The 1st Victim Audio CD – Unabridged, May 1, 2014

This is a SHORT story or a Kindle single. Don't give a negative review when you don't realize what you are purchasing before you purchase it. If you don't realize it then it's your own fault. That aside, here is my review.Like I said I loved it. This is a very nice introduction to "The 9th Girl" book which is also out now. It features her two continuing characters Kovac and Liska. They were secondary characters in "Ashes to Ashes", became much more prominent in "Dust to Dust" and then were the stars of "Prior Bad Acts". With each book I have come to love them more.So about this short story, it sets up the beginning of what will be happening (I assume as I haven't read it), in "The 9th Girl". You get little glimpses into Kovac and Liska's lives and there are alternating chapters about a mother who is searching for her missing daughter. Both stories finally converge. Again loved it, love Tami Hoag, but didn't love the price. 99cents would have been better but that is not Amazon or the author's fault as the publisher set the price.

I have never heard of Tami Hoag before and The 1st Victim, a short novella, was a great sample of her work. The style is simple and immediately grabs you to the core of the story. The mutilated body of a young woman has been found in the middle of a road by a passing truck driver and reported to the police in Minnesota. You have the detectives of the case, Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska who will do their best to identify the victim and capture the person who hurt her.Meanwhile, in Missouri there is a mother, desperately seeking help because her daughter is missing. She did not get the phone on New Year's day like she was supposed too and has horrible fears that something happened to her only daughter. She goes to the police only to be rebuked. This part it wrenched my heart. The intuition of a mother falls in deaf ears. It's very well written and I will get more books in the series of Kovac and Liska. The end is not in this book. You have to continue in The 9th victim...

Tami Hoag is one of the few mystery writers whose novels one can sink teeth into. Even if you had not read a previous book with these same characters, Tami is always able to give the reader the history of the two detectives. Her characters are real! The story line is interesting, dealing with a number of different scenarios. Sam Kovak, a major character detective, presents a brusque outside. Deep down, he really cares. He remembers every homicide case he has ever investigated, including the weather, the day, what he was doing when called. Some fade a bit, but this particular case would leave him with an image he would never forget. His partner, "bouncy" female Nikki Liska brings to life the struggles of a divorced woman, working in a fast and hard profession, yet trying to raise two young boys alone to the best of her ability. She loves her children more than anything else, but always doubts her ability to be a "good" mother. Real people, real scenarios, a real place (Minneapolis), I couldn't figure out who the perpetrator was until revealed in the end. My idea of a 5 star read.

I loved the story. It was very well written. Kept me turning the pages. I would have given it a 5, but I feel there should have been more investigating done, so....I can't say. I don't want to give the ending away. There could have been one more chapter with the detectives in the 3 killings comparing notes. They would discover what the writer told us in the last chapter. I had thought it in the beginning, but disregarded it when nothing was said later. I HOPE I GAVE NOTHING AWAY. A great story...a great read. Get it, you won't be sorry.

Tami Hoag gets us all set up in this short story for what promises to be a roller coaster ride in her upcoming book The 9th Victim. In The 1st Victim, veteran homicide detectives, Kovac and Liska get a busy start to the new year when a young girl is found dead on the side of the road. As the investigation gets underway a pattern seems to be forming...young women across the country killed on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and now New Year's. What began as an isolated murder now points to a potential serial killer.I am looking forward to the release of The 9th Victim hoping that Kovac and Liska get the bad guy and that justice will be served.

I haven't read for years because I couldn't find anything that kept my attention after two chapters. Yesterday, one my clients (who was a writer and spokes person herself) recommended Tami Hoag. I decide to try 1st victim because it was inexpensive and of course, I'm actually starting with the first victim. If all fails, I would have only spent $2:15. But I truly was not disappointed at all. I will definitely purchase more of her books.

Basically, this short read serves as a prequel to the excellent thriller, "The 9th Girl." It gives some background into the serial killer who becomes the main subject of the 9th Girl. Well-written and informative.

Unfortunately, I read 'The 9th Girl' first, the latest book Tami Hoag wrote which was very good, I enjoyed this book, as well, but at the start I thought I was reading 'The 9th Girl' again. As i delved further into the book the story-line did take on a story of its' own,

Often authors give a sneak preview of their next book by publishing a chapter or two free of charge, but not Tami hoag who charges for previews. It often takes a while to get into her books and I have long been a fan of her books with a few exceptions. Based on what I have read I won't be buying The 9th girl when it comes out as it will be full priced to book/kindle readers with no deduction for the chapters already bought and read. I found the story a bit too much like her earlier books. Also really disappointed Sam Kovac didn't end up with the female judge he saved as was hinted at in a previous book. Had I not paid for the1st victim I probably would have bought the next book but I hate being ripped off by greedy successful authors and publishers when there so many good struggling authors around.

I love reading Tami Hoag books, they never disappoint but question why this one is published as a separate book when it is really the first view chapters of “The Ninth Victim”.As ever it is a good read but really only an introduction and a very quick read.From Amazon’s point of view it will make you go and on buy Rhe Ninth Victim”!

Very good read.

Great short story wish it was longer . On to read the next book in this series as I'm really enjoying them .

Love Tami Hoag, Great story line, great characters.