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A Date to Die For
Detectives Joseph Paterson and Tessa Mariani must match their wits against an intelligent and highly organised serial killer before there's another victim. The only clues at the bloody murder scenes are a cryptic note and a white rose.
296 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 22, 2022
3.5
Tis a character driven murder investigation story, and I know some of you guys love character driven stories so you’ve got a serial killer to spice it up!
(Oh and tw ⚠️: suicide)
I was sooo sure I knew who the killer was but nope.
If you like shows like Criminal Minds and character driven stories you might want to check this out
Thanks to the publishers for this arc❤️
Tis a character driven murder investigation story, and I know some of you guys love character driven stories so you’ve got a serial killer to spice it up!
(Oh and tw ⚠️: suicide)
I was sooo sure I knew who the killer was but nope.
If you like shows like Criminal Minds and character driven stories you might want to check this out
Thanks to the publishers for this arc❤️
April 22, 2022
Gaylene B. Corben’s A Date to Die For is a well crafted mystery about two police detectives, Joe Patterson and Tessa Mariani, on the trail of a serial killer who is using a dating site to lure his victims, young, attractive women, to their doom. The killer leaves a taunting note and a white rose with each victim, and our two detectives find themselves racing the clock after three kills and one near kill, while at the same time dealing with the demons in their own lives.
Corben has crafted a near-perfect mystery, with plenty of red herrings and false trails to keep the reader guessing, but a story line that leads unerringly to the killer in one of those ‘my goodness, why didn’t I think of that� moments.
The author sets the perfect tempo in this, her debut book, like a heartbeat, speeding up when the tension level rises and then slowing down when things seem to be getting quiet. With characters you can’t help but empathize with and care about and enough surprises to keep you on the edge of the chair, this is one you don’t want to miss.
I received a pre-publication copy of this book for review and my advice is go to your nearest book selling site and pre-order it so you don’t miss out. An author to keep an eye on, I give Corben five stars for her first effort.
Corben has crafted a near-perfect mystery, with plenty of red herrings and false trails to keep the reader guessing, but a story line that leads unerringly to the killer in one of those ‘my goodness, why didn’t I think of that� moments.
The author sets the perfect tempo in this, her debut book, like a heartbeat, speeding up when the tension level rises and then slowing down when things seem to be getting quiet. With characters you can’t help but empathize with and care about and enough surprises to keep you on the edge of the chair, this is one you don’t want to miss.
I received a pre-publication copy of this book for review and my advice is go to your nearest book selling site and pre-order it so you don’t miss out. An author to keep an eye on, I give Corben five stars for her first effort.
May 13, 2022
An intelligently written suspenseful, compelling, thought-provoking, nail biting page turner!
I love the serial killer being hunted by two real police officers. In saying this I mean either of the main characters could be you or me they are real people with real problems! I enjoyed the way there was police procedure and profiling of the serial killer yet we weren't inundated with technical jargon I always find that slows the story line somehow. I also thought it was refreshing that some of the officers in this story struggled with problems that aren't always written or talked about however I think they should be more often such as anxiety and suicidal thoughts. These are struggles that plague officers sometimes on a daily basis. There jobs are high stress and tough to do, often books don't show that but this one does and I applaud. Mental Health Matters.
There's one more topic that I would like to talk about that is in this book that I absolutely love. It's sexual preference or sexual orientation. I think it's great that this author has brought to light some view points that people still believe but which are outdated. A lot of people are afraid to be who they are because they think their family or friends who are Catholic or some other religions won't accept them or will cut them out of there lives completely. Most religion's are more accepting then they use to be, as it should be in my opinion. I love it when these issues are written about because we as a society need more awareness & knowledge, people fear what they don't understand.
It was an absolute joy to read Gaylene B Corben, she has a talent for flow and this story has an excellent progression, there is an undeniable ebb in the dialog between our main characters that simply makes you feel apart of the story. No spoilers but I got teary-eyed in two different spots and may have thrown a right hook of my own once. When I Google searched Gaylene I honestly couldn't believe this was a debut novel, I was disappointed as I was looking to read some of her other novels. Personally I would love for this to turn in to a long series. I definitely rate this at 4/5 * and would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, thriller, suspense or police drama.
I would like to thank Gaylene B Corben, AIA Publishing & Booksirens for the ARC of this phenomenal book that I honestly can't say enough good things about. I ONLY ever write honest reviews of books that are my own thoughts & opinions.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love the serial killer being hunted by two real police officers. In saying this I mean either of the main characters could be you or me they are real people with real problems! I enjoyed the way there was police procedure and profiling of the serial killer yet we weren't inundated with technical jargon I always find that slows the story line somehow. I also thought it was refreshing that some of the officers in this story struggled with problems that aren't always written or talked about however I think they should be more often such as anxiety and suicidal thoughts. These are struggles that plague officers sometimes on a daily basis. There jobs are high stress and tough to do, often books don't show that but this one does and I applaud. Mental Health Matters.
There's one more topic that I would like to talk about that is in this book that I absolutely love. It's sexual preference or sexual orientation. I think it's great that this author has brought to light some view points that people still believe but which are outdated. A lot of people are afraid to be who they are because they think their family or friends who are Catholic or some other religions won't accept them or will cut them out of there lives completely. Most religion's are more accepting then they use to be, as it should be in my opinion. I love it when these issues are written about because we as a society need more awareness & knowledge, people fear what they don't understand.
It was an absolute joy to read Gaylene B Corben, she has a talent for flow and this story has an excellent progression, there is an undeniable ebb in the dialog between our main characters that simply makes you feel apart of the story. No spoilers but I got teary-eyed in two different spots and may have thrown a right hook of my own once. When I Google searched Gaylene I honestly couldn't believe this was a debut novel, I was disappointed as I was looking to read some of her other novels. Personally I would love for this to turn in to a long series. I definitely rate this at 4/5 * and would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, thriller, suspense or police drama.
I would like to thank Gaylene B Corben, AIA Publishing & Booksirens for the ARC of this phenomenal book that I honestly can't say enough good things about. I ONLY ever write honest reviews of books that are my own thoughts & opinions.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 13, 2022
A Date to Die For is a murder mystery novel that shows the vunerable side of the police officers who have to deal with these murders. Joseph Patterson is a detective who is excellent at his job but the nature of the gruesome crimes he has to deal with is starting to get to him. A Date to Die For is the debut novel for former teacher and policy writer Gaylene B. Corben.
A surfer and his dog come across a gruesome murder on the beach. It turns out that this murder is the third in a series of gruesome murders Joseph Paterson and his partner Tessa are dealing with. Joseph and Tessa are particularly upset with these murders because of the extremely gruesome nature of the crimes. As time goes on, they realize that the murder victims look alike but they still need to find more common threads before they can solve the crimes. Finally, another attack where the victim survives gives them some evidence regarding perpetrator. In the meantime, the police investigating the murders also struggle with their own personal issues related to police work. To add to the pain, they begin to realise that the murder is closer to home than they ever could have imagined.
I enjoy this story primarily because it gives voice to the human perspective of the police investigation. Each police officer deals with the crimes in their own way. Some of them are overwhelmed while others develop tools to deal with the horror. This perspective on the police work makes the novel entertaining and unique. Making human nature part of the story also leads to the development of an unexpected motive for the murder and the investigation takes a surprising turn.
Corben does an excellent job of character development. We get to know each of the investigators on a personal level. By delving into the human perspective, he keeps the reader involved in the murder. As well, the reader gets to know the people who are investigating the murder.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who really likes a good murder investigation. I give the book a four and five. I want to thank BookSirens and the author for providing me with a digital copy of this novel. I give this review voluntarily.
A surfer and his dog come across a gruesome murder on the beach. It turns out that this murder is the third in a series of gruesome murders Joseph Paterson and his partner Tessa are dealing with. Joseph and Tessa are particularly upset with these murders because of the extremely gruesome nature of the crimes. As time goes on, they realize that the murder victims look alike but they still need to find more common threads before they can solve the crimes. Finally, another attack where the victim survives gives them some evidence regarding perpetrator. In the meantime, the police investigating the murders also struggle with their own personal issues related to police work. To add to the pain, they begin to realise that the murder is closer to home than they ever could have imagined.
I enjoy this story primarily because it gives voice to the human perspective of the police investigation. Each police officer deals with the crimes in their own way. Some of them are overwhelmed while others develop tools to deal with the horror. This perspective on the police work makes the novel entertaining and unique. Making human nature part of the story also leads to the development of an unexpected motive for the murder and the investigation takes a surprising turn.
Corben does an excellent job of character development. We get to know each of the investigators on a personal level. By delving into the human perspective, he keeps the reader involved in the murder. As well, the reader gets to know the people who are investigating the murder.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who really likes a good murder investigation. I give the book a four and five. I want to thank BookSirens and the author for providing me with a digital copy of this novel. I give this review voluntarily.
May 13, 2022
I was given an Advanced Reader Copy of this book and am providing my honest review.
Joe and Tessa, two detectives leading a murder investigation, find them selves racing against the clock when three young women are brutally murdered and another young woman who was targeted escapes the serial killer. The killer uses a dating site to find and lure his victims in. Both detectives must put their own life struggles aside and focus before the killer strikes again.
A Date to Die For, written by Gaylene Corben, is a suspenseful mystery written to keep you on the edge of your seat. The focus of the book is placed on the two main characters, Joe and Tessa, recognizing the every day struggles of being a police officer. I thoroughly enjoyed the many different plot twists that flowed nicely up until the very end. There was no detail left out, keeping you guessing but allowing you to figure out who the killer was. I was very pleased with Corben’s writing style. I was very surprised to learn this was the first and only book written by Corben. I would love to see this turned into a series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense and/or mystery. Thank you for this opportunity.
Trigger Warnings: Murder, Anxiety, Suicide, Assault, Attempted Murder, Death
Joe and Tessa, two detectives leading a murder investigation, find them selves racing against the clock when three young women are brutally murdered and another young woman who was targeted escapes the serial killer. The killer uses a dating site to find and lure his victims in. Both detectives must put their own life struggles aside and focus before the killer strikes again.
A Date to Die For, written by Gaylene Corben, is a suspenseful mystery written to keep you on the edge of your seat. The focus of the book is placed on the two main characters, Joe and Tessa, recognizing the every day struggles of being a police officer. I thoroughly enjoyed the many different plot twists that flowed nicely up until the very end. There was no detail left out, keeping you guessing but allowing you to figure out who the killer was. I was very pleased with Corben’s writing style. I was very surprised to learn this was the first and only book written by Corben. I would love to see this turned into a series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense and/or mystery. Thank you for this opportunity.
Trigger Warnings: Murder, Anxiety, Suicide, Assault, Attempted Murder, Death
April 28, 2022
Detectives Joe and Tessa have a third murder victim on their caseload. All were young, petite blonds. Joe is torn up over their deaths and can't sleep, tortured over the stress of his job policing. Gaylene wrote a clever serial killer story that keeps you guessing through most of the book. She allows you to figure out who the killer is just before the detectives put it together. This is not your usual trite murder case and you gain empathy for the detectives as some twists are thrown in you didn't foresee. Excellent writing and engaging characters keep you enthralled until the end. An absorbing murder mystery that I can't help but say I enjoyed. I received an ARC and this is my voluntary opinion.
June 8, 2022
I loved the concept of the story until we got to who the killer truly was. I was disappointed because after chapter 18 I already knew who killed the 3 girls and HOW they were connected. I need a book that has a serious twist that you can't see coming at the end. A good twist would've atleast turned it into 4 stars. The other thing was the vocabulary must have been from a translate of a different language because I had to look up alot of the words and I noticed some of the spelling of words was pretty far off. Otherwise I loved the flow and how the story came together. I also loved the IMs and text messaging to bring the dating sites and communication between the woman and the killer together.
September 11, 2022
I found this a very enjoyable read. More of a steady paced procedural rather a non-stop thrilling ride but this was fine with me as I enjoyed the suspense slowly building up.
Alongside the investigation into the rape and murders of some women, the story deals with suicide and the horrors that police officers must face throughout their careers and the impact on their mental health.
There were several horrible characters here and although I figured out who the perpretator was, I enjoyed the frustration of Tessa and Joe in getting to the identification. I would like to read more by this author if it'll be more of the same.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Alongside the investigation into the rape and murders of some women, the story deals with suicide and the horrors that police officers must face throughout their careers and the impact on their mental health.
There were several horrible characters here and although I figured out who the perpretator was, I enjoyed the frustration of Tessa and Joe in getting to the identification. I would like to read more by this author if it'll be more of the same.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 17, 2022
I had expected the book to be a standard murder mystery, but it surprisingly proved to be much more complex than that. I really liked how the author does not limit the story to just the murder but builds a plot that involves human emotions and insight into what it is to be a detective/police officer. The murder mystery was intriguing and, while familiar at times, kept my interest. I could guess the culprit early on, but that did not take away from the story. Moreover, the character development is brilliant, something that often books of such length miss out on. I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Date To Die For.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 10, 2022
Brilliantly written story of two detectives, Joe and Tessa on the hunt for a serial killer who is targeting pretty, petite, blonde women.
The descriptions and writing style pulls you in from the very beginning, keeps you guessing with false leads and narcissistic, arrogant suspects.
You feel the frustration along with Joe and Tessa.
The secondary characters are just as well thought out as the main characters. It also opens your mind to the struggles and tragedy that comes from being in the police force.
This book was engaging and extremely clever.
A must read 📚
The descriptions and writing style pulls you in from the very beginning, keeps you guessing with false leads and narcissistic, arrogant suspects.
You feel the frustration along with Joe and Tessa.
The secondary characters are just as well thought out as the main characters. It also opens your mind to the struggles and tragedy that comes from being in the police force.
This book was engaging and extremely clever.
A must read 📚
June 21, 2022
When someone is killing young blonde women who are either Bi or gay it's Joe's and Tessa's job to find and stop the killer. This is a sad but wonderful story. Sad because of everything that the police all over the world have to witness and the crimes they have to solve. When Joe and Tessa solves the murders the murderer is the last person they would have ever suspected.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 18, 2022
Captivating book! Really enjoyed it.
October 1, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Despite the copious amount of times coffee is mentioned, this book was a solid whodunit murder mystery. At first I didn't love the amount of personal information being shared about the detectives - I wanted it to be more about the mystery but I eventually understood the significance. Overall, the book was easy to read, fast-paced, and was taken on the different twists and turns of the investigation.
Despite the copious amount of times coffee is mentioned, this book was a solid whodunit murder mystery. At first I didn't love the amount of personal information being shared about the detectives - I wanted it to be more about the mystery but I eventually understood the significance. Overall, the book was easy to read, fast-paced, and was taken on the different twists and turns of the investigation.
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