Savannah is plagued by a sadistic serial rapist, later dubbed Nightmare Rapist, and the police task force assigned to the case is chasing ghosts around town. The guy is methodical, doesn’t leave any clues, and there appears not to be any link connecting his victims. Ryne Robel, ex-Boston homicide detective and head of the task force has finally gotten his wish – another investigator assigned to the case, but his hope quickly dwindles when Abbie Phillips enters the conference room. She doesn’t look like an investigator, she’s tiny and dainty. She actually isn’t an investigator, but an "outside consultant", a profiler Ryne’s boss hopes will be able to figure what makes the rapist tick and help put him away for good.

Despite his initial resistance at working with her, Ryne quickly develops a deep respect for Abbie and her "psychobabble BS" regarding the rapist and his methods. And something more. Their attraction is surprising and explosive in its intensity, even more so with their mutual painful pasts and dark secrets. And that same attraction could also prove a fatal distraction as the rapist is getting a little too close for comfort.


This intense, gripping, chilling, and fast-paced page-turner had (almost) all.

The cast of characters was great. I loved the leading pair in all their contrasting glory. Where she was small and dainty, he was tough and gruff, but both had quite a similar core of steel underneath...And secrets that shaped their lives, past and present. I liked their individual characters, how they worked together, and how they complimented each other. I also liked how their relationship progressed from initial animosity (on both parts) through respect for each other’s abilities and professionalism, explosive attraction to something steadier and stronger. I wouldn’t categorize it as love, since the pace the story (and the two of them) went through was quite grueling, but I guess they were on a good way there once it all ended. But most of all, I liked how they were equal to each other throughout the story; they might not have had the same skill set, but they acknowledged each other’s strengths, and worked very well together once that initial dislike passed. They were able to have actual conversation about serious topics (beside the investigation) without one of them treating the other as inferior or simpleminded. How refreshing.

If this story didn’t have the strong romantic (or whatever you want to call it) subplot smack in the middle of it, it could’ve easily be classified as a straightforward thriller with its hefty dose of police procedural, lab talk, different investigative angles and trajectories, and the chilling insights into the villain.
Romance or not, it would’ve worked either way, but with its romantic angle I can say, it was a more “rounded” story, covering every angle.

The pacing was spot-on, the speed slowly building as the story progressed and the villain started to unravel. I loved the voice and narrative style, giving the story a slight “edge”, keeping things gripping and intense throughout, the characterization was great (even with the supporting cast who didn’t appear there only to serve as backdrop to the main story). The suspense was gripping and nail-bite worthy with so many twists and turns to make your head spin.

The only thing that bothered me was the heroine’s sister driven subplot, that worked mostly to create additional conflict between h/H and to provide the big climax scene, and the slightly unsatisfying ending. After more than 300 pages everything was resolved and explained in a matter of paragraphs. After page upon page of plot twists and red herrings, the measly few pages and a rather deus ex machina resolution left a slightly bitter aftertaste.

In short, this book was less action-packed and less suspenseful than the previous entourage of Romantic Suspense novels I've been reading.  Waking Nightmare read more like a forensics crime scene investigation procedural without all the flashy lights.  Since the basis of the story surrounds the work of a criminal profiler and the tediousness of an ongoing criminal investigation, I can see why there'd be less suspense included.

 

Still, I'm appreciative of how much more realistic (as realistic as romantic suspenses and fictional crime thrillers can get) the investigative process attempted to be.  We get a glimpse at just how frustrating cold cases can become with little information and evidence to work off of outside of a handful of victims who are unable to identify a perpetrator due to uncontrollable circumstances.

 

Nothing was overly flash-bang with conveniently placed breaks falling out of the sky.

 

The story, however, came off rather flat, as did the characters (stock-standard romantic suspense characters with a stock-standard romantic suspense... romance).  I'm not saying that's a bad thing, because I still enjoyed the book very much.  I enjoyed a different view of the criminal investigation: tons of paperwork, lots of footwork, lots of phone calls and internet searches, interviews, regular task force meetings...

 

There wasn't a whole lot of threat to our main heroine's life because the culprit didn't even target her until a lot later when she became a threat to his continued monstrosity of activity.  So there wasn't too much of an opportunity for her to play the damsel-in-distress; not that she was anything of the type since it was pretty clear that she could handle herself quite well, being armed and able to defend herself with her expert Muay Thai boxing.

 

It helps that I kind of enjoyed all of the psychobabble of the criminal profiling aspect in the investigation.

Waking Nightmare (Mindhunters #1) - Kyli... I liked this story.

The writing and the storyline were good, but I found the characters a little 'dry' for my taste.
It took awhile for me to warm up to the leads Abbie & Ryne.

* It felt like it took me 'forever' to really get into the story so that I didn't feel like I wanted the put it down... but once I 'really got into the story, I was hooked. *

I really enjoyed the ending (I would never have guessed who the 'villain' was in this story).

I really really liked this book which is surprising because it's been on my TBR since 2009 and I kept passing it up and I'm not sure why. I can't remember what I thought it was about but it's a romantic suspense story with a strong murder mystery theme which is one of my favorite genres. Well anyway I finally picked it up and read it and loved it.

Lead detective Ryne Robel has a past that haunts him and mindhunter Abbie Phillips has a twisted tortured past as well. So we have two damaged leads and the clues to their pasts are slow coming which draws out the suspense. Savannah has a nasty serial rapist running around torturing his victims but leaving them alive to suffer for the rest of their lives. Ryne and Abbie work on the task force to find this creep. The clues and red herrings are many but none of this gives the reader enough information to detect the villain. The villain is a complete surprise and an interesting twist in itself. I enjoyed the mystery, the investigation, the romance between Ryne and Abbie and the villain's point of view. I liked having the villain's perspective not for the gruesome details (because they aren't given) but for the mindset and reasons behind his actions. However, I did think the ending was rushed. All of a sudden 3 months have passed and all the angst between Abbie and Ryne has miraculously disappeared. It would have been interesting to read how this conclusion was reached.

This is the first book I've read by Kylie Brant but it certainly won't be the last.

4 1/2 stars Totally enjoyed this!