Book Review

Nothing to Lose by Victoria Selman [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Nothing to Lose

Author: Victoria Selman

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publish Date: March 26, 2019

Genre: Crime & Detective

Series: Ziba MacKenzie #2

My Rating: 4/5

Nothing to Lose by Victoria Selman

BOOK BLURB

He’s looking for his next victim. She looks just like his last.

Primrose Hill, London. Offender Profiler Ziba MacKenzie arrives at the scene of a gruesome murder with a disturbing sense of déjà vu. Nine days earlier, another woman’s body was found: same location, same MO, same physical appearance. For the police, it’s clear a new serial killer is on the loose. But for Ziba, it’s even more sinister—because the victims look just like her.

Ziba has been the focus of a killer’s interest before, and knows that if she gets too close again this case could be her last. Still, she’s not one to play by the rules—especially when her secret investigation into her husband’s murder begins to attract unwanted attention.

With someone watching her every step, can Ziba uncover what connects the two victims before she becomes one herself?


Nothing to Lose by Victoria Selman

MY REVIEW

Nothing to Lose is the second book in the Ziba MacKenzie series by Victoria Selman. Ziba is a profiler who works on gruesome murder cases. Her latest case involves the murder of two women who bear a striking resemblance to Ziba, making her a potential target. In addition to this case, Ziba is secretly investigating her husband’s murder, which was never solved.

The first book in this series is Blood for Blood. In the first book, Ziba wasn’t all that interesting to me, but I enjoyed her character more in this book. Maybe I was more in the mood for this type of read, or maybe this one is just a better book. Could go either way. Anyway, I recommend reading Blood for Blood first, but Nothing To Lose can be read as a standalone.

This story is told over a series of days as Ziba works to discover who is behind two gruesome murders. To complicate matters, Ziba seems to be a target herself, adding an extra layer of suspense. While the women’s murders presents an interesting and twisty case, I also enjoyed Ziba’s investigation into her husband’s death.

A highly entertaining read for fans of crime fiction. Fast-paced, suspenseful, and exciting.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Ziba MacKenzie series:

  1. Blood for Blood
  2. Nothing to Lose
  3. Snakes and Ladders
Book Review

Blood for Blood by Victoria Selman [Book Review]

Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.


BOOK INFO

Title: Blood for Blood

Author: Victoria Selman

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publish Date: February 1, 2019

Genre: Crime & Detective

Series: Ziba MacKenzie #1

My Rating: 4/5

Blood for Blood by Victoria Selman

BOOK BLURB

Ziba Mackenzie profiles killers. Now one is profiling her.

Rush hour, London. A packed commuter train is torn apart in a collision. Picking through the carnage, ex-special forces profiler Ziba MacKenzie helps a dying woman who passes on a cryptic message: He did it. You have to tell someone.

When a corpse is found bearing the gruesome signature of a serial killer dormant for twenty-five years, Ziba is pulled into the hunt for the perpetrator. As the body count rises it becomes clear he’s on a new spree. But what’s brought the London Lacerator back after such a long hiatus? And does his sudden return have anything to do with the woman on the train?

Ziba scrambles to profile the killer in the hope of predicting his next move. But time is running out. And the closer she gets to uncovering his identity, the closer he gets to destroying hers.


Blood for Blood by Victoria Selman

MY REVIEW

Blood for Blood is the first book in a new crime series by debut author Victoria Selman. Ziba MacKenzie is a profiler, and her latest case involves a serial killer who is back after a long hiatus.

A fast-paced crime mystery with a strong female lead. I usually enjoy books with strong female protagonists, but Ziba was kind of annoying. She seemed a bit of a know-it-all, and the weird phrases she uses threw me off. Additionally, I would have liked more backstory about Ziba. I’m guessing that as the series continues, more about Ziba will be revealed.

The mystery was interesting though. The story switched between two points of view – Ziba and the killer. The writing was solid and there were enough twists to keep it interesting.

I enjoy fast-paced mysteries and thrillers, so I’ll probably continue with this series. Hopefully, I start to like Ziba more.

Books in the Ziba MacKenzie series:

  1. Blood for Blood
  2. Nothing to Lose
  3. Snakes and Ladders