Outside The Room

Isla Rivers #1

by Blake Pierce

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.”
—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

FBI Agent Isla Rivers, transferred to the icy shores of Lake Superior in Minnesota, must hunt down a killer more diabolical than any she's known, and outsmart his mind games—if she is to free the next victim in time….

When a series of victims are discovered encased in ice-packed crates, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues for Isla Rivers. As she delves deeper, she finds a sinister link to past drownings that defies the pattern—unraveling a dark history that threatens to swallow her whole….

OUTSIDE THE ROOM is the first book in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 7,000 five star ratings and reviews.

The Isla Rivers series is a riveting mystery series brimming with suspenseful cat-and-mouse dynamics and unexpected turns that will send shivers down your spine. Its enthralling female lead will capture your affections and keep you engrossed in the pages long after you turn out the lights. Fans of Lisa Regan, Lee Child, and Mary Burton are sure to fall in love.

Future books in the series are also available!

“An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Suspense, Ebooks, Crime

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2025

About the author

Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to a recording of this book while on a trip. I found the "proper English accent" absolutely incongruous to this story. It was continually distracting and took so much away from the tension and confrontation that were part of this story. I felt like I should be in an English garden surrounded by old ladies in flowered hats rather than on a rough, noisy port in Deluth.
What a terrible injustice to the author who wrote a very interesting story. I will READ her next book. And I will NEVER listen to this narrator again unless I'm reading Downton Abbey!

[Sandra Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book kept my attention overall. Blake Pierce use of description keeps the reader invested during action scenes, but all other scenes and the narrative brought on boredom. Alas, it seemed to repeat itself on several occasions as well.

The ending was different and offers a lead way into Blake Pierce next book.

[Ben Arthur · Rating 1 out of 5]

Anonymous, Impersonal, emotionless and just generally uninteresting. This book reads like it was written by AI and a little sleuthing goes to confirm that it was. The dialogue was too perfectly formed and totally unemotional. The characters were not relatable and clinical. The storyline was swift but unmoving.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am questioning if this is ai? No single author can produce this many books. I will not be reading more until I know more about this author.

[Angelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the story a bit less interesting than I had hoped, although I did enjoy it. My only real problem with the audiobook is the FBI agent in northern USA has a strong British accent which I found bothering.

[Kay Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing. And why a British accented reader on the audio book…very distracting.

[Sharon Leff · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Miami, FLA to Duluth, Minnesota…

Brrr. Poor Isla Rivers accepts her transfer from Miami to Duluth carrying oppressive weight of guilt. Despite her prior successes, her only focus consumes her, an overlooked or missed detail, that cost a life.

With little time to adjust to harsh weather extremes from her prior arena to her present wintry outpost, a murder on a cargo container ship has all hands on deck, frosty, icy decks and gloved hands. What readers learn, as does Isla, is the locational significance of Duluth, its volumes of cargo and port engagements, its profitability and its necessity to economy and national welfare.

Fast-paced, logical, and effective, this Island Rivers book one prepares readers for a book 2. Well done.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outside The Room - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

A new FBI leading lady for Blake Pierce, Agent Isla Rivers is reassigned to the Great Lakes office and works with Bureau veteran Agent Sullivan on the strange death of a port inspector.

As the body-count rises Isla risks her life to uncover the truth, as danger comes ever closer.
Will Sullivan be in time to save her from a ruthless killer?

Get Blake Pierce's Outside The Room for the answers to a murder-mystery that's far from over!

[Elizabeth Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got the first three books in audio for $2. So even though this is completely out of my comfort zone I decided to give it a try.
It’s like listening to criminal minds, which is one of my favorite tv shows.
Isla was annoying for most of the book. The self loathing was killing me. But she finally bucked up and got her head right.
And the nickname for the killer was not catchy at all 🙃
That cliffhanger has me intrigued on what’s going to happen next.

[Jessica Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve usually enjoyed the books from this author but this one didn’t really conclude anything. I get that it’s a series, it’s left a semi cliff hanger but not one I’m bursting to find out. It’s was a stop gap when I needed a break from my current book, not one I’ll be rushing back to finish. Nothing massive happened in this book, just another book going around in circles, haven’t had much luck lately

[Victoria Skye Better · Rating 5 out of 5]

One will say simple but a compelling story that keeps you guessing and turning pages. The ending ties things up while leaving just enough to make you excited for the next book in the series.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great story but ending without closure

I couldn't wait for the end to find the identity of the mastermind having people killed in Duluth. Well written but no clue as to the person responsible for all of the chaos. Story stopped without ending much to my disappointment.

[Poppy Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so shit. Outside the room??? What room??? There was no room??? Why was every paragraph talking about how big the lake was or how she pulled her coat tight around her. To be honest the start had potential I thought it could be going somewhere but spoiler, it doesn’t.

[Avid · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars ... 3 stars is pushing it.

It was one of those books I kept waiting and wanting to feel excited, but it just never happened. The timing was off. The story didn't was poorly developed and went from not knowing what was happening to being solved.

The last few books by Blake are a hit or miss. This was not one of the better ones. I'd suggest picking a different one.

[Cidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isla Rivers is an FBI agent working in Miami who loses the plot a bit on a case she is working and the young woman she is protecting ends up dead. She is then transferred to the other end of the country to work for the FBI in Duluth, Minnesotta, and immediately finds herself with a new partner James Sullivan, and they are called out to look for a missing company employee who worked for the shipping company and had been helping them on an investigation to the differing payloads of container ships leaving the port who had been thought to be drug trafficking or girl trafficking.

They find a shipping container with a non-standard lock and in there lies the body of the man helping the authorities, frozen in ice on the floor of the container. From here they discover the movements of many ships but most of them belong to a guy called Nash, and even more bodies and Isla risks her life by taking a ridiculous leap from the coastguard ship onto the deck of the ship they are chasing. I did like the pairing of these two agents and am looking forward to seeking out some more books about them.

[RONI FIELDS-OWEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Outside the Room,” a crime fiction, mystery, and suspense novel by Blake Pierce, will captivate you from the very first page. The protagonist, FBI Agent Isla Rivers, is relentlessly pursuing a killer who delights in drowning his victims before encasing them in an icy crate.

Blake Pierce is an author I hold in high regard. His ability to paint vivid and intricate descriptions while leaving readers on the edge of their seats is truly remarkable.

One of Pierce’s strengths lies in his knack for revealing the culprit, often in unexpected ways. The twist in this book was particularly satisfying, as it challenged my assumptions and kept me guessing until the very end.

The narrator, Vicki-Jo Eva, is an exceptional talent in this book. Her skill in portraying diverse characters is truly impressive. At times, I found myself questioning whether there were multiple individuals behind these characters, but Eva’s portrayal made it clear that she was the sole creator of these intriguing personas.

I eagerly anticipate reading the other books in this series. Blake Pierce has undoubtedly captured my attention, and I can’t wait to delve deeper into his captivating world.

#imronigirl

[Denise Zendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

FBI Agent Isla Rivers gets transferred to the icy shores of Lake Superior in Minnesota, from Miami, Florida as punishment for a case gone horribly wrong. “Duluth might be a frozen wasteland compared to Miami’s tropical heat, but it offered something Miami no longer could – a chance at redemption.” A series of victims are discovered in ice-packed shipping crates and Rivers must play cat and mouse with a killer who may be out of her league.

This is the first in a series by a prolific author who writes a lot of strong female characters. I’m impressed with how the author makes these characters all distinct individuals with flaws and strengths, and at the diversity of the plots. Rivers is a likeable character, one with flaws and an amazing drive to find the truth and bring justice to the victims. This book did exactly what I hoped, which was to keep me engaged while I was on the treadmill or the elliptical. It made exercise time fly by and kept me entertained as well. I will read more in this series

[Maryann Hornbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could Have Been Better

Ilsa, an FBI Agent is transferred from Miami to the largest shipping port at Lake Superior. Her last case didn’t go as she expected and she now has to adapt to many changes. The biggest change is the freezing weather and unrelenting wind and snow.

Her internal shame plays a big part in how she reacts to the case that becomes almost impossible to solve. Million of dollars and goods are being smuggled in and out and she and her new partner must ferret out the culprits.

As they begin to get a handle on how it’s being done, People are murdered and end up frozen in a huge shipping containers. It takes her instincts to work through the who and how it’s done.

There is a lot of description and not much dialog, which I found boring. But that’s just my opinion. I really did not like the ending. I can’t explain why, without spoiling it for others. But I didn’t like it.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isla has been reasigned to the Duluth FBI office after a case gone wrong in Miami and where her life fell into pieces. In her first day at work she is assigned a partner and a case, a man was found dead inside a container in the port. The victim was a customs inspector and was killed because he found something that he shouldn't have. Isla will surpass her insecurities and devote all her time to the case and to reading the scene and believing her instincts, what she'll uncover together with Sullivan (her partner) is an extensive network to allow merchandise to go through customs without paying dues and without proper documentation that goes high on the hierarchy of the port. Outside the Room is entertaining and easy-to-read.
I thank Ms. Pierce for this ARC.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the Spotify audiobook and it was simple to follow the story so I enjoyed that. I’ve finished it and I’m not 100% what happened and apparently there aren’t any spoilers on line.

I get someone tried framing the wrong guy, but then I think our protagonist was attacked by the real guy and was able to arrest him with the help of her partner. Then he admitted that the main ceo guy they interviewed was behind it all? I’m just not even totally sure. They kept focusing on the shipments having different weight, but I really don’t know why that wad important.

Was a quick listen though.

Someone please help me with answers lol

[Tara M Faria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 6 in this series popped up as something I might want to read. Book 1 was free on Kindle, so I decided to start at the beginning to see if I would move forward with the series. It's a solid 3.5 stars, bump up to 4 because it is set in my hometown Duluth, MN. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Lake Superior and the shipping port. I could visualize everything, and I feel it really added to the book for me with a touch of nostalgia. Also, the descriptions of December weather in Duluth are spot on. The storyline was good and kept me engaged. I feel, as others commented, that we get Isla screwed up in Miami. It didn't necessarily need continuous repeat.

[Cecilia Mora Jimenez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure wether to give this 3 stars or 4. Imma be generous and put 4 because I did enjoy the story more than not. I really like Isla's character, she has a great personality. I didn't enjoy the cliffhanger that much. I am used to reading books with cliffhangers and I generally enjoy them, but this book left more unanswered questions than anything else. I listened to the audiobook on Spotify, I really enjoyed how expressive the narrator is. I didn't hate the book, I actually enjoyed a good chunk of it, so I will try and reread it but this time on my kindle before I move on to the second book in the series.

[Sparkle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Outside the Room..... WHAT room? What does that even mean? The title and book cover have nothing to do with the book.
This book started out okay, but quickly went downhill. The conclusion on the investigation was just strange. I was so confused, I thought Isla was investigating on her own because she didn't believe the guy was guilty....but then suddenly she's saying that it made sense that he was guilty... and who the heck was the guy who attacked her? Wow. I will not continue this series. I think AI might have written it in two separate writing sessions or something. The ending did not fit with the beginning, it was just a really bad book. No thanks.

[Shelda Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

COULD NOT STOP READING!

Absolutely wonderful book, scary, and exciting edge of your seat thriller. you’ll never get the ending and now I want to read the second book. Just a good book with good characters and not full of horrible language and immoral activities. Just a good mystery book with wonderful characters and an ending that will make you so mad you’ll buy the next one. Loved it absolutely recommend you start this series as I have with lots of his books. They are all very good.

[Ornella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Casualmente incappata in questo romanzo.... dopo un anno circa senza leggere thriller/gialli mi sembra il momento di tornare alle origini. Ma diciamo che, se sa un lato l'ho trovato piacevole e scorrevole (letto in 24h), dall'altro scontato.....niente suspance che mi permettesse di indovinare chi era il colpevole. però il libro finisce con finale aperto ...quindi mi devo aspettare sorprese nel prossimo volume?

[CandyHarbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isla is a great female lead!

This book is a great opener to the series that will follow after. The crimes committed, the clues that lead to the crimes, in the path to solve the crimes keep you thinking and make you wonder if they actually have the right person.

I’m looking forward to reading book 2. I may try listening to it on audio instead for a change. It’s nice to have the choice to do so.

[David Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Repetitive

Yet another novel I could not enjoy as much as I desired. Parts of the storyline and many of the characters were interesting enough to draw me, the reader, in. However, then I would turn the page and there I was, confronted with another description of the mighty Lake Superior. The same sort of repetition seemed to follow a number of aspects that made up a core of this book. Lastly, a few of the evident facts were reversed here and there . . .

[Nicole Cleaveland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was recommended this book after reading Undone. That one was excellent so I had high hopes for this. Unfortunately Outside The Room was very disappointing. It was repetitive and was lacking things to keep my attention. It almost became a dnf. I pushed thru but with the ending falling flat and just being blah I should have stopped at the half way point. 4 Stars only because of it being set in Duluth during Winter.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good, steady thriller that kept me interested from start to finish. The premise hooked me quickly, and once the mystery began to unfold, I wanted to see how it would all connect.

Isla Rivers is a strong lead with enough depth to make me curious about where her character will go next. The tension builds at a nice pace, and while it did not completely blow me away, it definitely held my attention. I found myself wanting just one more chapter more than once.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story because it is set in Duluth, MN, and I am a MN native. I didn’t enjoy the British accent of the narrator, however. It didn’t make sense at all. Also I did some research and found there is no actual Blake Pierce. That name is either a group of ghostwriters or most likely AI. Such a disappointment. I guess it’s a sign of our times that we need to research whether an author is an actual human before reading a book.