This book is another addition to the 'ridiculous banter' that is a wonderful hallmark of an Alice Winters read. Although there are similarities in the banter, I will say I didn't think this was the author's best work. Perhaps because the characters aren't described well enough and/or quickly enough, or the banter/action ratio is quite skewed, but I felt like I was reading a bunch of talking heads and I couldn't quite find myself connecting with either main character. That could have just been me. This wouldn't be my first choice if I wanted a highest quality Alice Winters book, but it was sort of enjoyable.


Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Maybe.


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: As mentioned, the characters felt like talking heads to me quite a bit with a lot of banter that overtook the rest of the plot. Additionally, I personally felt that Liam underwent a massive transformation in character (as though he was suddenly two different characters) that had me a little bit confused. He's quite grumpy at the beginning but then it's as though a switch gets flipped and he's suddenly completely ridiculous with the banter, almost as though the author couldn't stop the banter and the character changed to accommodate it. Gabriel is sweet, although I can absolutely see where he's coming from in being unsure about dating a serial killer. There's a hefty punch to unpack in that dilemma and it colored Liam's character for me in a rather strange way that felt disingenuous. Again, I couldn't find myself quite connecting to them, I think because they seemed to be just the mouthpieces for banter that didn't quite make sense for their characters. But they're enjoyable enough to want to keep reading.


PLOT: The plot is rather fascinating and I wish we'd had more of it! There was a lot of missed potential in this plot: medium-paced instead of fast-paced, lower tension with the potential for some rather high tension that would have paired incredibly well with the absurdity of the characters and the way they interacted. Ultimately, a serial killer is targeting law enforcement and Gabriel is taken near the beginning. Liam quickly finds him and they spend the rest of the story trying to solve the mystery. There are some bloody moments, although nothing overly described. (Still, check TWs). They solve the mystery and get their HEA (which I'm quite positive isn't a spoiler).




EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.


1:5/low.



CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 

50%. I think if the build up and the plot had been given it's rightful amount of the book, the potential would have been much higher. But as such, there are no loose ends and the mystery gets solved, although I did wish that the final outcome would have been handled differently, rather than playing into Liam's serial killer tendencies. Another missed opportunity, though a valid choice for the author to make.