Killjoy

Buchanan-Renard-MacKenna, Book 3

By: Julie Garwood

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Avery Delaney has tried to put the past far behind her. Abandoned by her rapacious, conniving mother when she was only three days old, Avery was raised by her grandmother and beloved aunt Carolyn.

Then, when she was 10, she saw her grandmother murdered in cold blood, before Avery herself was shot and left for dead. Miraculously, she survived. The killer was soon caught, convicted, and is currently serving a life sentence in Florida. This traumatic experience propels Avery into a life of law and order.

Her razor-sharp mind and ability to gather data and decipher evidence has made Avery an expert crime analyst for the FBI. But soon she will have to use every one of her skills on a case that hits painfully close to home.

Avery's workaholic aunt, Carolyn Salvetti, is certain her (soon-to-be ex) husband sent her the gold embossed reservation to the posh Utopia Spa in the mountains of Colorado. At first she is resistant, but then she figures it will be a welcome respite from the cutthroat advertising business, not to mention a networking extravaganza. Plus she persuades her niece to join her for the two weeks of luxury and decadence.

But Carolyn never makes it to Utopia. Under false pretenses, she is taken to an isolated retreat by a handsome stranger with a dazzling smile, suave demeanor, and the darkest of motives. His name is Monk, a hired assassin. Now, with scant clues and fewer resources, Avery must track down and save Carolyn - and outmaneuver a brilliant killer who is part of an elaborate plot of madness and lethal vengeance.

©2003 Julie Garwood; 2004 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

4 ½ stars. A good time. Good romantic suspense.

I did not want to stop reading.

BUT, I did not like:
After they had sex, she said no more sex because she felt they should distance themselves because they would split eventually. Is that believable? Do people really do that? We like each other now but we should not enjoy each other?

I also wanted a little more time spent in Monk’s mind (the bad guy). One example: how did he find Avery when she was in the motel?

I wanted to know what was in Ann’s letter.

THE BUCHANAN/FBI SERIES:
This is book 3 in the series. I did not like books 1 and 10 “Heartbreaker” and “Sweet Talk.” But I really liked book 2 “Mercy” and this one. I suggest reading Mercy before this. John Paul is introduced in Mercy. He’s the hero in this book.

AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Joyce Bean was good.

Genre: romantic suspense

Love it

This story was really good, looking forward to the next in the series. The narrator did a wonderful job.

GOOD LISTENING!!

I read this book a few years ago. It was a good read and I enjoyed listening to it recently. The characters are well developed and the story keeps moving. Even though this book is part of a series, you won't feel lost if you haven't read the other books. Good listening to you!

Love this series

I’m really loving this series! Julie Garwood manages to write a world that you want to step into full of characters you want to meet. While you get clues I have yet managed to figure out who’s behind the drama. A great series to binge while forgetting the world around you!

Glad I got it

I don't know why this got bad reviews. It's not my number one favorite from this author but it is still good. It kept me interested and I finished it in two days.

Good book, narration okay.

I liked the book and the story was good but the narration was just OK. I believe I've listened to this narrator before but this time I didn't necessarily like the voice she gave the main make character.

As usual, Always enjoyable, Never disappointed and Loved the Characters

Second time I have read this book. I have read all of Julie Garwood’s books at least 2x and own most in paper and audio. I started reading her books when I would receive them from my mother-in-law years ago around the early 90’s and have followed her ever since then. When it comes to her books I find them entertaining, funny, and the perfect escape from my sometimes boring life. I will miss having a new book in the future from her. She is a wonderful writer and will be sorely missed. Her characters in her books that she has written over the years have been my heroes and inspiration that I pondered on for hours. Her stories I love to read or listen to before I fall asleep and live over again and again. Reviewing her books seem so silly to me because I have never been disappointed and can’t imagine giving any criticism to her talents and gifts in telling a story. Rest in peace Julie Garwood. I have loved you and your characters in your books from afar and will continue to read your stories till my last breath.

Love this book!

I love Ms Garwood and her books are such a treasure. I highly recommend her to everyone who loves a wonderful story

As always Julie Garwood dilvers again .

Very entertaining, with great surpizes up to the last chapter. you'll love it! I promise.

Recommended

Another excellent addition to The Buchanan/Renard series. One thing I appreciate about this series and this story specifically is that each story is very different from the others. Yes, there are some familiar characters and most involve the FBI in some way. But the settings change and the stories are very different. The key is, of course, all the twists and turns the stories take. Ms. Garwood is a master.

John Paul & Avery make a terrific match. Avery's family is admittedly dysfunctional. Her mother is a beautiful psychopath, and believed to be dead. Carrie is Avery's aunt, her mother's sister. Carrie is straightforward, strong minded and known to be difficult (a little like John-Paul?). Avery's mother has a few goals, make Carrie suffer before killing her and killing Avery to be at the top.