A Killer's Mind (Zoe Bentley Mystery)

The story is not like every other serial killer book out there. It's unpredictable, twisted, thrilling. Some books I can't put down until I finish it. This is not that book. It got so intense, that twice I had to walk away from it. Zoe is a unique character, and I love her ability to completly loose herself in the taste of food. I have a friend who is like that, it's a beautiful thing to witness. Agent Grey, needs some work. He feels like window dressing in this story. I hope that in the next book, he gets more in depth treatment. These two make a great team, interesting and realistic. It's not a short story, for which I'm very thankful. Mr. Omer has done a fantastic job of keeping my attention without cutting it short as so many other authors have done. Keep up the good work, sir!

Loved this book! It is very well written and easy to read. All the characters are well developed. Love how the author managed to enrich some characters with sense of humor considering the book has a dark plot.

4 starts instead of 5: I really don't like when the main character(s) start acting (ex: chasing the murderer) on their own while their superiors reprimanded them for that exact behavior. I doubt that something like this would happen in real life.

I chose this book through the Kindle First program, and I was pleased with the selection. I found the premise very interesting, and soon I was searching out books on criminal profiling. The story held my interest throughout, although there were a couple points that weren't fully explained -- at least not to my satisfaction. I liked the principal characters, and I will be reading more from this author. I recommend the book to any reader who enjoys detective novels.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would read again. Very engaging and held my attention. No freaking vulgar sex scenes that made no sense nor helped the storyline and was too in depth on every little sexual detail! THANK YOU FOR THAT! It was a great story that progressed nicely and kept you on the edge of your seat. I had some assumption about who the killer was but was pleasantly surprised that I didn't truly know who it was until the last quarter! Well done!

This book is not just your average crime novel. It pulls you in waiting for the next piece. The way the author brings you from Zoe's past and entwines it to the present is seamless. I would never have expected the ending but am chomping at the bit to read the next book.

Engaging plot, interesting & well developed characters, fast paced, witty story telling, all made it hard to put down the book. The only thing I thought could've been tighter was the circumstances surrounding RG & the follow through in trying to find him. Other than that, like I said, this is probably one of the best prime first read books I've read in a long time. A wisened old walnut... What funny & apt description! The book is full of theses little clever & charming descriptions & characters' thoughts that are endearing. I'll be looking for more books from this author for sure.

criminal minds and forensic files collide to make one of the most believable crime fighting teams in print! Zoe's never give up and need feet forget minds, is balanced by Tatum's FBI go getter attitude, a and his bachelor life: complemented by his playboy- grandfather, psychotic cat and a tropical fish! The humor balances the suspense and dramas perfectly! A must readfor amateur profilers,who think the have what it take solve crimes!

Interesting and suspenceful. The 2 main characters were a good mix of insight and humor. It was interesting learning about serial killers and profiling. The storyline was very well done to keep me wanting to continue reading to the end. The very end was a twist I didn't see coming.

The plot is intriguing and page-turning, and the author includes just enough humor to provide a balance that keeps this novel from getting too dark. Just when you think that things are mostly resolved, there's a bit of a cliffhanger at the end, which I'm sure dovetails nicely into the sequel. Sadly, readers will have to wait until next summer to see what is in store for Zoe and Tatum. It seems promising though. Kudos to Mike Omer who wrote something that kept me interested and left me wanting more.

If you are interested in behavior analysis, or forensic psychology, this is the book for you. What brought Zoe to this vocation began at the age of 14, and continues to be with her today, 20 years later. Zoe is a consultant for the FBI, and as the reader begins the story of a serial killer, the reader sees the story unfold through the eyes of 3 people, Zoe, her partner, FBI agent Tatum Gray, and the killer himself. The book is fast paced, and a hard one to pull one self away from. Can't wait to read book #2.

Wasn’t anything wrong with this book but I think I just didn’t care for it. The mystery/crime element was well thought out and well paced. The heroine was a bit odd but nothing too bad. The hero was barely in the story and really relegated to nothing more than secondary character. Not sure what it was but I found the book a bit dull to me and just didn’t get me interested or invested in the characters. So three stars.

This was a well written book of suspense and life happenings that kept me glued to reading it and not being able to put it down. I would say that this book was one of the best crime mystery books that I have read in a long time; Definitely worth taking the time to read if you like to be kept guessing how it all end and let me tell you the last sentence makes me hope there is another book in this series coming soon.

The talent Zoe Bentley has for gaining insight into the minds of others helps her find out who might be committing serious crimes. Her introverted tendencies make for miscommunication with others at times, but left to her own devices, she is a quite effective forensic psychologist. The end of A KILLER'S MIND leaves the reader anticipating the next book when Zoe will engage in finding yet another serial killer!

I really like this read. Historically, I am not a fan of male authors, but I give one a try every few years to "test the waters." I'll definitely add Omer to my list of go-to authors. I didn't feel anything was lacking in the progression of the story. There were even seeds of accusation sprinkled in to keep the mystery flowing. I'll admit my own emotional response turned my stomach sour at some points. But I found myself up in the middle of the night, not reading the book but thinking about Zoe, desperately dreading what was about to happen, but my curiosity demanded to know she would be ok. It's rare that I'm so drawn to a character and have such a response as to discuss it with other people as though I'm talking about something I just saw on the news. Very nice! More please!

I like the approach. It was refreshing and unique. A young psychologist is trying to unearth a killer from her childhood. Se is sent to Chicago to solve another series of murders. She is being helped by a young agent from the FBI who doesn't like her approach. She solves the Chicago serial killer but her nemesis from her childhood is still bothering her. There is a sequel where this problem is solved (maybe).

Zoe Bentley is a forensic psychologist assigned to a case involving a serial killer who embalmed his victims. Armed with sharp intellect and heightened instincts, she is well on her way to solving the mystery. Her new partner FBI agent Tatum , a rogue agent who gets results, doesn't buy into her theories. Why does this case seem so familiar? Is this related to something that happened in her past? Or is Zoe imagining things? It's only when they start working as a team that the case becomes clear. But clarity and catching the killer will test both of them to their limits.
The authors fast pace and flawed but not broken protagonists make this book an exciting read.

I actually enjoyed reading this book. It departed from the usual cop chasing the serial killer book in that instead of a scary killer, this one was creepy. Creepy in a funny kind of way that actually made me chuckle.. I hate reviews that tell me what the whole book is about, so I’m not going there. It moved along at a pace fast enough to hold my interest, but not so fast that I couldn’t put it down. I enjoy the writing method employed here of switching between characters with every chapter.
The reason I gave it a 3 instead of a 4 is because the book didn’t end... it pretty much stopped at what I would call the 75% mark and a cliff hanger that is supposed to make you buy the 2nd book..
I enjoy reading books with a repeating cast that we get to know and love over time as much as the next person, but I prefer them to be stand alone novels that end and theoretically can be read in any order... This one is a part one.. Not having part two just irritates me..
So much so, that I doubt I’ll try another

The most frightening part of this story is realizing that the monsters who perpetrate such crimes are, as Zoe says, not monsters at all but people who live among us. This is a truly scary story that, sadly, is happening every day in this country.

I was promised different and unpredictable. It fell short. Although I liked the characters and the writing is charming, the whodunnit is obvious and that was hugely disappointing—as it is with all of the books in this genre. I can’t wait to find the one book that actually delivers on its promise to surprise and shock. Please someone blow my mind! This book was not the book to deliver on that promise.

Started reading this book this afternoon and couldn’t put it down until I finished! The characters are so well developed and real. It’s scary just some people think and amazing that profilers can get into their heads to help solve crimes. Makes me more thankful for them even if this book is fiction.

A must read for those who like intrigue and back stories intertwined in great plots.

This was well-written, with some twists and turns. The characters were engaging, and I would read further Zoe Bentley books. It was a little...throwaway, if you know what I mean. Like, if I had the paperback, I'd leave it in a waiting room or an airport and never think, "Jeez, I wish I had kept that so I could read it again.' But I liked it enough that I would recommend it to other people.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The main characters, Dr. Zoe Bentley and Special Agent Tatum Gray, are complicated, intense and believable as were the crime scenes and police procedures utilized. I don’t care much for books that switch between past and present but Omer does a masterful job of tying them together and making the past relevant. The story is fast paced and at times I found myself totally immersed in the scenes he was describing and the action of all involved. I highly recommend this book and will certainly read his next in this series.

I really enjoyed this book because it told a great story. It was well thought out, well written and fun to read. I like a story that has some good drama but I don't have the patience for drawn out "evil doing." That said I also like a story that is long enough. The characters are well developed enough to keeping interesting. I just enjoyed sitting outside with a glass of wine and this well-written book.

Great Story. Zoe is a contract FBI profiler and Tatum is a FBI agent. They are assigned to the BAU in Quantico, Virginia. They end up on the case of a serial killer in Chicago. This story contains police procedures, mystery, and suspense. Their personalities clash, but they get the job done. There is also a bit of humor with Tatum's grandfather. Looking forward to the new story.

This story offers suspense as no other. You easily slip into the life and thinking of the main character. She investigates several possible suspects and even ties a mystery from her childhood into her present case. She's got human qualities that makes a person empathize easily with her. Excellent plot and very well developed characters, holding you to page after page of intrigue.

Good mystery and nice resolution to the crime. The flash backs to a childhood experience was useful as a career choice but there were so many flash backs that it became disturbing to the smoothness of the development. Then the ending which leads into another book was not needed. This style of having a criminal element always in the background has been used to often, i.e., the fugitive.

I really loved this book! The characters are written really well and I really felt connected to Tatum and Zoe. I enjoyed how the chapters bounced between POV and timelines, the author didn't overdo it at all. The climax seemed a little rushed but I still really enjoyed the ride. And the ending isn't too much of cliffhanger. You see going into it that it's only book one and I really appreciated that the author surprised me without making me feel like I had been conned out of a true ending. Very good read!

A Killer’s Mind is an alternately thrilling and delightfully creepy trip into the minds of a serial killer and the FBI profiler (who is technically a consultant in this book, not an agent) who is chasing him. A quick but fully engrossing read, just right for summer reading on the beach or for transporting yourself mentally out of that grinding crush in the subway or commuter train or bus on the way into work.

This psychological thriller about a serial killer on the loose in Chicago is intense, fast paced and impossible to put down. I loved this, and am looking forward to book 2 in the series.

Zoe Bentley is a forensic psychologist working alongside FBI Agent Tatum Gray to find the serial killer who embalms his victims. At the same time, she's constantly working through the details of a case that happened in her town growing up, because the guy is stalking her.

I highly recommend this book and if you read it based on my recommendation, please let me know if you enjoyed it!

Delightful, delightful, delightful, delightful, delightful. Seems an odd word to describe a thriller, but it really fits. It’s a fun, whacky thrill ride. The elements between the characters is humorous, exasperating, comical and adorable. The plot line is delicious. The overall picture, believable...and I found no spelling or grammatical errors. Yay!

I've read many serial killer mysteries and this one was tough to put down. I'm a social worker myself with criminal justice experience so it can be distracting if there are too many unrealistic details. The author did great at keeping me guessing at the storyline and the suspect. Very talented writer and I'm off to see if he has his book 2 done yet.

Reading is like eating popcorn for me. Once I start, I don’t stop until I am finished. Some books I put down after the first chapter. This wasn’t one of those books. Lots of twist and turns. A predictable romance. Boy meets girl. Girl hates boy. Boy exhibits gallantry. Girls falls for boy. The protagonist is quirky but I l8ke really weird. The male love interest is rather one dimensional. Still,enough twists and turns to hook me until the end.

I love books with psychological themes. Complicated killers and complicated investigators.
This gave both and more. Damaged pasts of both. Add an FBI investigator skating on thin ice with bureau and his feisty grandfather complicating his life.
The killer is quite sick, cruel and needs to be caught.
Good book. No lulls. Enjoy

Although the lead characters are nothing new, introverted tormented female, attractive charming male, they are written in a refreshing way. Will they get together? You don't really care as they are forming a bond outside of the routine sexual tension most authors create. The plot keeps you guessing, just like the agents, until the final chapter.

Nothing to dislike here! Since I'm a Chicago native, the places made sense to me. I loved this pair and really enjoyed both of the main characters. Since I'm a psychologist, Zoe was a treat! Descriptions of Zoe eating were amazing. I almost took every bite with her.
I am a slow reader but this book was so interesting, I finished it in record time.

Great characters! A page turner! A little more romance might be nice but not needed! I want to read the rest of the story “NOW”! I do recommend this book to readers who loved “Dexter” I really love John Douglas, a real F.B.I. Agent and author. He profiles many real cases in his books. Reading his books made this book even better! I will be looking into the next book in this series. I don’t really like cliffhangers. My 5 star rating is because of the well developed characters and winding plot. I recommend this book!

A true page turner. The main characters are complex and interesting, a little different with a few edges but very like able. I have found a knee author and can’t wait to read the next in the series.

"She never ran out of coffee, not since the debacle back in the summer of 2011. Two filters went in the machine to make it stronger."

This is just two sentences out of the entire book, but it sums up the juvenile writing style. Can running out of coffee really be seen as a "debacle" worthy of noting the year? The main character isn't living in isolation. Find a coffee shop and stop being a drama teen. Writer mentions that the main character is 33 years old, but the way she goes on about coffee makes me think this was written by a teenager who has just been allowed to have it for the first time. And two filters will make it stronger? Has the author ever made coffee? The more filters the weaker the brew.

Nope. I didn't finish this one.

Effort put into making the characters complicated and interesting wasn't 100% successful and sometimes felt disjointed. The story was interesting enough to read to the predictable end. I totally didnt get why Bently had to strip to her underpants for the perp. Was that supposed to be seductive? All i could think was "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THE ROOM!" Extemely, uncomfortably, unnecessary. Won't be bothering with book two.

I love books with psychological themes. Complicated killers and complicated investigators.
This gave both and more. Damaged pasts of both. Add an FBI investigator skating on thin ice with bureau and his feisty grandfather complicating his life.
The killer is quite sick, cruel and needs to be caught.
Good book. No lulls. Enjoy

Although the lead characters are nothing new, introverted tormented female, attractive charming male, they are written in a refreshing way. Will they get together? You don't really care as they are forming a bond outside of the routine sexual tension most authors create. The plot keeps you guessing, just like the agents, until the final chapter.

I am a dedicated Ted Dekker reader and found this story Dekker-ish. The intrigue of the story grabs you at the beginning taking the read through various twists and turns along the way. There is some crude language, but not altogether objectionable. I look forward to seeing the continued development of the main characters in a second book.

Nothing to dislike here! Since I'm a Chicago native, the places made sense to me. I loved this pair and really enjoyed both of the main characters. Since I'm a psychologist, Zoe was a treat! Descriptions of Zoe eating were amazing. I almost took every bite with her.
I am a slow reader but this book was so interesting, I finished it in record time.

Great characters! A page turner! A little more romance might be nice but not needed! I want to read the rest of the story “NOW”! I do recommend this book to readers who loved “Dexter” I really love John Douglas, a real F.B.I. Agent and author. He profiles many real cases in his books. Reading his books made this book even better! I will be looking into the next book in this series. I don’t really like cliffhangers. My 5 star rating is because of the well developed characters and winding plot. I recommend this book!

A true page turner. The main characters are complex and interesting, a little different with a few edges but very like able. I have found a knee author and can’t wait to read the next in the series.

"She never ran out of coffee, not since the debacle back in the summer of 2011. Two filters went in the machine to make it stronger."

This is just two sentences out of the entire book, but it sums up the juvenile writing style. Can running out of coffee really be seen as a "debacle" worthy of noting the year? The main character isn't living in isolation. Find a coffee shop and stop being a drama teen. Writer mentions that the main character is 33 years old, but the way she goes on about coffee makes me think this was written by a teenager who has just been allowed to have it for the first time. And two filters will make it stronger? Has the author ever made coffee? The more filters the weaker the brew.

Nope. I didn't finish this one.

A terrific scary premise, two daring less than obedient servants of justice and evil most horrid - what could be better? This was a terrific first Zoe and Tatum book - please let there be more! Enjoy this twisted tangled web and solve the difficult mystery with thoughtful examination and fearless truth stalking. Well done !