buddy-read! And after that ending - I really, really, really hope for a third. (like reallllllly)
Thank you so much to Amazon Publishing and the author for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review! I am ecstatic!
| | | | | Snapchat @miranda_reads
May 17, 2020
Yes, as like Sir Elton John’s song name: THE BITCH IS BACK! But best theme song for definitely coming from Talking Heads and let’s sing the chorus together for Jane Doe: “Psycho Killer! Qu'est-ce que c'est ! Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-far better! Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away!�
This time my mash up psychopathic, sociopathic, this woman is not a regular badass chick, she is completely out of control stars swinging between 3 to 4! (I feel like I put a glass on my quija board-yes I got new one to scare those mean kids next door, shooting my video when I was performing my happy dance!- it moves between 3 to 4, 3 to 4) Okay! I rounded up to 4 stars, but I think a sequel is coming up and I’m not so sure, I’ll give high stars to the third installment. I love Jane but I also love to meet new characters of the author!
Our favorite sociopath is back, working at law office, climbing career ladder by orchestrating the best schemes could be imagined! She has a stable, regular relationship with Luke (poor, innocent, decent, patient soul has no idea that he’s dating with Dexter’s soul twin sister), not giving any heck of the blood sucker parent’s drama till she gets a call and finds out one of her brother’s child from the flock of the woman he impregnated is missing and nobody cares about to find her. At first Jane didn’t care, too. But well� as she found out, her niece is also younger mini-Jane Doe, had sociopathic tendencies, that girl grabbed her full attention!
This book is a little slower, repeating itself but good thing is we learned new ugly facts about Jane’s family history and it gave me so much reason to declare them as the most despicable, punch-able, disgraceful fiction beings!
Ending of this book was creepy, because we already have our lovely predator and now we have her mini-Doe version but unfortunately this young minion is not easy to empathize! She really gave me chills!
I didn’t get bored any second and Jane Doe’s awkward antics, way of thinking, her POV about the world and her motives always got my attention. I loved her at the first book. I still enjoyed her new adventure. But I think I’ll stop from here. If it’s planned as a trilogy and having a surprising, vengeful ending, I’m still in! But if more books to come and more minion Does are to be introduced to us! I’ll pass!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sharing this spooky ARC COPY with me and thanks to Victoria Helen Stone to bring my one of the favorite villanelle back!
This time my mash up psychopathic, sociopathic, this woman is not a regular badass chick, she is completely out of control stars swinging between 3 to 4! (I feel like I put a glass on my quija board-yes I got new one to scare those mean kids next door, shooting my video when I was performing my happy dance!- it moves between 3 to 4, 3 to 4) Okay! I rounded up to 4 stars, but I think a sequel is coming up and I’m not so sure, I’ll give high stars to the third installment. I love Jane but I also love to meet new characters of the author!
Our favorite sociopath is back, working at law office, climbing career ladder by orchestrating the best schemes could be imagined! She has a stable, regular relationship with Luke (poor, innocent, decent, patient soul has no idea that he’s dating with Dexter’s soul twin sister), not giving any heck of the blood sucker parent’s drama till she gets a call and finds out one of her brother’s child from the flock of the woman he impregnated is missing and nobody cares about to find her. At first Jane didn’t care, too. But well� as she found out, her niece is also younger mini-Jane Doe, had sociopathic tendencies, that girl grabbed her full attention!
This book is a little slower, repeating itself but good thing is we learned new ugly facts about Jane’s family history and it gave me so much reason to declare them as the most despicable, punch-able, disgraceful fiction beings!
Ending of this book was creepy, because we already have our lovely predator and now we have her mini-Doe version but unfortunately this young minion is not easy to empathize! She really gave me chills!
I didn’t get bored any second and Jane Doe’s awkward antics, way of thinking, her POV about the world and her motives always got my attention. I loved her at the first book. I still enjoyed her new adventure. But I think I’ll stop from here. If it’s planned as a trilogy and having a surprising, vengeful ending, I’m still in! But if more books to come and more minion Does are to be introduced to us! I’ll pass!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sharing this spooky ARC COPY with me and thanks to Victoria Helen Stone to bring my one of the favorite villanelle back!
August 29, 2020
Five stars for my favorite little Sociopath 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Oh Jane! I just love you❤️
Just when I think you couldn’t possibly shock me more, you’ve got me reeling once again.
Jane knows she’s different than everyone else. She also knows she’s a sociopath and owns it. Fortunately, she’s able to control herself (for the most part) to effectively make her way through society without attracting too much attention. Even her boyfriend thinks she’s just “dڴڱԳ�.
Jane receives a call that one of her nieces is missing, filing it away in her mental trash-can without a second thought. She doesn’t know the girl and honestly, couldn’t care less. That is until the description of the girl stops her in her tracks. She so closely reminds Jane of herself, that this distant relative now has her undivided attention! She must find this girl...if for no other reason than to see if her niece is a younger version of herself.
I was worried I wouldn’t love this read as much as book one, Jane Doe. Simply put, I loved every single word! Giggling along with Jane right from the beginning as she “plays� cat and mouse games with everyone she encounters. Poor folks…they never stood a chance! Well played, Jane!!
Please! Please tell me there’s a book three in the works! I am already going through my Jane withdrawals!
A buddy read with Susanne that we were both howling at (ie the windmill scene).🙈🤣
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC to read and review.
Oh Jane! I just love you❤️
Just when I think you couldn’t possibly shock me more, you’ve got me reeling once again.
Jane knows she’s different than everyone else. She also knows she’s a sociopath and owns it. Fortunately, she’s able to control herself (for the most part) to effectively make her way through society without attracting too much attention. Even her boyfriend thinks she’s just “dڴڱԳ�.
Jane receives a call that one of her nieces is missing, filing it away in her mental trash-can without a second thought. She doesn’t know the girl and honestly, couldn’t care less. That is until the description of the girl stops her in her tracks. She so closely reminds Jane of herself, that this distant relative now has her undivided attention! She must find this girl...if for no other reason than to see if her niece is a younger version of herself.
I was worried I wouldn’t love this read as much as book one, Jane Doe. Simply put, I loved every single word! Giggling along with Jane right from the beginning as she “plays� cat and mouse games with everyone she encounters. Poor folks…they never stood a chance! Well played, Jane!!
Please! Please tell me there’s a book three in the works! I am already going through my Jane withdrawals!
A buddy read with Susanne that we were both howling at (ie the windmill scene).🙈🤣
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC to read and review.
January 17, 2023
I am still buzzing after reading problem child. In my opinion the sequel was better than Jane doe. We meet the same woman, but I liked the storyline more. In the previous novel there was so much repetition when it came to ‘I’m a psychopath�, but in problem child it was done more naturally in a way that delighted me. The writing was also appealing. When the book ended I tried to see if there was another book in the series, and felt sad when I saw that this is the last.
April 11, 2023
Everyone's favorite Jane is back and this time she's on the trail of her wayward niece.
Not because she cares, per see, but because she thinks his young woman may be a kindred spirit. And she thinks it might just be interesting to have a tiny psychopath in her life to...well, not mother, but maybe to help mold? And maybe (just maybe) someone who is like her would understand her.
That would be...nice?
Right?
Ok, so finding Kayla involves going back to her hometown and meeting with the family that turned Jane into what she is today. As they say, nature loaded the gun and the environment pulled the trigger.
Jane's parents have terrible trigger control.
They are the epitome of what most people consider trash bags. Jane's mother in particular, whose complete neglect led to a pedophile being given access to her young daughter, coupled with a reliable amount of victim blaming, helped give rise to Jane's psychopathic tendencies.
I won't spoil the story for you but Jane tries to figure out how to cope with her version of being in love, attempts to rescue her dangerous niece from a politician who might be even more dangerous, and deals severely with a co-worker who thinks he can steal her ideas.
The writing style sucked me in and I found myself once again enjoying the ride inside of Jane's head.
PS -I love that Jane has found a man with the sort of psychological issues that complement her own. So, here's hoping that Kayla doesn't kill them both in their sleep!
Not because she cares, per see, but because she thinks his young woman may be a kindred spirit. And she thinks it might just be interesting to have a tiny psychopath in her life to...well, not mother, but maybe to help mold? And maybe (just maybe) someone who is like her would understand her.
That would be...nice?
Right?
Ok, so finding Kayla involves going back to her hometown and meeting with the family that turned Jane into what she is today. As they say, nature loaded the gun and the environment pulled the trigger.
Jane's parents have terrible trigger control.
They are the epitome of what most people consider trash bags. Jane's mother in particular, whose complete neglect led to a pedophile being given access to her young daughter, coupled with a reliable amount of victim blaming, helped give rise to Jane's psychopathic tendencies.
I won't spoil the story for you but Jane tries to figure out how to cope with her version of being in love, attempts to rescue her dangerous niece from a politician who might be even more dangerous, and deals severely with a co-worker who thinks he can steal her ideas.
The writing style sucked me in and I found myself once again enjoying the ride inside of Jane's head.
PS -I love that Jane has found a man with the sort of psychological issues that complement her own. So, here's hoping that Kayla doesn't kill them both in their sleep!
September 30, 2019
When I got approval to read this book early, I COULD NOT WAIT to read it!
That lasted till around the 25% point.
Then, I COULD NOT WAIT for it to end!
Jane is back, but this time, she is more CRASS than she is SNARKY!
She is playing amateur detective, as she tries to find her 16 year old niece, Kayla, who has gone missing. This storyline is not as interesting as the story of REVENGE, which introduced us to Jane, in book #1, Jane Doe, one of my most frequently recommended books from 2018!
There is a lot of “filler� about Jane’s childhood, which I found boring, and the search for Kayla drags on too long.
At about the 75% point of the book, things get interesting again, as the author sets the scene for what seems to be an INEVITABLE , Jane Doe #3.!
Jane Doe #3 seems like IT WILL BE what I was hoping for from Jane Doe#2.
I wish the author had condensed the entire middle of the book into a few chapters, and given us THAT story now! Sigh!
But despite NOT loving this book...I really do think I will enjoy the next chapter of Jane’s story...
Thank You to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Victoria Helen Stone for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review! This book will be available on March 24, 2020!
That lasted till around the 25% point.
Then, I COULD NOT WAIT for it to end!
Jane is back, but this time, she is more CRASS than she is SNARKY!
She is playing amateur detective, as she tries to find her 16 year old niece, Kayla, who has gone missing. This storyline is not as interesting as the story of REVENGE, which introduced us to Jane, in book #1, Jane Doe, one of my most frequently recommended books from 2018!
There is a lot of “filler� about Jane’s childhood, which I found boring, and the search for Kayla drags on too long.
At about the 75% point of the book, things get interesting again, as the author sets the scene for what seems to be an INEVITABLE , Jane Doe #3.!
Jane Doe #3 seems like IT WILL BE what I was hoping for from Jane Doe#2.
I wish the author had condensed the entire middle of the book into a few chapters, and given us THAT story now! Sigh!
But despite NOT loving this book...I really do think I will enjoy the next chapter of Jane’s story...
Thank You to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Victoria Helen Stone for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review! This book will be available on March 24, 2020!
October 15, 2019
3.5 Stars
Jane is back and she is colder and scary calculating than ever before. At times I was cheering her on and other times I was cringing with the length she went with her deception.
I started off fascinated and couldn't wait to find out more about Jane's niece and I was turning those pages as fast as I could till the very last page. I loved that last paragraph and what a way to end the book. However, I felt a bit let down as I think I missed the plot of the story here and didn't get much more out of Jane other than just how mean she is. It was entertaining at times but just didn't feel like a developed plot. So after sharing some thoughts with my friends, I think we are in store for a fascinating character to come. I just wished it didn't feel like it took a whole book to set that up.
Traveling Friends/ Sister group read. You can find our discussion here. All thread contains spoilers
/group/show/...
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley
Jane is back and she is colder and scary calculating than ever before. At times I was cheering her on and other times I was cringing with the length she went with her deception.
I started off fascinated and couldn't wait to find out more about Jane's niece and I was turning those pages as fast as I could till the very last page. I loved that last paragraph and what a way to end the book. However, I felt a bit let down as I think I missed the plot of the story here and didn't get much more out of Jane other than just how mean she is. It was entertaining at times but just didn't feel like a developed plot. So after sharing some thoughts with my friends, I think we are in store for a fascinating character to come. I just wished it didn't feel like it took a whole book to set that up.
Traveling Friends/ Sister group read. You can find our discussion here. All thread contains spoilers
/group/show/...
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley
April 3, 2020
EXCERPT: My very first memory is being alone and scared at night when I was three or four. Lightning and thunder and wind knocking trash against the thin walls of our house. My brother was nine and already a bully. He told me our parents were never coming home and he was going to sell me to a man he met that day for fifty dollars. 'I got him up from twenty,' he sneered.
Nobody cared about us. We were the white trash of the neighbourhood, and family matters weren't anyone else's business in this part of the country. It's not like we were being beaten half to shit, and plenty of kids my brother's age were cooking and cleaning for younger siblings.
I wasn't dying. I wasn't even starving, really. I was just terrified and bereft. No call to involve the authorities in that.
That was back when I still felt fear. When I still cried. When I still needed love and safety. I can almost remember what that felt like, but not really. It's more like watching a movie of some pitiful little stranger.
I hate to remember that I used to need these people. They disgust me now, and that weak little girl disgusts me too.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: She’s cold, calculating, and can deceive with a smile. Jane Doe is back in the Amazon Charts bestselling series - and this time she's met her match.
After a brutal childhood, Jane Doe has been permanently wired to look after herself and only herself. Now, looking next to normal, Jane has a lover and a job. But she hasn't lost her edge. It sharpens when she hears from her estranged family.
Jane's deeply troubled sixteen-year-old niece, Kayla, has vanished, and no one seems to care. Neither does Jane. Until she sees a picture of Kayla and recognizes herself in the young girl's eyes. It's the empty stare of a sociopath.
Jane knows what vengeful and desperate things Kayla is capable of. Only Jane can help her - by being drawn into Kayla’s dark world. And no one's more aware than Jane just how dangerous that can be.
MY THOUGHTS: I am glad to see Jane back. I enjoyed this, my second encounter with her. You really don't want to piss Jane off....just ask Rob.
There are no shades of grey in Jane's life. She doesn't care. If you get in her way she will deal to you in the most fitting way she can think of. Usually one that makes her look good. She has her own sense and form of justice. I like her. I like her reasoning.
I'm sure that she's not meant to be funny, but at times she is. I laughed often during this read. Mostly at the justice she dealt out. And her one liners. And the lengths she will go to to get what she wants.
And now there's a 'mini-me' in her life. I can't wait to see where that scenario is going to take us. She has shocked Jane, and that is not easy to do. I think we have something special to look forward to.
👧🤠😱�
#ProblemChild #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Victoria Helen Stone is the nom de plume for USA Today bestselling author Victoria Dahl. After publishing more than twenty-five novels, she has taken a turn toward the darker side of genre fiction. Born and educated in the Midwest, she finished her first manuscript just after college. In 2016, the American Library Association awarded her the prestigious Reading List Award for outstanding genre fiction. Having escaped the plains of her youth, she now resides with her family in a small town high in the Rocky Mountains, where she enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, and not skiing (too dangerous).
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Problem Child by Victoria Helen Stone for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my ŷ.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage
Nobody cared about us. We were the white trash of the neighbourhood, and family matters weren't anyone else's business in this part of the country. It's not like we were being beaten half to shit, and plenty of kids my brother's age were cooking and cleaning for younger siblings.
I wasn't dying. I wasn't even starving, really. I was just terrified and bereft. No call to involve the authorities in that.
That was back when I still felt fear. When I still cried. When I still needed love and safety. I can almost remember what that felt like, but not really. It's more like watching a movie of some pitiful little stranger.
I hate to remember that I used to need these people. They disgust me now, and that weak little girl disgusts me too.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: She’s cold, calculating, and can deceive with a smile. Jane Doe is back in the Amazon Charts bestselling series - and this time she's met her match.
After a brutal childhood, Jane Doe has been permanently wired to look after herself and only herself. Now, looking next to normal, Jane has a lover and a job. But she hasn't lost her edge. It sharpens when she hears from her estranged family.
Jane's deeply troubled sixteen-year-old niece, Kayla, has vanished, and no one seems to care. Neither does Jane. Until she sees a picture of Kayla and recognizes herself in the young girl's eyes. It's the empty stare of a sociopath.
Jane knows what vengeful and desperate things Kayla is capable of. Only Jane can help her - by being drawn into Kayla’s dark world. And no one's more aware than Jane just how dangerous that can be.
MY THOUGHTS: I am glad to see Jane back. I enjoyed this, my second encounter with her. You really don't want to piss Jane off....just ask Rob.
There are no shades of grey in Jane's life. She doesn't care. If you get in her way she will deal to you in the most fitting way she can think of. Usually one that makes her look good. She has her own sense and form of justice. I like her. I like her reasoning.
I'm sure that she's not meant to be funny, but at times she is. I laughed often during this read. Mostly at the justice she dealt out. And her one liners. And the lengths she will go to to get what she wants.
And now there's a 'mini-me' in her life. I can't wait to see where that scenario is going to take us. She has shocked Jane, and that is not easy to do. I think we have something special to look forward to.
👧🤠😱�
#ProblemChild #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Victoria Helen Stone is the nom de plume for USA Today bestselling author Victoria Dahl. After publishing more than twenty-five novels, she has taken a turn toward the darker side of genre fiction. Born and educated in the Midwest, she finished her first manuscript just after college. In 2016, the American Library Association awarded her the prestigious Reading List Award for outstanding genre fiction. Having escaped the plains of her youth, she now resides with her family in a small town high in the Rocky Mountains, where she enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, and not skiing (too dangerous).
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Problem Child by Victoria Helen Stone for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my ŷ.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage
July 8, 2020
Go, girl, get'em! The not-so plain Jane's on the stalk again!
I'm really sorry to say that the business part was mangled beyond reasonable. Legal firm wouldn't be likely to be predicting cost savings on chicken, raw or proccessed ... Consulting or due diligence or market research or even tax (if and only if they were doing tax analysis!) would be much more likely to be doing that. Other than that the office back-stabbing part was fun, if unrealistic.
Are the so-called sociopaths becoming our contemporaries' embodiment of the Artemis archetype?
Q:
People are afraid of us. Afraid of the idea of sociopaths, lumping us in with serial killers and mass murderers. But I’ve never killed anyone. I probably never will.
Still, if they knew the truth, they’d be even more afraid. There are so many of us. We’re everywhere. Sure, we’re petty criminals and fraudsters, but we are also CEOs and surgeons and military brass. More than that, we are the most successful CEOs and surgeons and military brass. The very people the world admires. Why do we have success? Because we’re not scared of anything, and we’re willing to accept the kind of risk/reward exchange that pays off in millions. We’re eager for it.
Of course, we’re also the worst CEOs and surgeons and military brass, and you definitely shouldn’t marry one of us, but you have to take the good with the bad. (c)
Q:
... I have a kind of... disability. I’m not capable of experiencing a full range of emotion, and most emotions I can’t pull off at all, but that’s not my fault. (c)
Q:
This is why I hate talking. It never leads to anything good, like food or sex or action movies. (c)
Q:
So... do you think your supplier in Brazil could handle an order increase of three hundred percent? Because those are the kind of numbers we’re looking at.�
“Absolutely.� His supplier isn’t really in Brazil and the owner of North Unlimited is a goddamn scammer, but what do I care? (c)
Q:
I don’t care what they think, of course, just like I’m not actually sorry for interrupting good old Rob. But I need to be likable as well as capable and confident. What a tightrope. (c)
Q:
He’s my one person. My connection. My only entrée into the flow and pulse of humanity. (c)
Q:
The common belief is that people like me don’t feel love at all, but I do feel something. We’re not robots. We crave the connections we can’t make. (c)
Q:
“You want kids,� ...
“Luke!� ...
“I’ve never wanted kids,� ...
“You know, I’m an attorney, and I can tell pretty easily when someone isn’t addressing the implied question at hand....� (c)
Q:
Please come back. Let’s talk.
He may as well have typed, Come back so we can feed your fingers to a rabid wolverine, because that sounds like just as much fun. (c)
Q:
Impulsive is my favorite speed... (c)
Q:
“Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and all that. And that place is a whole goddamn orchard.� (c)
Q:
It’s almost inevitable now. This is how I make decisions. I think of something, and if I like the idea, I do it. Trying to deny myself just makes me cranky and delays the outcome. (c)
Q:
God, I wish I could read minds. Life would be so much more fascinating.
Or maybe it would be just as boring. People are all the same. Everyone wants what they don’t have and shouldn’t need. Even me. (c)
Q:
When I was younger I wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the world...
But I’ve grown wiser, and I now recognize how much easier it is to triumph when people barely notice you. My looks are my chameleon skin, and I can hide my superpowers under a perfect camouflage of averageness. (c)
Q:
If I discover he’s recently disappeared too, I’ll start to suspect my niece of murder.
That would be kind of fun, actually. A tiny little killer in my family. (c)
Q:
I watch her for a moment, curious whether she’s like me, seeing the world through cold eyes. (c)
Q:
Sure, I’m showing off a little, but consider it my version of Scared Straight! Stunned smart? Pampered into politeness? (c)
Q:
And I could set a private investigator on her once a month to make sure I’m in the loop on all of her neighborhood shenanigans.
I imagine the little spy game she and I will play and I feel a surge of affection for this troublesome person. (c)
Q:
In some ways, Luke is as damaged as I am, but the jagged edges of our broken parts fit together nicely. He wants icy calm, and I’m incapable of providing much else. (c)
I'm really sorry to say that the business part was mangled beyond reasonable. Legal firm wouldn't be likely to be predicting cost savings on chicken, raw or proccessed ... Consulting or due diligence or market research or even tax (if and only if they were doing tax analysis!) would be much more likely to be doing that. Other than that the office back-stabbing part was fun, if unrealistic.
Are the so-called sociopaths becoming our contemporaries' embodiment of the Artemis archetype?
Q:
People are afraid of us. Afraid of the idea of sociopaths, lumping us in with serial killers and mass murderers. But I’ve never killed anyone. I probably never will.
Still, if they knew the truth, they’d be even more afraid. There are so many of us. We’re everywhere. Sure, we’re petty criminals and fraudsters, but we are also CEOs and surgeons and military brass. More than that, we are the most successful CEOs and surgeons and military brass. The very people the world admires. Why do we have success? Because we’re not scared of anything, and we’re willing to accept the kind of risk/reward exchange that pays off in millions. We’re eager for it.
Of course, we’re also the worst CEOs and surgeons and military brass, and you definitely shouldn’t marry one of us, but you have to take the good with the bad. (c)
Q:
... I have a kind of... disability. I’m not capable of experiencing a full range of emotion, and most emotions I can’t pull off at all, but that’s not my fault. (c)
Q:
This is why I hate talking. It never leads to anything good, like food or sex or action movies. (c)
Q:
So... do you think your supplier in Brazil could handle an order increase of three hundred percent? Because those are the kind of numbers we’re looking at.�
“Absolutely.� His supplier isn’t really in Brazil and the owner of North Unlimited is a goddamn scammer, but what do I care? (c)
Q:
I don’t care what they think, of course, just like I’m not actually sorry for interrupting good old Rob. But I need to be likable as well as capable and confident. What a tightrope. (c)
Q:
He’s my one person. My connection. My only entrée into the flow and pulse of humanity. (c)
Q:
The common belief is that people like me don’t feel love at all, but I do feel something. We’re not robots. We crave the connections we can’t make. (c)
Q:
“You want kids,� ...
“Luke!� ...
“I’ve never wanted kids,� ...
“You know, I’m an attorney, and I can tell pretty easily when someone isn’t addressing the implied question at hand....� (c)
Q:
Please come back. Let’s talk.
He may as well have typed, Come back so we can feed your fingers to a rabid wolverine, because that sounds like just as much fun. (c)
Q:
Impulsive is my favorite speed... (c)
Q:
“Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and all that. And that place is a whole goddamn orchard.� (c)
Q:
It’s almost inevitable now. This is how I make decisions. I think of something, and if I like the idea, I do it. Trying to deny myself just makes me cranky and delays the outcome. (c)
Q:
God, I wish I could read minds. Life would be so much more fascinating.
Or maybe it would be just as boring. People are all the same. Everyone wants what they don’t have and shouldn’t need. Even me. (c)
Q:
When I was younger I wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the world...
But I’ve grown wiser, and I now recognize how much easier it is to triumph when people barely notice you. My looks are my chameleon skin, and I can hide my superpowers under a perfect camouflage of averageness. (c)
Q:
If I discover he’s recently disappeared too, I’ll start to suspect my niece of murder.
That would be kind of fun, actually. A tiny little killer in my family. (c)
Q:
I watch her for a moment, curious whether she’s like me, seeing the world through cold eyes. (c)
Q:
Sure, I’m showing off a little, but consider it my version of Scared Straight! Stunned smart? Pampered into politeness? (c)
Q:
And I could set a private investigator on her once a month to make sure I’m in the loop on all of her neighborhood shenanigans.
I imagine the little spy game she and I will play and I feel a surge of affection for this troublesome person. (c)
Q:
In some ways, Luke is as damaged as I am, but the jagged edges of our broken parts fit together nicely. He wants icy calm, and I’m incapable of providing much else. (c)
August 30, 2020
Oh Jane, How do I love thee? Quite a lot!
You do beat all Girl!
Are you truly evil? I think not, actually. I kind of think you have misjudged yourself and I do believe there’s a heart in there.. Somewhere.
You make me laugh hysterically and smile oh so wickedly.
Your antics - they are freaking brilliant! While I have never ever had any cause to take the sort of action you do (and am not a sociopath) and would never ever in a million years do anything of the sort, I applaud you and yes, I have actually thought, BRAVO!
Let me just say that I will never look at Wind Turbines the same ever again, Baah!!!
As for ending, can I just say: Hell Yes!!
“Problem Child� was a fun buddy read with Ms. Kaceey! I can’t wait to read the next installment together!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Victoria Helen Stone for the arc.
Published on ŷ on 8.30.20.
You do beat all Girl!
Are you truly evil? I think not, actually. I kind of think you have misjudged yourself and I do believe there’s a heart in there.. Somewhere.
You make me laugh hysterically and smile oh so wickedly.
Your antics - they are freaking brilliant! While I have never ever had any cause to take the sort of action you do (and am not a sociopath) and would never ever in a million years do anything of the sort, I applaud you and yes, I have actually thought, BRAVO!
Let me just say that I will never look at Wind Turbines the same ever again, Baah!!!
As for ending, can I just say: Hell Yes!!
“Problem Child� was a fun buddy read with Ms. Kaceey! I can’t wait to read the next installment together!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Victoria Helen Stone for the arc.
Published on ŷ on 8.30.20.
October 31, 2019
Jane, our favorite sociopath from , has company!
Baby shark, doo doo ...
Mama shark, doo doo ...
When Jane finds out that her sixteen-year-old niece Kayla has disappeared, at first Jane's all, why should I care?
But then Jane hears that Kayla is a coldhearted, distant person - just like Jane herself - and sees a picture of Kayla with the empty look of a sociopath in her eyes. And suddenly Jane is interested.
So Jane takes time away from her boyfriend Luke (who's stressing Jane out with his talk of moving in together) and from her law firm (where she's been busily bringing about the downfall of a particularly obnoxious young partner) and travels to her childhood town to see if she can find a missing young girl who might just need what Jane has to offer.
3.66 stars, mostly because the middle part got really slow-paced, when Jane's visiting her completely dysfunctional family and wandering around town looking for clues, and possibly a little action. She gets this rather odd fascination with wind turbines that eventually leads her to some insights into her relationship with Luke and her own psyche. That subplot took too long for too little payoff.
But the story picked up nicely in the final third, with a memorable ending. And Jane comes up with gems like this:
Content notes: F-bombs and some sexual content (not quite what you might think, but ...).
Baby shark, doo doo ...
Mama shark, doo doo ...
When Jane finds out that her sixteen-year-old niece Kayla has disappeared, at first Jane's all, why should I care?
But then Jane hears that Kayla is a coldhearted, distant person - just like Jane herself - and sees a picture of Kayla with the empty look of a sociopath in her eyes. And suddenly Jane is interested.
So Jane takes time away from her boyfriend Luke (who's stressing Jane out with his talk of moving in together) and from her law firm (where she's been busily bringing about the downfall of a particularly obnoxious young partner) and travels to her childhood town to see if she can find a missing young girl who might just need what Jane has to offer.
3.66 stars, mostly because the middle part got really slow-paced, when Jane's visiting her completely dysfunctional family and wandering around town looking for clues, and possibly a little action. She gets this rather odd fascination with wind turbines that eventually leads her to some insights into her relationship with Luke and her own psyche. That subplot took too long for too little payoff.
But the story picked up nicely in the final third, with a memorable ending. And Jane comes up with gems like this:
What he doesn’t know is that his testicles don’t imbue him with immortality, and I could easily get out a gun while he’s fumbling with the button of his pants. I could kill him and leave his body in the dirt where no one would spot it from the highway. Like he’s a woman. Like he’s one of a million dead women.Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Why did he have a drink with her if he didn’t want it? Why did he let her into his truck? Why did he go off with her if he wanted to say no? What did he expect to happen? You really have to be smarter if you don’t want to get murdered by strange women.
Content notes: F-bombs and some sexual content (not quite what you might think, but ...).
March 27, 2020
3.5 stars
Like many of the other reviewers, this sociopathic Jane story didn't quite hold my attention like the first sociopathic Jane story. I loved the first one, and only liked this one.
The first 25% of was the best. Jane's interactions with her co-worker, Rob, reminded me so much of the first book, I was grinning like an idiot. After that, while we received tons of interesting information about Jane's formative years, it felt a little dry. Our wonderful, diabolical Jane seemed nearly mundane in book two.
Regardless, has a gold mine in this character. Jane is so. much. fun. Looking forward to book three!
Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Like many of the other reviewers, this sociopathic Jane story didn't quite hold my attention like the first sociopathic Jane story. I loved the first one, and only liked this one.
The first 25% of was the best. Jane's interactions with her co-worker, Rob, reminded me so much of the first book, I was grinning like an idiot. After that, while we received tons of interesting information about Jane's formative years, it felt a little dry. Our wonderful, diabolical Jane seemed nearly mundane in book two.
Regardless, has a gold mine in this character. Jane is so. much. fun. Looking forward to book three!
Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
May 24, 2020
Many thanks to Lake Union for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
“Kayla nods and smiles back, a dollop of whipped cream adorably perched on the end of her little nose. But her eyes stay cold and careful, waiting. Good girl.�
I can’t tell you guys how excited I was to be back in the world of Jane Doe. This entire series is a set of the most creative thrillers I’ve ever read. As I’ve said in other reviews, almost anyone can write a barebones thriller but it takes someone with real talent to write one like this.
So, what’s this book about?
Problem Child is the sequel to Jane Doe though both can be read on their own with minimal confusion as Jane mostly sums up what happened in the first book. That said, this series is a whole experience and I really recommend reading the entire thing.
We pick up an unspecified amount of time (likely a few months) after Jane Doe. Jane has moved to another job and is happily (well, as happy as she can be) living her life. But now, she has someone to share it with. Jane and Luke are officially dating (AHHHHHH!!!!) I don’t know how or why but Jane and Luke are my OTP. They don’t have good ship name options, though. It’s either Juke or Lane�
Anyway, Jane is just living her sociopathic life when out of the blue, she finds out that her niece, Kayla, has gone missing. At first, she doesn’t care. But then, a relative gives a description that chills her to the bone. After looking at a picture, Jane is sure� Her niece is a sociopath.
And so, she goes on a long, thrilling adventure to find her niece and save her� from herself.
Looking back, this novel was not nearly as much of a thriller. It was a lot more humorous and, somehow light-hearted, than Jane Doe. That’s not to say that this wasn’t a thriller! There were many dark scenes but this one was overall less� bleak.
� Jane - AAARRGGGGGHH! Jane� If she was real, I would find her and SLAP HER. Because she was so infuriating. I didn’t have any problems with the decisions she made throughout the book, except one. She wouldn’t recognize her fatal flaw, even though it was standing right in front of her. Jane is afraid to put her trust in others. This is a fear I totally get. One of my bigger fears is trusting people. Like Jane, I can socialize and even trust people generally speaking. But, like Jane, in the end, it’s extremely hard for me to fully trust someone. Because trusting is dangerous. But not trusting is even more dangerous.
I really hope that in the third book (which had better be coming!) Jane works her sh*t out.
� Luke - Luke did not get the screen time (page time�? whatever) he deserved. I was very sad that he wasn’t more prominent in the story. Especially because he was so PERFECT. He was so kind and caring to Jane even when she didn’t deserve it. I’m still just annoyed that Jane was so awful to Luke when he was so nice to her. AND I GET IT! That’s part of who she is� but she could have tried to show some appreciation. TL;DR: Luke is perfect. Jane is not. Jane needs to get her sh*t together in book three.
� Kayla - I’ll just be completely honest. I hated Kayla. I really don’t see what purpose she served other than being a plot device. She was really immature and bratty. Now, Miranda and I were talking about this and she made a good point. It could be that Kayla was being annoying as an act to manipulate Jane�. Maybe� But either way she was annoying and I didn’t like her and telling myself that she was just a bratty teenager makes it easier to hate her.
Finally, I want to discuss how (kind of) gross this book is. There is so much blatant sex. Once again, I get that it is what Jane feels she needs to do to manipulate the men how she needs to but still� not fun to read. Also, I would love to, at some point, see a redeemable male character who isn’t Luke. Or a female antagonist? I mean can we move on from this ‘men are sex-craving monsters� narrative, please?
Overall, I really did enjoy this novel. Even though it was dark and rather bleak, it made for a great sequel and I can’t wait to see where the author takes this series.
Bottom Line
4 stars
Age Rating: [ R ]
Content Screening (Mild Spoilers) -
Educational Value (0/0)
Positive Messages (-1/5) - [As I said, this book is forking bleak]
Violence (3/5) - [Car chases, punches, guns]
Sex (4/5) - [Main character has sex with multiple people to get them to do what she wants]
Language (3/5) - [F**k, sh*t, *sshole, d*ck]
Drinking/Drugs (3/5) - [Alcohol]
Trigger and Content Warnings - Sex trafficking, Underage sex with and without consent, Drugs, Underage drinking
Representations - [Sociopath]
Cover (3/5) - Characters (3.5/5) - Plot (4/5)
Publication Date:
Publisher: Lake Union
Genre: Thriller/Fiction
-------------
4.5 stars! Even better than the first one!!
—ĔĔĔĔĔ�
i can't wait spend some more time with my all-time favorite sociopath!!
� Buddy read with !
| | | | | |
March 15, 2023
What a great read!
I really enjoyed this book, and I have to say if there were more books I would definitely buy all of them. I just love Jane and all the trouble she gets up too.
Happy Reading 📚📗📘📚📒📙📚📗📓📘📕📔📗📚📙📒📚📖📗
I really enjoyed this book, and I have to say if there were more books I would definitely buy all of them. I just love Jane and all the trouble she gets up too.
Happy Reading 📚📗📘📚📒📙📚📗📓📘📕📔📗📚📙📒📚📖📗
February 10, 2020
So good to be back with Jane Doe, everyone's favourite sociopath! She's settled down in Minneapolis, has a good job as a lawyer, a cat and a steady boyfriend who sort of gets her. She's working out ways to get back at a lazy colleague who takes credit for her work but apart from that she's bored. When she gets word from her home town in Oklahoma that her sixteen year niece Kayla is missing, she really couldn't care less until she hears that her niece is somewhat like her - cold, smart and calculating - and now Jane has a project to capture her interest.
While I enjoyed the first and last third of this book, the middle section felt a bit lacking in substance and sharpness . Maybe more could have been made of Jane's plotting against her colleague back at work as that was dealt with fairly superficially and it's always a pleasure to watch Jane at work destroying someone. As before, I enjoyed Jane's snarky thoughts and approaches to problems as well as her awareness of her sociopathic nature. Kayla is a new force to be reckoned with and from the ending it sounds like we'll be seeing more of her in the future. Can't wait! 4.5�
With many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for a copy to read.
While I enjoyed the first and last third of this book, the middle section felt a bit lacking in substance and sharpness . Maybe more could have been made of Jane's plotting against her colleague back at work as that was dealt with fairly superficially and it's always a pleasure to watch Jane at work destroying someone. As before, I enjoyed Jane's snarky thoughts and approaches to problems as well as her awareness of her sociopathic nature. Kayla is a new force to be reckoned with and from the ending it sounds like we'll be seeing more of her in the future. Can't wait! 4.5�
With many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for a copy to read.
January 30, 2020
When I got approval to read this book early, I COULD NOT WAIT to read it!
That lasted till around the 25% point.
Then, I COULD NOT WAIT for it to end!
Jane is back, but this time, she is more CRASS than she is SNARKY!
She is playing amateur detective, as she try’s to find her 16 year old niece, Kayla, who has gone missing. This storyline is not as interesting as the story of REVENGE, which introduced us to Jane, in book #1, Jane Doe, one of my most frequently recommended books from 2018!
There is a lot of “filler� about Jane’s childhood, which I found boring, and the search for Kayla drags on too long.
At about the 75% point of the book, things get interesting again, as the author sets the scene for what seems to be an INEVITABLE , Jane Doe #3.!
Jane Doe #3 seems like IT MIGHT BE what I was hoping for from Jane Doe#2.
I wish the author had condensed the entire middle of the book into a few chapters, and given us THAT story now! Sigh!
At this point, I am not sure if I want to continue the series or not-didn’t see that coming!! 😕 2.5 stars rounded up
That lasted till around the 25% point.
Then, I COULD NOT WAIT for it to end!
Jane is back, but this time, she is more CRASS than she is SNARKY!
She is playing amateur detective, as she try’s to find her 16 year old niece, Kayla, who has gone missing. This storyline is not as interesting as the story of REVENGE, which introduced us to Jane, in book #1, Jane Doe, one of my most frequently recommended books from 2018!
There is a lot of “filler� about Jane’s childhood, which I found boring, and the search for Kayla drags on too long.
At about the 75% point of the book, things get interesting again, as the author sets the scene for what seems to be an INEVITABLE , Jane Doe #3.!
Jane Doe #3 seems like IT MIGHT BE what I was hoping for from Jane Doe#2.
I wish the author had condensed the entire middle of the book into a few chapters, and given us THAT story now! Sigh!
At this point, I am not sure if I want to continue the series or not-didn’t see that coming!! 😕 2.5 stars rounded up
December 4, 2019
3.5 Fangs
Jane Doe was such an amazing thriller! I loved reading about Jane's journey and I was so happy it had a sequel in Problem Child.
Jane is working in the city. She has her loving cat and she's still in a relationship with Luke (who's oblivious). At work, she's planning to punish another lawyer who has been using her work without giving her the proper accolades. Then, she gets a phone call. Her niece is missing. At first, Jane couldn't care less. She doesn't want anything to do with her family. None of them are good for anything. This is until she is sent a picture of her teenage niece and she realizes she has that empty stare Jane has herself.
Jane decides she needs to know for sure. Is her niece Kayla the same as she is or is the picture just a picture. With this in mind, Jane goes back home. She meets with her brother, who's in jail and her parents who are living still in the same place. Her mother has no lost love for Jane but Jane couldn't care less, she just wants to find her niece. During her investigation, she realizes that Kayla has gotten involved with the wrong kind of people. People who are powerful and who would not bat an eye about killing a young woman.
For the most part, Problem Child gave me all the right emotions. I love being in Jane's head and I love how deceiving she can be. She's a strong female character (which I adore) and just like Dexter, she can feel something for someone. I felt the storyline dragging in the middle of the book and I was losing interest in the search for Kayla. That brings me to my last point, I didn't like Kayla. I hope if there is a next book, Mrs. Stone changes my mind.
I wasn't shocked by the ending but it leaves the door wide open for a third installment.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
| | |
Jane Doe was such an amazing thriller! I loved reading about Jane's journey and I was so happy it had a sequel in Problem Child.
Jane is working in the city. She has her loving cat and she's still in a relationship with Luke (who's oblivious). At work, she's planning to punish another lawyer who has been using her work without giving her the proper accolades. Then, she gets a phone call. Her niece is missing. At first, Jane couldn't care less. She doesn't want anything to do with her family. None of them are good for anything. This is until she is sent a picture of her teenage niece and she realizes she has that empty stare Jane has herself.
Jane decides she needs to know for sure. Is her niece Kayla the same as she is or is the picture just a picture. With this in mind, Jane goes back home. She meets with her brother, who's in jail and her parents who are living still in the same place. Her mother has no lost love for Jane but Jane couldn't care less, she just wants to find her niece. During her investigation, she realizes that Kayla has gotten involved with the wrong kind of people. People who are powerful and who would not bat an eye about killing a young woman.
For the most part, Problem Child gave me all the right emotions. I love being in Jane's head and I love how deceiving she can be. She's a strong female character (which I adore) and just like Dexter, she can feel something for someone. I felt the storyline dragging in the middle of the book and I was losing interest in the search for Kayla. That brings me to my last point, I didn't like Kayla. I hope if there is a next book, Mrs. Stone changes my mind.
I wasn't shocked by the ending but it leaves the door wide open for a third installment.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
| | |
June 1, 2020
Our favorite sociopath is back! This time we find Jane working for a top law firm in Minneapolis, an associate to another lawyer who is taking credit for all of her work. It doesn’t take long for Jane to plot how to correct the situation (you immediately begin to fear what’s to come for him) but in the midst of that, she receives a call that her 16-year old niece Kayla is missing. It’s her incarcerated brother’s oldest child and Jane can’t even remember if she’s ever met her. Just as she’s about to move on...not her problem...she’s sees a picture of her and recognizes herself in the child’s eyes.
In the first book, we got to know Jane in her adult life, who was in her orbit starting after she graduated college. Here we gain insight into how she was formed as Jane revisits her life growing up in Oklahoma. Though she attempts to be glib about it, you can hear the heartache and pain underneath. What was most fascinating was to experience her evolution in thinking about herself as she visits her family, learns more about Kayla’s circumstances before her disappearance and draws comparisons between them both. Jane views herself realistically as someone with the inability to feel empathy and care about someone else outside of selfish motives. In the background of it all is her conflicting emotions about boyfriend, Luke, who is looking to deepen their relationship. Her mixed and sometimes raging feelings about that pressure challenges all of her beliefs (and mine!) about who she is.
This is a more complex story than what lays on the surface. Jane’s metamorphosis is subtle and nuanced but if you pay attention, it’s there. Yes, she’s entertaining as usual and her sense of justice speaks to our darker impulses, but she also emerges with fresh perspectives. I can’t sing enough praises about the narrator who takes this character to the best heights. If you have a choice to read or listen, choose the audiobook. It’s a stellar performance and you can hear Jane’s shifts. The ending will make you rewind, leaving you in that place where you say, “Uh, oh. When’s the next book gonna be ready?� It was perfect.
Posted on
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
In the first book, we got to know Jane in her adult life, who was in her orbit starting after she graduated college. Here we gain insight into how she was formed as Jane revisits her life growing up in Oklahoma. Though she attempts to be glib about it, you can hear the heartache and pain underneath. What was most fascinating was to experience her evolution in thinking about herself as she visits her family, learns more about Kayla’s circumstances before her disappearance and draws comparisons between them both. Jane views herself realistically as someone with the inability to feel empathy and care about someone else outside of selfish motives. In the background of it all is her conflicting emotions about boyfriend, Luke, who is looking to deepen their relationship. Her mixed and sometimes raging feelings about that pressure challenges all of her beliefs (and mine!) about who she is.
This is a more complex story than what lays on the surface. Jane’s metamorphosis is subtle and nuanced but if you pay attention, it’s there. Yes, she’s entertaining as usual and her sense of justice speaks to our darker impulses, but she also emerges with fresh perspectives. I can’t sing enough praises about the narrator who takes this character to the best heights. If you have a choice to read or listen, choose the audiobook. It’s a stellar performance and you can hear Jane’s shifts. The ending will make you rewind, leaving you in that place where you say, “Uh, oh. When’s the next book gonna be ready?� It was perfect.
Posted on
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
September 14, 2020
I'm glad to report that the second Jane Doe book didn't disappoint, Jane is just as sociopathic and out of control as before!
Jane must be one of my all time favourite fictional characters. The way she handles chauvinisticand sexist men is brutal but very satisfying to read about - I loved thefirst part of the book where Jane takes on her colleague Rob who's been taking credit for her work. In the rest of the book, slightly less entertaining but still very enjoyable, Jane is trying to track down her 16 year old niece who disappeared and is apparentlyvery much like Jane.
Jane must be one of my all time favourite fictional characters. The way she handles chauvinisticand sexist men is brutal but very satisfying to read about - I loved thefirst part of the book where Jane takes on her colleague Rob who's been taking credit for her work. In the rest of the book, slightly less entertaining but still very enjoyable, Jane is trying to track down her 16 year old niece who disappeared and is apparentlyvery much like Jane.
October 10, 2019
I became a psychotic delusional fan of Victoria Helen Stone after she released the the impeccable mystery/thriller, Jane Doe in the summer of 2018. Since then, I've picked up any book I can find by her—including her last book, romantic suspense novel, False Step. Every single thing that I've picked up from this author has been a complete treasure for me. Stone's writing is marvelous and her cunning portrayal of the character of Jane in her Jane Doe series is perfection.
Problem Child is the sequel to her (soon-to-be a television series) mystery/thriller, Jane Doe. Jane's still up to her old tricks, but it's hard to keep a sociopath still! As Jane succeeds at her law firm, she gets a call from someone very unexpected—a family member. She has been disconnected from her family for years as an defense mechanism due to her brutal upbringing. Jane receives a call that one of her nieces, sixteen-year old Kayla, has been missing. Jane does not feel or understand emotion, but she is triggered when she finds similarities between Kayla and herself—is Kayla a sociopath too? Jane's intrigued and ready to find out. Will Jane be able to find Kayla and prime her to suit her needs? Time will only tell.
Problem Child is in the same dark, comedic tone that it's predecessor was and it's definitely just as thrilling. This book is definitely more political with Jane's asides and commentaries throughout the novel, but I agree 100% with what she says so I'm good with it! Without giving away any spoilers, this book will have some divisiveness between fans of the series due to the way the story is portrayed this time around, but I am fully onboard with this book completely and I'm ready for the discussions! The second book in a series is often times difficult to craft, because the author has to connect it with the their anticipated third novel, but still have it written in a way so newcomers can try to follow along. I really enjoyed following Jane's dive into her family life this time around, especially while navigating the mystery behind her niece's disappearance. The book is very easy to breeze through—I finished within the day!
The last quarter of the book really sets the tone of what I believe will be an amazing and epic third novel. Problem Child is further proof that I will read anything that Victoria Helen Stone writes—and 2020 ain't ready for Jane!
Problem Child is the sequel to her (soon-to-be a television series) mystery/thriller, Jane Doe. Jane's still up to her old tricks, but it's hard to keep a sociopath still! As Jane succeeds at her law firm, she gets a call from someone very unexpected—a family member. She has been disconnected from her family for years as an defense mechanism due to her brutal upbringing. Jane receives a call that one of her nieces, sixteen-year old Kayla, has been missing. Jane does not feel or understand emotion, but she is triggered when she finds similarities between Kayla and herself—is Kayla a sociopath too? Jane's intrigued and ready to find out. Will Jane be able to find Kayla and prime her to suit her needs? Time will only tell.
Problem Child is in the same dark, comedic tone that it's predecessor was and it's definitely just as thrilling. This book is definitely more political with Jane's asides and commentaries throughout the novel, but I agree 100% with what she says so I'm good with it! Without giving away any spoilers, this book will have some divisiveness between fans of the series due to the way the story is portrayed this time around, but I am fully onboard with this book completely and I'm ready for the discussions! The second book in a series is often times difficult to craft, because the author has to connect it with the their anticipated third novel, but still have it written in a way so newcomers can try to follow along. I really enjoyed following Jane's dive into her family life this time around, especially while navigating the mystery behind her niece's disappearance. The book is very easy to breeze through—I finished within the day!
The last quarter of the book really sets the tone of what I believe will be an amazing and epic third novel. Problem Child is further proof that I will read anything that Victoria Helen Stone writes—and 2020 ain't ready for Jane!
September 10, 2020
3.5 stars: I listened to the audio version of “Problem Child� by Victoria Helen Stone, narrated by Nicol Zanzarella. It’s part of a series, and this is the first one I listened to. It can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Jane is our narrator and she makes being a sociopath fascinating and even enviable(who wouldn’t want to never worry or feel guilt?). Yes, she does seek revenge, but in a “do-goodery� way. I think we have all had that boss who takes credit for our ideas, who takes your work and uses it as their own. Well Jane, she “balances� things…she’s karma. She only employs questionable moral tactics when she’s pushed. She doesn’t do anything immoral just for fun. She just evens the playing field.
In this story, Jane’s 16-year-old niece has vanished, and Jane only becomes involved when she finds out that this niece may just be a sociopath herself. Jane has homed in on her sociopathic skills to be a productive citizen in society. She finds the notion of “schooling� a budding sociopath to be a productive member of society rather than a criminal intriguing. So, Jane goes on the search to find her niece.
Her niece has gotten caught up in some questionable activities. Jane has to plow through criminals and white-collar creeps to find her. The joy in the story is the inter musings of Jane, as she confronts all the slimy characters in her way. It’s a fun read and pure entertainment.
Narrator Zanzarella does a fantastic job changing her voice for all the different characters.
Jane is our narrator and she makes being a sociopath fascinating and even enviable(who wouldn’t want to never worry or feel guilt?). Yes, she does seek revenge, but in a “do-goodery� way. I think we have all had that boss who takes credit for our ideas, who takes your work and uses it as their own. Well Jane, she “balances� things…she’s karma. She only employs questionable moral tactics when she’s pushed. She doesn’t do anything immoral just for fun. She just evens the playing field.
In this story, Jane’s 16-year-old niece has vanished, and Jane only becomes involved when she finds out that this niece may just be a sociopath herself. Jane has homed in on her sociopathic skills to be a productive citizen in society. She finds the notion of “schooling� a budding sociopath to be a productive member of society rather than a criminal intriguing. So, Jane goes on the search to find her niece.
Her niece has gotten caught up in some questionable activities. Jane has to plow through criminals and white-collar creeps to find her. The joy in the story is the inter musings of Jane, as she confronts all the slimy characters in her way. It’s a fun read and pure entertainment.
Narrator Zanzarella does a fantastic job changing her voice for all the different characters.
March 27, 2020
Jane is back! She has a new job and a serious relationship. She's trying to live a more normal life, but she's still cold and calculating. When Jane discovers her niece is missing, she doesn't care. Then she learns her niece may be like her... a sociopath. This intrigues Jane, so she goes in search of her.
This is the second book in the Jane Doe series. I recommend starting with the first book, Jane Doe, before reading this one. The first book is better, plus it introduces Jane and more of her story. Problem Child can be read as a standalone though.
In Jane's work life, she's got a coworker trying to claim her work as his own. Obviously, she needs to straighten him out. In her love life, she's in a relationship with Luke, who's ready to take things to the next level. Even though Jane has a lot going on, she takes a trip to her hometown to locate her missing niece, Kayla. Jane wants to help Kayla because she reminds Jane of herself.
A fast-paced domestic thriller. Jane's not a likable character, but she is fun to read about. A gripping novel with dark humor, mystery, and revenge.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Jane Doe series. I recommend starting with the first book, Jane Doe, before reading this one. The first book is better, plus it introduces Jane and more of her story. Problem Child can be read as a standalone though.
In Jane's work life, she's got a coworker trying to claim her work as his own. Obviously, she needs to straighten him out. In her love life, she's in a relationship with Luke, who's ready to take things to the next level. Even though Jane has a lot going on, she takes a trip to her hometown to locate her missing niece, Kayla. Jane wants to help Kayla because she reminds Jane of herself.
A fast-paced domestic thriller. Jane's not a likable character, but she is fun to read about. A gripping novel with dark humor, mystery, and revenge.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2020
Absolute 5 Star entertainment here!! I picked this up on audiobook just to see if it would be any different of an experience than actually reading, like I did the first book, and I might go so far as to say this format was even more enjoyable! There was not a dull moment throughout this fast paced joyride of a tale. I was captivated immediately from the beginning, and felt really connected to this book as it takes place in the suburbs of Oklahoma City and Tulsa where I grew up! In this novel we are introduced to another potentially entertaining character in Jane's niece, whom I already like, and I definitely hope Stone continues with this series with that open ended, if not even a cliffhanger finish. Can't help but love our protagonist Jane and her cold hearted nature. In this novel we see Jane start to become a little more multi-dimensional, which I loved. Even though she doesn't realize it, I really think Jane loves Luke and actually cares for her niece, which is contradictory to any sociopath's true nature. That ending gave me chills! Again, this was a great follow up to Jane Doe, and I can't wait to see what's next!
April 22, 2021
Oh Ms. Doe, you deliciously snarky, selfish and unapologetic wonder. I'm so glad you're back. I'm giving you and all the stars. ★★★★�
Not that you'd care, but I've missed you. I've missed how you come at everything with strength, confidence and an abundance of IDGAF. It's so empowering to watch you, a woman, take the world by the balls and make it yours. And now you might have a devilish little Mini Jane? The world can barely contain you. How will it handle two?
Is it wrong to be inspired by a sociopath? Who can say, really? But to the badass lurking inside us all, yearning to speak up, I'm sure Jane would wink and say, "Don't hold back. You deserve this."
And she'd be right.
Not that you'd care, but I've missed you. I've missed how you come at everything with strength, confidence and an abundance of IDGAF. It's so empowering to watch you, a woman, take the world by the balls and make it yours. And now you might have a devilish little Mini Jane? The world can barely contain you. How will it handle two?
Is it wrong to be inspired by a sociopath? Who can say, really? But to the badass lurking inside us all, yearning to speak up, I'm sure Jane would wink and say, "Don't hold back. You deserve this."
And she'd be right.
January 23, 2023
My rating style: 4.5 rounded down to 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ticked a lot of boxes really ENTERTAINING!!!
Jane is cold, manipulative and loves to get her own way but this time has she met her equal or perhaps her match?
She had a particularly rough childhood so shut down the parts of her brain that allowed her to be hurt. Jane lives life as a sociopath, she doesn’t kill� but she does get her own way at almost all costs. She is living the “normal life� with a cat, a stable job and a boyfriend - but always scheming she hasn’t lost her manipulative edge.
Out of the blue she gets a call from an estranged family member that her niece is in trouble� So what, says Jane�
Kayla is 16 and shes just like you Jane� Interest piqued that there might be someone out there like her, she decides to go and see for herself.
She attempts to track down her niece but it might cost Jane a lot more than time and money� how dangerous can family be??
This is the second book in this series (so far no sign of a third - please Ms Stone) and while I personally think you need to have read the first one , you could get away with it but miss some of the references.
However, the reason I think you should read book 1 is to understand how Jane ticks� there are some tedious moments about how she constantly mentions being a sociopath as if we will forget but if you can get past that it’s a great book� plus� you will get to read book 2 because in my opinion (let’s face it thats why we are here 🤣) this book is better. I actually really enjoyed it!!!
Jane is a bit more refined as a character in this one, she is still a bit childish and silly (in a manipulative way) but after reading book one that is just her way and how she gets her way. And boy does Jane like to get her own way. She is funny!!! I love the way the author writes her character as if she is speaking directly to the reader� There are some really amusing excerpts� oh why yes I will share:
I love this one, Jane is gearing up for a bang and shes loving every minutes of this fool’s demise.
By the time I order one last round of drinks for dessert, he’s drunk and he’s lost all sight of vulnerability and any hint of wisdom.
Why shouldn’t he have another drink?
He’s a goddamn successful lawyer on his way to making partner, and he’s a man, damn it.
A big man with a wife at home and a piece on the side, and one more ball buster making eyes at him over lunch too.
He’s a king among men, and he’s never lost at anything. He accepts the final drink and raises it high.
“To another great deal.�
“Thank you.� I respond taking full credit. I deserve it.
Oh Jane you are so caring�
I check my work emails, but they’re all standard fare. Smiling to myself, I send a quick email to Rob asking how things are going with the North Unlimited account in the hopes of making him feel terrible.
The book has a conversational feel, you can really get stuck into this one easily and finish in a day or so. Its an easy read and entertaining. The subject matter can be a bit bleak but the way it is presented, doesn’t make light of it, but just shows us how someone who doesn’t FEEL the feelings would approach an issue. I liked that, I don’t actually know how accurate a depiction of a sociopath it is but its very entertaining to see Jane charge at life and people and places with complete abandon.
There are some raw moments (little bit of rude language as well but not over the top) where she revisits some old memories but can approach them in a way that make you laugh or cringe or laugh and cringe� I liked that� I feel like having time with Jane would be fun� but only for a little while it could get dangerous very quickly.
What a salt of the earth grandmother - Bad language ahead but I have done the readers version of a bleep for you�. 😬
After a few minutes, I find myself staring at a bookshelf full of tiny pale statues. They’re Lladro figurines. I recognise them only because I remember watching a whole segment about them on a shopping channel one day at grandma’s house.
If that sounds like a touching moment, it wasn’t. My grandmother was a stone-cold bitch who treated me resentfully when she was forced to babysit. When I was at her house, she instructed me to sit quietly and “stop being a little c*nt.� That’s a fun word to learn when you’re six. You can really shut down a whole first-grade classroom with that one.
As you can see this is a little dark but it is littered with sarcasm and what I find to be dark humour� if these snippets aren’t for you I don’t recommend this book you probably wont like it but if like me you think they are amusing there are far more where they came from� I really liked getting to know some of Jane’s background and there are some really good F*ck you moments to the Bastards that we encounter in life and Jane does it with brutal class�
I really enjoyed the ending - I could kind of see what was coming and I wasn’t a fan of it in my mind. But the way the author executed it and a little twist was brilliant it really brought together what I already thought was a great book.
Overall, would I recommend this - definitely if you aren’t easily offended then I would try it out. I do recommend reading book one first that will give you some insight into Jane and how she came to live where she does and why. Also why didn’t I give this 5 stars since I loved it so much, there were a few things I found that weren’t 5 star worthy but it didn’t stop me blasting through it and enjoying it all the same�
I will leave you with this last little bit of a F you to the bastard men out there from Jane�
What he doesn’t know is that his testicles don’t imbue him with immortality, and I could easily get out a gun while he’s fumbling with the button of his pants. I could kill him and leave his body in the dirt where no one would spot it from the highway.
Like he’s a woman. Like he’s one of a million dead women.
Why did he have a drink with her if he didn’t want it?
Why did he let her into his truck?
Why did he go off with her if he wanted to say no?
What did he expect to happen?
You really have to be smarter if you don’t want to get murdered by strange women. I smirk into the sunlight and wonder why aren’t there more female serial killers. It would be such a simple job.
Jane is cold, manipulative and loves to get her own way but this time has she met her equal or perhaps her match?
She had a particularly rough childhood so shut down the parts of her brain that allowed her to be hurt. Jane lives life as a sociopath, she doesn’t kill� but she does get her own way at almost all costs. She is living the “normal life� with a cat, a stable job and a boyfriend - but always scheming she hasn’t lost her manipulative edge.
Out of the blue she gets a call from an estranged family member that her niece is in trouble� So what, says Jane�
Kayla is 16 and shes just like you Jane� Interest piqued that there might be someone out there like her, she decides to go and see for herself.
She attempts to track down her niece but it might cost Jane a lot more than time and money� how dangerous can family be??
This is the second book in this series (so far no sign of a third - please Ms Stone) and while I personally think you need to have read the first one , you could get away with it but miss some of the references.
However, the reason I think you should read book 1 is to understand how Jane ticks� there are some tedious moments about how she constantly mentions being a sociopath as if we will forget but if you can get past that it’s a great book� plus� you will get to read book 2 because in my opinion (let’s face it thats why we are here 🤣) this book is better. I actually really enjoyed it!!!
Jane is a bit more refined as a character in this one, she is still a bit childish and silly (in a manipulative way) but after reading book one that is just her way and how she gets her way. And boy does Jane like to get her own way. She is funny!!! I love the way the author writes her character as if she is speaking directly to the reader� There are some really amusing excerpts� oh why yes I will share:
I love this one, Jane is gearing up for a bang and shes loving every minutes of this fool’s demise.
By the time I order one last round of drinks for dessert, he’s drunk and he’s lost all sight of vulnerability and any hint of wisdom.
Why shouldn’t he have another drink?
He’s a goddamn successful lawyer on his way to making partner, and he’s a man, damn it.
A big man with a wife at home and a piece on the side, and one more ball buster making eyes at him over lunch too.
He’s a king among men, and he’s never lost at anything. He accepts the final drink and raises it high.
“To another great deal.�
“Thank you.� I respond taking full credit. I deserve it.
Oh Jane you are so caring�
I check my work emails, but they’re all standard fare. Smiling to myself, I send a quick email to Rob asking how things are going with the North Unlimited account in the hopes of making him feel terrible.
The book has a conversational feel, you can really get stuck into this one easily and finish in a day or so. Its an easy read and entertaining. The subject matter can be a bit bleak but the way it is presented, doesn’t make light of it, but just shows us how someone who doesn’t FEEL the feelings would approach an issue. I liked that, I don’t actually know how accurate a depiction of a sociopath it is but its very entertaining to see Jane charge at life and people and places with complete abandon.
There are some raw moments (little bit of rude language as well but not over the top) where she revisits some old memories but can approach them in a way that make you laugh or cringe or laugh and cringe� I liked that� I feel like having time with Jane would be fun� but only for a little while it could get dangerous very quickly.
What a salt of the earth grandmother - Bad language ahead but I have done the readers version of a bleep for you�. 😬
After a few minutes, I find myself staring at a bookshelf full of tiny pale statues. They’re Lladro figurines. I recognise them only because I remember watching a whole segment about them on a shopping channel one day at grandma’s house.
If that sounds like a touching moment, it wasn’t. My grandmother was a stone-cold bitch who treated me resentfully when she was forced to babysit. When I was at her house, she instructed me to sit quietly and “stop being a little c*nt.� That’s a fun word to learn when you’re six. You can really shut down a whole first-grade classroom with that one.
As you can see this is a little dark but it is littered with sarcasm and what I find to be dark humour� if these snippets aren’t for you I don’t recommend this book you probably wont like it but if like me you think they are amusing there are far more where they came from� I really liked getting to know some of Jane’s background and there are some really good F*ck you moments to the Bastards that we encounter in life and Jane does it with brutal class�
I really enjoyed the ending - I could kind of see what was coming and I wasn’t a fan of it in my mind. But the way the author executed it and a little twist was brilliant it really brought together what I already thought was a great book.
Overall, would I recommend this - definitely if you aren’t easily offended then I would try it out. I do recommend reading book one first that will give you some insight into Jane and how she came to live where she does and why. Also why didn’t I give this 5 stars since I loved it so much, there were a few things I found that weren’t 5 star worthy but it didn’t stop me blasting through it and enjoying it all the same�
I will leave you with this last little bit of a F you to the bastard men out there from Jane�
What he doesn’t know is that his testicles don’t imbue him with immortality, and I could easily get out a gun while he’s fumbling with the button of his pants. I could kill him and leave his body in the dirt where no one would spot it from the highway.
Like he’s a woman. Like he’s one of a million dead women.
Why did he have a drink with her if he didn’t want it?
Why did he let her into his truck?
Why did he go off with her if he wanted to say no?
What did he expect to happen?
You really have to be smarter if you don’t want to get murdered by strange women. I smirk into the sunlight and wonder why aren’t there more female serial killers. It would be such a simple job.
April 5, 2020
Our favorite sociopath, Jane, is back in Problem Child, Victoria Helen Stone’s second installment of the Jane Doe series! After reading the first book, Jane Doe, last year, I fell in love with Jane and her twisted mind. I couldn’t help but root for her, even though she is NOT a traditional heroine, and this book was no different. I’m always pulling for her to win!
Problem Child was even darker than Jane Doe, and did contain sex between adults and teenagers, so just a heads up for those of you who may want to skip it due to the content. That said, it was not graphic, but is more of a theme throughout the story. Personally, I love my fiction to be dark and twisted, so this book worked really well for me.
If you read and enjoyed Sharp Objects, I think you’ll like this one too. They aren’t the same plot-wise, but had some similarities with the characters, and you can see some parallels there. Problem Child had me hooked from the beginning, so I finished it quickly. The ending of this book set us up well for book three, and I can’t wait!
Overall, I rated this one 4 stars. I’d like to thank Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
Problem Child was even darker than Jane Doe, and did contain sex between adults and teenagers, so just a heads up for those of you who may want to skip it due to the content. That said, it was not graphic, but is more of a theme throughout the story. Personally, I love my fiction to be dark and twisted, so this book worked really well for me.
If you read and enjoyed Sharp Objects, I think you’ll like this one too. They aren’t the same plot-wise, but had some similarities with the characters, and you can see some parallels there. Problem Child had me hooked from the beginning, so I finished it quickly. The ending of this book set us up well for book three, and I can’t wait!
Overall, I rated this one 4 stars. I’d like to thank Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
October 14, 2019
When I first stumbled across the sociopath character of Jane in JANE DOE I thought I had hit the book jackpot � not only was she an interesting person who stood out from all the other protagonists in the huge sea of thriller out there, but she was also kick-ass, funny and ruthless. I was totally in awe of her determination to right a wrong done to her friend, going to extreme lengths to get revenge. Sociopath or not, I thought she also had a soft and fuzzy side, which she hid under the somewhat pragmatic view of herself as a cold-hearted, abnormal person who could not feel the same emotions as others. In short, I absolutely adored her, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second book in the series.
Now, after having delved into the ARC of PROBLEM CHILD with a gusto reserved for my most anticipated new releases, and finishing it way too long before publication (sometimes I just cannot resist those temptations), I've been sitting with it for a while and I'm still not sure about it. Often I find that I love the first part of a book and then feel let down by the end. Here it was the opposite. For the first 3/4 of the book I found Jane somewhat mean-spirited, sarcastic (which I normally enjoy but sometimes she crossed a line into plain rudeness), crass and a bit of a bully. Where was the soft side she showed us in Jane Doe, even if only in her feelings of affections for her cat? Sometimes I felt that the author was trying too hard to show Jane’s sociopath side, pushing it a bit over the line into unlikeable character territory for me. The interactions with her unlikeable family members were utterly depressing, as was her background story, and I would have preferred not to learn all that much about it. The story initially moved along very slowly for me, and I didn’t feel fully invested as Jane goes in search of her niece. What exactly were her motivations? Boredom? The thrill of the chase? Certainly not love for her long lost relative, she makes that very clear from the start. I was gutted that I didn’t love the book as much as I had anticipated.
All that changed at around the 3/4 mark. Suddenly it all got very interesting! I can’t really say any more without giving away spoilers, but now there was the potential for Jane to kick butt again and get her own back with some nasty people (with the help from an unexpected ally). And then came the ending - uh-oh! Now Jane has a problem. I really wished that all this had come up earlier in the book rather than the filler story I had slogged through with little emotional involvement. Now I was fully invested again I wanted more! Talk about a bookish cliff hanger!
I guess I will just have to wait for Jane Doe #3 to come out to get exactly what I had hoped for in this one. It certainly has a great premise to make a great read, and I will be lining up to get my hands on it as soon as it comes out. So even if Jane did not deliver all the goods in this book for me, she set the scene for the series to continue with a bang! I very much look forward to finding out how this will pan out � and I have a feeling that Jane may have bitten off a bit more than she can chew. Watching this space with anticipation.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
Now, after having delved into the ARC of PROBLEM CHILD with a gusto reserved for my most anticipated new releases, and finishing it way too long before publication (sometimes I just cannot resist those temptations), I've been sitting with it for a while and I'm still not sure about it. Often I find that I love the first part of a book and then feel let down by the end. Here it was the opposite. For the first 3/4 of the book I found Jane somewhat mean-spirited, sarcastic (which I normally enjoy but sometimes she crossed a line into plain rudeness), crass and a bit of a bully. Where was the soft side she showed us in Jane Doe, even if only in her feelings of affections for her cat? Sometimes I felt that the author was trying too hard to show Jane’s sociopath side, pushing it a bit over the line into unlikeable character territory for me. The interactions with her unlikeable family members were utterly depressing, as was her background story, and I would have preferred not to learn all that much about it. The story initially moved along very slowly for me, and I didn’t feel fully invested as Jane goes in search of her niece. What exactly were her motivations? Boredom? The thrill of the chase? Certainly not love for her long lost relative, she makes that very clear from the start. I was gutted that I didn’t love the book as much as I had anticipated.
All that changed at around the 3/4 mark. Suddenly it all got very interesting! I can’t really say any more without giving away spoilers, but now there was the potential for Jane to kick butt again and get her own back with some nasty people (with the help from an unexpected ally). And then came the ending - uh-oh! Now Jane has a problem. I really wished that all this had come up earlier in the book rather than the filler story I had slogged through with little emotional involvement. Now I was fully invested again I wanted more! Talk about a bookish cliff hanger!
I guess I will just have to wait for Jane Doe #3 to come out to get exactly what I had hoped for in this one. It certainly has a great premise to make a great read, and I will be lining up to get my hands on it as soon as it comes out. So even if Jane did not deliver all the goods in this book for me, she set the scene for the series to continue with a bang! I very much look forward to finding out how this will pan out � and I have a feeling that Jane may have bitten off a bit more than she can chew. Watching this space with anticipation.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
March 29, 2020
“Is it possible? A little Baby Jane out in the world?�Oh boy. Although much of this sequel feels like filler, and we only get a small percentage of time with the actual ‘problem child�, I have to admit it set up future installments nicely and I very much look forward to watching this aunt/niece hell-raising duo take on the world.
My favorite quote:
“So-called normal humans have spent millennia trying to explain themselves into innocence with stupid tales of magic and Satan and bad things that burst out of them during the full moon. Curses and possession and spring madness. All of it to explain away their true desires and pass them off as mere temptation by the devil. Or maybe just temptation by little ol� me. Lies. It’s all inside them, just beneath the surface, hidden in their tight throats, straining to get out. I hate them all for thinking they’re any better than I am.�
January 25, 2020
Jane Doe is back and she is meaner and fiercer than before. In book 2 of the series, we meet Jane’s niece Kayla. Jane hears that 16-year-old Kayla, who she is told is very much like her, is missing, possibly in a sex trafficking scheme. The news comes at what seems to be the perfect time for Jane. Her long-time boyfriend Luke wants to move to a bigger place TOGETHER with Jane and well, that kind of commitment is pretty scary for her. So off she goes to Oklahoma, where she is from, to investigate what happened to her niece and try to find her.
I enjoyed the book, but I thought the middle part was a bit too long and it didn’t hold my interest like the rest of the book. It was a bit too much Jane and not enough action. However, the beginning and the last third of the book was awesome. Jane’s niece Kayla is intriguing in a creepy way and I cant wait to find out what book 3 has in store about her.
Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I enjoyed the book, but I thought the middle part was a bit too long and it didn’t hold my interest like the rest of the book. It was a bit too much Jane and not enough action. However, the beginning and the last third of the book was awesome. Jane’s niece Kayla is intriguing in a creepy way and I cant wait to find out what book 3 has in store about her.
Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 25, 2020
A Jane Doe Thriller #2
Jane is a self diagnosed sociopath who lives a double life. Her best friend, Meg had been dating the devilishly handsome and abusive Steven. Ut Meg committed suicide after he broke off their relationship. Jane is out to get revenge for her friend. To do this she has to learn his weaknesses.
The story is told from Jane's perspective. She's not a likable character. This is a story a out revenge and Jane is a sociopath who is out to get it. Jane is also manipulative and calculating it she can also be funny and sympathetic. Steven isn't a likable character and probably deserved all that he got. There's so much in want to say about this book but I would spoil it for potential readers. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Victoria Helen Stone for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jane is a self diagnosed sociopath who lives a double life. Her best friend, Meg had been dating the devilishly handsome and abusive Steven. Ut Meg committed suicide after he broke off their relationship. Jane is out to get revenge for her friend. To do this she has to learn his weaknesses.
The story is told from Jane's perspective. She's not a likable character. This is a story a out revenge and Jane is a sociopath who is out to get it. Jane is also manipulative and calculating it she can also be funny and sympathetic. Steven isn't a likable character and probably deserved all that he got. There's so much in want to say about this book but I would spoil it for potential readers. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Victoria Helen Stone for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 732 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.