Rothaker/Everett by Jenifer Ruff – Reviews

Rothaker
Everett Series – Book #2
by Jenifer Ruff
Release Date: April 1, 2015

Amazon / Kobo / BAM

Description:
Another school….another disappearance…

Brooke is thrilled to be a first-year medical student at Rothaker. Committed to winning a coveted scholarship for future surgeons, she has vowed not to repeat the “necessary”, but extreme acts from her years at Everett College. She is also intrigued by a classmate, the mysterious Xander Cross, a former college football player and veteran of the war in Afghanistan, hiding dark secrets of his own. Thanks to her single-minded obsession with excellence and achievement, Brooke’s plans are rolling along smoothly, until her integrity is questioned by Rachel, a rival student.

Does Brooke discover a soul-mate when Xander is forced to confront the truth of his haunting past? Or, will her determination to vanquish all obstacles, remain unscathed, and come out on top be her undoing?

This chilling mystery of psychological suspense will have readers wondering just how well they actually know their friends, neighbors, or classmates.

Review:
Rothaker is the continuing story of Brooke Walton medical student and psychotic killer. This thrilling mystery/murder story is has many similarities to a recent series on cable titled Dexter. However, where Dexter was taught to kill only other killers, our lovely Brooke only kills those who get seriously in her way.

Jenifer Ruff has a created an interesting world focusing on this lovely blonde with a passion for physical fitness and dissection. This year, Brooke broke up with her “boyfriend” Ethan due to his move back to California after graduation from Everett. This year she’s a medical first year student at Rothaker and has vowed to herself to have a few differences. Namely a better social connection to others, and more tolerance for those who get in her way.

The plot thickens when Rachael, another student threatens to go to the dean about Brooke writing a part of a project for another student who had to return to India for his father’s funeral and to help his family. Brooke falls back into her default position of eliminating problems by killing those who make them.

Okay, that’s the set up and no more spoilers…you have to read this for yourself to get the full effect and believe me it’s effective! Author Ruff brings back or mentions a few familiar people from the first book and spices this one up with a real boyfriend and love interest for Brooke. Just to make it more interesting, he’s suffering from PTSD…and having flashbacks.

The manipulations, interesting interactions, and great storytelling make this a page turner and while it is a serial story, it doesn’t leave you on a breathless cliffhanger…just an interesting…Oooohhh what’s next! Grab a bracing drink and something to chew on besides your fingernails and enjoy!

Everett
Everett series – Book #1
by Jenifer Ruff
Release Date: September 15, 2014

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
At Everett, perfection has a dark side….

Brooke is a highly-motivated coed at prestigious Everett College. She is determined to graduate number one in her class, get accepted at a top medical school, and become a surgeon. She is brilliant, tenacious, and beautiful.

Everything is going according to plan, although she’s not sure what to do about Ethan, an attractive guy who would like to be more than just friends. Her classmates and professors are all captivated by her achievements and her outward appearance, with the exception of one student. Only Jessica, a wealthy socialite and Brooke’s complete opposite, senses that Brooke might not be all that she appears. But Jessica has her own problems, fueled by too many prescription pills, energy drinks, and a huge case of snobbery. She’s too busy looking down her nose when she should be watching her back.

As the semester progresses, Brooke’s carefully laid plans are inadvertently threatened. Her sinister past is revealed, and nothing is off limits when it comes to achieving her goals.

Review:

Everett is a mystery suspense novel by Jenifer Ruff. Centering on life at Everett, an elite and prestigious college in New Hampshire. Brooke Walton has transferred to Everett from Cedarhurst due to the death of her academic mentor. She’s brilliant, lovely, focused on fitness and becoming a surgeon. Oh yes, there just one other small thing, Brooke’s a psychopathic killer.

Most descriptions are of normal college life and scenery. Some focusing so much on secondary characters that it may seem to be moving slow…it only seems that way. There is a lot of description and information, but it’s setup for the story. Brooke also has a boyfriend, well sort of. He’s wonderful and he thinks he’s in love, but she has to work at doing the things that appear to be what normal people do when they’re attracted or in love, because she doesn’t have those type of feelings. Ever hear of the TV series Dexter? Similar affliction.

The situations are interesting, her stressors are equally interesting. She’s absolutely driven to the physical workouts, even inventing her own workouts and teaching large and satisfied classes. This actually a symptom of her disease, as is being driven to be the best academically and to become a surgeon. It isn’t clear if she also intends to help some people, but she definitely has an interest in cutting into others and seeing the causes of death and what happens.

It’s an interesting read, a few small misspelled words…no big deal, doesn’t effect the story at all. Basically, if you like psycho-type stories and mysteries…this is really interesting. It’s a bit strange to hope the “bad guy” or in this case “bad girl” doesn’t get caught. It’s fun!

Everett is the first book in this story. A sequel Rothaker is also out and I’ can’t wait to delve into its mysteries and dark thrills!

Reviews by Georgianna

Copy provided by Author