Blog Tour ARC Review, Guest Post, and Giveaway: The Botanist by L.K. Hill

Guest Post:

Top Ten Creepiest Serial Killers of All Time

My new book, The Botanist, is the story of a serial killer operating in the desert, not far from a small, southern Utah town. This is a stand-alone novel, but I also have another crime drama series, Street Games, that revolves around a serial killer. In that case, the setting is an inner city one. Since I write serial killer novels, I thought a top ten list of my picks for best and creepiest serial killers would be fun.

Top 5 Fictional Serial Killers – Killers other writers have come up with that have either inspired or freaked me out!

5. The Casanova Killer and The Gentleman Caller of Kiss the Girls – Really interesting psychology here.

4. John Doe of Seven – So cold and callous. Gives you the shivers.

3. Miniature Killer of CSI – This killer left perfect miniature, scale models of the crime scenes behind. This lasted all season and was seriously fascinating.

2. Norman Bates – Do I really need to explain this one?

1. Hannibal Lector – The quintessential creep factor here. He’s the killer everyone thinks of when they think of serial killers.

Top 5 Real Life Serial Killers – I’m also interested in true crime. In these cases, the truth is stranger (read: creepier) than fiction. These killers are no joke!

5. The Zodiac Killer – Never caught. One of the great unsolved crimes in U.S. History but very creepy.

4. Green River Killer – DNA caught him, thirty years after he began killing, and then stopped.

3. The Vampire of Brooklyn – This dude was seriously disgusting. He’s where the legend of the boogeyman actually originated. Seriously.

2. H.H. Holmes – Murder castle. Hidden torture rooms. Need I say more?

1. Jack the Ripper – Probably the greatest unsolved serial killer case of all time. No one will ever know his identity for sure, though I would submit that Patricia Cornwell makes an excellent case for who he really was.

So, if you’re interested in really creepy serial killers, check out these books, movies or cases. They’ll keep you up way past your bedtime, jumping at imagined noises. Good times!

ARC Review:

Published:  March 31, 2015 Jolly Fish Press
Genre: Crime
Format: ebook
Source: provided for honest review

Goodreads Summary

In the heat of the desert, Detective Cody Oliver inadvertently stumbles upon a strange garden adorned with exotic flowers. Upon closer inspection, he finds the garden is but a cover for the scores of bodies buried below. Soon, the small town of Mt. Dessicate plunges into chaos as journalists, reporters, and cameramen from across the nation descend upon the tiny, desert town to get a piece of the action.

Along with the media, a mysterious woman appears. She may be the only person who has come face to face with the killer, dubbed the Botanist, and lived to tell the tale. If Cody can't piece together a timeline of the land the crime scene is located on, decipher how the woman's mysterious past is connected to the killer, and bring the Botanist to justice, he may lose the people he values most.

Buy The Botanist by L.K. Hill Today at Amazon

In a small relatively quiet desert town, Detective Cody Oliver does not see many horrifying crimes.  While following up on what a hiker found out in the mountains, he comes across a mass grave.  To complicate the situation, a woman who reported a strange man four years prior may be the key to solving the murders and catching the killer, but he has reservations on letting a civilian help on the case.  With the whole world watching, he is under pressure to catch the killer before he kidnaps and kills his next victim.

"No.  Sorry, man.  Just coming down off an adrenaline high, I think."
   Frank grinned. "I been there.  I don't know how women do it every month."
  Cody stared at Frank.  "They don't have adrenaline once a month Frank."

Beautiful Flowers

L.K. Hill is becoming one of my favorite authors!  This book is full of suspense, twists, turns, a little humor, a little romance, and an edge-of-your-seat, fast and furious kind of ride.   I fell in love with Alex right off of the bat.  She is a smart and intuitive woman.   I wasn't 100% sure if I would like Cody or not when we first met him.   But turns out he is pretty amazing as well.   I like that he is flawed but tries to always do what is right.  He is truly one of the good guys.  As far as the plot, it was amazing and very well put together.  I love crime books and stories.  And add the serial killer aspect, and it makes for an amazing time.   Alex has a dark past that unfolds as the story went along.  Cody has some family secrets that we slowly learn.  However, my patience was tested because I just wanted to know everything, I couldn't wait to get all my puzzle pieces and see the whole picture.   This is one of those stay up all night to see what will happen next reads!

"Was he their desert killer?  Was the town covering for him, Texas-chainsaw style?"

Blue Flowers, But Blue is a Color of Sadness

I can't really think of much to say about this book in my "dislike" column.   My biggest dislike was I couldn't read it fast enough.  There were a few moments that were kind of predictable and maybe even cliché so to speak.  But not to the point that it takes away from the story.


"...she realized now how old a model the boxy, gaudy cop car was.  The eighties probably wanted it back"

A Rose Garden in the Desert

Overall another amazing book by L.K. Hill.   The Botanist does not let down.  One of the more evil serial killers I have seen in a while.   And two very strong lead characters.   I really admire Alex, her strength and intelligence.   I had Cody pegged wrong in the beginning of the book, but he quickly changed my opinion of him.   It was horrifying, chilling and thrilling all at the same time.  Definitely something you would want to make sure you had nothing planned before reading because you will not be able to put the book down!

Author L.K. Hill

L.K. Hill is a novelist who writes across three genres. Her crime and historical fiction are written under her initials, L.K., while her scifi/fantasy and dystopian are written under her full name, Liesel K. Hill. She lives in northern Utah and comes from a large, tight-knit family. She plans to keep writing until they nail her coffin shut. Or the Second Coming happens. You know, whichever happens first. ;D

Facebook * Twitter * Musings on Fantasia * L.K. Hill * Pinterest * Goodreads * Google +

a Rafflecopter giveaway