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Omens
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Omens
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Omens
Audiobook14 hours

Omens

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About this audiobook

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong begins her new series with Omens, featuring a compelling new heroine thrust into a decades-old murder case and the dark mysteries surrounding her strange new home.

Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions.

But Olivia's world is shattered when she learns that she's adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fiancé, Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents' past.

Aided by her mother's former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens' last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies. Because there are darker secrets behind her new home and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 20, 2013
ISBN9781101619865
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Omens
Author

Kelley Armstrong

When librarians finally granted Kelley Armstrong an adult card, she made straight for the epic fantasy and horror shelves. She spent the rest of her childhood and teen years happily roaming fantastical and terrible worlds, and vowed that someday she'd write a story combining swords, sorcery, and the ravenous undead. That story began with the New York Times bestselling Sea of Shadows and continues with Empire of Night. Armstrong's first works for teens were the New York Times bestselling Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising trilogies. She lives in rural Ontario with her husband, three children, and far too many pets.

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Reviews for Omens

Rating: 3.9802157212230216 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Olivia is very happy. She's wealthy, engaged to a wonderful man who she loves and who loves her, she works at a fulfilling job, and she's decided to return to college for a higher degree. And then one night the news breaks: she's adopted, and her biological parents are notorious serial killers. This sends Olivia reeling, her identity in question. Who is she really? What might she have inherited from her biological parents?

    Desperate to get away from the media, Olivia runs and finds herself in Cainsville, a very mysterious town that is much more than it seems. She also finds out that she, herself, is more than she seems, because she can see and read signs.

    When Olivia's biological mother asks for Olivia to visit in prison, Olivia says no, but then reconsiders hoping to get some questions answered. What she finds is a mystery that could lead to proving her biological parents innocence of two of the eight murders laid at their feet.

    Despite the presence of the supernatural in Cainsville, this book is far more a mystery than anything else. Because I enjoy supernatural mysteries this worked for me. I'll read the next book in this series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsWhen Kelley Armstrong’s best-selling Women of the Otherworld series came to an end last summer I couldn’t hold back my tears. Clay and Elena will forever hold a special place in my heart but, after I finished mourning the loss of these beloved characters, excitement at the prospect of diving into something new from one of my favourite authors began to replace my sorrow. I approached Omens with equal parts enthusiasm and trepidation only to have the first emotion fizzle and the latter transform into disappointment. Armstrong’s writing is as strong as ever but I struggled to find the paranormal elements in this psychological thriller and the ones I did uncover, were more confusing than anything else. For the first time ever, I’m on the fence as to whether Armstrong will remain on my auto-buy list.The supernatural elements in this story are minimal at best; Olivia sees omens, her neighbour has the “sight” and, there’s some talk of Fae and the Tylwyth Teg. The heroine’s ability is tenuous and other than providing her with a few cryptic clues; it comes across more as survival instinct than an actual power. You know when the hairs on the back of your neck stand up? Yeah, it’s like that. I’m confident that Olivia’s talent will grow as this series progresses but as far as first impressions go, it was lackluster. As for her neighbour, I never figured out if she actually does indeed have the “sight: or if she’s just a scam artist preying on people’s beliefs. And the Fae? I have no idea where they fit in; they are loosely referenced a couple of times but other than that, their mythology comes across as an old wives tale.The murder investigation is captivating with its countless subplots and never-ending list of suspects; I marveled at Armstrong’s ability to masterfully weave an unravelable tale of murder and deceit. The villain is extremely difficult to identify which means that this story is as unpredictable as they come. I enjoy a good intrigue and Omens certainly delivers on that front. Olivia has her lawyer, Gabriel, in tow for the better part of this novel and I struggled with all of the legal jargon and “smart” narrative. I found that the dialogue was on the stiff side; it didn’t feel natural nor did it flow overly well. I felt like I was sitting in a room full of attorneys and they were talking circles around me. This book reads more like a textbook with a bit of fiction thrown in rather than the other way around.The two main characters didn’t really do anything for me either. Olivia’s personality was lacking; she doesn’t come across as a socialite or a vibrant twenty-four year old woman. Other than a few quirks, I found her to be very two-dimensional. She just found out that she was adopted and that her biological parents are infamous serial killers yet she barely reacts. Olivia seems more upset by the press coverage than by anything else that’s going on in her life. I enjoyed Gabriel slightly more because his mask of indifference fits his profession so I had expected it from him. This is the first installment of this series so I didn’t foresee insta-love but I did hope for a little light flirtation. Unfortunately, Omens is strictly business, the characters don’t get to have any fun.At the moment, I’m torn between my love for all things Kelley Armstrong and my first impression of this new series. Undoubtedly she’s a talented author and I’ve loved her writing in the past; I’m just not convinced that Cainsville is for me. Omens has more in common with Dan Brown’s books than with her Otherworld novels; although both have their merits, I like my reads to be heavy on the paranormal with a dash of psychological thriller on the side. Armstrong is straddling genres with her latest book and I’m not sure if I’m prepared to follow her to the other side. There’s no publication date yet for the second installment so I have some time to mull it over.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Omens is my favorite book I’ve read by Kelly Armstrong yet. In a way, it reminds me of Anne Bishop’s Written in Red, although Omens has fewer fantastical elements.Olivia Taylor Jones is the daughter of a famously wealthy couple, and her life is pretty much picture perfect until she learns she’s adopted and that she’s the daughter of America’s two most notorious serial killers.On the run from the publicity, Olivia moves to the town of Cainsville, a closed off and secretive place, as she investigates her birth parents’ case. But her investigation leads her down stranger pathways than she knew existed…While Omens is probably either paranormal or urban fantasy, there actually aren’t that many fantastical elements. They weren’t a large part of the plot, although they definitely existed and are clearly shown in the short, third person POV sections scattered through the book. However, Olivia is not aware of any besides her own abilities (reading omens), which she dismisses as superstition for most of the book. For the most part, this book reads more like a thriller or mystery novel. No doubt the sequels will explore the magical aspects farther.Omens also doesn’t have much in the way of romance (which I like). There’s someone who I am pretty sure Olivia will end up with in future books, but for now, the characters and relationship are still being built. This is probably why it strikes me as similar to Anne Bishop’s Written in Red – comparable level of romantic elements.If you’re looking for the typical urban fantasy sexy vampires and werewolves, this isn’t the book for you. If you're looking romance, this isn't the book for you. In fact, you really want even just urban fantasy in general, this may not even be the book for you. It’s fun and enjoyable and a very good read, but it stretches genre boundaries and conventions to create something new.Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Really good series about a rich woman who suddenly discovers she's not only adopted but her real parents are convicted serial killers. Then things get really weird as she discovers she's the embodiment of a myth reliving it again. Her choices will impact 2 communities.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a really absorbing read. Yes, the girl with extra abilities meets and works with the attractive emotionally unavailable man and an attractive rogue, so many of the elements are so so familiar, and yet they work almost as if this is a first pass through them as our woman in distress has a rather unusual set of parental problems that trigger the plot. I wasn't totally charmed by Cainsville, perhaps because the architectural details didn't speak to me and the gargoyles were just too cute (I like gargoyles to eat pigeons I guess, not show up and vanish coyly. Also, I'd like to see Italian or Croatian fae, the Celtic crud is way way overdone in urban fantasy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great new series by one of my favourite authors. Guilty pleasure reading at it's paranormal best!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Really liked this one. It's like a slightly more paranormal Gillian Flynn book crossed with Ravenswood. So many background mysteries were introduced it will likely start a long series, which I'm fine with, as I'm interested in what happens to Olivia next as well as learning wtf is the deal with Cainsville.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Loved it! Great combination of detective/thriller and fantasy, with intriguing characters, a mystery and non-flashy magic. I mention the last because most urban fantasy is of the 'kick-ass'variety, and this is not at all.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was incredibly good. It was a mystery wrapped in a dozen mysteries and I'm dying to read the next one. This was completely engaging and not really much like anything else I've read recently. It pulled inspiration from a lot of different places and I believe it was rather well researched, too. It's been a long time since I enjoyed a book quite this much!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Love, love, love this new series and cannot wait to get my hands on the next one in the series! The little rhymes and superstitious clues are lovely touches. Very believable how the main character is unaware at first and then gradually becomes sucked into the supernatural and dragging us along with her. I like how the female protagonist develops more strength and awareness as she goes on. She transforms from one identity to another in a believable way. Typical of Armstrong's books, the characters are slow to develop any romantic relationships but that's where we see some of the most interesting interactions. I love the creepy, friendly town of Cainsville and some characters bring up more questions than answers. Definitely a departure from her other work but still has Armstrong's clear signature. Love it and I can forsee myself re-reading this onewhen I get my hands on the 2nd book, Visions.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I can't wait for the next one! Great new series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the first book in a new series that draws more from celtic mythology than werewolves, vampires, witches, etc. like Armstrong's "completed" Otherworld Series.

    On one level, this book moves slowly - the unpackaging of the world's secrets happens only bit by bit and by the end of the world we still don't know who the players are, what they can do, what the secrets are, etc. The main character doesn't even really understand what she is at the end, nor is she really on an active quest to find out. I really liked it that the mysteries are drawn out and hopefully will continue to unravel at a relatively slow pace over the next several books. Also, the romance between the two main characters is on a fairly slow simmer. I'm glad that will develop at its own pace as well.

    On the other hand, the pacing of the book is fast. There is a crime thriller/mystery regarding Olivia's biological parents that becomes the main plot focus of the book. I thought this aspect and the adventures surroudning it moved quickly, although at the end there is still more to discover on that end as well.

    I loved Kelley Armstrong's "Otherword" series but she has an ever better winner with the "Cainsville" series. Having read her "Chloe Saunders" YA series and not being really enthralled with it, (I didn't hate it, just got bored with it), I was skeptical about a new venture by this author... but from the prologue I was in for the duration and I was so glad I stayed. 5 beautiful shinny stars for hours of great reading and a storyline that I look forward to being continued.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Olivia Taylor-Jones is the daughter of wealthy parents. She's educated, well liked and she's about to marry a handsome business man. Her whole life changes when she finds out she's adopted. Olivia's real parents, the Larsens, are serial killers serving a life sentence in prison for the murders they've been accused of. Olivia leaves everything she knows behind, including her fiancé, to find out more about her past. She's being haunted by the press, so she needs to find shelter somewhere. When someone gives her an address in Cainsville, a small town in Illinois, Olivia doesn't have much choice but to check it out.

    Olivia's mother hired a lawyer for her appeal, Gabriel Walsh. She fired him after he let her down, but Gabriel thinks Olivia is the perfect chance to make more money and contacts her. He has information about the murder cases and their focus should be on the last one. There's a chance they can prove the Larsens didn't commit those murders. Even though she doesn't trust Gabriel, Olivia agrees to research the case, they're stronger together than alone. While gathering information Olivia discovers that she sees omens, she has a gift she doesn't know anything about. In Cainsville these things aren't uncommon, but as Olivia doesn't have any knowledge about them her gifts are making her an easy target. Will she be able to stay ahead of her enemies and will she find out the truth behind the murders she and Gabriel are looking into?

    Omens is a fantastic story about mysterious gifts, strange ritual killings, hidden connections and secrets. I was immediately intrigued by Olivia. She's strong, incredibly smart and capable. She's able to see through people and can handle them well. I was impressed by her skills and her determination to survive on her own. I loved how she handles Gabriel. Gabriel's number one concern is his own wellbeing and an extension of that is his bank account. I often had to smile when I read about his flaws. He's a man nobody should mess with and he isn't afraid to let people know. They're a fabulous team and they uncover a lot of interesting facts. I was fascinated by all of them and read this book in one sitting, I didn't want to put it down.

    Kelley Armstrong skillfully divides tension throughout her story. That makes it a real treat to read, because every single page is compelling. I was anxious to uncover secrets together with Olivia and Gabriel and absolutely loved every detail. I liked the mix of a realistic mystery and supernatural gifts. Olivia's abilities are making her character extra spectacular and I loved the way Kelley Armstrong uses them to give her story some fabulous layers of depth. Omens is a brilliant start of the Cainsville series, it's another mesmerizing book by Kelley Armstrong that I highly recommend.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Multiple narrators are fine; however characters switching narrators is not. And whoever is narrating Olivia/Eden has a horrible voice.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a mish mash of genres. I wish she had just stuck to mystery/crime.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Really good book. I liked the characters and I liked her mixing mystery with Welsh lore. The only bad thing? Since I've read this when it was first released, I now have to wait who knows how long before the sequel comes out. :)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Absolutely loved it, spent the whole week of holiday wishing I'd brought #2 with me! Highly recommend this one.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Loved it! It had all the elements that I like...the small, hard-to-find, somewhat mysterious little town filled with what might be supernaturals, great atmosphere, mysterious omens, a touch of romance, a mystery and throw in some CIA mind controlled assassins and a high society girl who finds out she's adopted and that her biological parents are notorious serial killers and it makes for a great read! I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the first book in a new series called Cainsville by the author of the best selling Women of the Underworld series. Raised by wealthy parents, socially prominent Olivia Taylor-Jones' life is torn apart when she learns she was adopted twenty years earlier. Olivia returns home from a charity function with her fiance and future political candidate, James Morgan. Her mother and lawyer meet her with some terrible news. She was adopted and is the birth daughter of notorious convicted seriel killers Todd and Pamela Larsen.

    As her mother and fiance pull away because of the scandal and media attention, her life begins unraveling around her. Several incidents occur that eventually lead Olivia/Eden Larsen to a small mysterious town outside Chicago called Cainsville. She gets a job at a local diner and rents a room from a very cranky woman named Grace. Olivia decides to research her birth parents and contacts high-powered attorney Gabriel Walsh who once represented her mother. Coincidentally, he is from Cainsville and his fortune telling aunt lives right across the street from Olivia.

    Olivia starts having dreams of parents she doesn't remember. She finds herself thinking of superstitious rhymes and reading omens that warn her of death and danger at every turn. As she and Gabriel explore clues to her birth parents' possible innocence, those omens will turn out to be more than just superstitions.

    I was immediately drawn into the story. I'm not a big fan of paranormal novels normally, but Cainsville is more of a mystery than a true paranormal novel. The paranormal aspects are of the psychic kind, not vampires, witches, or werewolves.

    It looks to me like a great start to a new series. There are still lots of secrets left in Cainsville. The narrative had good pacing and well developed characters that we'll learn more of in the next book of the series. There are still lots of secrets left in Cainsville. If you like a well done mystery with an underlying sense of the paranormal you'll like Omens.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A very satisfying, quick-paced mystery with a tinge of paranormal. The main character is an heiress who discovers that she is actually adopted...and the daughter of two convicted serial killers. After a series of bad luck, she ends up in Cainsville, a thoroughly interesting, well-developed, mysteriously paranormal town. Lots of smatterings of lore and legend make this a fascinating read, whith an excellent storyline to boot.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Omens started out really strong. I was immediately drawn in to the drama surrounding Olivia finding out the truth about her birth parents and how her family reacted. I was fascinated with how she came to find Cainsville and with the town itself. I was loving the story all the way up through the halfway point but then it started to fall off a bit. What I had, up to that point, thought was going to be a paranormal thriller ended up being more of a conspiracy filled suspense drama. The paranormal elements were mentioned throughout but then went unexplored kind of leaving the reader hanging. The "reading omens" aspect was one of the best things about the book so when it went in a completely different direction than what I felt I was promised, I was left feeling a bit disappointed.

    I enjoyed the interaction between the two main characters. I like the relationship that's building between them and that it is not one of those instant-love situations. It took me a while to warm up to Gabriel, it happened at about the same rate that Olivia started looking at him differently, so I thought that was really well done. Gabriel has a lot of annoying traits and habits and Olivia views him very realistically which is refreshing. He is the more consistent of the two characters in the way his actions match his personality as I was led to understand it. Her actions are a bit more all over the place.

    It seemed like Omens promised one thing but delivered something very different. Maybe if I had been looking forward to suspense with a ton of conspiracy theory and convenient coincidences, I wouldn't have been left feeling underwhelmed by how Omens ended. I may still read the next book in the series with the hope that the paranormal aspects will be more prominent in future books in this series. I can see the potential for this to be an amazing series. I love the concept of a town like Cainsville and I do want to see where this series goes.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Omens started out really strong. I was immediately drawn in to the drama surrounding Olivia finding out the truth about her birth parents and how her family reacted. I was fascinated with how she came to find Cainsville and with the town itself. I was loving the story all the way up through the halfway point but then it started to fall off a bit. What I had, up to that point, thought was going to be a paranormal thriller ended up being more of a conspiracy filled suspense drama. The paranormal elements were mentioned throughout but then went unexplored kind of leaving the reader hanging. The "reading omens" aspect was one of the best things about the book so when it went in a completely different direction than what I felt I was promised, I was left feeling a bit disappointed.

    I enjoyed the interaction between the two main characters. I like the relationship that's building between them and that it is not one of those instant-love situations. It took me a while to warm up to Gabriel, it happened at about the same rate that Olivia started looking at him differently, so I thought that was really well done. Gabriel has a lot of annoying traits and habits and Olivia views him very realistically which is refreshing. He is the more consistent of the two characters in the way his actions match his personality as I was led to understand it. Her actions are a bit more all over the place.

    It seemed like Omens promised one thing but delivered something very different. Maybe if I had been looking forward to suspense with a ton of conspiracy theory and convenient coincidences, I wouldn't have been left feeling underwhelmed by how Omens ended. I may still read the next book in the series with the hope that the paranormal aspects will be more prominent in future books in this series. I can see the potential for this to be an amazing series. I love the concept of a town like Cainsville and I do want to see where this series goes.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As Kelley Armstrong fans know, she has written her last Women of the Otherworld novel, which has no doubt left some bereft, but never fear - she hasn't stopped writing, she's turned her attention elsewhere. As we've seen with a few of the long running series floating around out there, sometimes it's good to end a series, and it's even better to end a series when your fans - especially the ones who have been fans from the beginning - STILL enjoy your work. Kelley Armstrong has written a very strong first of a series with Omens.Whenever I'm given the chance to read a novel before publication, I feel fortunate. When I end up loving the novel I'm always happy about that (of course). I REALLY enjoyed Omens. You can read the synopsis on Amazon, Goodreads, and Armstrong's website - but basically, a very rich young woman, Olivia (Liv) Taylor Jones is hit out of nowhere with the knowledge that she isn't who she thought she was. Her story is told in the first person; she finds out in one moment that she's been adopted and that her birth parents are currently in prisons, serving life sentences for the murders of eight people - they're the notorious Larsons - the serial killer couple. Her mom is suddenly cold, her fiance doesn't handle things quite right after this, and Liv ends up running off, with hardly any cash, trying to find a job and stay under the radar, away from the paparazzi. Things don't go so well, and she ends up steered to a small town outside of Chicago where she thinks the inhabitants aren't aware of who she really is....turns out she's wrong about this.The town she ends up in is Cainsville, and has its own quirks, with some very strange inhabitants. During the novel, you're given a peek of the characters, with a short chapter told in their pov (third person) with just a tease of their motivations, or thoughts about Liv/Eden. Throughout the story, even by the end, there's a few of the characters where I wasn't quite sure if they're the "good"guys or the "bad"guys, or even if there is a distinction. What I enjoyed about Omens, is that not one character could be considered completely without fault. Even the lead character found herself doing some things she wasn't quite comfortable with - and best of all, didn't angst about it for pages after, but she did acknowledge her discomfort and then deal with it quickly. After a series of events, she ends up working with Gabriel Walsh, a lawyer unashamedly money motivated. She's completely aware of his motivations, and seems to find that almost comforting - the fact that he doesn't hide behind altruistic reasoning, but just puts it out there. She ends up working part time in a diner, and helping Gabriel investigate some leads regarding her birth-mother's case, after meeting her mother in prison.The town of Cainsville is almost a character in its own right - there are gargoyles all over, and seem to be very important to the town and its inhabitants. The townies are an interesting mix of people - most of them are people who have lived there for generations, some moving away, then coming back - some never leaving. One of them seems to be very old, indeed. There is Gabriel's aunt, who works as a psychic- something she admits is part con and part for real. Liv's landlady - Grace is a rather grumpy woman who is most likely a mix of some fae and human. A regular of the diner - seems to be a young man, but even the town elders defer to him; In fact, the town elders also seem to be extremely powerful, especially for a town in the 21st century.Omens is a blend of supernatural and mystery/suspense. However, the supernatural elements begin very subtly - with Liv suddenly knowing superstitions, such as a black cat really being lucky. The supernatural elements slowly gain importance, and even by the end of the book is still low key. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series to see if this aspect is developed further. I enjoyed the gargoyles, the odd feel of the town and the townies, the hints of their true selves.If you're an Armstrong fan, I've pretty sure you're going to enjoy this - even though it isn't as strongly UF or fantasy as her other novels. If you've never read a Kelley Armstrong book because you're not really into fantasy or Urban Fantasy, then I suggest you give it a try anyway, because there is a good strong mystery being investigated here, and an overall story arc that will probably involve more investigations with Gabriel and Liv teaming up together. Afterall, they figure out a small part of birth-mom's mystery, but not all.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Good Stuff Olivia is a fascinating character - very realistic and kick ass strong and doesn't take crap from anyone As usual Armstrong's world building is incredible Fast paced with lots of twists and turns -- cannot wait to learn more about what is going on Dark - reminded me at times of Koontz and King - not a lot but the mood of the story reminds me of them I've said it before but must reiterate - Kelley is a natural storyteller which to me is a fabulous gift - she never disappoints Dark humour is spot on and gets you when you need it most Loved the opening chapter - its the kind that hooks you in and you know you are not going to want to put the book down Gabriel is also a fascinating character and I look forward to knowing more about him & um he sounds kinda hot I feel the need to decorate my house with gargoyles now - trust me, so will you after reading Perfect book for a cold winters night under a blanket with a nice glass of wine or hot chocolate Character development is realisticThe Not So Good Stuff I was a wee bit confused at times - but hey I got a 4 yr old - might just be me OMG - how long do I have to wait till the next book - never mind - I am just impatient and well I am reading it months before it is actually coming out O.K. now this one is extremely picky. A paragraph mentions that the child had spina bifida and it couldn't have been her since she would be in a wheelchair. Um, hello, my son has spina bifida and is not in a wheelchair. Yes I know picky, picky but it did make me slightly irritatedFavorite Quotes/Passages"Also, the killing of small animals is the entrance ramp onto the serial killer superhighway'" I paused. "Damn. I bet the cat knows that. He picked me because I can't hurt him, or I'd be fulfilling my biological destiny. So I'm screwed. The cat stays. Unless you'll kill him ..." I glanced at him. "How does fifty bucks sound.""Wishful thinking, as if having my weather omen come true would somehow prove I was perfectly sane. Because "storm-prediction-by-cat" was sane.""Or was I hoping it wasn't as bad as I'd heard? Oh, they only killed six people, not eight like I thought. Well, that's not so bad."Who Should/Shouldn't Read Obviously if you like Kelley's other books - you will love this If you like spooky moody mysteries - pick this up you will not be disappointed I really think fans of Koontz and Stephen King will take a shine to this4.5 Dewey'sI received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved OMENS and can't wait for the next book in this series. I was a little apprehensive when I picked it up because I loved Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series and wondered what she was going to do now that it was finished. My fears were quickly allayed! Kelley Armstrong has created a fascinating new world and peopled it with intriguing characters. Olivia Taylor Jones seems to have the perfect life. She's wealthy, socially prominent, a Yale graduate and engaged to a handsome CEO of a tech firm who has political ambitions. But everything comes crashing down around her when she learns that she is adopted and that her birth parents are convicted serial killers serving consecutive life sentences. When her adoptive mother and fiance abandon her, Olivia is determined to make it on her own and find out the truth about her birth parents - the Larsens.Searching for the truth (and running from the paparazzi) takes her to Cainsville, Illinois which is a town filled with more intriguing characters and with more than hints of a paranormal presence. Liv herself has always seen omens but now she is starting to trust what she sees. She is aided in her search by lawyer Gabriel Walsh who was Pamela Larsen's lawyer for her latest appeal and who has ties to Cainsville too. Gabriel is a fascinating but closed up character. I loved the relationship he and Olivia have. It isn't at all a romance but is a building partnership that goes through all sorts of ups and down through the course of the book. I couldn't put this one down as I investigated with Olivia and Gabriel. I loved watching Olivia recover memories of her past and build a new relationship with her birth mother. I loved watching her grow into herself and survive without the trust fund and social insulation. Fans of Kelley Armstrong won't be disappointed with this new venture. Like me, they will be very eager for more books exploring these characters and this world.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Listened for BookClub (Audible)Overall Rating: 4.00Story Rating: 4.25Character Rating: 3.75Audio Rating: 3.50 (not part of the overall rating)First thought when finished: Solid beginning to a new series! Who knew Omens could be a great foundation for a story?Story Thoughts:Omens was a fantastic read filled with brilliant hooks/twists/turns that I just didn't see coming. I loved how the Omens were woven into the fabric of the pages becoming part of the story instead of over-powering it. The town of Cainsville was also interesting and I totally believe there is a lot of story left to come where the town is concerned. I really liked that Kelley weaved in the architecture and essence of the town into the story. I love when you feel like you are there. Overall, this is only my 2nd Kelley Armstrong book but it won't be last!Character Thoughts: Oh Olivia! I wish that it didn't take so long to warm up to you. I just felt you were being to careless/naive where finances were concerned. I don't think you got what it took to really live on your own was concerned. In fact, even though you are a waitress and don't have a great apartment-- you still managed to land on your feet so no real "world" lesson really learned. You did grow on me with your smarts and perseverance. I just know that in the next book that I will adore you because by the end you seemed to have grown. Gabriel, on the other hand, I totally adored. He reminded me of Finn from the Elemental Assassins series by Jennifer Estep. He was just arrogant, self-assured, and a rascal! :) The town folk were interesting and so were Olivia's mom(s)! I have a feeling the characters will totally grow on me through out the series.Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Carine Montbertrand, Mozhan Marno / Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins How to tackle the narration *sigh*! I am normally a fan of having two narrators. In fact, I mostly prefer it but both have to be strong (or on the same level). I really adored the older voice in Omens. The pacing, nuances, and emotions were dead on! I felt there was a layer of depth added to the story anytime that voice was there. I wasn't a fan of the younger voice. I felt the pacing was off and Olivia sounded "off". That being said, the voice did grow on me by the end but it just wasn't as strong as the other. I will probably continue this series in audio though because overall the audio was well produced. As always please listen to a sample before purchasing an audio book to make sure the narration is right for you.Final Thoughts: Looking forward to book 2!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A good introduction, if a bit over-long, to a new series. 24-yr-old Olivia is living a charmed life. Raised by very wealthy parents, engaged to a wealthy, handsome and charming man, eager to go back to school for an advanced degree, Olivia is shocked to discover one night that it is all a lie. Olivia was adopted. And her birth parents are notorious serial killers.This is the story of a woman who's life has been flipped, and her attempts to right herself again. Determined to prove herself, Olivia leaves the privileged life behind and moves to a small town where people are strangely protective of her. As Olivia struggles to live a much smaller life, she gets drawn into an investigation of her parents' crimes, and begins to wonder if their convictions were truly the open-and-shut cases they're purported to be. And Olivia begins having visions of a sort...Recommended for readers of the supernatural.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A strong start to a new series, with interesting characters, and flashes of supernatural elements.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Armstrong's writing was easy to digest as always but I am not into the mystery/thriller genre. I agree with previous reviews that there's no reason for it to be cites as 'paranormal' and 'urban fantasy' which are two genres I *do* enjoy.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Truly an AMAZING READ! This novel kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, unlike any other book I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I cannot recommend this Audio book enough. I am an AVID reader & ♡ the wonderful sensation that Audible books deliver. To me it's like comparing a TV show to a live performance.
    This Novel by far, specifically the audio version, is the best I've ever experienced!