Visions (Cainsville #2) by Kelley Armstrong-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 19, 2014

As #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong’s new Cainsville series continues, Olivia’s power to read omens leads to the discovery of a gruesome crime with troubling connections to her new hometown.

Omens, the first installment in Kelley Armstrong’s exciting new series, introduced Olivia Taylor-Jones, daughter of notorious serial killers, and Gabriel Walsh, the self-serving, morally ambiguous lawyer who became her unlikely ally. Together, they chased down a devious killer and partially cleared her parents of their horrifying crimes.

Their success, however, is short-lived. While Olivia takes refuge in the old, secluded town of Cainsville, Gabriel’s past mistakes have come to light, creating a rift between the pair just when she needs his help the most.

Olivia finds a dead woman in her car, dressed to look like her, but the body vanishes before anyone else sees it. Olivia’s convinced it’s another omen, a sign of impending danger. But then she learns that a troubled young woman went missing just days ago—the same woman Olivia found dead in her car. Someone has gone to great lengths to kill and leave this young woman as a warning. But why? And what role has her new home played in this disturbing murder?

Olivia’s effort to uncover the truth places her in the crosshairs of old and powerful forces, forces that have their own agenda, and closely guarded secrets they don’t want revealed.

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REVIEW: VISIONS is the second storyline in Kelley Armstrong’s adult, paranormal contemporary Cainsville mystery/suspense series. Told from alternating first person (Olivia) POV and close third person, VISIONS is the continuing story of Olivia Taylor-Jones aka Eden Larsen-a twenty four year old woman whose biological parents-Todd and Pamela Larsen- were accused of multiple murders and sit in prison awaiting the truth. Discovering she was adopted and not knowing the truth behind her early years, Olivia finds refuge in the small town of Cainsville where mysterious omens, visions and portents of doom focus their power and intensity at Olivia Taylor-Jones. The people of Cainsville are just as perplexing with their secrets, double speak and touch of magic-everyone in Cainsville is connected and everything happens for a reason.

In the first instalment OMENS, Olivia sets out to prove her biological parents are innocent of the charges but VISIONS takes an abrupt turn and the spotlight no longer focuses on proving the Larsen’s innocence but on Olivia’s visions and their connection to the town and people of Cainsville. Using specific animals, speech patterns and language referencing the mythological HUNT, Kelley weaves a tale from long ago and adds contemporary settings and suspense filled action.

Kelley Armstrong pulls from Celtic lore, the myths and tales of fabled legends and supernatural magic. In Cainsville, the town is not that far removed from the old ways, and our heroine will learn she has a deeper connection to Cainsville than just a place to escape.

The secondary characters all play a role in Olivia’s life. From the café regulars we learn a little more about the people of Cainsville-their history and their connections to one another. When one of their own goes missing, the population of Cainsville appears to be more concerned with Olivia’s research and reaction than with the whereabouts of a young woman whose history is questionable and not without some interesting facts.

There is the potential for a love triangle developing as Kelley brings back biker dude/business student Ricky who captures Olivia’s heart but there is also the underlying sexual tension between Olivia and Gabriel-her mother’s former lawyer and the person in whom Olivia will come to depend upon for direction and comfort. Gabriel’s character development was colorful, revealing and not without some heartbreaking realizations. Olivia’s relationship with Ricky brings to question, his connection to Cainsville when the elders push Olivia towards someone else. Because Kelley Armstrong is not known for her sexual or romantic storylines, the sexual imagery is light; mostly implied but the tension is high.

Kelley Armstrong forte is the paranormal storyline. With colorful and interesting characters, she cleverly weaves an intense and wondrous series where the past meets the present; where fables become real; where Celtic magic is at the heart of a town where everyone knows your name.

Click HERE for our review of OMENS (book #1) in Kelley Armstrong’s CAINSVILLE series.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy