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Blood River #3
Undefeatable: A Buck Lawson Mystery
A gripping tale of suspense, mystery, and the unyielding pursuit of justice. The Saga of the Hunter Continues
The quiet little south Georgia town of Mercy is rocked by the brutal murder of one of its most unassuming citizens. Within hours of the discovery of the crime, the remains of another victim are found in the Blood River. And then another. Things like this simply don’t happen in Mercy.
Until they do.Police Chief Buck Lawson is still finding his way around his new hometown and his new job, but he is no stranger to the savagery that appears to be stalking the residents of Mercy once again. The black waters of the Blood River have a reputation as a killing field that goes back centuries, and Buck has seen for himself the kind of predator they attract.While struggling with civil unrest, departmental incompetence, and unintentional interference from state investigators, Buck comes upon a set of twenty-year-old crimes that suggest a pattern. Has the same killer returned to Mercy now? And has he done so many, many times in the past? Buck Lawson races against time to catch a killer and protect the town he has come to call home from the shadows that lurk beneath its surface. As the hunter becomes the hunted, the line between predator and prey blurs, leading to a desperate confrontation in which only the most determined will survive.
The quiet little south Georgia town of Mercy is rocked by the brutal murder of one of its most unassuming citizens. Within hours of the discovery of the crime, the remains of another victim are found in the Blood River. And then another. Things like this simply don’t happen in Mercy.
Until they do.Police Chief Buck Lawson is still finding his way around his new hometown and his new job, but he is no stranger to the savagery that appears to be stalking the residents of Mercy once again. The black waters of the Blood River have a reputation as a killing field that goes back centuries, and Buck has seen for himself the kind of predator they attract.While struggling with civil unrest, departmental incompetence, and unintentional interference from state investigators, Buck comes upon a set of twenty-year-old crimes that suggest a pattern. Has the same killer returned to Mercy now? And has he done so many, many times in the past? Buck Lawson races against time to catch a killer and protect the town he has come to call home from the shadows that lurk beneath its surface. As the hunter becomes the hunted, the line between predator and prey blurs, leading to a desperate confrontation in which only the most determined will survive.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2025
70 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 3, 2025
In spite of his weaknesses, I have long been a Buck Lawson fan, so I was delighted when author Donna Ball brought out The Blook River series. The newest book, Undefeatable, is not only an excellent novel that a can be read as a standalone, it brings us history of characters outside of Buck's family that allows me to become more attached than ever. I love that Buck has rejected his old weak ways and stands even taller in his personal strengths. The moments with his family are highlights, but his professional growth and intelligence shine. He is all the best of the guy we all loved and that includes a mind that sees what few see. The murders reveal a more about the community than they do the murder which makes it difficult to find the clues needed to discover who is behind the killings. I loved it!!!
April 5, 2025
I started reading this author Donna Ball with the Raine Stockton series; I was hooked from the start. This series with Buck Lawson is excellent as well. The segue from the Stockton series to this was well done, smoothly, and immersing the reader into a different setting with familiar characters lurking at the edges with new ones populating the Blood River series. To put it mildly, this series is as addictive as the former and I cannot wait for the next book in the series, even though I have no choice but to wait!
April 11, 2025
Donna Ball is Undefeatable as a romance suspense author!
I have never been a fan of Buck Lawson, the main character of Donna Ball's third book in The Blood River series. However, I am a die-hard fan of Donna Ball. So, I reluctantly started her Blood River series and was pleasantly surprised when by the time Undefeatable hit my Kindle, I had grown fond of Buck's character transformation! Buck Lawson is the perfect example of a flawed hero! He had numerous weaknesses in his personality back home in the mountains of North Carolina. Yet, when he moves his new family to a small town in Georgia, his character undergoes a significant transformation! In Undefeatable, Buck's strength of character and insatiable need for justice is a welcome sight.
The town has seen its fair share of corruption. Undefeatable further delineates the town's secrets and reveals the history of many of the support characters. While Buck begins to understand why certain people act the way they do, he still has to serve and protect the people from evil. Donna Ball does a brilliant job of exploring how life events can send a person down different paths. Buck struggles with what he knows to be true versus what he can prove is true. The juxtaposition between these differing outlooks, a series of grizzly murders, and attacks on law enforcement creates a suspenseful tale that will keep you on edge throughout the book. A series of twists and turns that demonstrate Donna Ball's incredible storyteller talent leads to a surprise ending you will never see coming!
Undefeatable is a thriller mystery you won't want to miss!
I have never been a fan of Buck Lawson, the main character of Donna Ball's third book in The Blood River series. However, I am a die-hard fan of Donna Ball. So, I reluctantly started her Blood River series and was pleasantly surprised when by the time Undefeatable hit my Kindle, I had grown fond of Buck's character transformation! Buck Lawson is the perfect example of a flawed hero! He had numerous weaknesses in his personality back home in the mountains of North Carolina. Yet, when he moves his new family to a small town in Georgia, his character undergoes a significant transformation! In Undefeatable, Buck's strength of character and insatiable need for justice is a welcome sight.
The town has seen its fair share of corruption. Undefeatable further delineates the town's secrets and reveals the history of many of the support characters. While Buck begins to understand why certain people act the way they do, he still has to serve and protect the people from evil. Donna Ball does a brilliant job of exploring how life events can send a person down different paths. Buck struggles with what he knows to be true versus what he can prove is true. The juxtaposition between these differing outlooks, a series of grizzly murders, and attacks on law enforcement creates a suspenseful tale that will keep you on edge throughout the book. A series of twists and turns that demonstrate Donna Ball's incredible storyteller talent leads to a surprise ending you will never see coming!
Undefeatable is a thriller mystery you won't want to miss!
May 22, 2025
Excellent series.
Buck Lawson has grown so much since his earlier days back in North Carolina. He's now police chief in Mercy, Georgia. He's very happily married to the strong and resiliant Jolene, has a stepson who is very precious to him, and a mother in law who is a saint. His life would be so wonderful and peaceful if not for the murders that have happened and are still happening in Mercy and the gator-filled Blood River that flows nearby. I really like Buck. He's a great, well-fleshed-out character. I love the relationships he has with Jolene, Caleb, his mother in law, and even their Goldendoodle. When reading about Buck's everyday actions, it's almost like you're following along with him as he does his job. I really like this series. Even the "touch" of paranormal when he talks to Billy. Is it real or a dream? And we find out that he's not the only one Billy visits. That was a surprise, especially considering who it is. I hope this series stays fresh and enjoyable to read. I'd like to keep anticipating every new book. Like I do now.
Buck Lawson has grown so much since his earlier days back in North Carolina. He's now police chief in Mercy, Georgia. He's very happily married to the strong and resiliant Jolene, has a stepson who is very precious to him, and a mother in law who is a saint. His life would be so wonderful and peaceful if not for the murders that have happened and are still happening in Mercy and the gator-filled Blood River that flows nearby. I really like Buck. He's a great, well-fleshed-out character. I love the relationships he has with Jolene, Caleb, his mother in law, and even their Goldendoodle. When reading about Buck's everyday actions, it's almost like you're following along with him as he does his job. I really like this series. Even the "touch" of paranormal when he talks to Billy. Is it real or a dream? And we find out that he's not the only one Billy visits. That was a surprise, especially considering who it is. I hope this series stays fresh and enjoyable to read. I'd like to keep anticipating every new book. Like I do now.
May 27, 2025
Donna Ball has created a gritty, dark setting for this series. Mercy, Georgia is a town full of corruption, deceit, and more than a touch of evil.
Buck Lawson and family are a world away from the lush, green woods of the Smokies. The recurrent theme is can he not only survive, but conquer the dark shadows and secrets of his new home town?
I enjoy Ball’s use of the previous police chief as Buck’s ethereal muse.
I wasn’t a fan of a story spreading across three separate book series, but the first two can be read as standalone. (I haven’t read the last installment.)
I have never been a fan of noir literature, but I love this series.
Buck Lawson and family are a world away from the lush, green woods of the Smokies. The recurrent theme is can he not only survive, but conquer the dark shadows and secrets of his new home town?
I enjoy Ball’s use of the previous police chief as Buck’s ethereal muse.
I wasn’t a fan of a story spreading across three separate book series, but the first two can be read as standalone. (I haven’t read the last installment.)
I have never been a fan of noir literature, but I love this series.
April 19, 2025
a very twisting tale
The end was terribly disturbing. More to come on that little piece of information I’m sure!
Love the dialogue between Buck and Billy. These are my favorite pats of each book.
Roland is smart and he can only be thought of as that.
The end was terribly disturbing. More to come on that little piece of information I’m sure!
Love the dialogue between Buck and Billy. These are my favorite pats of each book.
Roland is smart and he can only be thought of as that.
April 17, 2025
Great read
I love Donna Ball's books so glad Buck has his own series and look forward to next one. I highly recommend this series as well as others by this author.
I love Donna Ball's books so glad Buck has his own series and look forward to next one. I highly recommend this series as well as others by this author.
April 21, 2025
Five stars up until the end. Unsatisfying ending. 4.5 stars
September 4, 2025
I don't get the ending. There were two murderers? Can someone explain?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews