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The First 39: KILL HER AGAIN
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The First 39 is a new series of reviews that look at the first 39 pages of a novel and evaluate whether or not the writer has successfully captured the reader's interest and set the stage for an interesting story.
In a thriller novel the stakes are high and the pace is intense. Authors face the challenge of trying to flesh out characters in the midst of continuous action, and the delicate balancing act required is the undoing of many who try to use the thriller form to tell their story.
Robert Gregory Browne has established himself as an author who, with only his third book out on store shelves, has nailed the art of setting the stage, raising the stakes, distinguishing the characters and hooking the reader in the first few chapters. His blend of procedural thriller with paranormal elements adds a distinctive twist to the telling of the tale, and helps keep the reader off balance, never knowing exactly what to expect next. 
The stakes couldn't be higher at the beginning of KILL HER AGAIN. A young girl has been abducted, and lies bound and gagged in the back seat of a car, certain she's about to die. Or does she? Could it be that the scene is actually a vision? Disgraced FBI agent Anna McBride barely held on to her job after a botched case, and she can't risk telling anyone in the department about the images she can't shake from her mind. Images and reality collide when she finds herself at a horrific crime scene where three people have been brutally murdered. A young girl is missing, and McBride can't shake the feeling that the images she's been seeing have something to do with the girl's disappearance.
Add in a partner who can't stand McBride, a local law enforcement official who's actually happy to hand the case over to the feds, and a disgraced hypnotherapist who used to work with law enforcement but is reeling from the loss of his son and incarceration of his wife, and the powerful criminals the hypnotherapist now works for, and you have an intriguing cast of characters and the promise of an unpredictable plot as you read on to see how all their stories intersect.
Verdict: The first 39 pages of KILL HER AGAIN have set the stage for what promises to be a fast-paced paranormal thriller, filled with twists and turns. Th June 30th release date is perfect - if you're looking for a book to take with you to the beach or on vacation this is a good choice, but it's not for the cozy readers. And don't let the term 'paranormal' mislead you. No vampires, ghosts or otherwise - just events that are outside the scope of the average person's understanding that add to the tension of the stories.
Updated: Part one and part two of an exclusive interview with Robert Gregory Browne.
Sandra Ruttan can be contacted at sandra@sandraruttan.com
