A Clean Kill

Garrett Mann #1

by Steven Konkoly

An FBI agent hunting a serial killer has to up his game when a trail of murders is not what it seems in a riveting thriller by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Steven Konkoly.

Five dismembered bodies are found along the roadside, dumped in the middle of nowhere. This isn’t new to Special Agent Garrett Mann. Head of ARTEMIS, a specialized FBI task force hell-bent on hunting down cartel-related killings in the Southwest, Mann has seen this before.

He and his team have been tracking similar kills along thousands of miles of rural roads running north, south, and back again. When the latest slaughter yields a key piece of evidence, Mann thinks he’s found the killer and solved the case. That’s when the nightmare begins.

From a lakeside Minnesota mansion to an abandoned CIA black site in New Mexico, the hunt is on. But the closer Mann gets to his prey, the deadlier the stakes become. This is no ordinary serial killer. He’s not working alone—and the stakes go far beyond just preventing the serial killer’s next massacre. What Mann unravels is a powerful and far-reaching conspiracy beyond his wildest imagination.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Action, Serial Killer

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2024

About the author

Steven graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1993, receiving a bachelor of science in English literature. He served the next eight years on active duty, traveling the world as a naval officer assigned to various Navy and Marine Corps units. His extensive journey spanned the globe, including a two-year tour of duty in Japan and travel to more than twenty countries throughout Asia and the Middle East.

From enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq as a maritime boarding officer in the Arabian Gulf, to directing aircraft bombing runs and naval gunfire strikes as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) assigned to a specialized Marine Corps unit, Steven's "in-house" experience with a wide range of regular and elite military units brings a unique authenticity to his thrillers.

He still wakes up at "zero dark thirty" to write for most of the day. When "off duty," he spends as much time as possible outdoors or travelling with his family--and dog.

Steven is the bestselling author of ten novels and several novellas, including a commissioned trilogy of novellas based on the popular Wayward Pines series. His canon of work includes the popular Black Flagged Series, a gritty, no-holds barred covert operations and espionage saga; The Perseid Collapse series, a post-apocalyptic thriller epic chronicling the events surrounding an inconceivable attack on the United States; and The Fractured State series, a near future, dystopian thriller trilogy set in the drought ravaged southwest

You can contact Steven directly by email (stevekonkoly@striblingmedia.com) or through his blog (www.stevenkonkoly.com).

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy crime thrillers with suspense, action, and memorable characters, then look no further than Steven Konkoly’s newest novel, A Clean Kill. It’s the first book in the Garrett Mann series and is very different from your typical FBI thriller. Garret is the head of a specialized FBI task force containing misfits FBI agents who are hunting a killer. He kills along rural roads from near the border with Mexico to the upper Midwest. This time the bodies are found in rural Steele County, Minnesota near Owatonna. But this is no ordinary serial killer, he has powerful help making the stakes even higher.

Garrett doesn’t always share information with others and he has a judgment-impairing grudge that he fights to control. However, he works well with other police officers to gain cooperation and has a somewhat dry and sarcastic sense of humor that is occasionally shown. His flaws make him seem more realistic and relatable. I particularly enjoyed his independent thinking and willingness to listen to recommendations from others. The secondary and tertiary characters have varying levels of depth, but it was appropriate for their roles and the first book in the series. The team is far from perfect and facing overwhelming odds, but it was easy to want them to succeed. Readers also occasionally get the perspective of the killer and one of those in power helping him.

Steven Konkoly is skilled in making readers feel the rise in tension at critical moments in the story. This exciting page-turner has a riveting plot and compelling and strong characters, and it’s infused with action. The author also does a great job of world-building, making it a mesmerizing reading experience. The storyline is gripping and will grab and keep your attention from beginning to end. It kept me on such an emotional rollercoaster that I was rapidly turning the pages to see what would happen next. My one quibble is that there were some threads that were left open. I’m sure this is the start for the next book in the series, but I wanted a little more closure.

Overall, this is a riveting, intense, and violent story that is disquieting and unsettling at times. The action scenes combined with great characters and a well-written plot make this novel a must read for thriller readers. This was an excellent start to a new series. If you consider yourself a fan of action-filled crime thrillers, then I recommend this well-crafted novel. I can’t wait to find out what will happen next.

Thomas & Mercer and Steven Konkoly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be July 01, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.3 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is not your run of the mill FBI task force. A Clean Kill by Steven Konkoly is the first book about Garrett Mann and his group of crime fighters, and fight the will. This is a no nonsense action and nobody is safe. I have been a fan of this author for some time and he doesn't let the reader down. If you like fast paced books this one is for you. I can't wait for the next one. I was first a little miffed that it wasn't one of his other series but since I liked them I thought how bad can it be, I can tell you that the only bad in this book are the crooks and they are BAD. On the other hand the task force is not playing by the book either. Maybe that is what it takes? I strongly recommend this brand new series by a great author. I must thank Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for supplying me with this advance copy.

[John (JC) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a team of misfits. I especially love a team of misfits that are on the trail of serial killers. I do not like when the government, whether it is a rogue faction or not, is protecting the bad guy by interfering with the mission in any way possible.
Smooth action, believable characters, tragedy and small victories about covers it. I am looking forward to the next edition in this series.

[William de_Rham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, but after 50 pages, this is a DNF for me. Billed as a “thrill-ride, “A Clean Kill” is actually a badly written novel about a serial killer, the CIA, the FBI, and drug cartels. The plot makes little sense. There are a number of logical inconsistencies that destroy credibility. None of the characters are compelling, much less likable, or even interesting. Some are simply off-putting. Most of what I’ve read has been taken up with lengthy treatments of body parts in contractor bags, vomiting, smoking, alcohol use, currying favor with local law enforcement by offering pizza and other cliches, memes, tropes, and stereotypes. The prose and dialogue rely heavily on jargon, slang, verbal shorthand, acronyms, and figures of speech. And its portrayal of the wickedness and cynicism of government and its private contractors couldn't be more "over the top." Apparently, this is the author’s 20th novel. The quantity may be impressive. The quality, at least of this offering, is not.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read!! Steven Konkoly will make you want to finish the book in one sitting...I savored it for a few days/nights. Starting out in Minnesota(where I live) and ending in New Mexico, this book will keep you guessing. A serial killer is on the loose and a group of outcast FBI
agents have been on the hunt. Of course, there is always the corrupt government agency, doing what they want.
It's definitely a thrilling ride from start to finish and the author lays the groundwork for a follow up book. I TOTALLY recommend this book and pretty much anything he writes. Get on board for the 1st book, in this soon-to-be-series.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley, and Steven Konkoly for the ARC.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A maverick FBI task group is after a very prolific serial killer who is protected by the CIA.

Just didn't do it for me.

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in this new series, with Garrick Mann, head of a FBI Unit. Enjoyed very much the Ryan Decker series, so thought I would give a try.

Although started a little slow and confusing it really took of and kept at a breakneck pace for over 60% to 70% of the book. A master of action , in well constructed adventure thrillers.

Intriguing and powerful and shocking action thriller.

Five dismembered bodies are found along the roadside, dumped in the middle of nowhere. This isn’t new to Special Agent Garrett Mann. Head of ARTEMIS, a specialized FBI task force hell-bent on hunting down cartel-related killings in the Southwest, Mann has seen this before.

He and his team have been tracking similar kills along thousands of miles of rural roads running north, south, and back again. When the latest slaughter yields a key piece of evidence, Mann thinks he’s found the killer and solved the case. That’s when the nightmare begins.

From a lakeside Minnesota mansion to an abandoned CIA black site in New Mexico, the hunt is on. But the closer Mann gets to his prey, the deadlier the stakes become. This is no ordinary serial killer. He’s not working alone—and the stakes go far beyond just preventing the serial killer’s next massacre. What Mann unravels is a powerful and far-reaching conspiracy beyond his wildest imagination.

Four stars

[Mike Reinking · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment. Starts off as an intriguing FBI murder mystery and then devolves into a nonstop shoot’em up video game. No real explanation on why the bad guys are doing what they’re doing. And then the book ends on a cliffhanger. That’s just crappy writing. Garret Mann is on his own - I hated this book’s ending and by default the whole book. Too bad because there are some interesting characters with stories to tell.

[Laurie Tell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but too convoluted to really enjoy it

This had all of the elements for a really good book... FBI agents, great characters, A different kind of plot....

But there were some serious issues. Way too many acronyms. Then way too many characters to keep track of. It felt like someone took a good book, then went back and added in every bit of knowledge they had about weapons and government agencies to pump it up. And all the local law enforcement were just too cooperative. You got my deputy killed? That's ok....

It was interesting enough that I finished it. Im giving it 3 stars because I did finish it. But I skimmed over the parts that were too convoluted. After all that it ended on a cliffhanger. I won't be reading the next one.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Requires too much suspension of disbelief. Not his best.

[Evan Codde Milligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

just the right amount of action and drama 🙌🏼

[Dirk Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read any of Steven Konkoly's novels prior to this one. I expected more murder mystery than thriller but was still happy with the book. Lots of characters built throughout that take necessary time in the first novel of a series.
I admit that I found the ending less than satisfactory, then learnt that it would be a series and am now looking forward to the next to read.
The writing for the scene in New Mexico is some of the best I have read. I found myself short of breath as they dealth with masks, stopping myself from jumping ahead to see what would happen. It was excellent and the best part of the book. More of that and I am hooked.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to get out of my warm bed and come down to my cold laptop and acknowledge this book that kept me awake and breathless. I have never read such an action packed book in my life. In truth, that is not a category of book I seek out. This is extreme in every way imaginable. But then offset by the Owatonna, Minnesota setting early on. How it ends, however, is just about as far as anything can be imagined from that Minnesota setting.
I cannot see how a human could have written this. Must be AI?!
I am incapable of describing this book right now and better go back up to bed and try to sleep it off somehow. The characters, the settings, the action.... Phew! Hope I can go to sleep now.

$5.99 from Amazon

[Becca Wilder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steven Konkoly’s education at the USNA and ensuing service as a naval officer lend so much authenticity to the books he writes and bring a vividness and immediacy to the action in each. In A Clean Kill we a get a thriller that considers a timely and frightening prospect for the United States – how the Mexican cartels operate in our country and how much does our government know about and/or participate in these activities. The covert operation that pairs these two sides blows open when a cartel’s serial killer, under the protection of a special section of the CIA, is tracked and found by a rival investigative group of the FBI. The story pits these two government entities against each other in a shifting battle of right versus wrong, and good versus evil. Does each side know who they are fighting against? Not necessarily. Are there compelling reasons for the existence of these two government factions? Maybe. Do we have definitive answers at the end of the story? No. As the first book in a new series, it ends on a slight cliffhanger—the immediate threat has been contained, but the story is not resolved and more threats abound. There are times when Konkoly employs a lot of alphabet soup acronyms in his books and I wonder how important they are to the story, or is he using them in a way to further prove his well-earned, inside knowledge. I only mention this because, as a layperson, I sometimes lose track of the different organizations and tend to skim the passages where the acronyms are employed most heavily. I am not sure I miss much of the story this way, which can be a good or bad thing depending on the perspective. All in all, A Clean Kill is an engaging thriller and will appeal to fans of political intrigue and the pursuit of justice.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Thomas & Mercer for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Nette · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this gripping thriller by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Steven Konkoly, FBI agent Garrett Mann faces a twisted trail of murders that defies expectations. As head of ARTEMIS, a specialized task force, Mann tracks cartel-related killings. When a grisly discovery unveils a potential breakthrough, Mann believes he’s solved the case—only to plunge into a nightmarish journey.

From a Minnesota mansion to a New Mexico CIA black site, Mann unravels a conspiracy far beyond a mere serial killer, delving into a web of danger and deception that stretches his investigative skills to the limit.

Curating Edits Book Review of “A Clean Kill”
Previously having read Steven Konkoly’s “Black Flagged” series*, I knew this new book was going to be a hit. If you love an action-packed thriller, A Clean Kill is the book you should be picking up to read next.

Garrett Mann and his team work outside the lines of the FBI. ARTEMIS is comprised of excellent agents handpicked by Mann, with the help of an outsider who is also on the hunt for the serial killer they are currently going after. The underdogs of the FBI, get the job done, with nothing else to seek but justice. Making ARTEMIS targets when other government agencies are covering up some of the unscrupulous behaviors they have been a part of, trying to rid themselves of the connections Mann and his team are bound to make if ARTEMIS gets their hand on the serial killer before they do.

[Taylor Giller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really? Just doesn’t make sense. (contains spoilers)

While the author goes to great lengths to ensure he accurately describes weapons, tactics, operations, uniforms and equipment, he goes off the deep end with miraculous efforts by the FBI and perfect timing of absurdly complex and nearly impossible logistics, coordination and team operations. I can suspend disbelief when reading this type of novel but with this one it just goes too far too fast for too long.
The FBI team reluctantly agrees to use lethal force - and then proceeds to kill anything that moves - without any hesitation.
The “bad guys” are equally far-fetched, with perfect comms, a billion-dollar underground city and the always reliable “the end justifies the means” “kill them all” mantra.
Not worth your time.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

An FBI task force investigating a prolific serial killer gets more than they bargained for in A Clean Kill, a new series from this author. When several trash bags containing dismembered bodies are found along a rural Minnesota road, Special Agent Garrett Mann and his task force, comprised of outcasts from other units, spring into action in this ultra-violent action thriller. While the plot is a little fantastical and convoluted (I’m still not sure I fully understand it) and some events stretch the imagination, the non-stop action and battle scenes, along with a far reaching conspiracy will satisfy any fan of this genre. There’s plenty of loose ends to tie up so a sequel can be safely assumed. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Matt Gould · Rating 2 out of 5]

reads like a Netflix original action film with an over inflated budget

[Kurt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book; however, it was a big letdown. Even the title lacks depth of story. What Clean Kill? The book takes place is in 3 arcs. Each with unbelievable action sequences that are more over the top than the previous. So much so that after the second action arc the FBI brass even wants to reign it in and bring in the Garret Mann team for a debrief. Well, of course that doesn't happen, the team goes roque into their next calamity — with a little help from some deep state actor who tips them off to the exact coordinates of a secret Lare 400 miles into the dessert. Ugh, it was tedious and lacked ANY significant depth of characters. Who the hell is Garrett Mann and why should we care? No idea. I made it to 70% and I wanted to quit badly, but I persevered and was just as bored and uninterested in the characters. Given this is book one of a Garrett Mann series I have no doubt the others will be just as bland and grotesquely over the top in bizarre action sequences (were many minor characters die but oh, not our hero – he remains unscathed and PC in every way) with unlimited budgets to procure military equipment and "experts". I won't be reading them, goodbye Garrett. Three stars for effort, because everybody gets a participation trophy these days.

[LianaReads blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Clean Kill" by Steven Konkoly is a riveting thriller that takes readers on a relentless pursuit of a serial killer.
Special Agent Garrett Mann, heading the ARTEMIS FBI task force, is familiar with cartel-related killings, but the discovery of five dismembered bodies along a rural roadside sets off a chain of events that lead him to a dangerous and complex conspiracy.

Konkoly's storytelling prowess shines in this well-paced narrative, keeping me on the edge of my seats from start to finish. The characters are not only intriguing but also expertly crafted making it difficult to put the book down. The author's ability to weave together a gripping plot with unexpected twists and turns showcases his mastery of the thriller genre.

The crossover of characters from Konkoly's other series adds an extra layer of depth to the story, creating a cohesive and interconnected universe. "
“A Clean Kill" is a captivating addition to Konkoly's books making it a must read for thrillers lovers.

Very grateful to the publisher @amazonpublishing for this copy, opinions are my own.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous new series from Konkoly.
Can not say enough good about this book.
FBI agent Garrett Mann and his ARTEMIS team hunt serial killers and they are hunting one of the most brutal under the guidance of an Asst FBI Director. Unbeknownst to all of them, a CIA operative is working behind the scenes to undermine their current mission and discredit their team entirely.
First in a series with more to come.
Thrilling, riveting plot and absolutely terrific characters..
Could.Not.Put.This.Down.
Waiting now, impatiently (VERY), for the next book.

[Allison F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was FUN. Konkoly being a former naval officer clearly works to his advantage as an author. While the action scenes take up a lot of time within the story due to their level of detail, it lends a helpful hand to developing the characters and the trust between them (or lack thereof). I loved the back and forth of seeing the story from both the "inside" and "outside" and the way it highlights actual military hierarchy. I've also never been so pleasantly surprised to find a male author who does not over-describe his female characters, or any characters at all. While it did feel a bit lacking for storytelling purposes, I much prefer the focus on the plot and action rather than trying to avoid unnecessary, cringey details. I sincerely look forward to the next book in the series and more from Konkoly!

[Cherye Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner

I have read I believe ALL of Steven Konkoly books. I haven't read a boring one yet. Once you get started you can't stop. The only complaint I have is the word "said".
Definitely recommend this and all of his other reads. You won't be disappointed.

[Adrian Jarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won't say much because I don't want to spoil but I love this style of book and the scenes at the lake house and hotel played like an action movie in my head. I typically read a bit before sleep at night but I flew thru this book. Great story and told in a really cool way.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, fast paced read with a nice set up for book two.

[TheGood ByeGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, but bummed I gotta wait over a year for the next book.

[Klare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced all the way through.
This is my first book by this author but I’m looking forward to more. This one has a continuing storyline so really looking forward to the next one in the series.

[Jenmalloy Chirichillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

read like a narration of a video game - all gun battle and extractions

[Mark Easter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. Not sure what happened here. Looks like I forgot to write a review. As I recall, it was just OK for me, and I have gone on to continue reading the series.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is very good at writing action and thank goodness for that because once it gets going, it stays exciting. This one takes a little while to get into and I almost bailed on it because the character descriptions and dialogue are pretty clunky. I’m glad I bore with it because the two huge action setpieces were good fun.