Thriller

In Vanished, the second installment in Elizabeth Heiter's The Profiler series, Evelyn Baines returns to her home town hoping to solve the one case that not only haunts her, but also defines her. Eighteen years earlier, her best friend Cassie was the last of three victims abducted by the "Nursery Rhyme Killer". When another twelve year old girl vanishes under eerily similar circumstances in the present, Evelyn returns to Rose Bay where she lets absolutely nothing stand in the way of discovering what happened to Cassie and the other missing girls.

Having just returned to work following her close brush with death, Evelyn is determined to find a better balance between work and her personal life. She is off to a good start when she receives a phone call from Cassie's mom letting her know that the long dormant Nursery Rhyme Killer has possibly kidnapped another young girl. Despite her supervisor's very strenuous objections, Evelyn rushes to Rose Bay where she immediately throws herself into compiling a profile of the abductor. With her objectivity seriously compromised, Evelyn cannot separate past from present and her impetus decisions threaten the investigation.

Evelyn is a top-notch profiler but her personal ties to the case are a huge hindrance. While her need to discover what happened to Cassie is understandable, she sometimes gets so caught up in her own pain that she has difficulty focusing on the present case. However, when she is able to concentrate on the current investigation, her assessments are quite insightful. Unfortunately, Evelyn acts without thinking and some of her actions seriously jeopardize the case.

Since the kidnapping case is a little different from the BAU's typical crime, Evelyn works mainly with local law enforcement and an FBI team that specializes in child abductions. However, fellow FBI agent and love interest, Kyle, "Mac" McKenzie is in the area working on a different case. In his off duty hours, Mac helps Evelyn with the investigation and provides her with much needed moral support as well.

Vanished is a compelling and intriguing mystery that is incredibly fast paced. Elizabeth Heiter cleverly obscures the perpetrator's identity with a series of ingenious misdirects, unexpected plot twists and a viable list of plausible suspects. An overall imaginative and mesmerizing addition to The Profiler series that mystery lovers are sure to enjoy. ( )

Vanished] by Elizabeth Heiter
The Profiler series Book #2
3 Stars

From The Book:
Sometimes, the past can haunt you… Eighteen years ago, FBI profiler Evelyn Baine's best friend, Cassie Byers, disappeared, the third in a series of unsolved abductions. Only a macabre nursery rhyme was left at the scene, a nursery rhyme that claimed Evelyn was also an intended victim. Now, after all these years of silence, another girl has gone missing in South Carolina, and the Nursery Rhyme Killer is taking credit. But is Cassie's abductor really back, or is there a copycat at work?

Sometimes, the past is best forgotten… Evelyn has waited eighteen years for a chance to investigate, but when she returns to Rose Bay, she finds a dark side to the seemingly idyllic town. As the place erupts in violence and the kidnapper strikes again, Evelyn knows this is her last chance. If she doesn't figure out what happened to Cassie eighteen years ago, it may be Evelyn's turn to vanish without a trace.

My Views:
I really enjoyed the first book of this series but I found I was becoming bored with the repeated theme of this one. Evelyn was told from the start that she was too close to this case to be working it but she wouldn't listen so most of the 395 pages was her proving everyone right. Throughout this book I found her to be naive & even weak. She had to be rescued more than once or twice and made some very poor choices along the way. She wasn't like this in the first book. Hopefully in future books she'll stick to what she does best...profiling. ( )

Vanished (The Profiler Series #2)
By: Elizabeth Heiter
Published By: Harlequin Mira Pages. 400
Copy Courtesy of Thereadingroom Early Reviewer
Reviewed By: tk

A thriller that will have you leaving the lights on and the curtains drawn.

Everyone’s nightmare of the bogeyman. This man is not hiding in the closet, but out in plain sight. He could be a friend, a family member, a newspaper boy, and he is watching your children. He stalks and chooses for a specific purpose. He must have the perfect child, not just anyone will fit the requirements he has sets for himself. He does make mistakes on occasion, and must choose another…but who?

A thrill ride of emotions. I just could NOT put this down. Elizabeth Heiter brings the story to a realistic level like no other. She makes the characters so real they could be your real friends and families. Detailed backgrounds, a small town where everyone knows you, and the outsiders that come to town to help find a killer, a phenomenal story.

You will not be disappointed. A MUST READ!!!! 5/5 ( )