Courtyard – Clues (6/6)

Just as the pressure from the public reaches a breaking point, they discover another girl has been taken. Since the first young woman suffered for quite some time, they have a chance of finding her Will they get to her before it's too late? There was a lot here I liked! I found the main character to be really interesting. Her co-workers need to be fleshed out more, and I hope they will be in the next book. That's right - hopefully we will get more of Sayer! I'm down to read the next book for sure. I can only hope it'll keep me on the edge of my seat as much as this one.

I also particularly enjoyed the legends from different cultures represented. And if you add in some lovable animals to any book, it's going to make me like it just a little bit more. I know, that doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the storyline, but you'll see. My opinion is honest and unbiased. View all 9 comments. Jul 10, Julie rated it it was amazing Shelves: This book really captures all the crime TV vibes If you too are a fan of shows such as this than CAGED need to make its way into your life as soon as humanly possible.

Ellison Cooper being a debut novelist came as a bit of a surprise to me. Her writing is clean, and the story line flowed with ease. What set Ellison apart is that the events that take place within this story are gore to the core, but are logic and not This book really captures all the crime TV vibes What set Ellison apart is that the events that take place within this story are gore to the core, but are logic and not a complete stretch of the imagination. There is just the right amount of thrills, gore, and electrifying suspense.

What a mind trick Ellison Cooper plays on her reader! There were SO many times that I thought I was on to who the sociopath committing all these murders was, and while I did catch on before the reveal, it was shocking it took me as long as it did with all the subtle clues that I had missed. I also am a sucker for novels with a strong female lead and CAGED most certainly has just that with our main female detective, Sayer. I kind of wish this was a series because I ended this wanting to continue stalking out serial killers with Sayer.

There was not a moment where I wanted to pause the action that just kept elevating all the way to its satisfying ending. While I wish that there was further elaboration on the topic in which this novel ends, it was a satisfying cliffhanger. This ending will leave you pleading for more. I cannot wait to get my hands on whatever Ellison releases next.

Jun 05, Dennis rated it liked it Shelves: If you like the show Mindhunter , look no further because Caged is ready to deliver you to the world of crime-fiction, meets police drama. After two police officers stumble on a mysterious crime scene, agent Sayer Altair and Vik are staffed to figure out what happened. Sayer is still coping with the death of her fiance Jake, and in the If you like the show Mindhunter , look no further because Caged is ready to deliver you to the world of crime-fiction, meets police drama.

Sayer is still coping with the death of her fiance Jake, and in the midst of providing research on murderers and their genetic differences to why and how they can commit these heinous crimes. Once engulfed into the crime scene, Sayer finds the body of daughter Gwendolyn Van Hurst, the daughter of a media hungry senator.

Gwendolyn has been missing for a year now, and her discovery just begins to form new questions about a mysterious case. Are they dealing with a serial killer? Are there other victims? And who is the mastermind in this whole production? I'm very surprised that Caged is a debut novel, because Ellison Cooper's writing is very crisp and smart—she can tell a story while it crafts in your imagination.

Without spilling too many of them in this review, Sayer comes from a rough past, no matter how privileged her upbringing. Also, the relationship between Sayer and her team in the DC FBI is just so standard and typical of crime-fiction novels, that you can literally take the dialogue, switch out the names of the people, and BAM it's the next crime-fiction novel at your fingertips. I was expecting more original dialogue and a more interesting arc.

A little over halfway through, a break in the case is so unbelievable that I knew I just needed to get this story over with. That being said, the crimes committed in Caged were dark, disturbing, and yet oh so intriguing. This is definitely not the type of book that you'd read late at night without checking behind the shower curtain beforehand.

I kind of got OA on Netflix vibes while reading about the victims. Caged provides the shock value that readers come to expect with this genre. I would recommend readers to pick up Caged if they haven't dabbled too far into the crime fiction novel, but have a strong stomach for the grotesque. The story is very good, and the cast of characters have enough separation of personalities to keep them from blending together.

While the serial killer idea has been done, author Ellison Cooper adds a few twists that make this story her own. What I suspected might happen to the plot direction suddenly became more reality than fear. Like all readers, I enjoy when the author can devise a twist that is totally unexpected yet still makes sense.

In her attempt to fool the reader, Ms. Cooper has elevated this story to the fantastic as in unreal level, forcing me to accept a possibility that frays the last remaining strands of my belief structure. Could this story happen? Maybe…possibly…then again… What kept me reading until the end and why I will recommend this book is that despite the plot twist, Ms. Even with the issue I described above, it is impossible to give this book less than four stars. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a complimentary advance copy of this book.

Feb 25, Laura Rash rated it really liked it. This was really different. Thanks to Minotaur for this early copy: I love serial killer thrillers, so I was really excited to read Caged in the month of October - since I'd heard it was good and creepy, I figured it would fit in perfectly with the Halloween season!

Caged started off with a bang, and kept me hooked the entire time. I originally planned on reading a few chapters before bed I should have known better! I couldn't put it down!

The Hand of Science – Murder Mystery Guide

I was so hooked! I really liked Sayer as our protagonist. She was a multi-faceted character who generally does a good job at separating work from her emotions you have to in her job, otherwise you'd go crazy , but as her case progresses and more young girls are involved, she can't keep her emotions in check any longer. I loved how fast paced the book was - I didn't feel like it dragged at any point. The killer in the book is very smart and meticulous - everything was well thought out and well planned, so fans of similar books think The Fourth Monkey and UNSUB will like this one!

It's dark, but not as violent as Karin Slaughter's books, so people who like the subjects she writes about but have a hard time stomaching her gruesome, graphic descriptions should find this one to be a nice happy medium. I had a theory in the beginning of the book that turned out to be wrong, and didn't see what was actually happening until it was about to hit me in the face, which is always a win in my book - I love a good twist! All in all, I rated this one 5 stars, and am very much looking forward to the next book in the series!

I definitely recommend this one to fans of twisted serial-killer-thrillers! When a young girl is found dead in a cage, FBI neuroscientist Sayer Altair must take a break from her research into the brains of serial killers. This killer seems to be very sadistic, letting the young victim slowly starve to death, but strangely, had given the girl a puppy. The case is complicated further by the fact that the girl is the daughter of a senator. Sayer tries to figure out the killers motive, but the situation becomes dire when they realize another girl is locked up somewhere RE When a young girl is found dead in a cage, FBI neuroscientist Sayer Altair must take a break from her research into the brains of serial killers.

It kept me guessing the entire read. It has all the mix needed for a good read: Von Beginn an hat sowohl die Geschichte als auch der Schreibstil der Autorin sehr gut gefallen und ich mochte das Buch nicht wirklich aus der Hand legen. Dies fand ich eine sehr spannende Kom 4. Dies fand ich eine sehr spannende Kombination. Zudem fand ich die Ermittlerin Sayer Altair sehr sympathisch.

Sep 05, Jessica Woodbury added it Shelves: While I see this referred to as a "procedural," I wouldn't put it in that bucket.

The dollhouses of death that changed forensic science

To me this falls firmly into "thriller. This is not that. This is a Thriller where there's a new twist every five pages, with short chapters, and a highly unrealistic story. I keep waiting for the Thriller that really does it for me, but this wasn't it sadly. The setu While I see this referred to as a "procedural," I wouldn't put it in that bucket.


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The setup was way too out there, the neuroscience hook was not scientific oh no, 3 out of 12 don't fit my hypothesis, I must throw out the whole idea, honey that's not how science works , and the ticking clock didn't add to the stakes. This is how I react to most thrillers, though. So if Thrillers are your jam, this will probably suit you just fine. Mar 28, Jay -hooked on books rated it really liked it Shelves: Sayer Altair is a neuroscientist with the FBI. When the body of a young woman is found, abducted and subsequently left to starve to death in a metal cage in an abandoned house, Sayer gets called in to lead the investigation.

As a researcher who studies serial killer brains, Sayer has come across gruesome homicide cases, but it is soon evident that this investigation she's leading will surpass all other cases in its infamy and depravity. The stakes are upped when the investigators realise there's Sayer Altair is a neuroscientist with the FBI. The stakes are upped when the investigators realise there's a young woman who could be alive, but well at the brink of death, and they need to unearth every piece of evidence and find the person behind all of this.

Caged is a suspenseful tale chock-full of twists and turns. It will keep you guessing and wondering till the end. As Sayer is forced to question every thing they're uncovering, so will the reader, because all is not as it seems.


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  8. By the end of the book, you will find yourself rooting for more of Sayer Altair, more of her partnership with Vik, and to know more about the events that have shaped Sayer into who she is. Jan 01, Nancy McFarlane rated it it was amazing. Sayer Altair is a neuroscientist whose main research is to study the brains of serial killers to see if a common anomaly can be detected. She joined the FBI expecting to mostly do research but soon finds herself the lead on the hunt for a sadistic killer who starved a young girl to death locked in a cage.

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    When a second young girl is kidnapped the hunt to find her alive intensifies as does the pressure on Sayer from her boss and from a prominent senator whose daughter was the first victim. The sc Sayer Altair is a neuroscientist whose main research is to study the brains of serial killers to see if a common anomaly can be detected. The science and forensics are amazing; the motive of the killer is totally unexpected as is his method of achieving his goal. The action is non-stop and the well-developed characters leave you wanting to continue to be a part of their lives.

    Agent Sayer Altair bekommt einen grausamen Mordfall auf den Tisch. Jun 17, Michelle rated it really liked it. Book review can be found on my blog here: It pulls you in and keeps you hooked from the first page. In this book FBI neuroscientist Sayer works with the police force to solve a crime after the body of a girl is found in the basement of what appears to be an abandoned house.

    The girl appears to have been murdered, but by whom? The FBI and local police fo Book review can be found on my blog here: The FBI and local police force work hard to try to uncover what happened, who is responsible, and why. They then face the question - are there more victims? Is this an isolated case or are they in search of a serial killer on the loose? This book I found very interesting. It keeps your interest throughout, as you try to uncover the mystery of what exactly happened and who was responsible.

    I thought I figured out who the murderer was only to find out I was completely wrong. And the truth shocked me, did not expect that at all. This is a great book that was a true pleasure to read. Jul 09, Janelle rated it really liked it Shelves: This is one creepy, chilling, twisted thriller! A gruesome crime scene is discovered as a young woman is found starved to death and locked in a cage. FBI agent and neuroscientist Sayer Altair gets called in to lead the investigation.

    This is a horrendous case and Altair has seen her fair share of evil; she conducts research on the brains of serial killers, however this case is next level Many thanks to Minotaur Books for providing my free copy of CAGED by Ellison Cooper - all opinions are my own. My favorite thing about this cop versus serial killer thriller is the plot. I mean, a serial killer that holds his victims captive in a cage for so long they die of dehydration, is riveting. The other aspect I love is the introduction of neuroscience used as a tool to help solve the case. I am completely into all things science and the study of human behavior so I love that it is a skill used by the main protagonist.

    Jul 23, Alice Blanchard rated it it was amazing. I crave a good book that unfolds like a movie. The tick-tock pace I crave a good book that unfolds like a movie.

    Caged (Agent Sayer Altair, #1) by Ellison Cooper

    Thick jowls hung like slabs of meat off his face. While pursuing the killer, she must crawl inside his creepy head - by studying the diary he left behind - in search of more clues, crawling through the catacombs of psychopathy, right up to the face-punch ending. May 02, Natalie [genreneutralreader] rated it really liked it Shelves: When I first got going on this book I realized it reminded me a lot of the early John Sanford Prey novels.

    After a while I saw that Ellison Cooper definitely has her own voice and a unique perspective. There is no pretentiousness, which I absolutely love when reading novels that incorporate science into their fiction. Sayer, Vic, and Ezra are all characters I would like to read about in future novels if this were to become part of a series. Overall, I thought Caged was a riveting thriller with good twists and turns and a cast of characters that would lend themselves well to a series.

    Thanks to author Ellison Cooper, St. I thoroughly enjoyed it! May 20, KC rated it really liked it Shelves: FBI neuroscientist Sayer Altair hopes to one day unravel the mysteries of the human brain and she may get her chance when assigned to a bizarre murder case where a young woman's body is found in a suspended cage.

    When another girl goes missing, Sayer must race against the clock to unlock the killer's motives before this murderer claims an additional victim.


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    This is a fast paced thriller which reads like a prime time television show. Jun 27, Darcia Helle rated it it was ok Shelves: Despite the brutal content, Caged is ultimately a forgettable book for me. I expected psychological suspense, based on the description, but this book is a straight forward police procedural. Sayer, the lead character, is a neuroscientist, yet her part is mostly interchangeable with any cop character. The brain science touched on regarding the specific serial murder case is minimal. The research Sayer is privately working on reads like it was lifted off a pop culture social science book.

    In fact, Despite the brutal content, Caged is ultimately a forgettable book for me. In fact, the research she talks about is now fairly well known and is certainly no longer groundbreaking stuff. I was disappointed that Sayer's neuroscience background wasn't a stronger part of the story. The pacing is slow. We investigate along with Sayer, and then we go to the team's daily meetings and rehash everything we've already learned.

    These scenes could have been condensed for better flow. I found myself skimming a lot. Character development is weak. Sayer slowly comes alive but gives us mixed messages. She rides a motorcycle, does her own thing despite what people think, and is independent. Yet she's also overly dramatic and, at times, seems desperate for approval. She continually ignores her grandmother's calls for no clear reason, leading us to believe they have a strained relationship at best, but then we later see they have a strong and loving relationship.

    Six Murder Mysteries That Were Solved By Science After More Than A Century

    The mixed messages make it difficult to get an honest sense of Sayer's character. The other characters don't have standout personalities, but only fill their intended parts. This book has a solid start and definitely grabbed my interest. But all too quickly the pace slowed and the characters didn't give me anything special.

    The graphic content with the killer felt almost gratuitous; a way to grab the reader when the plot and characters weren't doing enough. And, finally, the ending was far too overblown and implausible for me to buy into the story as a whole. Apr 28, Kristina Nowell rated it really liked it. Caged follows a Neuroscientist with the FBI named Sayer Altair as she embarks on a journey to finding the serial killer who had booby-trapped the house where he was holding a girl imprisoned in a suspended cage, and wounded a D. As Altair and her partner Vik begin unraveling the events that led to the young girls death due to dehydration in that cage, they fear that there may be another girl being held hostage somewhere else by the same killer.

    Ellison Cooper manages to fully entice her readers with a story not only full to the brim with suspense but also a deep psychological thrill that raises your hairs on their ends. There is a twist on nearly every page, and there are more than pages. And what a pleasure it is to give oneself up to the book, to be met with discoveries and thrilling upsets at every turn in the labyrinth. There is more to chew on here than just the mechanics of a time-travel detective story.

    He likes Evelyn, and feels bound to prevent her murder — but how can he unmask her killer, and thus gain his freedom, unless the killing takes place? Here, Turton touches on a problem central to his genre: He ingeniously uses his time-loop idea to get around it. Much more fun to just go along for the ride. Topics Fiction Book of the day.

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