Review: A sizzling follow-up
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 1, 2013
Embryo: Crosshairs picks up almost immediately following the events of the first book. A media firestorm, fallout at the hospital, the fate of the embryo, and a deadly loose end ensure that this second volume is as gripping as the first.Crosshairs adds a strong whodunit element to the tension and handles it admirably, with enough redirection and mystery to keep you guessing until the end. If you're looking for a fast-paced, absorbing mystery thriller, you've got it. The author has mastered keeping her readers glued to the page (or screen!) from start to finish.Schneider also deftly avoided telling the same story over in the sequel and went with a refreshingly different although convincingly related plot. I can't wait to read the third installment! These books are addicting little morsels that leave you bouncing around wanting more.The one thing I had a really hard time getting past is the almost comic-bookish villainy of the antagonist. He's a cartoon cutout of a revenge-driven psychopath. He's intended to have mental issues, but the entire portrayal clobbers readers over the head with the same lack of subtlety as the villain himself.The author anticipates the possibility that the reader might not have knowledge of the first book and back-fills the story enough to understand what's going on. I recommend reading Embryo first, and as someone who did I wish there hadn't been quite as much time spent "catching up" new readers on the story - but it's understandable.NOTES: This volume may be triggering to those with PTSD (rape and heights). There are fairly graphic although clinical scenes of the aftermath of violent rapes. Though the cover implies a possible abortion storyline, there isn't one. It's a straight mystery thriller that happens to have an embryo in jeopardy from other factors.* I was provided with a free copy for unbiased review. I post my honest opinion; if I don't like a book and would have to give a sharply negative opinion, I refrain from posting any review at all out of respect for the author. Thus if you see a positive review from me, it's real. I rarely rate five stars, a ranking which is reserved for all-time favorites.