Hanover House by Brenda Novak

Hanover House (Evelyn Talbot Chronicles, #0.5)

by Brenda Novak

This is SILENCE OF THE LAMBS meets Karen Rose...

The stunning prequel to New York Times bestseller Brenda's Novak latest thriller Her Darkest Nightmare, described as 'gut-gripping suspense' by Karen Rose, introduces new series lead Dr Evelyn Talbot. Welcome to Hanover House...

Psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot has dedicated her life to analysing psychopaths. Why they act as they do. How they come to be. Why they don't feel remorse. Her only goal is to use her knowledge to find and stop them.

Having been tortured and left for dead when she was just a teenager by her high school boyfriend, Evelyn's determined to understand how someone she trusted so much could turn on her. Establishing a revolutionary new medical health centre in the remote town of Hilltop, Alaska, where she observes these killers is the final step in years of studying which will give her the answers she needs.

Keeping these killers inside and the residents of Hilltop safe is Evelyn's responsibility, but it will only take one little thing to go wrong for the danger they pose to become all too real...

Look for the other gripping novels in the Evelyn Talbot series - Her Darkest Nightmare, Hello Again, and Face Off, available now.

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

3 of 5 stars

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Novak takes us to Hilltop Alaska with the intro to this dark romantic suspense featuring Evelyn Talbot a psychiatrist whose past drive her s to unlock the mysteries of psychopathic minds. Edgy and suspenseful Hanover House gave us a taste of the darkness to come. As a teen, Evelyn was kidnapped and tortured at the hands of her high school boyfriend. Damaged and driven she is determined to understand. She has secured the funding for Hanover House and Hilltop, Alaska will now house some of the most dangerous sociopaths.

The small-town of Hilltop did not have the political muscle to stop the medical center and their only officer, Alaskan State Trooper, Sergeant Amarok finds himself conflicted. He is not happy about these offenders being housed in their backyard but he is curious and attracted to Evelyn Talbot.

Novak really delivered the suspense and thrills from introducing sociopaths to taking us inside the mind of a serial killer and introducing threats. Evelyn carries the scars of her nightmare both physically and emotionally but that does not deter her. While I admired her tenacity, a part of me thinks she is a bit of a daredevil. Novak did a great job of fleshing her out and allowing us to understand her drive. She is strikingly beautiful, but socially inept. Her poor mother, I felt for the woman and have to wonder how she sleeps at night or for that matter how Evelyn functions.

The perspectives, letters and other tools Novak used to relay this tale added suspense and pushed this into thriller territory. I loved the dark tones, and perspectives from a serial killer and those of a prospective patient. Those sensitive to rape, torture and mental abuse may find some chapters disturbing even though Novak was not overly detailed.

What makes this a romantic suspense is the relationship that develops between Evelyn and Sergeant Amarok. This will be a slow building relationship but the chemistry is there. I was surprised to see the age difference. Amarok is younger but so far, the relationship feels genuine. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 31 January, 2016: Finished reading
  • 31 January, 2016: Reviewed