Initial Impressions 8/3/17 + full review posted on The Book Addict's Guide 10/20/17: 3.5 -3.75 stars 
 I picked up HIDDEN BODIES because I was wholly engrossed with YOU by Caroline Kepnes when I had picked it up earlier in the year. (Last year? I don't even remember when it was.) It was disturbing and yet interesting all at the same time and HIDDEN BODIES was no different in that respect! I came to actually like Joe, despite his murderous and obsessive ways, and had fun following his crazy story in HIDDEN BODIES as well. 
 This book, however, wasn't quite as enjoyable as YOU. YOU felt much more fast-paced (although I do remember feeling like it lagged for a while too) but HIDDEN BODIES felt a little too long. The plot is quite different, starting out a little similar but seemingly veering off-path. I guess there's no "right" way to write about a serial killer but Joe ended up finding some "normal" and while there were still some very messed up moments and the body count grew, it just didn't feel as... dark... as YOU. 
 I love these audiobooks with Santino Fontana narrating (who I did not realize is the voice of Hans in Frozen, thanks to my sister for that tidbit! Although I still heard Joe with his great narration) and I'm not sure I'd have enjoyed this nearly as much without the audio aspect so I'm definitely glad I ended up doing audio for both books! It did feel a bit slow in plot sometimes but the narration kept it moving and I loved the edge in the narrator's voice. 
 The ending was... interesting? I didn't realize that this series was going to keep going -- at least I think it is from the way it ended. I kind of liked where it went and yet it also kind of felt untrue to the character we met in book one. I guess there's always room for growth, and I guess it's also true that Dexter took this kind of turn and I didn't mind it. (Okay, I did a little bit.) 
 I wasn't big on the Hollywood scene and I much preferred the setting in New York but the book was still very interesting and I did enjoy following Joe on some more horrific adventures. (Is enjoy the right word for reading a book about a killer? Eek.) I'll definitely still continue on if we get more Joe adventures but I did feel like this book wasn't as cohesive as the last.