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The Lynchpin
Special Agent Drew Cady has waved goodbye to Washington, D.C. and ten years of chasing violent felons in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Criminal Investigative Division (CID). He is on the mend, both physically and emotionally, as he helps run his fiancée’s resort in northern Minnesota while working part-time on the FBI’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Minneapolis. Chasing white color criminals is a far cry from hunting serial killers and Cady basks in the glow of his newer, more laid-back lifestyle, that is, until a young woman’s body possessing a most-disturbing characteristic is pulled from Lake Superior outside of Duluth. And if being ordered to investigate this case isn’t bad enough, Cady’s former boss—Assistant Director of CID Roland Jund—has killed a fellow agent and stands accused of being a spy. Now Agent Cady must draw upon every last bit of experience he has to clear his friend’s name while at the same time ensuring that no more innocent lives are extinguished by a sadistic killer with a taste for blood. But nobody is who they appear to be and information is only as reliable as its source.
- GenresMystery
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2014
14 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey B. Burton
23 books338 followersJeff's mystery/thriller, THE BOY IN THE WALL, comes out March 4, 2026. THE SECOND GRAVE came out in 2025 and THE DEAD YEARS came out in 2024 (all from Severn House).
Novels in Jeff's Mace Reid K-9 mystery series include THE FINDERS, THE KEEPERS, and THE LOST (St. Martin's Press, Minotaur).
Novels in Jeff's Agent Drew Cady mystery series include: THE CHESSMAN, THE LYNCHPIN, and THE EULOGIST. His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines.
Born in Long Beach, California, Jeff grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Horror Writers Association. He lives in St. Paul with his wife, and a goofball of a Beagle named Milo.
Novels in Jeff's Mace Reid K-9 mystery series include THE FINDERS, THE KEEPERS, and THE LOST (St. Martin's Press, Minotaur).
Novels in Jeff's Agent Drew Cady mystery series include: THE CHESSMAN, THE LYNCHPIN, and THE EULOGIST. His short stories have appeared in dozens of magazines.
Born in Long Beach, California, Jeff grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his BA in Journalism at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Horror Writers Association. He lives in St. Paul with his wife, and a goofball of a Beagle named Milo.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 19, 2016
Burton wrote another strong entry in his Drew Cady series. If you're looking for an FBI agent with a gift for catching serial killers and spies, this is a great book to pick up. Burton writes like he's done his homework about the inner workings of the FBI and just as well about the people on all sides of the evil at hand.
February 16, 2015
The Lynchpin by Jeffrey B. Burton is an exciting and fresh serial killer thriller that offers new mystery and action at every turn of a page. It's a scarily-realistic novel that makes you want to check and double check that your windows and doors are locked, and leaves you with a suspicion that you should be checking over your shoulder. It brings new meaning to "scary good." It's an ingenious mix of a murderous thriller, FBI crime drama, and James Bond-esqe missions. The Agent Drew Cady series is one we all definitely will want to follow.
The plot of this novel is one of the most exquisite, detailed and thought-out plots I have ever had the good fortune to read. The plot is so rich and life like (quite scarily, at times) you feel like a special agent yourself. As you turn the pages in this novel, you delve deeper into a thought provoking thriller that has mysteries so entangled, you'll be thinking of every character as a possible suspect. It really makes you think and brings out the inner detective in all of us. This engaging, rollercoaster ride of a novel leaves no stone unturned and never seizes to surprise. Just as you get comfortable, you'll be thrown for a loop and be sucked right back into suspense. You'll never want to put this novel down. Even the most seasoned action/thriller/horror fans will be thrown off guard with this one, and will be swept into the addicting story of special agent Drew Cady, just as I was.
The characters of this novel were spot on. Burton managed to create a cast of characters with a multitude of varying back stories and waring personalities. Each character played a vital part in the plot, and all claimed a special place in my heart. The subtle romance and conflicting personalities are clear evidence of Burton's outstanding writing capabilities and imagination. His ability to craft characters and weave a fantastic story around them, with virtually no effort at all, simply astounds me, not to mention leaves me wanting more.
I am simply envious of Burton's writing. He is able to write flawlessly, weaving a flowing, exciting tale that leaves readers speechless. Clearly, he is a force to be reckoned with, and one we will definitely keep an eye on for future installments in the series or new works. Whatever the case, his (and I don't use this word lightly) perfect writing has definitely brought out the fan in me!
Overall, this flawless novel that is an exciting mix of thriller, horror, and action genres, is one to be greatly acknowledged. Please do yourself a favor and pick up this novel as soon as possible. You will not regret it.
The plot of this novel is one of the most exquisite, detailed and thought-out plots I have ever had the good fortune to read. The plot is so rich and life like (quite scarily, at times) you feel like a special agent yourself. As you turn the pages in this novel, you delve deeper into a thought provoking thriller that has mysteries so entangled, you'll be thinking of every character as a possible suspect. It really makes you think and brings out the inner detective in all of us. This engaging, rollercoaster ride of a novel leaves no stone unturned and never seizes to surprise. Just as you get comfortable, you'll be thrown for a loop and be sucked right back into suspense. You'll never want to put this novel down. Even the most seasoned action/thriller/horror fans will be thrown off guard with this one, and will be swept into the addicting story of special agent Drew Cady, just as I was.
The characters of this novel were spot on. Burton managed to create a cast of characters with a multitude of varying back stories and waring personalities. Each character played a vital part in the plot, and all claimed a special place in my heart. The subtle romance and conflicting personalities are clear evidence of Burton's outstanding writing capabilities and imagination. His ability to craft characters and weave a fantastic story around them, with virtually no effort at all, simply astounds me, not to mention leaves me wanting more.
I am simply envious of Burton's writing. He is able to write flawlessly, weaving a flowing, exciting tale that leaves readers speechless. Clearly, he is a force to be reckoned with, and one we will definitely keep an eye on for future installments in the series or new works. Whatever the case, his (and I don't use this word lightly) perfect writing has definitely brought out the fan in me!
Overall, this flawless novel that is an exciting mix of thriller, horror, and action genres, is one to be greatly acknowledged. Please do yourself a favor and pick up this novel as soon as possible. You will not regret it.
January 21, 2015
The world of special investigations often assumes the trappings of a chess game, with precise moves often forecast far in advance by either perpetrator or agent. As the men move across the board, underlying strategy unfolds cautiously, slowly, and often unpredictably; and it's the superior game that seems to lead in one inevitable direction, then twists to provide quite a different perspective.
Special Agent Drew Cady has had it with a job that has him confronting violent felons on a regular basis: he's in recovery physically and emotionally, and the last thing he needs is another challenging case. That's why he's helping his fiancée run a resort while working part-time on an FBI fraud investigation case: far easier pursuits than hunting down felons.
All this is (of course - predictably) about to change when the body of a young woman presents a new mystery, when a faithful colleague stands accused of being a spy, and when Drew finds himself unwittingly and reluctantly being drawn back into the world of high-stakes crime and serial killers.
But that's not all of the story, though it is the crux of matters: Drew's back in touch with a sadistic killer and a master manipulator used to playing the board, and it seems that only Drew's efforts can make a difference between success and failure in an investigation packed with surprising facets.
The Lynchpin demonstrates just how exact this process is, creating characters who struggle with games, silence, and what turns out to be the "world's shortest retirement" on Cady's part when a master manipulator pulls the strings and changes his life.
Who is in control? Who is really playing the game? What is behind the murders, and how does a puzzle book come into play?
Head-scratching moments, a dose of political intrigue and departmental conflict, and a world in which the true lynchpin may not be the character sporting the name make The Lynchpin a chess game of high order, and perfect for genre readers who want much more than either standard thrillers or murder mysteries tend to offer.
Special Agent Drew Cady has had it with a job that has him confronting violent felons on a regular basis: he's in recovery physically and emotionally, and the last thing he needs is another challenging case. That's why he's helping his fiancée run a resort while working part-time on an FBI fraud investigation case: far easier pursuits than hunting down felons.
All this is (of course - predictably) about to change when the body of a young woman presents a new mystery, when a faithful colleague stands accused of being a spy, and when Drew finds himself unwittingly and reluctantly being drawn back into the world of high-stakes crime and serial killers.
But that's not all of the story, though it is the crux of matters: Drew's back in touch with a sadistic killer and a master manipulator used to playing the board, and it seems that only Drew's efforts can make a difference between success and failure in an investigation packed with surprising facets.
The Lynchpin demonstrates just how exact this process is, creating characters who struggle with games, silence, and what turns out to be the "world's shortest retirement" on Cady's part when a master manipulator pulls the strings and changes his life.
Who is in control? Who is really playing the game? What is behind the murders, and how does a puzzle book come into play?
Head-scratching moments, a dose of political intrigue and departmental conflict, and a world in which the true lynchpin may not be the character sporting the name make The Lynchpin a chess game of high order, and perfect for genre readers who want much more than either standard thrillers or murder mysteries tend to offer.
July 18, 2022
mystery
Special Agent Drew Cady, semi-retired after events of "The Chessman", living with his fiancee, Terry on her fishing resort in northern Minnesota.
Happy to be doing a desk job, he is pulled into a murder case, that turns out to be grisly serial murder cases. At the same time, he is pulled back to Washington, DC, when his former supervisor, CID Assistant Director Jund is implicated as a treasonous spy.
great writing, some humour, enough twists to keep it well paced and interesting.
Special Agent Drew Cady, semi-retired after events of "The Chessman", living with his fiancee, Terry on her fishing resort in northern Minnesota.
Happy to be doing a desk job, he is pulled into a murder case, that turns out to be grisly serial murder cases. At the same time, he is pulled back to Washington, DC, when his former supervisor, CID Assistant Director Jund is implicated as a treasonous spy.
great writing, some humour, enough twists to keep it well paced and interesting.
January 5, 2018
The beginning of Jeffrey B. Burton’s novel The Lynchpin offers right up front the research and skill the author is brining to the reader. By chapter three you are hooked—hook, line and sinker—and there’s no wiggling off this hook. Burton lands you gasping for air and wanting more.--Le Coeur de l'Artiste
April 12, 2024
I'm wavering between three and four stars. I really liked the book's ending but it took a minute to get there. I struggled with the way it went back and forth in the first half of the book. I could have used more cues to keep characters straight.
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June 6, 2017I didn't understand what happened in the last chapter at Jund's house. Can anyone help me out?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews