Book Review of '8 Down' by Kimberley Woodhouse

Hello Bookworms!

I am so excited you're here with me today! I am featuring a novel from one of my favorite authors and one of my current favorite series! 8 Down had my heart pounding and my mind spinning! It deals with cyber attacks and this hits so close to home as my youngest is currently studying cyber security and it is such a scary thought what cyber attackers can do!

I hope you enjoy my review of 8 Down and don't forget to scroll down to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours!

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for 8 Down by Kimberley Woodhouse hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: 8 Down

Series: Alaskan Cyber Hunters #2

Author: Kimberley Woodhouse

Publisher: Kregel Publications

Release Date: February 20, 2024

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

8 bodies down.

8 more lives at stake.

Investigator Carrie Kintz is new blood with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation in Anchorage. But with a serial killer on the loose, there's no easing into the job. It's sink or swim. The only clues to help law enforcement stop this madman are the taunts he drops into crossword puzzles across the country--always in the same 8 DOWN position.

Carrie is desperate to prove her worth to the force and the community by catching the killer. But when she discovers signs that these deaths are just the tip of the iceberg in a frighteningly elaborate cyberattack, it's time to admit she needs help.

Calling in security specialist Scott Patteson for his expertise seems like the right move--until Carrie realizes that he may be a dangerous distraction for her heart. With her faith fading in the face of horror and uncertainty and her career in danger of ending, this is no time for flirtation.

But with a killer who is determined to prove that he's smarter than everyone else, it may be impossible to fight both the madman and their feelings for each other...

Put on your parkas as we head into a cold world of cybercrime, and hang on for the ride! Kimberley Woodhouse once again takes us on a nail-biter of a ride, and you won't want to quit until you've read the last page!" --Jaime Jo Wright, author of The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater

"An amazing, breath-stealing, knuckle-biting thrill of a ride!" --Lynette Eason, award-winning, best-selling suspense author

My Review

8 Down is the second novel in the Alaskan Cyber Hunters trilogy and if you thought the first novel was intense then just you wait. This novel was one heart-pounding moment after another with scarcely a breath in between. The fact that the time ticks down with the use of crossword puzzles is so incredibly clever and added a unique charm to an otherwise dark tale. I loved watching them solve the puzzles while I myself also tried to solve them with the clues at the beginning of each section and chapter.

Not only do we get to bear witness to the investigation into the cyberattacks but we get to hear the thoughts from the man behind the terror, his evil personified on the pages. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Carrie. Here she is in a new state that feels like a whole new world, not knowing anyone and is the lead on a high-profile case. I can see how she would second guess herself and her choices the deeper into the investigation she gets, but I admired her tenacity and determination to stay focused and solve this case.

I’m usually a sucker for a good love story but sadly that was the one part that felt forced to me. I didn’t feel like the intensity we’re supposed to believe happens between Carrie and Scott is organic and would’ve preferred if that arc was left out completely. I think the fact that it was sandwiched in between such intense suspense made it pale in comparison to the main narrative.

I love this series so, so much and hate that I have to wait to see its conclusion. It is highly entertaining, the characters are wonderfully fleshed out, and the scenes so incredibly vivid. I love the whisper of faith that is breathed throughout, and the suspense and action are unparalleled. I seriously cannot wait to see the conclusion of this trilogy and cannot recommend this series highly enough.

My Rating: ★★★★★

More Books in Series

About the Author

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling author of more than thirty books and novellas, including A Deep Divide, Bridge of Gold, and The Mayflower Bride, as well as the coauthor of the Heart of Alaska series with Tracie Peterson. Kimberley’s writing has earned a Carol Award, the Christian Market Novel of the Year, the Holt Medallion, and many others. A proud former resident of Alaska, she now lives and writes in Colorado where she's traded in her hat of "Craziest Mom" for "Nana the Great."

Connect with Kimberley by visiting kimberleywoodhouse.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive signed copies of 26 Below and 8 Down, bookmarks, and other book-related goodies!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight March 6, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on March 13, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!