Not Like Us (An Ilse Beck FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 1)

Written by Ava Strong

Narrated by Elaine Wise

Not Like Us (An Ilse Beck FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 1)
By Ava Strong

NOT LIKE US (An Ilse Beck FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 1) is the debut novel in a new series by mystery and suspense author Ava Strong.

FBI Special Agent Ilse Beck, victim of a traumatic childhood in Germany, moved to the U.S. to become a renowned psychologist specializing in PTSD, and the world’s leading expert in the unique trauma of serial-killer survivors. By studying the psychology of their survivors, Ilse has a unique and unparalleled expertise in the true psychology of serial killers. She had no idea, though, that she would become an FBI agent herself.

Nothing, though, can prepare Ilse for her new patient, a survivor from a roadside brush with a serial killer. The patient, paranoid, believes she is still being watched by the killer. And when the killer claims a new victim, the FBI needs Ilse’s help to solve it.

This case and this killer, though, strike too close to home for Ilse’s comfort. When she realizes that she herself is being targeted, the trauma of her own past comes full circle.

Can Ilse use her brilliant instincts to enter the mind of this killer and stop him before he strikes again?

And will she save herself?

A dark and suspenseful crime thriller, the ILSE BECK series is a breathtaking page-turner, unputdownable from the first word. A compelling and perplexing mystery, rife with twists and jaw-dropping secrets, it will make you fall in love with a brilliant new character, while it keeps you shocked late into the night.

Books #2, #3 and #4 in the series—NOT LIKE HE SEEMED, NOT LIKE YESTERDAY and NOT LIKE THIS—are also available.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lukeman Literary Management
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094318769

Reviews for Not Like Us (An Ilse Beck FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 1)

[gloria glidewell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Smart, interesting story line. If only authors would stop writing female characters who do stupid things and have to be saved by a make character. Also, the demure female who never wears make up, forgets to eat and feels stupid guilt about things for which she has no control is beyond trite now. Last thing is the Cockney accent used by the narrator not only makes no sense but having to frequently stop to consider the English to English translation just pulls one right out of the story line and is frustrating.

[Teresa · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The narration just didn't work for me. I really wanted to like the series however the accent was too distracting. It wasn't the worst I've heard. I did, at least, get through the series, but it wasn't pleasant. I tried focusing on the story but would be thrown off by the pronunciation of a word. Not talking about words that are commonly pronounced differently in the UK than in the US, like vitamin or aluminum, whatever. In a later book in the series, a character was getting something from a vending machine. It was a GOT-TOE-ROD. Wait, what the heck?! Ohhh, okay. Dude was trying to get a GATORADE! I just kept thinking how much better the story might have been with geographically appropriate narration.

[Dorothy Gray · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The narrator is annoying. Too dramatic. Appears as if everyone is angry and yelling. I generally avoid any books she narrates. Another thing is I wish she could read with an American accent since story takes place in US.

[Fiona Ridgeway · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I tried but I couldn’t listen to the narrator past the first chapter