Review: Hello Again by Brenda Novak

Title: Hello Again (Evelyn Talbot Chronicles #2)
Author: Brenda Novak
Pages: 384
Genre: Thriller, Fiction
Source: Free ARC from St. Martin’s

Rating: 4.5 stars

Note: As stated under the Source (above), I received this book for free from St. Martin’s via NetGalley. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.

Summary: While Evelyn’s live-in boyfriend (who also happens to be the town’s only law enforcement) Amarok is investigating some leads on her old boyfriend (and serial killer) Jasper, Evelyn has her hands full with the newest inmate at Hanover House: Dr. Lyman Bishop. He continues to insist he is innocent and he doesn’t meet the criteria of psychopath as closely as Evelyn would like. As she spends time with him, she begins to question if he’s a psychopath and whether or not he might, in fact, be innocent as he claims. Then an old high school acquaintance gets murdered in the same fashion as those Dr. Bishop is accused of…

Meanwhile, Jasper is intent on his plans to finish Evelyn off once and for all, and it all seems to be going to plan when Amarok’s investigations bring him closer than Jasper is comfortable with. Without thinking, Jasper reacts and puts his plans at risk.

And to make things even more interesting, while Amarok and Evelyn are getting closer and trying to get on the same page about what the future holds for them, his old girlfriend moves back into town and starts stirring things up.

Is Dr. Bishop innocent or just the smartest psychopath she’s ever encountered? Will Jasper’s plans play out as he hopes or has Amarok’s snooping damaged them irreparably? And who is killing Evelyn’s high school friends back in Boston?

Review:

That’s it. Hello Again makes this one of my new favorite series. I mean, I really liked the first in the series, Her Darkest Nightmare, enough that I was excited and eager when this became available, but if I’d known it was going to be this good, I would have set aside whatever else I was reading as soon as I got my hands on it. Seriously. The first in the series had a few flaws that made it more a 3.5, but the first 2/3rds was so great, I could see how much potential there was in the long run. In Hello Again, everything is better: the romantic relationship, the plotting, the intensity and pace. I was questioning more, less sure of my gut. I found myself much more invested in her relationship with Amarok. And there is so much fodder for the next book (or three!). So. Much.

I can’t wait! Honestly, it’s going on my Most Anticipated list for 2018. How’s that for a recommendation?

6 Replies to “Review: Hello Again by Brenda Novak”

  1. WOW – what a great review and recommendation! I’m putting it on my list of books to grab once my tbr pile is lower (trying to resist increasing it any more at the moment, but struggling!)

    • Thank you! If/when you get around to it, I think you’ll really enjoy it. And I know what you mean about the TBR pile, particularly the galleys in my case. But it can be SO hard to resist!

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