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A Dirk King FBI Suspense Thriller #1
From The Ashes
Veteran FBI Agent Dirk King, retired after a long career catching killers, must return to the line of duty when his nemesis, a diabolical serial killer, resurfaces, and the FBI desperately needs his help.
The brutal murder of a young woman forces Dirk King out of retirement and back to the pursuit of a killer that has haunted him for decades. Can Dirk’s seasoned instincts unravel the killer’s plan before it’s too late?
FROM THE ASHES (A Dirk King FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 1) is the first novel in a new series by mystery and suspense author Katie Rush.
A gripping and harrowing thriller featuring a brilliant yet haunted protagonist, the Dirk King series is an enthralling mystery packed with non-stop action, edge-of-your-seat suspense, stunning revelations, and a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Robert Dugoni, and Mary Burton are sure to fall in love.
Future books in the series are also available!
The brutal murder of a young woman forces Dirk King out of retirement and back to the pursuit of a killer that has haunted him for decades. Can Dirk’s seasoned instincts unravel the killer’s plan before it’s too late?
FROM THE ASHES (A Dirk King FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 1) is the first novel in a new series by mystery and suspense author Katie Rush.
A gripping and harrowing thriller featuring a brilliant yet haunted protagonist, the Dirk King series is an enthralling mystery packed with non-stop action, edge-of-your-seat suspense, stunning revelations, and a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Robert Dugoni, and Mary Burton are sure to fall in love.
Future books in the series are also available!
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 5, 2024
787 people are currently reading
655 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 23, 2024
The basic storyline of this book was okay but what really put me off was every time the main character spoke the writer had to describe his voice and emphasise that it was due to his many years on the force. I am sure if you took all that out and put it together this would make up a 3rd of the book.
FBI agent Dirk King comes out of retirement when there are several killings that look like the work of his nemisis. He feels he needs to catch him, after his partner was one of this serial killers victims. But he needs to learn to seperate the past from the present to catch this killer.
FBI agent Dirk King comes out of retirement when there are several killings that look like the work of his nemisis. He feels he needs to catch him, after his partner was one of this serial killers victims. But he needs to learn to seperate the past from the present to catch this killer.
July 13, 2025
why was this book more about the two detectives beefing than the actual murder
December 13, 2024
One word: Repetitive
At this point, I doubt anyone goes into an "FBI agent hunts serial killer who got away" novel expecting literary innovation, right? I mean a trope is a trope because it has been done so many times before. But for fans if the genre they can be a good fun read from time to time. That said this writing just felt a little lazy. Much of it was the same concepts on repeat , like dear lord we get it he's deep in thought and she keeps interrupting by screeching his name, okay we understand she looks like his former partner and he's constantly reminded of the past when he looks at her, FFS we are well aware that the killer was once a child star who had his fame ripped away. These points were so often reworded and repeated that it felt very much like a high school homework assignment whose author had run out if things to say but still had a word quota they needed to meet. By the halfway point I found my eyes,rolling in the back of my head each time one of these was brought up yet again. Furthermore, the plot was predictable and the ending was obvious from early on. I felt compelled to finish it because I hate leaving books unfinished but I can't in good conscience recommend this one.
At this point, I doubt anyone goes into an "FBI agent hunts serial killer who got away" novel expecting literary innovation, right? I mean a trope is a trope because it has been done so many times before. But for fans if the genre they can be a good fun read from time to time. That said this writing just felt a little lazy. Much of it was the same concepts on repeat , like dear lord we get it he's deep in thought and she keeps interrupting by screeching his name, okay we understand she looks like his former partner and he's constantly reminded of the past when he looks at her, FFS we are well aware that the killer was once a child star who had his fame ripped away. These points were so often reworded and repeated that it felt very much like a high school homework assignment whose author had run out if things to say but still had a word quota they needed to meet. By the halfway point I found my eyes,rolling in the back of my head each time one of these was brought up yet again. Furthermore, the plot was predictable and the ending was obvious from early on. I felt compelled to finish it because I hate leaving books unfinished but I can't in good conscience recommend this one.
December 18, 2025
I originally gave this book two stars - and then revised it down to one star...!! The plot was mediocre at best, but somewhat intriguing, (which originally led to my 2-star rating).
However the writing style was so bad that I cringed every time another analogy or metaphor came up... and they were numerous... usually more than one on each page. The numerous references to "fingers flying over the keyboard;" the "creaking of the chair" every time Dirk sat down; and the "hum of the fluorescent lights" was repeated over and over and over...
All the adjectives, adverbs, and metaphors made me think I was reading a high school english paper where the teacher was trying to teach creative writing - asking the students to describe everything with detailed word pictures... Tedious, annoying and certainly of no help to the story line.
The police procedures were horrible. Obviously, no research was conducted by the author into how a criminal investigation really works. As a former law enforcement officer, I can guarantee that many of the actions of the main characters would have never been acceptable.
The biggest disappointment is that I bought this book as part of a 3-pack from Amazon. Now I have two more of these stories to either struggle through or just toss aside.
Yeah, one star is enough...
However the writing style was so bad that I cringed every time another analogy or metaphor came up... and they were numerous... usually more than one on each page. The numerous references to "fingers flying over the keyboard;" the "creaking of the chair" every time Dirk sat down; and the "hum of the fluorescent lights" was repeated over and over and over...
All the adjectives, adverbs, and metaphors made me think I was reading a high school english paper where the teacher was trying to teach creative writing - asking the students to describe everything with detailed word pictures... Tedious, annoying and certainly of no help to the story line.
The police procedures were horrible. Obviously, no research was conducted by the author into how a criminal investigation really works. As a former law enforcement officer, I can guarantee that many of the actions of the main characters would have never been acceptable.
The biggest disappointment is that I bought this book as part of a 3-pack from Amazon. Now I have two more of these stories to either struggle through or just toss aside.
Yeah, one star is enough...
October 24, 2024
I'm always curious to read other reviews once I have finished a book. I am always amazed that the ratings are so varied, with a good number of excellent, when I clearly found this one to be substandard. I got tired of reading the cliches and metaphors. I think someone's English teacher must have emphasized that, but this book is so full of them I got annoyed. The conflict between the aging retired Dirk and his young partner Emma got tiresome. How many times can you use the word stubborn? I think it's him, no it can't be him, it must be him....etc etc ad nauseam. And Dirk's voice was raspy...almost every time he spoke...I don't think the reader needs to be reminded each time. There is no mystery...the murderer is named early on. We just don't know enough about him and why he leaves the talismans. The ending is just pure awful..you know as soon as they split up that one is going to be in trouble and the other will come to the rescue. And the murderer, who has been careful and calculating, is made out to be a madman...it just didn't fit. All in all a series I won't be continuing, despite the cliffhanger at the end.
July 11, 2024
Don’t Get Tunnel Vision
Agent Dirk King of the FBI is called back from retirement for a case that looks like an unsolved case of his. This has haunted him for years but never resolved. When he gets back he’s paired up with a young female recruit with a sharp mind and an agenda of her own.
Up and coming stars in the entertainment field are being murdered and displayed in the spotlight of their fame. Now Dirk and Emma are on the trail to find the common denominator connecting them…. If there is one.
Each agent has their separate idea of how to handle this but they follow both paths to find clues.
This storyline keeps moving and is exhausting for them but exciting for us. I kept wanting to help them … but I had inside info so …. I waited impatiently for them to finally find their answers.
I really enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down during some scenes. And at the end I found it a little unbelievable. I wonder if you will too.
It could use some more editing but nothing so drastic that I couldn’t follow it.
Agent Dirk King of the FBI is called back from retirement for a case that looks like an unsolved case of his. This has haunted him for years but never resolved. When he gets back he’s paired up with a young female recruit with a sharp mind and an agenda of her own.
Up and coming stars in the entertainment field are being murdered and displayed in the spotlight of their fame. Now Dirk and Emma are on the trail to find the common denominator connecting them…. If there is one.
Each agent has their separate idea of how to handle this but they follow both paths to find clues.
This storyline keeps moving and is exhausting for them but exciting for us. I kept wanting to help them … but I had inside info so …. I waited impatiently for them to finally find their answers.
I really enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down during some scenes. And at the end I found it a little unbelievable. I wonder if you will too.
It could use some more editing but nothing so drastic that I couldn’t follow it.
September 19, 2024
Katie Rush has a series, which is impressive, and a large number of reviews which is also impressive. But I had difficulty with the book. Dirk King is a retired F BI agent called back to deal with a serial killer who appears to be someone King has tracked for years. Now several rising stars are being murdered. King is joined by rookie agent Emma Dawson, with whom he at first clashes. In the end, the culprit is caught and the author injects an interesting setup for the next novel in the series. The plot here is good and the tension is well drawn, but I found the writing clumpy and reliant too often on cliches or overdrawn analogies. I also found that the two agents didn't ask some obvious questions, such as what linked the victims. Police procedural affectionadoes won't appreciate that. Then there are some setting issues. The most blatant is when the killer is behind Dirk with a knife to his throat, yet Dirk can see his partner, who is behind the killer, and also look into the killer's eyes. So there you are. The choice is yours. I reived the book on Amazon free.
September 18, 2024
Never ending action and chilling thrills
A tremendously climatic and enthralling saga. Two F B I agents determinedly on the trail of a formidable criminal murderer who had brought unbelievable sorrow on their individual lives. Are the current series of deaths part of their lives come back to haunt and taunt them and will they ever catch this ruthless murderer before it is too late.
A tremendously climatic and enthralling saga. Two F B I agents determinedly on the trail of a formidable criminal murderer who had brought unbelievable sorrow on their individual lives. Are the current series of deaths part of their lives come back to haunt and taunt them and will they ever catch this ruthless murderer before it is too late.
October 4, 2024
I had a tough time with this book. It’s so insanely descriptive, I felt like I couldn’t get into a groove. It almost came off as obtrusive or I just couldn’t get past it. It’s not like the door just whispered shut. It was more like the twin side by side doors slid closed so gently you only heard a whisper. It never stopped and I personally couldn’t go on with it. If there were any thrills, it was overridden by so many adjectives. Sorry. I was hoping for a new series to love.
February 19, 2025
Glad I borrowed this one from the library with no cost out of pocket. This book took me around 5 hours to read. I think the plot of this book could have been a winner without the way it was written bringing it down. Maybe it just wasn't for me. FBI/cop thrillers are my favorite books to read and a lot of authors do a great job with creating a series and characters that draw me in and make me want to read the remainder of the series. This was not one of them. It fell extremely flat for me.
March 28, 2025
This is the second book I've "read" (listened to) from this author. I won't be trying any others. Poorly written, continuity errors, repetitive and with such a shallow grasp of its own story. It wouldn't surprise me if this was AI written as well as AI narration. The audiobook production is very poor with irritating sound spikes at regular intervals and the narrator occasionally "reads" the punctuation.
July 20, 2024
Just barely average. A lot of repetition.
I'm starting to wonder how many of these books have been written by the computer using AI assistantance. A good many of the books I've read lately feel like the basic essential ingredients of names, places, years, a general idea of the theme attempted, a twist, a traumatic past, etc. are included, ... HOWEVER, they all end up dull and read the same way.
I'm starting to wonder how many of these books have been written by the computer using AI assistantance. A good many of the books I've read lately feel like the basic essential ingredients of names, places, years, a general idea of the theme attempted, a twist, a traumatic past, etc. are included, ... HOWEVER, they all end up dull and read the same way.
September 21, 2024
Pretty decent story
I enjoyed the background of the actual work done by the FBI. This book shows there’s a lot more to catching criminals than just running around.
The only thing that keeps me from moving forward with this story is that I figured out the signature of the killer fairly quickly in
I enjoyed the background of the actual work done by the FBI. This book shows there’s a lot more to catching criminals than just running around.
The only thing that keeps me from moving forward with this story is that I figured out the signature of the killer fairly quickly in
September 28, 2024
The premise of the book was good, detectives chase serial killer but the author tried too hard. The characters were hard to relate to in a real world sense. And while descriptive language helps form a picture of the action & characters the author had too many long, rambling, descriptive sentences. It was an ok read but nothing I would highly recommend.
December 15, 2025
Dirk King a retired FBI agent is called back into service when a serial killer who is his nemisis strikes again. He teams up with rookie agent Emma Dawson to track down the perpetrator. As more killing of famous women take place, King and Dawson realise this could be a different killer. This is a good American Style detective thriller. Well worth a read.
May 10, 2024
Brilliant
Really enjoyed reading this book, lots of twists and turns, loved the interactive battles of the main characters. Looking forward to reading the next one. Will definitely recommend this author to my friends.
Really enjoyed reading this book, lots of twists and turns, loved the interactive battles of the main characters. Looking forward to reading the next one. Will definitely recommend this author to my friends.
June 30, 2024
I did not feel this was a well written book. I got annoyed that every time Dirk King spoke, the author wrote how his voice was raspy… The ending seemed a bit far fetched that the Glory Hound would leave Dirk a letter. I do not plan to read the other books in the series.
September 26, 2024
Interesting
I liked the premise of the story, had the potential to be much stronger but the repeated use of the two main characters first name and surnames throughout became jarring, over descriptive at times.
I liked the premise of the story, had the potential to be much stronger but the repeated use of the two main characters first name and surnames throughout became jarring, over descriptive at times.
October 15, 2024
National Serial KILLER? Maybe? WANTABE?
Well planed murders with the victim left in various poses. And holding something in their palm. Baffled on local, state and national level, the fbi brings a top agent out of retirement!
Numerous plots and unexpected results. A Must read!
Well planed murders with the victim left in various poses. And holding something in their palm. Baffled on local, state and national level, the fbi brings a top agent out of retirement!
Numerous plots and unexpected results. A Must read!
December 6, 2024
Couldn't even make it to Chapter 4. Much too much description of every single mentioned item, thought weather, clouds, feelings. Couldn't plow through everything to care enough to see where the story might lead. Great vocabulary but you don't have to use EVERY big word you ever learned.
October 14, 2025
Good storyline
The story had a good but the thread that held it together was tedious. Too many references to lost partners/ relatives and repeated words, so many unnecessary. Shame as the actual storyline was good
The story had a good but the thread that held it together was tedious. Too many references to lost partners/ relatives and repeated words, so many unnecessary. Shame as the actual storyline was good
January 10, 2026
Overuse of analogies and a lot of “word salad” throughout. King is far from likable and the conversations between characters is unbelievable. Terrible police procedures, shows very little research was conducted prior to writing.
February 7, 2026
Nothing brilliant about this detective. The only questions he asks are for alibis and totally ignores evidence until book is almost complete. Only then does he solve multiple murders. Relies only on his instincts which seem stale at best.
Read
May 7, 2024Audiobook
June 8, 2024
Exciting, well written thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
June 25, 2024
I actually really enjoyed the story line but the first half of the book is so dang repetitive!
& there were a lot of errors as in grammar, spelling, etc.
& there were a lot of errors as in grammar, spelling, etc.
June 26, 2024
Good read
Once I got past the grammar errors, u could enjoy the biok. Loved the aged agent teaming up with rookie. Not sure if I will read next in series
Once I got past the grammar errors, u could enjoy the biok. Loved the aged agent teaming up with rookie. Not sure if I will read next in series
September 19, 2024
Good book
Great mystery. Good characters and exciting story.
Would like to read the next book. Think there should be some more police procedures in it.
Great mystery. Good characters and exciting story.
Would like to read the next book. Think there should be some more police procedures in it.
September 22, 2024
Get this one!
Very well done!
And I, who does NOT, like sequential stories — a link from one book to the next — DO like this one and highly recommend it.
Very well done!
And I, who does NOT, like sequential stories — a link from one book to the next — DO like this one and highly recommend it.
September 25, 2024
exciting book
It was a real page turner. Never knowing which way the story was going to turn. Strong characters and a surprise at the end
It was a real page turner. Never knowing which way the story was going to turn. Strong characters and a surprise at the end
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews