Nothing to Fear

Juliette Hart #1

by Blake Pierce

A frozen street performer turned serial killer eludes the FBI and escapes to Paris—where he kills again, luring tourists into his trap—and FBI Special Agent Juliette Hart is dispatched across the world to hunt him down. Juliette’s brilliant mind and European upbringing make her the perfect agent for this case, but being back in Europe resurrects her dark past, and this killer is more diabolical than anyone imagined. Can Juliette stop him before he kills again? Or will she be brought down by a killer—and her own tortured past?

NOTHING TO FEAR is Book #1 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 7,000 five star ratings and reviews.

FBI Special Agent Juliette Hart had hoped to leave the darkness of her past behind her, and to never return to Europe. But the one killer who has eluded her in the U.S. has also forced her return.

The FBI soon realizes it needs a special team to handle overseas cases, to hunt down killers anywhere they may go—and they need Juliette to lead it.

But can Juliette overcome her demons?

Or will her darkness swallow her whole?

A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the Juliette Hart series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Suspense

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 11, 2023

About the author

Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Reviews

[Shannon The Co-Captain · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️⭐️

This was free through BookBub and I was hoping to have found a new series to start but I just didn’t care for it. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. The main character Juliette seemed to figure stuff out with very little evidence. When they would find a suspect it was already obvious it wasn’t the killer because we already knew what he was up to. It was a weird flow for me and the dialogue wasn’t good. It wasn’t the worst book I’ve read but I won’t be continuing the series.

[iasa · Rating 2 out of 5]

FFS!

No fault of this author, but I am so tired of novels that use the tropes present in this work. THe young edgy hacker, the gruff , rude ex military, and then the young Mrs. Peel. We couldn't catch the killer in our own jurisdiction, but we are gonna jet to France at the first sign our killer is there. And then have the audacity to be angry that the French police are offended. And please, please, please, authors stop writing your books as if you are expecting exceptionally ignorant toddlers to be reading them. Highly trained professionals do not spell out basic information or tell each other what to do just so you can share things with your audience. We know. I promise you we do. And if we don't we are readers we can figure it out

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Their faces painted in gold, three women have fallen victim to a serial killer whose hunting ground centres around New York City. Then a fourth woman - Parisian this time - alerts the FBI that the murderer they are hunting has fled to France. A joint, if unharmonious, task force is created, sending Juliette Hart and her team to join their counterparts in Paris. The bickering unit must pull itself together before more murders are committed.

Blake Pierce knows how to draw the reader in. Tension abounds, cast in so many different directions. For the most part, the heroes were characters who were easy to root for. Alas, the ending was predictive which rather spoiled the fun. Why oh why does it always have to be the female who impetuously rushes ahead alone to catch the killer, only to find herself overpowered by his strength? If the male FBI agent had run into the murderer's trap, it would have been more thrilling.

An interesting start to a new series. I look forward to more of Juliette's investigations.

[Bonnie Gleckler Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading Blake Pierce novels. I’ve read several Jesse Hunt novels so decided to give this series a try. I enjoyed it just as much.
Several women murdered in the US and now similar murders are happened in Paris. The FBI are called in to assist...however the head of the case in Paris is insistent that he doesn’t need the help and therefore initially does what he can to sabotage the FBI agents.
Later, when yet another woman’s body is found.on a side street in Paris, the FBI are actually allowed to assist.

[Klare · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read.

[Loyda Peroza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and with a good plot.

[Graeme Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I enjoyed reading this story, I was once again, disappointed by the fact that the lead detective, Juliette, had all the instinct and solved everything by herself, merely with the back-up of the team mates, who only later on started working together.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliette Lewis is chosen for an international task force to catch a killer who was in the USA but recently killed in Paris. The three team members have never worked together before but eventually gel into a formidable team. ‘Golden Face’ was taunting the FBI in USA and just when she thought they would make an arrest he disappeared. One of her new partners in abrasive guy who forces Juliet to run interference with the French police. The third team member is a young tech wizard who seems to instinctively know what information the team will need next. The French police aren’t pleased with the Americans ‘butting into’ their investigation but Lucien eventually bonds with Juliet over their love of cats. The two guys even help save Juliet from the killer who even knew her name. The team gets an intriguing job offer and a chance for more travel.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shrug. This was fine, but it didn't have much depth to the story or character development, probably because it's a first book in a new series and also very short. The author does include some small details that make the characters more likeable (e.g. the macho American army guy texting his wife, and the aloof French policeman adopting a stray cat). In my admittedly limited experience with France, I didn't get the feeling that the author knew Paris well, or how international law enforcement collaborations work, though maybe the latter doesn't matter since this genre of books is rarely realistic in the portrayal of law enforcement.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldnt get into this book as much as I wanted too. I mean a serial killer flees across country and the FBI allows this and follows them to Paris where they kill again. Knowing your entering another country they have different rules and foods then your used too why insult them for not having your american cuisine. Alot of ignorance amongst the characters, i knew territory wise they would bash heads thats whats expected after all but at some point respect is given to each other normally. Instead the characters barge into France with their new tech advances that couldnt stop the killer in NYC but magically can track and stop him in France?

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juliette and her team are searching for an assassin in New York City and when he starts to kill people in Paris her team is assigned to an international task force to catch him. They will face difficulties with their peers in the French Police, Juliette's partners will have difficulty with the language and adapting to a new environment, and will have to search for a killer who will not stop. The story is fast-paced, full of descriptions of Paris and its attractions, providing good entertainment. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing to Fear

A murderer on the loose in New York City pops up in Paris. Juliette Hart has been searching for him. Now she is going to Paris with a couple of coworkers to help with this international man hunt. Problem is, they don’t know who they are looking for. The team needs to put ego’s aside in order to work together. Easier said than done; both putting their egos aside and solving these cases.

#GoodreadsGiveaways

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to an audiobook. I would rate the story at a 3.5; however, some of the writing caused me to lower my rating. Portions felt overly forced, as if I were listening to an old fashioned melodrama. Being unfamiliar with the author, I can’t attest as to whether or not this issue was merely lack of experience or if it was a result of the tone from the narrator.

[§amantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love this author but this book wasn't for me. I found the main character weak. There was no connection for me with her partners. The bad guy in this book had potential but fell short for me. Just a lot of things didn't jive for me and I won't be continuing this series.

[Claudette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring and flat … and the first character that dies has the same name as me. My name is not very common so I’m not used to seeing that. Otherwise, the book is mediocre to bad. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t like it either.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started Nothing to Fear as an audiobook, thinking it would be the perfect way to make my commute feel less like a slow crawl through purgatory. It worked, at least after the first few chapters. The story starts off like a slow simmer rather than a rolling boil. I didn’t exactly feel the need to sit in my car after work just to see what happened next… at least not at first.

But once it got going, it really got going. The suspense picked up, Juliette got her act together, and I found myself completely hooked Thursday evening, listening straight through instead of switching back to a paperback.

Juliette, our FBI heroine, didn’t start out as strong as I hoped. She felt a little tentative, a little too careful, but she found her backbone as the story went on. By the end, she had that “don’t mess with me” energy I love in a main character. And I have to admit, the French policeman asking her out at the end was a cute touch. After all that danger, it was nice to have a little charm and normalcy thrown in.

Overall, Nothing to Fear was a solid listen. A bit of a slow burn, but satisfying once it hit its stride. I wouldn’t necessarily go back for a second listen, but I’m glad I spent a few days in Juliette’s world.

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

„Nichts zu fürchten“ ist ein weiterer Vertreter aus dem gut gefüllten Baukasten moderner FBI-Thriller. Im Mittelpunkt steht erneut eine junge, hochbegabte Ermittlerin mit schwerer Vergangenheit, die einem Serienmörder hinterherjagt – diesmal mit internationalem Anstrich. Nachdem der Täter dem FBI in New York entkommt, mordet er in Paris weiter, woraufhin Juliette Hart gemeinsam mit zwei Kollegen zur Unterstützung der französischen Polizei entsandt wird. Die Grundidee klingt spannender, als sie letztlich umgesetzt ist. Juliette wird fast durchgehend als überlegene Ausnahmeagentin inszeniert, die den Fall im Grunde auch allein hätte lösen können, während ihr französischer Kollege Lucien auffallend unsympathisch und inkompetent dargestellt wird – offenbar, um die Protagonistin noch stärker glänzen zu lassen. Der Fall selbst bleibt lange vage, der Modus Operandi wird erst sehr spät erklärt, gerade rechtzeitig, damit Juliette am finalen Tatort heldenhaft eingreifen kann. Das Motiv des Täters geht dabei beinahe unter und wird, wenn überhaupt, nur am Rande erwähnt. Spannung kommt punktuell auf, insgesamt bleibt der Thriller aber vorhersehbar und austauschbar. Für Fans des Genres solide Unterhaltung, darüber hinaus jedoch kaum mehr als Durchschnitt.

[Jodi Pomerleau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise....a golden faced killer strikes in the US and then moves on to France. An international task force is set up to catch the killer. After that, the rest of the story is rather stilted. The team chases clues throughout Paris and sets up a trap to catch him. Juliette gets a brainstorm and rushes off alone to prevent another murder. Typical fare....female finds the killer and there is a battle. Of course the team comes to the rescue, killer caught, game over. The killer's motivations did not make sense. I guess we are to assume he is mad. Overall the story is just okay...not so horrible that I couldn't finish it, but not so great that I am thirsting for more. It's basically a one and done.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title suits the book.

I never felt any real stakes in what was going on, never thought for a second Juliette wouldn't catch the guy, and considering how often she mentioned she was single, also had no doubt she wouldn't be hit on/asked for a date by the end of the book.

This isn't a bad book, but it's also no J.A. Konrath, if you want a kick-ass female lead who sounds like she knows her stuff. (Seriously, read his Jack Daniels series, starting with Whiskey Sour. Soooo good.)

Juliette is...kinda boring, she seems to have no personality, but I might read another in the series to see if it picks up. There's definitely potential here, and I'm always up for a bad-ass woman detective series.

[Avid · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read Blake Pierre novels for years, this was disappointing. Soon, it too will disappear into the growing pile of books that I will never remember either the name or their substance This discarded & forgettable pile all meld together. The characters for the most part are the same, the plot is the same, and the story is only slightly changed. The language is dumbed down, the sexist roles are generally in put into play, and dialog is horrible.

Personally- I'd rather have a writer put out half the amount of books, but put quality into the books written.

Mot recommended 👎

📚📚

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this a lot. Juliette seems to have a good head on her shoulders. I can’t tell if I liked how her voice changed when she was speaking French or not because it took me out of the story slightly but also I liked knowing that she was speaking French in France. I’m also glad this thriller didn’t have to do with the main character having a missing sister or anything pertaining to her father. I’ll be checking out the next one for sure.

[Joseph R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bold and brazen killer

This was a new author for me and I was not sure what to expect. The story immediately got my attention and I felt like this was my type of story. The story line was very good and the characters were believable in that I felt like they were true people who were doing a job that made sense. I would highly recommend this book to everyone that likes a good mystery and keeps you in touch with the characters.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting new series. I actually (read/listened to) it on Audible, not Kindle...
It is an intriguing combination of nationalities and personalities and how they overcame personal differences in order to combine to make a reasonable team. There were unexpected and surprising understandings between individuals, and it was satisfying the way necessary alliances were made

Perhaps it was a bit too short, but it was still enjoyable.

[Rachel Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story: 3.25/5
Narrator: 4/5

I enjoyed the story but there were parts where it was way too rushed. Parts that the characters thoughts made no sense. The leaps to conclusions where nothing pointed in that direction, made no sense. Then ignoring the clues they did have to assume the suspects were the killer...The love story aspect wasn't needed but I can see how it could be more interesting in future books. I'm not sure I'll give book 2 a read.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing to Fear (Juliette Hart #1) was a great read by Blake Pierce. A street performer and serial killer eludes the FBI and escapes to Paris. In Paris he kills again and lures tourists into his trap. FBI Special Agent Juliette Hart goes to Paris to hunt him down. Being back in Europe brings back her dark past. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

[Keith Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the top thriller

Assigned by FBI to follow up on chasing a serial killer, from US, Juliette Hart is sent, with her FBI partner and an analysist, to continue following up on zher serial killer, but now joining forces with the French police to bring this killer to justice. Can she outwit this illusive villain before he continues his murderous onslaught?

[Mandi Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is good featuring a detective assigned to an international team tracking a serial killer who has moved from New York to Paris. Unfortunately the writing is very obviously formulaic, with an awful lot of repetition throughout - which got rather tiresome sadly. As a result I wouldn't read this author again

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blake Pierce is a new author to me. Nothing to Fear introduces Juliette Hart, a dedicated FBI agent. Hart has been tracking a killer on the East coast. When the serial killer begins killing again in France, she and a new team are out to catch him. This is a quick read with a strong main character. It'll be interesting to see what Juliette Hart gets up to next.

[Steve Allan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not normally a fan of these types of thrillers (FBI agent X solves a case) but this was bad even for a bad genre.
Characterisation is non-existent, the dialog is weirdly robotic, as if the author hasn't heard humans speak before.
It's just not good.

[Selma D. Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

All's well...

...that ends well. Some ya-ya episodes early on, but sanity and perspective set in. Plenty of suspense at the end, holding the reader's attention firmly. Enjoyed seeing no typos or syntax errors. Would enjoy more by this author.