Title: Waking Nightmare
Author: Kylie Brant
First published August 28, 2009
343 pages, Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 9780425230237 (ISBN10: 0425230236)
Rating: 3.81
Overview
Detective Jason Reed is on the hunt for a vicious serial killer who preys on the innocent women of New York. With the clock ticking, he enlists the help of criminal psychologist, Emma Kane, to unravel the twisted mind of the perpetrator.
But Emma is not your typical profiler. She has a secret, one that could jeopardize the entire investigation.
As they delve deeper into the case, the killer’s sadistic methods become clear. He’s not just after the physical pain, but he’s targeting his victims’ deepest fears, making them live their worst nightmares.
Emma’s insights prove invaluable, but with each lead they follow, the killer gets closer. As they race against time, they realize that the killer is not just watching their every move, but he’s playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with them.
Can they catch the killer before he strikes again, or will they become his next waking nightmare?
About the Author
Kylie Brant, a mother of five children, started writing to keep her sanity intact. She would plot stories as an escape from the constant chaos of taking her kids to ball games, driving them around and settling their arguments.
In 1992, she was thrilled to receive a call from Silhouette, offering to buy her second novel. Even though she had laryngitis at the time, she managed to agree, kickstarting her career.
A few months later, her first manuscript, Rancher’s Choice, was sold.
Kylie and her high school sweetheart are married and live in Iowa. She says that all her heroes are based on her husband, as he has the most heroic quality a man can possess – ironing skills.
These skills come in handy as she balances her time between being a full-time teacher, a writer, and a mom.
Easy ways have never been Kylie’s preference. She graduated with high honors from the University of Northern Iowa while holding her two sons in her graduation photo.
She also worked with learning-disabled children, completed her master’s degree at night and during summers.
“There was a time when I thought I’d be a life-long student,” she says. “I even considered pursuing a doctorate.
But my life took a turn, and I ended up writing romances. I’ve never regretted it!” Kylie’s family has grown since then, with the arrival of another son and a set of twins, a boy and a girl.
Kylie’s books are regularly featured on bestseller lists like Waldenbooks and B. Dalton Bookseller.
Her novels have been distributed in 20 countries and released in seven languages, with over a million copies in print.
Kylie’s focus is on her family and friends. When she’s not teaching or writing, she enjoys reading and flower gardening.
She loves traveling, and her favorite places are the beach and the ocean, with room service being a delightful bonus.
Editoral Review
Waking Nightmare by Kylie Brant is a thrilling and gripping novel that takes readers on a roller coaster ride into the world of crime, murder, and mystery. Brant has captured the essence of the suspense genre, filling her pages with heart-pumping action and well-written characters that keep readers turning pages.
The author has created a believable and intricate plot that is both compelling and suspenseful. The novel is set in a quiet Midwestern town, where the Sheriff Gage Dupree and FBI Agent Vicki Glass are trying to solve a string of murders.
The killer seems to be targeting women who look similar to one another in appearance, making it difficult for the authorities to narrow down who the killer might be. The main characters are well-developed, and readers can easily relate to their struggles and challenges as they try to solve the mystery.
Gage Dupree is a compelling protagonist with a troubled past, and Vicki Glass is a strong-willed FBI agent who has a complicated personal life. The tension between the two characters adds depth to the story, adding to the overall suspense of the novel.
Brant’s writing is crisp and well-constructed. She weaves together a complex and layered plot, keeping readers engaged and guessing until the very end.
Her skillful use of dialogue and description is perfect, creating imagery that puts the reader right in the middle of the story. One of the strengths of the novel is the way that Brant tackles the issue of violence against women, a timely and important topic in today’s world.
Without being heavy-handed or preachy, she raises awareness about the issue and shows the devastating impact it can have on individuals and communities. While the novel is well-executed, it does have some flaws, namely in pacing.
At times, the novel can feel a bit slow, with long periods of investigation and discussion that can drag the story down. However, these periods are often followed by intense action scenes that make up for the lull in pacing.
Overall, Waking Nightmare is a remarkable novel that will appeal to fans of the suspense genre. It is a timely and important addition to the genre, addressing issues related to women’s safety and violence in a compelling and thought-provoking way.
Readers will be drawn into the well-crafted plot, and the characters are sure to leave a lasting impression. Rating: 4/5 stars.
