But first- the title. Can anyone who read this book and might happen to see the beginning of this review please tell me what the title means? Like dear lord, I did not enjoy this book, but this is a genuine question. How did "Killer Smile" relate in any way to the story? Did I miss something? Okay sure I can get the killer part because murders did happen, but did I miss something about the significance of smiles? Because as far as I could tell, it was completely unrelated to anything and I'm so confused. The characters smiled on occasion as characters tend to do, but I don't remember it ever being important?

I feel like I almost need to add an asterisk when tagging this book as a thriller because it was not particularly thrilling. Patent law, especially decades old patent law, is not the most exciting basis for a story. That's fine with me when it's a character centric book, but thrillers tend to be more plot driven. A 60 year old case where everyone involved is dead that centers around patent law didn't really do it for me.

It didn't make sense. Like at all. At one point they decide someone might be targeting the main character for her investigation so they suggest she take a bit of a vacation. Her vacation is related to the case, but also over a thousand miles away so everyone is happy. Then an actual murder that is probably related to the case occurs, and they literally suggest she come back. Like if a break in is scary enough to send someone away, why bring her back when it's upped to literal murder? Logic seems to have failed these characters completely. (That wasn't the only example, just the one that pissed me off the most.)

Everyone was flat. None of the characters had real personalities so much as little dramas. The father's dialogue was written in all caps because he was shouting which is such a pet peeve of mine. God forbid we use description. I don't like Scottoline's writing style. I don't like what little personalities the characters do have. It was way too long and could have been easily edited down into something that dragged a little less.

I dunno, I didn't like anything here. This is the second one of Scottoline's books I've rated one star and I thought maybe the first one might just be a fluke, but yikes. I'm apparently not a fan. The best thing about this book was that I finished it last night and it's already fading from my memory.