Review: Ripper by Lexi Blake

Posted January 27, 2015 by Lorna in Lorna, Reviews, Urban Fantasy / 45 Comments

Review: Ripper by Lexi Blake
Ripper by Lexi Blake
Series: Hunter #1
Published by DLZ Entertainment
Published on: January 15, 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 288
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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A New Heroine Rises...

Kelsey Atwood is a private detective with a problem. She came from a family of hunters, growing up on the wrong side of the supernatural world. Tracking down bail jumpers and deadbeat dads may not make her a lot of friends, but it’s a lot safer than the life she turned her back on. She was hoping to escape from the nightmares of her past, but her latest case has brought them right back to her door.

A young woman has gone missing, and she didn’t go willingly. When Kelsey discovers that the girl is actually a shifter, she knows she should drop the case and walk away. But this shifter was a sweet kid, and she’s in serious trouble. More females are missing and the evidence points to a legendary killer. Bodies are piling up, and her case is becoming center stage for a conflict that could shatter the fragile peace between wolves and vampires.

As the hunt intensifies, she finds herself trapped between two men—Gray, a magnetic half-demon lawman, and the ancient vampire Marcus Vorenus. Both men call to her, but when a shocking secret about Kelsey’s family is revealed, it could ruin them all. To stop the killer, she will have to embrace the truth about who—and what—she truly is.

Contradictions. I wrestled with how I wanted to review this, but the word contradictions kept running through my mind, not only after I was finished, but all the way through the read. I liked it, I loved it, and at times I truly didn’t care for it. Ultimately, that means at times I was wondering where the story was going, because I wasn’t totally invested, and at other times, I couldn’t put it down.

Kelsey is a private investigator who, although she is very aware of the supernatural world, has stayed as far away from it as she can for years. She does have her reasons. She has one friend in this world, Liv, a witch. When Liv gets Kelsey involved in a missing girl case, she gets yanked back into the world she never wanted to be part of.

Throughout the first half of the book, I really enjoyed myself. I thought Kelsey was a really different sort of character, really liked Liv due to her warmhearted caring attitude towards Kelsey, and even liked Kelsey’s, at times, overbearing brothers. When Kelsey starts falling for her brother’s friend, Gray, I had problems with how fast, a closed off character that Kelsey ultimately is, falls in love, and it just didn’t ring true with me. And when the first sex scene began, that’s when I really didn’t like the book. I have nothing against a good sex scene, but I am just not into the whole tying someone up(and don’t get me started on the use of the p word for a part of the female anatomy!). Had I known, I would never have picked up this book. I know a lot of people don’t mind this, and that’s perfectly fine. Just my personal preference. Gray is a half demon, and I just really didn’t like him that much. Now to the character that I loved. Marcus is the oldest living vampire in the world, and he’s a supernatural counsel member. When Kelsey meets him, he’s pretty bored with his life, but perks up considerably when he realizes what Kelsey is, and actually becomes enamored with her.

Okay so what is Kelsey? I am so not telling. That’s the fun part of this book, and became the part of the book that I loved. In fact the whole last maybe thirty five percent of the book, I was on the edge of my seat with all the suspense and action involved-due in large part to what Kelsey is. So yes, the last part of the book was the part I loved. It also is the reason I will be reading the next book, because I am so intrigued with Kelsey, and with Marcus as well.

Early on, you realize that many of the supernatural characters that Kelsey comes into contact with in her investigation, have been in a book series of their own. This was my first book by this author, but I don’t think I was lost by not knowing any of these characters back story. I am sure the author’s fans of that series will gobble this book up. I think readers that like supernatural characters of all types, or that like books featuring gory murders(involving shifters), will enjoy this read as well. Maybe I should mention that it’s not a feel good read, although Kelsey does have a lot of snark, which I always enjoy in a main character, and certainly added some much needed levity to the read.

If it seems like this review is all over the place, that might be because I was all over the place while reading it. I do think that a lot of people will enjoy this read, and if bondage doesn’t bother you, then I do recommend it.

Side note-I had a horrible time rating this-I wish there was a 3.75, I just couldn’t give it 4, but I do think it’s better then a 3.5


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I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.

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45 responses to “Review: Ripper by Lexi Blake”

  6. Molly Mortensen  

    I was curious about this one. The plot sounds good so it’s a shame she ruined it with a bad romance. Thanks for the warning about the sex scenes. I think I’ll avoid this book now. I am curious about what Kelsey is and I like Snark, but I’d rather a happy read. Nice review. You can’t help it if the book was all over the place. 😉
    Molly Mortensen recently posted…Top Ten Books on my Might Read List

    • Lorna  

      Thanks! I bought it as soon as I saw it because of the blurb and the cover. And actually I am glad that I read it, I just wish the sex scenes had been toned down a bit.

  8. Karin Anderson  

    As someone who HAS read the Thieves series, I highly recommend it. It is a five book series that really sets up the world. You will understand a lot of what is happening in this book better for having read the first series, since this is really a continuation with some new characters added in.

  12. Lola  

    How weird that at times you loved it and other times you didnd’t care for it. Contradictions sounds like a good way to sum it up. The main characters sounds like an interestign character, although I don’t like it when the romance develops too fast. On the other hand I love a good slow buildign romance and prefer those over fast developing ones every day.

    Do you find out what kelsey is in this book? or does that stay a mystery for longer? You definitely have me intrigued now. Great review!
    Lola recently posted…Cover Reveal: Dominick by Kara Jemal

    • Lorna  

      I didn’t like her main love interest either so that factored in as well as the love scenes, to my rating. Otherwise I think the author really does know how to write a good UF 🙂

  17. Lori from Romancing the Dark  

    Lorna, your review had me laughing…I’m not a huge fan of the p-word in my sex scenes but have gotten used to it with all the PNR I read…haha I was intrigued when I saw this on the Fresh Meat post and after reading your review. Now that I know it’s a spin-off from another series I might just wait a bit and read those so I get the entire story. I love it when a book leaves you dazed and confused, but in a good way 😉
    Lori recently posted…CRAVED BY AN ALPHA Blog Barrage + Giveaway

  18. Lorna  

    I just think the word is degrading-especially when a woman uses it-I have never in my life heard a woman use that word! Okay, getting off my soap box..lol. I think you really might like it, and I do plan to read the next one-I am still intrigued with the premise 🙂
    Lorna recently posted…Review: Ripper by Lexi Blake

  19. Karen  

    I’ve learned to skim over most of that kind of dirty talk. I don’t really like but it’s almost unavoidable at this point.

    The part that made me unsure was when you said the vampire is attracted to her because she’s different. I got bored with the *this girl is special – everyone wants her* thing but overall this still sounds interesting.

    Karen @For What It’s Worth

    • Lorna  

      Marcus is bored after living 2000 years. Kelsey brings something new to his life. And as he has mentored those like her before, he is intrigued. But, he was already attracted to her before he knows what she is. But I do agree, the special girl thing is getting a bit overused to say the least!
      Lorna recently posted…Review: Ripper by Lexi Blake

  20. Mary Kirkland  

    Demons, witches and vampires..oh my!
    When I first saw the title, Ripper…I thought oh now that sounds ominous. This sounds like an interesting book for sure though. I like the mystery of what she actually is too and the two guys that she likes and is pulled towards.
    Mary Kirkland recently posted…Home Made Rat Toys