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.

wonderful

this is one of my favorites. nice story loved the characters and plot. also loved the villains.

Ending

Good story but not my favorite. I was disappointed in the ending. It just kind of threw in a summary. It felt like the author was tired of it

Lovely entrancing story

Lovely entrancing story with a lot edge of your seat scenarios along with great love story.

close circle

I love this series. Aunt Carrie and Big Daddy Jake should be each other's second chance love

Julie Garwood Hooked me in again.

I was pulled into the book and couldn't stop listening. this was the 3rd book in the series and I really enjoyed it. it has murder, kidnapping and thriller moments like the other two. You will meet up again with Monk, John Paul, and Noah again as well as new main characters.

If you enjoyed the first two books, I definitely recommend book 3!

Great Listen

Great listen. Enjoyed the suspense and the twists. Liked the development of the relationship between the main characters. You knew they were falling in love without losing too many pages to steamy scenes just to “heat up” the book. The overall story carried the book, tons of detailed sex not needed. More PG than R - my preference 😊

Read MERCY first, for hero's backstory

Solid narration by Joyce Bean. She never fails to deliver a solid performance. KILLJOY is a surprisingly good romantic suspense. Not quite as good as the prequel, MERCY, but better than most of Garwood's contemporary novels. I was happy to see John Paul Renard play the role of hero -- he was great in MERCY. No stupid misunderstandings in the relationship between John Paul and Avery. I liked Avery's personality. Decent suspense with a few surprising plot twists. Some smexy scenes, too.

Garwood's most vivid character is the antagonist. That sociopathic, seductive siren brings to mind a cobra -- I felt unwillingly entranced. She's compelling and repelling. Quite the villain.

Poor Monk. I almost felt sorry for him. Garwood created an almost sympathetic villain, lonely, alone, and hungry for love. Compared to the psycho-siren, he was almost harmless. And that's saying a lot.

I also felt for Anne, one of the three kidnapped women. Unpleasant. Unlikeable. At least, till you understand why. Then, a shift in perspective. Nicely done.

This book is certainly not a testament to the faithfulness of married men.

Good to see Noah Clayborne again.

Quibble: I wanted to see the main characters from the prequel: Theo, Michelle, and even Big Daddy Jake. No such luck. I wanted a longer epilogue, set in Bowan, Louisiana.

Amazing

Wonderful characters, a really great read. I highly recommend it. Couldn't put it down.
a nail biter.

A gripping suspenseful story

The voice actress did a wonderful job. This is the third installment in the series - its best to listen to the stories in order because some of the characters are mentioned throughout each story. I also enjoyed how the heroine is written: beautiful ( of course aren’t they always, smart and fearless with a take charge attitude ( which is different) and a decent chase story - and a shocking ending.

One for a rose, etc,

I couldn’t even tell that the same author wrote the “Roses” series and these contemporary series! And since I did listen to them backwards, Mercy, Killjoy, etc. (the Buchanan’s) and then the Roses, I was one disappointed listener! And I think Killjoy is one of the jewels in Garwood’s crown of successes only bested by Mercy. I highly recommend this series and urge the listeners to do so in order. You’ll be highly entertained and subsequently trying to give a great review without gushing!