Review: Maybe when you're not so busy...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 10, 2012
I was irritated while reading No One Knows You're Here by Rachel Howzell, not with the book, but with my family. This was one of those high demand family weeks where there are lots of needs that have to be met, and none of them include being left alone to read a good book and then write its glowing review. Every time I had to set it down I could feel my inner tiger growling just a little louder, until finally this morning it just about ate my husband whole.With that note, let's take a look at another violent tale of a serial killer stalking the streets of Los Angeles. Syeeda McKay is a crime reporter who has been investigating said serial killer. Syeeda has a little help along the way from Detective Adam Sherwood, Medical Examiner Spencer, her friend Lena, and her sister and FBI profiler Eva.What Syeeda doesn't know is that because of her investigation she's been brought to the attention of the very person she's hunting.This story was extremely entertaining, but also so realistically done that it was an absolute joy to read. There's no over-dramatization with the serial killer, he was well researched and fabulously profiled. But the psychological accuracy doesn't stop there, her characters reactions and subsequent actions were also extremely real. Howzell does a fantastic job of showing how not black and white most relationships are, how we have certain blinders for some people, our own insecurities regardless of our status in the world, and how easy it is to judge standing outside of it all.Howzell also does her job to keep your mind inside the story, keeping you guess as to who the bad person really is, throwing plot twists that you never see coming. Oh you may get a whiff of something, but the way she twists it on you is mind blowing. There was one moment where the thought was, "No, she is not trying to pull that off as the bad person. That doesn't even make any sense." (Reading more, because I have to know) Oooooh, I seeeeeee! Wow!" I wish I could explain what really happened, but no spoilers!She also balances quite nicely on that tightrope of calm scenes with intent scenes and background story with character history. As for pace, think of this as a steady jog. It's the perfect pace to keep you going, won't leave you gasping for air, and definitely won't make you feel as if you're asleep with your eyes open.Then the ending? What do you mean "a weird thing happened a few days ago"? What??? You're not going to explain that? Fishhook! Howzell just reeled you in baby! It was great!*Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for a review*