Happy to be done with this book. There was a lot of potential for an interesting and thrilling read. Unfortunately, that's all it had: potential. 
 
I didn't find a single character or scenario in the book remotely genuine. The writing didn't flow well at all and the author's use of strange or nonsensical metaphors and similes was distracting. 
 
Instead of having a book with a kick-ass female protagonist I wanted to see succeed, I read about an FBI agent who didn't seem to be able to figure out basic things on her own or even have the desire to learn about them. The agents and others working the case from other policing agencies never bothered to consult an actual mental health professional but, instead, seemed to rely on Lucy's husband for random bits of insight was just one of the many B.S. things that kept my eyes rolling. And I won't even discuss the ridiculousness of the bad guy or how they figured out it was him. Ugh.
 
If you do decide to give this one a go, I strongly suggest staying away from the audio book. The narrator made a bad book even worse. 
 
Others will disagree with me but I found very little worthwhile in this book. I'm giving it two stars because the idea was good. ( )

I came upon this book in an article about authors reaching success through self publishing and I can see why this book and author was a success. I wonder if there was some publishing company turning her down or if she just wanted to go her own way.

The main character is FBI agent Guardino, leading a task force working on child abductions and pedophiles. Already the first encounter with her is full with action, and snakes. Guardino is a restless person and not prone to waiting and observing, which is good because the opposite makes this book a page turner.

Also, Guardino has a family and tries hard to juggle all real and traditional responsibilities. Compared to the alcholic, single, grumpy loner police in many of the books I read this is different, but still quite a few similarities. That chasing the bad guy trumps a lot of other concerns for instance. ( )

Solid 3.5 stars for this book. Likable characters, strongly written protagonist, the villain(s) just a little too "mua-ha-ha" evil and unhinged for my liking but definitely a workable thriller and characters I would enjoy seeing again in other books. ( )

I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the main character, Lucy, and her struggle with the pressures of work and home. I thought that she was made out to be a bit superhuman, given the amount of injuries she sustains, and how she heads right back to work. The bad guy was creepy, and I didn't figure him out before the reveal. Looking back, I could see the foreshadowing in his scenes, but during my first read through I didn't pick up on it. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. ( )

I received a free kindle copy of Snake Skin by C.J. Lyons in an Amazon promotion in exchange for a fair review.

This started off with a sharp hook. I gave it five stars. It is an intense, suspense-filled thriller that kept me turning pages.

Ashley describes her reasons for cutting & her trophies, won with success. "She carefully rolled her sleeve back, exposing the other trophies her control had won. Each scar a triumph. Each scar a time she hadn't run screaming out into the night or throw herself in front of a bus or jumped off a bridge.

Each scar reminding her that she could win that she mattered, that somewhere inside this cold numb husk, she was alive."

Supervisory Special Agent Lucy Guardino is a strong, positive woman working for the S.A.F.E. section of the FBI. That is the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement squad. She's been with the job for three months. She had been undercover & barely had time to change clothes to move directly into a kidnapping situation. She's balancing her difficult job with her twelve year old daughter, Megan who is in the: "Mom!" stage. I'm not a baby." Nick her husband, shares parenting duties but Megan needed to go to the doctor with strep throat. Lucy & Nick hadn't seen much of each other for the months it has taken to set up the newest S.A.F.E Unit.

Needed by Lucy in the next case is: "Tact, diplomacy, team building—-she needed these men as much as they needed her. Not to mention a missing fourteen-year-old girl who should be home right now listening to bubble-gum pop rock and painting her toenails. Or whatever Ashley Yeager did to amuse herself in the large, looming house that reminded Lucy of San Quentin." There are many jurisdictions & massive egos intersected in this case. The question about what is happening brings different responses as to whether it is a kidnapping or runaway girl.

Jimmy is caring for his aging manipulative mother in a nursing home. He wants to know more about his father but she withholds that information. He plays an important role in this story.

"Nick’s voice was calm, reassuring. One of the few things she hated about her husband. She could project calm, take control over chaos no matter the crisis, but dammit, he really was calm. Like some kind of Southern-Irish-Zen Master."

"In Lucy’s experience, shock and fear brought out the worst in people— including the need some people had to center the drama on themselves rather than the true victims."

Lucy is talking to Melissa, Ashley's mother & discovers that she has an 'old friend'. "Did Ashley know Jon? Melissa gave a shrug & slouched--totally out of character for the perfect-postured fashion model image she'd portrayed earlier. 'No. Ashley didn't like Jon.....If it was true, if Jon Tardiff had a thing for girls, then Melissa was living every mother's worst nightmare. The thing you never thought about--for fear that if you did, even for a second, you might be inviting the monster into your home."

Perhaps he had kidnapped Ashley.

"Guilt settled down on Lucy's shoulders like a worn out shawl. Make that a hand-crocheted, labor of love, fingers bleeding from being pricked & worked to the bone worn out shawl."

Megan fainted in church & was transferred to the hospital via ambulance. Lucy found out with a voice mail from Nick. She rushed to the hospital. After she'd vomited in the restroom. "Megan's laughter carried from her room two doors down as Lucy emerged from the restroom, still shaky. It was the sweetest sound Lucy had ever heard. She closed her eyes, listening hard, imprinting the sound on her memory. A gift to be unwrapped later."

Cindy Ames, a television reporter had taken photos of Lucy's family after she'd been warned. To keep her from publishing them, they worked out a deal so she had an 'exclusive' opening into the investigation searching for Ashley. Lucy was not pleased.

"Ames shrugged, her expression conveying contempt for Lucy's idealism. 'Way of the world. If it bleeds, it leads.'"

Highly recommended suspense reading. CJ Lyons is an impressive author! ( )