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Jessie Hunt #4
The Perfect Smile
In THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4), criminal profiler Jessie Hunt, 29, fresh from the FBI Academy, is assigned a disturbing new case: a woman in her 30s has been murdered after using a dating website for her affairs with married men.
Had she gotten too close to one of the married men?
Was she the victim of blackmail? Of a stalker?
Or was there some far more nefarious motive at stake?
The list of suspects takes Jessie into wealthy, manicured neighborhoods, behind the veil of seemingly perfect lives, lives which are actually rotten to the core. The killer, she realizes, must lie behind one of these fake, plastic smiles.
Jessie must plumb the depths of his psychosis as she tries to both catch a killer and hold her own fragile psyche together—with her own murderous father on the loose, willing to stop at nothing until he kills her.
A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, THE PERFECT SMILE is book #4 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
Book #5 in the Jessie Hunt series will be available soon.
Had she gotten too close to one of the married men?
Was she the victim of blackmail? Of a stalker?
Or was there some far more nefarious motive at stake?
The list of suspects takes Jessie into wealthy, manicured neighborhoods, behind the veil of seemingly perfect lives, lives which are actually rotten to the core. The killer, she realizes, must lie behind one of these fake, plastic smiles.
Jessie must plumb the depths of his psychosis as she tries to both catch a killer and hold her own fragile psyche together—with her own murderous father on the loose, willing to stop at nothing until he kills her.
A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, THE PERFECT SMILE is book #4 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
Book #5 in the Jessie Hunt series will be available soon.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2019
About the author
Blake Pierce
538 books4,902 followersBlake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
November 11, 2020
Well if I had a dollar for every time this author used the word "incredulously" and "despite" I would be a millionaire. But we know already that these books are not the greatest works of literature this world has ever seen. I remain steadfast in my opinion that these police officers, detectives, FBI agents and criminal profilers are actually horrendous at their jobs and should seek other employment. They fall for every serial killer trick in the book and take stupid risks like going to a bar for a drink when they could easily have a drink together AT THE SAFE HOUSE! But what do I know? I actually really enjoy Bolton Crutchfield's character and finally there was an exciting twist at the end of this book! Looking forward to reading more about the surprise half-sister!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2019
Jessie's a tough one
February 9, 2020
Just finished book 4 in the Jessie Hunt series, having read the first book just two weeks ago. Each book as as good as the one previous, which is why I immediately bought #5 after finishing #4. Criminal profiler Jessie Hunt is still young, still learning, and still growing as she works with LAPD to solve crimes while concurrently trying to hunt down two serial killers with whom she has had past relationships. Of course nothing goes according to plan, nothing is every easy (or apparent), and just when you are sure you have it all figured out there is some twist or another you didn't see coming. Thankfully the books don't feel as if each regurgitates the previous one (which has happened to me with some authors). Loved it!!!
February 26, 2020
Some people read romance novels as a distraction. I enjoy crime /mysteries. After 4 novels by this author I think i am done with her. Her main character survives way too many attacks and although she solves cases, it took 4 books to kill off one of her main stalkers. Life is too short to read just so so literature. Have a pile next to my bed that I’m moving onto.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2019
To give credit when credit is due, this kept me on my toes.
It didn't have the strongest start, but the characters were cool. I'd love to see them again in book five, which came out yesterday of all days, so maybe I'll get to it this year.
The mystery wasn't really strong even though the blurb made it look so cool, but by now I've gotten used to it. I think the Crutchfield/Hunt dynamic will be much more interesting from now on, perhaps Hernandez will be a part of it somehow.
I didn't like the audio, but I think that's because it's the third narrator so I'm getting annoyed a little.
It didn't have the strongest start, but the characters were cool. I'd love to see them again in book five, which came out yesterday of all days, so maybe I'll get to it this year.
The mystery wasn't really strong even though the blurb made it look so cool, but by now I've gotten used to it. I think the Crutchfield/Hunt dynamic will be much more interesting from now on, perhaps Hernandez will be a part of it somehow.
I didn't like the audio, but I think that's because it's the third narrator so I'm getting annoyed a little.
September 16, 2023
Action - Twists and turns - good storyline. Characters are really developing and becoming more personable in the series.
Audiobook has a few edit issues (as did #3 in series), but the ending to #4 was twisty and blew me away.
4.5 Stars.
Audiobook has a few edit issues (as did #3 in series), but the ending to #4 was twisty and blew me away.
4.5 Stars.
December 28, 2019
Yes!
I have enjoyed all 4 books that I have read in this series ( number 5 is waiting for me), but i was starting to get sick of the invincible father. Serial killer or not, they are not the immune to being human.
This one had a good story and a satisfying end.
I have enjoyed all 4 books that I have read in this series ( number 5 is waiting for me), but i was starting to get sick of the invincible father. Serial killer or not, they are not the immune to being human.
This one had a good story and a satisfying end.
January 8, 2020
This series is ridiculous as can be.
July 22, 2022
I’m enjoying this series but the last two books I’ve listened to have a different narrator and she’s not as good as the person that narrates the first two books. There is several points where she repeats what she says so obviously the book didn’t go through an edit or else those parts got missed.
Enjoying where the storyline is going. The killer in this book was a little more obvious but I enjoyed the twist involved in revealing it.
Enjoying where the storyline is going. The killer in this book was a little more obvious but I enjoyed the twist involved in revealing it.
October 23, 2019
Fast-paced thriller that I had trouble putting down. Jessie recently completed training at the FBI Academy and is using her skills to figure out who killed a young woman who regularly used a dating app that is known for their discretion and married men.
All the while, Jessie is being hunted by her serial killer father and a protégée who has taken a liking to Jessie. After faking his own death, Xander gets a hold of Jessie. With a clue to his weakness from Bolton, Jessie is able to get the upper hand and eventually kill her father with the help of one of his victims, Hannah Dorsey who turns out to be Jessie's half-sister.
Really wish they would proof-read for typos. I still can't wait for the next book.
All the while, Jessie is being hunted by her serial killer father and a protégée who has taken a liking to Jessie. After faking his own death, Xander gets a hold of Jessie. With a clue to his weakness from Bolton, Jessie is able to get the upper hand and eventually kill her father with the help of one of his victims, Hannah Dorsey who turns out to be Jessie's half-sister.
Really wish they would proof-read for typos. I still can't wait for the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2020
I enjoyed the story.
Missing words and typos continue throughout the series.
While I enjoyed the series, I have to say this author could research a little more. A nurse would be trained to not offer petroleum jelly to ease dry lips when a patient is wearing an oxygen mask.
Hopefully the next book is the last. I’m ready to move on to another story from my growing TBR list.
Missing words and typos continue throughout the series.
While I enjoyed the series, I have to say this author could research a little more. A nurse would be trained to not offer petroleum jelly to ease dry lips when a patient is wearing an oxygen mask.
Hopefully the next book is the last. I’m ready to move on to another story from my growing TBR list.
December 14, 2019
As a book in a series it’s like eating potato chips.......🥴
January 7, 2020
Another thrilling ride along with criminal profiler Jessie Hunt
This story kept me glued to my kindle! Jessie Hunt, criminal profiler extraordinaire, is definitely out to the test in this fast paced suspense thriller. I loved this fourth installment in The Jessie Hunt series. Over all it was a great book.
There was a pharmacological error that actually made me laugh.
The pharm tech in me laughed out loud at the following passage from the book I’m currently reading.
“Oh, right,” he said, as if remembering why they were there in the first place. “Gabby’s in the den, watching TV. She took a dose of Zoloft to settle her nerves but she’s awake. You may have come at the ideal time. She’s conscious but not agitated.”
Unfortunately , that’s not how Zoloft works. For starters, it’s an antidepressant not an anti-anxiety medication. Secondly, it takes a little while to get in your system. Finally, you have to start Zoloft at a lower starter dose and slowly work up to the proper dose.
Like I stated above, even with small errors, this series is phenomenal and I will continue reading as many books as Blake publishes in the Jessie Hunt series.
This story kept me glued to my kindle! Jessie Hunt, criminal profiler extraordinaire, is definitely out to the test in this fast paced suspense thriller. I loved this fourth installment in The Jessie Hunt series. Over all it was a great book.
There was a pharmacological error that actually made me laugh.
The pharm tech in me laughed out loud at the following passage from the book I’m currently reading.
“Oh, right,” he said, as if remembering why they were there in the first place. “Gabby’s in the den, watching TV. She took a dose of Zoloft to settle her nerves but she’s awake. You may have come at the ideal time. She’s conscious but not agitated.”
Unfortunately , that’s not how Zoloft works. For starters, it’s an antidepressant not an anti-anxiety medication. Secondly, it takes a little while to get in your system. Finally, you have to start Zoloft at a lower starter dose and slowly work up to the proper dose.
Like I stated above, even with small errors, this series is phenomenal and I will continue reading as many books as Blake publishes in the Jessie Hunt series.
November 14, 2023
Book 3 remains my favorite.
This one was very action-heavy, fast-paced and extremely detailed when it came to the crimes from Thurman.
3 stars because it was more of a filler book, probably leading to more later in the series.
This one was very action-heavy, fast-paced and extremely detailed when it came to the crimes from Thurman.
3 stars because it was more of a filler book, probably leading to more later in the series.
April 26, 2021
The main character still bothers me because of her lack of regard for rules and her superiority complex, but I am still enjoying the plot.
August 12, 2024
Another solid Jessie Hunt thriller! I enjoyed this one more than the previous book.
December 19, 2020
In the Perfect Smile, Jessie Hunt is assigned a case. A woman in her 30s has been murdered after using a dating site for affairs with married men. The question is: Has she gotten close to married men or is there another motive? Whilst she is trying to solve the case, she is playing a game of cat and mouse with two serial killers.
As I read the Jessie Hunt series, I am becoming more "attached to Jessie Hunt". She is an interesting character who has started to develop into a more adept profiler. I just had two problems with this book: The first problem is the number of typos, grammar and spelling mistakes. It is a big frustration and distracts one from the story. The second issue that I have with the story is that I would love to see more of the psychology behind profiling. She arrived at a conclusion but how? Otherwise, good read.
As I read the Jessie Hunt series, I am becoming more "attached to Jessie Hunt". She is an interesting character who has started to develop into a more adept profiler. I just had two problems with this book: The first problem is the number of typos, grammar and spelling mistakes. It is a big frustration and distracts one from the story. The second issue that I have with the story is that I would love to see more of the psychology behind profiling. She arrived at a conclusion but how? Otherwise, good read.
October 16, 2021
Another in this series I am totally in love with. I can't get enough of Blake Pierces books.
January 5, 2020
Intense ride
Wow just freaking a wow!! Jessie is one badass woman. Not one but two deranged serial killers after her and one is her own dear daddy. Will they catch her or will she catch them first? Get on this thrill ride of a series and enjoy.
Wow just freaking a wow!! Jessie is one badass woman. Not one but two deranged serial killers after her and one is her own dear daddy. Will they catch her or will she catch them first? Get on this thrill ride of a series and enjoy.
January 11, 2024
This is another great addition to the series. Each book has its own plot (case to solve) and then there’s an overarching plot for the series. These stories are the perfect length, leaving you satisfied but also wanting more.
This particular case was interesting and had a decent twist. I’m curious to see where the end of this book will take future books in the series.
If you’re into psychological thrillers/suspense, then these books are right up your alley!
This particular case was interesting and had a decent twist. I’m curious to see where the end of this book will take future books in the series.
If you’re into psychological thrillers/suspense, then these books are right up your alley!
November 23, 2023
It just gets more unbelievable. She's living in a safe house but then they decide it's ok to go to a bar and have a drink after a long day. Do they know you can buy a bottle of booze and have a drink in the safe house, where it's supposed to be safe? The amount of rules/laws broken by Jessie and the amount of information she is always hiding from law enforcement is so much I don't understand how she still has a job, especially since she's just a part time junior profiler. Yet she ends up on all these cases with high profile people. And she keeps missing the obvious clues until after the fact, proving she is the worst profiler.
Basically, every book plot is: watch Jessie screw up, have a close brush with death, and then make it out alive and ready to start the next case. And in between screwing up, she whines about following protocol and somehow gets other people to agree with her to get her way so everyone is breaking the rules for her which will always compromise her safety and put her in a bad situation.
Basically, every book plot is: watch Jessie screw up, have a close brush with death, and then make it out alive and ready to start the next case. And in between screwing up, she whines about following protocol and somehow gets other people to agree with her to get her way so everyone is breaking the rules for her which will always compromise her safety and put her in a bad situation.
July 31, 2022
So I’m like just enough into this series that I keep reading but there are so many plot holes and inconsistencies that it’s hard to ignore. example: in an earlier book they said Rodriguez was the only staff member that NRD had kept on from the old guard. Then in this book Rodriguez (who for a reason beyond me they started calling Ernie in this book) was a new hire with Gentry.
Also Jessie’s absolute stupidity is just aggravating as a reader sometimes. Doing things like ditching your protective detail like she does often for ambiguous reasons with no consequences just happens so often in this book.
Anyway. Am I likely going to read the next one ? Probably. My intrigue does override my annoyance, but barely.
Also Jessie’s absolute stupidity is just aggravating as a reader sometimes. Doing things like ditching your protective detail like she does often for ambiguous reasons with no consequences just happens so often in this book.
Anyway. Am I likely going to read the next one ? Probably. My intrigue does override my annoyance, but barely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2019
I love these books and have read them from the beginning. Love them. Difficult to put down and I love the fact there is the main story of Jessica being terrorized by her killer father and sub stories. I particularly enjoyed the supporting characters in this book. I also love the cat and mouse between Crutchfield. I can’t wait for the next installment. I wish there were more books out there like this. I spend more time looking for good books than reading them. 👍🏻
January 15, 2020
I absolutely loved this novel in this series and was grateful that a particular conflict was resolved. I like the protagonist's resilient nature. She has suffered a lot over the course of her life and channels a lot of her pain in her work as an FBI agent. It has a witty plot, and is such a page-turner that has led me to read through to book five in the series. Great work, Blake.
December 15, 2019
Excitement and scary
This girl is one in a million! She has survived through three
books. She gets tortured in so many different ways.
And somehow survives her horrible serial killer dad!
At the end of this one you will get a surprise!
This girl is one in a million! She has survived through three
books. She gets tortured in so many different ways.
And somehow survives her horrible serial killer dad!
At the end of this one you will get a surprise!
October 18, 2019
So good. Every, single book.
Blake! Dude...I am totally at your mercy! I'm a fan. You are great. I'm not sure can wait till March.
Blake! Dude...I am totally at your mercy! I'm a fan. You are great. I'm not sure can wait till March.
June 22, 2022
Another scintillating mystery
Blake Pierce has done it again. Another reason why Pierce is my favorite mystery author! On to the next one . . .
Blake Pierce has done it again. Another reason why Pierce is my favorite mystery author! On to the next one . . .
October 10, 2021
Okay so I took notes while listening to this audiobook version of Book #4 in the Jessie Hunt series because this book series is really starting to unwind and get messy and I'm loving every second of it.
Notes:
*starts out with Jessie in witness protection
*A chick named Gabbie discovers her roommate Claire in their shared bathrooms bathtub with her throat slashed.
*The marshall tries to force Jessie to stay in the safehouse until her serial killer of a father is found because from what we learned in the last book, she's his #1 Target . Wish I don't know about you but that's really sad for your own sadistic father to want to kill you.
* Jessie claims to the marshall that she is going stir crazy being locked up like a prisoner when she should be back on the forge helping, so she gets granted permission and gets placed with a partner do she can go investigate Claire's stabbing case.
* Jessie's partner is Jack Dollen, according to Jessie a man in his late 30s who looks more like a surfer then a detective.
Jessie is knows by many as the serial killers daughter, forensic profiler, and psycho whisperer hiding from men who go jump in the night....she is viewed by men as weak as if it was her idea to go into protection.
*Jack and Jessie don't see eye to eye from the very beginning of the partnership.
*Claire's wounds were done bye a set of keys which indicates according to Jessie a "crime of passion".
-was this the work of her father?!?
-what career did Gabbie and Claire have in order to afford such nice things????
*This case is a multi jurisdictional case
The security was breached while Jessie was on the case....so much for protection....crutchfield ended up turning on a co-worker/friend of the force ended up killing the man.
--Crutchfield gained the ability to reach Jessie and barricaded her in the woman's restroom at a bar to warn her the safe house isn't as safe as she thinks, he disguised himself as a woman
Turns out Gabbie and Claire participated in a raunchy website called, "Look of Love" which dealt with sugar babies and sugar daddies, married men finding women to spoil for favors, even famous and wealthy men including the mayor I believe.
-any female married to one of the men these women were involved with would have motive to kill Claire- she was involved with multiple married sugar daddies.
-website completely legal
**Could this really be the work of Jessie's father or a dirty cop already on the inside, knowing every step Jessie takes?!
**Could this be Jessie's old partner Hernandez who secretly keeps staying in contact with her through her new partner Dollens phone, against the Marshalls orders?!?!
Funny enough I gathered that much in the first 50% of the book. If interested read on, I know I am!!!
Notes:
*starts out with Jessie in witness protection
*A chick named Gabbie discovers her roommate Claire in their shared bathrooms bathtub with her throat slashed.
*The marshall tries to force Jessie to stay in the safehouse until her serial killer of a father is found because from what we learned in the last book, she's his #1 Target . Wish I don't know about you but that's really sad for your own sadistic father to want to kill you.
* Jessie claims to the marshall that she is going stir crazy being locked up like a prisoner when she should be back on the forge helping, so she gets granted permission and gets placed with a partner do she can go investigate Claire's stabbing case.
* Jessie's partner is Jack Dollen, according to Jessie a man in his late 30s who looks more like a surfer then a detective.
Jessie is knows by many as the serial killers daughter, forensic profiler, and psycho whisperer hiding from men who go jump in the night....she is viewed by men as weak as if it was her idea to go into protection.
*Jack and Jessie don't see eye to eye from the very beginning of the partnership.
*Claire's wounds were done bye a set of keys which indicates according to Jessie a "crime of passion".
-was this the work of her father?!?
-what career did Gabbie and Claire have in order to afford such nice things????
*This case is a multi jurisdictional case
The security was breached while Jessie was on the case....so much for protection....crutchfield ended up turning on a co-worker/friend of the force ended up killing the man.
--Crutchfield gained the ability to reach Jessie and barricaded her in the woman's restroom at a bar to warn her the safe house isn't as safe as she thinks, he disguised himself as a woman
Turns out Gabbie and Claire participated in a raunchy website called, "Look of Love" which dealt with sugar babies and sugar daddies, married men finding women to spoil for favors, even famous and wealthy men including the mayor I believe.
-any female married to one of the men these women were involved with would have motive to kill Claire- she was involved with multiple married sugar daddies.
-website completely legal
**Could this really be the work of Jessie's father or a dirty cop already on the inside, knowing every step Jessie takes?!
**Could this be Jessie's old partner Hernandez who secretly keeps staying in contact with her through her new partner Dollens phone, against the Marshalls orders?!?!
Funny enough I gathered that much in the first 50% of the book. If interested read on, I know I am!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2020
I have been dying to read this one ever since I finished reading the previous book. That ending 😱 left me shook. This series has made me realize that you really need to be careful with those you surround yourself with. They may or may not be who you think they are. 😰 I’m going to try and avoid spoilers here so bear with me🤞Jessie finds herself in a very difficult position, not to mention that she is worried about the consequences it may bring to those who surround her. What I liked about Jessie was that even though she is at risk, she still wants to keep herself busy by working on another investigation. What else can she do? Stay in bed all day waiting to see if the boogeymen find her? No! That’s no way to live for her. She knows this which is why Jessie chooses to step up and help in the investigation. She’s no damsel in distress whatsoever. That’s another quality that I like about her, whenever she’s in a situation where her life is at risk she never gives up. Jessie finds the way to turn the tables and have an advantage. That advantage could very well make the difference between life or death. She’s a fighter with an inner strength unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The case she was working one was quite the story. 😌 I had my suspicions who they killer could have been but the way it all went fine was creative. 👌 Nicely done. As always we tend to focus on more on Jessie and her struggle but Kat and Ryan are present a couple of times more the latter than the former. The usual, nothing to big. That cliffhanger however, was very and I mean very unexpected. 👀 You can definitely find me in the next book reading away. I gotta know what happens next.
February 8, 2023
Just when I worried Blake Pierce’s formula might wear thin, THE PERFECT SMILE ends with a fun twist and moves Jessie and the rest of the characters into new territory.
We know by now that every Hunt novel drops Jessie into a murder investigation. While that’s going on, her serial killer acquaintance and serial killer father keep her busy outside of her on-the-clock hours. Going into SMILE, Jessie’s case was the aspect of the formula I was most concerned about. We know Jessie is a great profiler, and we see her sharpening her skills, but she still runs laps around veteran detectives. She always gets there first, and that’s always seemed convenient to me. Jessie still puts the puzzle pieces together before anyone else, but the way Jessie deduced the killer’s motivation, and the motivation itself, came together in a way that saw Jessie stumble across the answer rather than scoop everyone around her.
Speaking of supporting characters, Pierce changes up the cast in SMILE. Several familiar places take a backseat to give readers a chance to learn new characters and observe their dynamic with Jessie. That changing of the guard felt natural; Jessie leads an… exciting life, and it makes sense that new characters—several U.S. Marshalls and another detective from the LAPD—would enter into her orbit over time.
The ending of SMILE is fantastic and shows that Pierce isn’t afraid to change things up. It was also cathartic; as a newer fan of Jessie Hunt, I loved how the confrontation unfolded and can’t wait to see how the fallout changes things for Jessie going forward.
We know by now that every Hunt novel drops Jessie into a murder investigation. While that’s going on, her serial killer acquaintance and serial killer father keep her busy outside of her on-the-clock hours. Going into SMILE, Jessie’s case was the aspect of the formula I was most concerned about. We know Jessie is a great profiler, and we see her sharpening her skills, but she still runs laps around veteran detectives. She always gets there first, and that’s always seemed convenient to me. Jessie still puts the puzzle pieces together before anyone else, but the way Jessie deduced the killer’s motivation, and the motivation itself, came together in a way that saw Jessie stumble across the answer rather than scoop everyone around her.
Speaking of supporting characters, Pierce changes up the cast in SMILE. Several familiar places take a backseat to give readers a chance to learn new characters and observe their dynamic with Jessie. That changing of the guard felt natural; Jessie leads an… exciting life, and it makes sense that new characters—several U.S. Marshalls and another detective from the LAPD—would enter into her orbit over time.
The ending of SMILE is fantastic and shows that Pierce isn’t afraid to change things up. It was also cathartic; as a newer fan of Jessie Hunt, I loved how the confrontation unfolded and can’t wait to see how the fallout changes things for Jessie going forward.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews