Once Gone: a fast paced mystery

Once Gone by Blake Pierce is the first book in the Riley Paige series. When women are turning up dead in rural Virginia, killed in grotesque ways, the FBI are stumped. With a serial killer on the loose, they know there is only one agent who could possibly crack the case: Special Agent Riley Paige. But after an encounter with the last serial killer, Riley is on paid leave, suffering from PTSD. When the FBI calls, reluctantly asking for her help, Riley comes aboard, needing to battle her own demons the only way she knows how: catching the bad guys. As she chases every clue, she realizes that the killer is far more twisted than she thought and when another woman disappears, she is in a race against time. Pushing herself to her limit, putting her job on the line and losing her fragile hold on reality, she refuses to quit. Will she find the woman before it’s too late? Will the killer slip away once again? Can she catch him before she completely snaps herself? 

I’ve been a reader of Blake Pierce for quite awhile and usually they are good thrillers. However, lately, I’ve noticed that the stories are becoming formulaic. Once again, a strong woman is the only brains in law enforcement, the only one who can catch a killer and the men who stand in her way. While I enjoy Blake Pierce’s books, they are fast and engaging reads, but it’s easy to figure out The mystery formula of “arresting one wrong guy after another and the men rushing to close the case despite the objections of the main character” gets old fast. Overall, I enjoyed it. I was engaged. And there was a nice hook at the end to intrigue the reader to get the next book. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Riley and her teenage daughter, April. And Riley’s struggles with PTSD and the memories of her last case felt very real. If you haven’t read any of Blake Pierce’s books, I recommend checking them out. They are entertaining, even if you begin to sense a pattern in her books. 

Once Gone is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

If She Knew: a great, face-paced murder mystery

If She Knew by Blake Pierce is the first in the Kate Wise mystery series. Kate Wise is a 55-year-old woman who is a year into retirement after 31 years with the FBI. After the daughter of a friend is murder, Kate is drawn back in to find the killer as a favor to her friend. She knows she doesn’t have the same authority now as a retired agent, but she can’t turn down a grieving mother’s request. She quickly learns there is more to the victim than what it first appears. And she chases down new leads, she finds herself feeling the familiar rush and yet worrying about how this will affect her new life as she becomes a grandmother and is considering dating after the tragic death of her husband. The case leads to the victim’s close circle of friends, Kate must find out what secrets the group held before it’s too late. Will she find the killer in time?

If She Knew is a great mystery book! I was able to read the book in about 3 hours. Not because it was a simple read but because it held my attention. With each page turn, more was added to the mystery and I eagerly wanted to see who the killer was. I found Kate to be real as she struggles with how she defines her life now. She longed for the adrenaline of her job with the FBI but she also considered her daughter, her new grandchild and her own personal desires outside the job. The book was fast-paced, with great twists and turns and a shocking end like any great mystery should have. I highly recommend If She Knew!

If She Knew

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Blood Dreams: a mystery thriller with special abilities

Blood Dreams by Kay Hooper is a mystery thriller which features Dani and Paris, identical twin sisters who have psychic abilities. They work for a private organization called Haven which is often used as special consultants with the FBI’s Special Crimes Unit (SCU), run by Special Agent Noah Bishop. A serial killer is on the loose and has come to the small town of Venture. The local police department as well as the FBI work with Dani and Paris to solve the cases of missing persons while trying to follow the clues of the serial killer. Dani has promotions in the form of dreams. With each dream, more gruesome details are revealed about the final showdown between the killer and law enforcement. Can Dani figure out the clues in order to help catch the killer before he strikes again?

Blood Dreams is the first book in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit trilogy. A typical mystery thriller with the heroine with special abilities. The story was engaging as the reader tries to work with the clues along the characters. I made my guesses as who the serial killer was and I was wrong or was I? The person caught at the end is alluded to as a pawn in a much bigger game. Was he the serial killer or is there a greater monster out there? I’m sure the other books in the trilogy will give more clues. The story kept me reading but I’m not rushing out to find the other books to find out who the serial killer is. If I find them at the library, I’ll probably read further. If you want a good mystery thriller and a quick read, I recommend Blood Dreams.