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Gin Reilly FBI #1
A Hard Truth
Special Agent Gin Reilly is faced with a killer whose first victim goes back a decade in this first book of a new FBI Thriller series, A Hard Truth.
He was a prominent businessman with a highly successful career and a loving family. But on a late afternoon in Miami, he’d stepped onto his yacht, sailed out of the harbor and disappeared. Three weeks later he showed up on land, fourteen hundred miles away from the sunny, blue waters of the Caribbean, and very dead.
Special Agent Gin Reilly is still settling into her job with the FBI’s Critical Crime Unit and waiting for the fourth member of the team to show up when she’s called out unexpectedly to a remote part of upstate New York. A dead body was found by a utility worker, underneath a huge electrical tower. The victim is none other than Benjamin Stampler, CEO of a major pharmaceutical company and a resident of Miami, whose disappearance made national headlines.
The FBI was called in at the request of the family, which doesn’t go over well with the local law enforcement already on scene, while the belated arrival of the unit’s newest member doesn’t go over well with her. But there’s a case to solve, and a naked body, under a pile of trash, with a single, fresh flower on top isn’t much to go on.
As she follows the trail of bodies back through the years, Gin calls on her long experience in dealing with a serial killer. And she definitely has more of that than any other agent in the Bureau since she grew up with one. But as she works to find the connection between seemingly random victims, “accidents” start to happen. When their violence escalates, and is clearly directed at her, Gin is left with one choice: Capture a madman before he adds her to his list of kills.
He was a prominent businessman with a highly successful career and a loving family. But on a late afternoon in Miami, he’d stepped onto his yacht, sailed out of the harbor and disappeared. Three weeks later he showed up on land, fourteen hundred miles away from the sunny, blue waters of the Caribbean, and very dead.
Special Agent Gin Reilly is still settling into her job with the FBI’s Critical Crime Unit and waiting for the fourth member of the team to show up when she’s called out unexpectedly to a remote part of upstate New York. A dead body was found by a utility worker, underneath a huge electrical tower. The victim is none other than Benjamin Stampler, CEO of a major pharmaceutical company and a resident of Miami, whose disappearance made national headlines.
The FBI was called in at the request of the family, which doesn’t go over well with the local law enforcement already on scene, while the belated arrival of the unit’s newest member doesn’t go over well with her. But there’s a case to solve, and a naked body, under a pile of trash, with a single, fresh flower on top isn’t much to go on.
As she follows the trail of bodies back through the years, Gin calls on her long experience in dealing with a serial killer. And she definitely has more of that than any other agent in the Bureau since she grew up with one. But as she works to find the connection between seemingly random victims, “accidents” start to happen. When their violence escalates, and is clearly directed at her, Gin is left with one choice: Capture a madman before he adds her to his list of kills.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2024
316 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 13, 2024
Good Story
Good storyline with well developed characters. One callout would be that Chandler really needs an editor. Not as bad as with the Ricki James series (continuity, background of characters, and spelling), but still an issue.
Good storyline with well developed characters. One callout would be that Chandler really needs an editor. Not as bad as with the Ricki James series (continuity, background of characters, and spelling), but still an issue.
May 23, 2025
Good mystery as always
My one suggestion to anyone reading this review is to read the Ricki James series first. It’s the same world as this book and all the main characters are already introduced (for the most part anyway) in those books. You will enjoy this book far more if you have read at least the first several Ricki James books. I actually picked up this book first but put it down about 40ish pages in because I felt like I was missing something. I ended up reading all 12 of the Ricki books before I came back to this novel and it’s definitely worth the time. The book is too confusing without the background. I like the author - excellent world building, plotting, characterization, etc - but the world is a bit confusing without the context of the other books.
My one suggestion to anyone reading this review is to read the Ricki James series first. It’s the same world as this book and all the main characters are already introduced (for the most part anyway) in those books. You will enjoy this book far more if you have read at least the first several Ricki James books. I actually picked up this book first but put it down about 40ish pages in because I felt like I was missing something. I ended up reading all 12 of the Ricki books before I came back to this novel and it’s definitely worth the time. The book is too confusing without the background. I like the author - excellent world building, plotting, characterization, etc - but the world is a bit confusing without the context of the other books.
November 1, 2024
Amazing! It's the first book in a new series that is a thriller from the first page to The End. FBI Special Agent Gin Reilly heads her team in the new Critical Crimes Unit and begins the chase that takes her across country. It is one of the most exciting stories I've read for a long time. This author can keep you glued to the storyline, and you can't sleep until you finish. A dead body is found in upper New York and that leads to a case that finds more death, crime and even a yacht being blown up. It's all very exciting and I loved Special Agent Gin. Having read this author's previous series, I loved seeing Anchorman again. It's a great book!
March 17, 2025
GREAT JOB!
I’m a sucker for women cops/FBI agents. C R Chandler is one of my favorite authors. Gin is a great agent, personal torment aside. I like her partnership with Trey as well.
This story was well paced and a page turner. I’m already lined up for the next book. Very thrilling stories. Recommended!
I’m a sucker for women cops/FBI agents. C R Chandler is one of my favorite authors. Gin is a great agent, personal torment aside. I like her partnership with Trey as well.
This story was well paced and a page turner. I’m already lined up for the next book. Very thrilling stories. Recommended!
April 16, 2025
I typically really enjoy CR Chandler’s books. The only reason I didn’t give this one 5 stars, is that I felt the reason for the ‘bad guy’ doing everything they did wasn’t fully supported. I just guess I wanted more of an explanation or story to support all the effort they put into the crimes. Otherwise, as usual I enjoyed seeing some of the characters from Chandler’s Ricki James series.
July 14, 2025
Just an Excellent Read !!!
I enjoyed this book !! New characters to immerse myself with with different talents and different "backstories" to explore !! And just enough 'clues' to keep me "turning the page" !!
Thanks C.R., you've got me intrigued to discover what is next for Gin !!!
I enjoyed this book !! New characters to immerse myself with with different talents and different "backstories" to explore !! And just enough 'clues' to keep me "turning the page" !!
Thanks C.R., you've got me intrigued to discover what is next for Gin !!!
May 2, 2025
Good reading
Another good start of this series. I never seem to get tired of these FBI series books. As more characters come to life in the main series, its good to read of them in their own series.
Another good start of this series. I never seem to get tired of these FBI series books. As more characters come to life in the main series, its good to read of them in their own series.
November 4, 2024
A survivor of an unimaginable childhood, Gin Reilly is a survivor who has become an FBI Special Agent. This book was a great start to what should be a very compelling series.
November 21, 2024
Exceptional Read
Great storyline with fantastic characters who I've grown to love, new and old. I loved every minute of this book and couldn't put it down.
Great storyline with fantastic characters who I've grown to love, new and old. I loved every minute of this book and couldn't put it down.
March 17, 2025
Well written
I like the unique main character, her practical experience makes her a better Agent. The two main characters compliment each other.
I like the unique main character, her practical experience makes her a better Agent. The two main characters compliment each other.
April 19, 2025
Tutu
I could not put this book down! It is well written and the twists and turns keep you guessing right from the beginning!
I could not put this book down! It is well written and the twists and turns keep you guessing right from the beginning!
November 10, 2025
Good story, needs an editor!
This book suffered from a lot of spelling and grammatical errors. Story line was fine, albeit a little unrealistic and bogged down by random details.
This book suffered from a lot of spelling and grammatical errors. Story line was fine, albeit a little unrealistic and bogged down by random details.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews