19 January 2022

Deliciously creepy! Those are the first words that come to mind when describing Fairest Creatures by Karen Taylor. The story might be horrifying, but you won’t be able to put this book down. This is a gripping, entertaining read that will leave you amazed at this authors imagination. After reading this book, I find myself wondering what could have inspired this story.

As a first-time reader of this author’s work, I found myself quickly intrigued. She managed to grab my attention early in the story and kept me reading late into the night. I enjoyed the characters and the various scenery included. While there are some horrific details in this story, the author manages to include just enough detail to give you a vivid picture, but she keeps it easy reading and not too graphic. The gory details never make your stomach turn. I appreciate that.

When beautiful women start to disappear and glass cases containing body parts appear around town. DI Brandon Hammett has his hands full. The crimes are like those of the Sleeping Beauty Killer from 1996. Has he resurfaced after 23 years, or is this a copycat? If it is the same killer, how do they stop him now when he managed to slip away in 1996?

This is a deliciously creepy story that will keep you eagerly reading right to the end. The author created a wonderfully creative, dark, damaged villain whose unique actions will surprise you. I could not get enough of this blood-curdling story.

There are some awesome characters in this book. DI Brandon Hammett and his fiddle playing is a realistic guy – even if his parenting skills are a little lenient for my taste. Julia adds some flair. I loved this “spoilt little rich girl” and how she managed to endure the most hair-raising situations in an attempt to ensure survival, never giving up hope. The relationship between Jo and Brandon showed a good working relationship and added some lighter moments. The only character who left me a little confused was Suzanna. She comes across as an older character, almost motherly, and at times she was flirting with Brandon – that seemed a little odd.

Fairest Creatures might be shocking, but it touched on loss and how losing a parent at a young age can affect a child. At the same time highlights how growing older and losing youthful beauty can be a frightening experience to extremely attractive women.

I loved this book. It’s dark and spine-chilling without being unnecessarily graphic, exactly how I love my crime thrillers.

If you are looking for an unusual, chilling crime thriller, then I highly recommend this book. The author is crafty in her storytelling and leaves you only slightly creeped out.

Fairest Creatures is an awesome read, with great characters and just enough suspense to keep you guessing. And when you find out who the villain is, wait… there is more you will not see coming! Go ahead, get yourself a copy of this one, you will not be left disappointed.