Crush (Karen Vail Series)

"Crush" 'Captures' all five senses beginning on page one!!!

From a regular Joe, let me just say, what makes this book so excellent is that the characters Jacobson has created speak directly to the reader.

"Believable Personalities" clearly come out in all Jacobson's characters....The words are "relaxed" and "spill" from the mouths of each character with an ease that 'regular folks' can relate to.

If you enjoy curling up for an "All-Nighter" with a 'Crime Thriller,' make "Crush" your 'bed partner' for a night of cerebral satisfaction!!!

"So, do you think you're a 'tough guy?'"

You obviously have yet to meet FBI Profiler, "Karen Vail!" Karen Vail is one hell of a creation!

"Crush" is a must read for all who have an 'Extra Pair of Socks" tucked away in that dresser drawer. You're going to be needing them!

"Karen Vail" and "Crush" are going to "Blow Your Socks Off!"

Can't wait to hear from Jacobson again with his new release, "Velocity!"

I enjoyed the first Vail book, but this one- well it was so detailed on the wine industry and the workings of the boards that it made for very boring reading. I skimmed thru half of the book to try to find the meat of the story. I found that I began to dislike Karen Vail a great deal. She is portrayed as an arrogant profiler who thinks that she is the only one that can catch the killer. Does she feel that all the other characters were so incompetent? Was that the aim of the author? But my biggest complaint is the ending. If Alan Jacobson meant this to be a cliff hanger it fell short, especially with his explanation at the end. I felt that I became a hostage! "Buy my next book to find out what happened to Robbie." If Crush was a better book, I might think about it. I am an avid reader, about 6 books a week. I think based on this book, I will steer clear of the Karen Vail series from now on.

The crime story that takes place in and around Napa Valley is full of action throughout the book. The story seems to take a number of twists and turns which makes the reader want to continue. In the end, there is disappointment. Many of story threads end up nowhere. Although the crimes were solved, the explanations of why they actually happened are weak. One new element of the story is added right at the end that only leaves the reader guessing as to why it was introduced.

It was generally a page turner with lots of great twists and turns. I often have thrillers/mysteries figured out by the second 3rd of the book. This one really thew me for a look. Looking forward to Velocity.

As the other readers have said on their reviews, the book is okay but there is NO ENDING. It's a part of of a 2 part book series and you have to buy the 2nd book or you are just left hanging. I wish I would've read everyone else's reviews before I wasted my time. At least it was a free download. the store, I think you need to let us know when the author is being sneaky with their tactics!!!

This was horrible! It was contrived, boring, full of meaningless and distracting detail. This was so ponderous that I was turning pages without reading. If the author wants to write about the wine country, he should publish an accurate, non fiction piece. And no ending, I like that. I cannot believe this author actually publishes other books which people read. Who are those who give this five stars? This is why I don't believe ratings!

SHAME ON YOU, MR. JACOBSON! You wrote a great book but I am angry and insulted that you didn't bother finishing it. What a sleazy way to get people to purchase your next book. I would have bought it anyway, because I enjoyed it and 7th Victim, without your cheap way of ending Crush. I read at least two books a week and had planned on purchasing all of your previous books from the store before getting to the last page of this one. You can forget it now and be sure I will let everyone I know who loves books to stay away from yours. Have never experienced another author doing what you have done. You have lost my business and undoubtedly that of many other readers as well. Do you really need money this desperately?

The plot and characterization are engaging and well done, but the frequent editorializing and commentary rather spoiled it for me. And, as so many have indicated, the ending is a blatant ploy to get you to buy the sequel (Velocity), at a greater-than-average price (12.99). I'll wait until it, too, is free - or go to the library!

I thought Vail's stupidity, ego andd obnoxious behavior would never end. Posing as a brilliant agent??? Also I'm well acquainted with professional people and most do not use the F word in every sentence as all Alan Jacobson's characters do. This has to be written by a lost middle school boy.

Lynn in Jacksonville OR

This story kept me turning the pages but fell short with an incomplete ending. Very disappointed in this book with no conclusions to tie up the loose ends. Characters were extremely well defined, great plot and original storyline. I thought I was missing the final chapters~~~~~~

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it kept you wanting to know and then....there is no end, you have to read a second book to have complete closure which I wish I would have known before I had started reading. Excellent marketing tool, because I will buy the next book.

author and publisher have no shame. the book was created by a marketer and not by an "author". He owes more than an apology at the end of the book. If anyone paid good money for it it should be refunded. Such crass manipulation is not being honest. while the volume has no ending, my patience and willingness to read any thing else the guy writes does have an ending. No more! even if the price is $0.00, it has ended. Quality and honesty create good will and a following, and therefore a market. AJ does neither. The End.

Step aside Dan Brown. Make way, Michael Connelly. There's a new king of the thriller genre in town, and his name is Alan Jacobson. I devoured the 7th Victim and couldn't wait for Jacobson's next Karen Vail novel. Crush didn't disappoint. The book plunged me into the fascinating world of winemaking with deep characters and a rich storyline. There are the ususal twists, of course, as Jacobson is known for. And even though you expect the plot twists, you never see them coming. And that's part of the beauty of Jacobson's writing. In a category that has become as predictable as baking with cookie cutters, Jacobson elevates his writing to new heights that sets the benchmark for other writers to aspire to. I'm buying copies for my family and friends as stocking stuffers. Read this and recommend it - your friends will thank you for it! I can't wait for Alan Jacobson's next Karen Vail novel.

I really enjoyed this book! The 'jaw dropping' ending was a great cliff hanger!!!

I can't say I'm thrilled with the part where I got the book for free....only to have to purchase the next book in order to get to the end of the mystery.

BUT

You can't punish the book for the mistakes of either the publisher or the store. The author didn't set the price of the book nor does he control the publicity!

I am really getting into Alan Jacobson. This is the second book that I have read. It was suspenseful and hard to put down! I also enjoyed learning about the "Wine Industry" without too much information that would have made the read tedious. I am looking forward to his next book. I have already been recommending him to other readers. It is nice to know that you can purchase very good reads on Kindle at a reasonable rate.

This was a great thriller and the Napa setting was really interesting. I have been to Napa and will enjoy returning and touring some of the places which were mentioned in the book. I really liked Karen Vail and will read the other books in the series.

I wasted hours reading this book that has no ending and I think the author is a pathetic jerk that manipulated my life and free time that I normally enjoy and I will never buy another book by this author Alan Jacobson

I downloaded this ebook for free but that doesn't give me the hours of my life back that I spent reading it... The novel ends but the author doesn't finish the story. It is clear that he does this to increase sales of the next novel in the series and this is infuriating! The story wasn't worth the time and energy I spent reading it and I would not even recommend this for free.

I wish I had read other reviews before starting this book (a lesson learned). If you don't mind stories with no endings then this book is for you. The beginning of the book did not grab much of my attention, but by the end I couldn't put it down because I could not wait to find out whodunnit. The only problem is, after all that anticipation, I never found out. I wish I could go back and spend the time reading a book with a real ending. : (

Karen Vail should blow this author into never never land with all his created like beings. Alan Jacobson (the author)is a thief. If you purchase this book be prepared to have to purchase the next volume to maybe hopefully find resolution. I will never ever spend a nickle again to be ripped off by this author.

I made it through to the disappointing end....unbelievable dialog, trite storyline attempting linking a wine country trvavelogue with a poor murder mystery. I won't be reading anything else from this author!

To quote a previous review, "I loved the book and would've given it 5 stars....however, the ending (there wasn't one) left you hanging....you have to buy "velocity" to read the conclusion...as much as I loved the book, I will not be manipulated into buying the next book."

I too am one of those who will buy a whole series of books. But the way this one ended is a manipulative ploy to get you to buy the next. Plus the price for "Velocity" is set to extract what the market will bear. That's just plain wrong.