The Crimson Knot: An FBI Agent Daisy Adams Thriller

by Nadija Mujagic

It’s 1992.

Agent Adams is handed another missing persons case—this time, it’s Julia Monroe, a twenty-four-year-old Harvard graduate who had only just returned to her family’s Bethesda home.

Julia vanishes without a trace. No signs of forced entry. No goodbye note. Just an empty bedroom and a family unraveling by the hour. The deeper Adams digs, the stranger the story becomes. Julia’s mother is more irritated than distraught. Her brother recalls a gardener with a too-slick smile. And the timeline doesn’t add up—Julia was last seen walking in the opposite direction of where she said she was going.

Then, a quiet discovery upends the entire investigation.

A single clue leads Agent Adams to a chilling Julia’s disappearance occurred less than ten miles from the former home of Charlotte Mercer, a child who vanished without explanation six years earlier.

Coincidence—or something much darker?

Based on true events.

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2025

About the author

Nadija has written several psychological thrillers and a memoir series. In her spare time, she enjoys playing sports and electric bass guitar.

Reviews

[Carly Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

FBI Agent Daisy Adams is back on the case in The Crimson Knot, and things are getting even darker. What looks like an accidental death unravels into something far more disturbing, and Daisy soon realizes she’s chasing a killer with a chilling pattern. As the body count rises and the pressure builds, Daisy finds herself caught in a high-stakes race that tests her instincts, her limits, and her trust. This is a fictional story inspired by real events, and it shows.

Okay, I was hooked. I devoured The Crimson Knot in half a day because I couldn’t stop reading. You know how sometimes a sequel feels like filler? Not this one. It’s the perfect follow-up to The First Thread and somehow manages to crank up the intensity even more.

Daisy Adams is one of those characters who stays with you. She’s smart, she’s determined, and in this book, she’s also starting to feel the emotional toll of the cases she's working. The danger feels more personal this time. I was fully invested.

The pacing? Nonstop. The twists? On point. And just when I thought I had a handle on what was happening, the ending hit me. I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say… cliffhanger. A serious one. I don’t always love cliffhangers, but this one had me immediately wishing for book three because I had to know what happened next.

If you’re into psychological thrillers with a true crime edge and complex female leads, you’re going to love this series. Nadija Mujagic delivers tension and emotion without ever feeling overdone. It’s dark and gritty but still human.

The Vibes It Brings:
🧠 Psychological intensity
🕵️‍♀️ Female-led FBI investigation
🧩 Clues you’ll try to solve before Daisy does
💥 High-stakes tension
🫣 Unpredictable twists
🔪 Inspired by real crime
📚 One-sit read energy
🧵 Cliffhanger that’ll drive you wild

The Crimson Knot delivers exactly what I want in a thriller: smart writing, nonstop suspense, and a lead character I’m totally rooting for. I’m already begging for book three, because I can’t stand the suspense. If you haven’t started the Daisy Adams series yet, go get The First Thread now and prepare to binge. Thank you to Nadija Mujagic for the copy of The Crimson Knot. These opinions are my own.

[Jessica Sorensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, but this one took it to another level. I absolutely loved it. I'm excited to start the third book. I love this author's writing style.

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crimson Knot by Nadija Mujagic is a tense and twisty psychological thriller that will leave you hanging off the edge of your seat! This is the second book in the FBI agent Daisy Adams trilogy and is based on true events.

Six years after little Charlotte Mercer went missing, FBI agent Daisy Adams is back on another case. Agent Adams and her partner Kirby are called in to investigate the disappearance of Julia Monroe, a 24 year old Harvard graduate who was staying with her mother Priscilla. As Agent Adams digs deeper into Julia's disappearance, she realizes that there is a connection between this case and the Charlotte Mercer case years before. With no leads on where Julia went or even if she is still alive, Agent Adams begins to uncover secrets, chilling connections and more questions than answers.

Sometimes with sequels, you are left unsatisfied and disappointed, but I can safely say that is not the case with The Crimson Knot! From the beginning, The Crimson Knot cranks up the intensity from the first book and continues to ramp up the tension throughout! The characters are fully developed and our protagonist Daisy continues to be a compelling lead. The pace of this book is steady but never rushed. I really loved the way Nadija masterfully blends gripping and chilling thriller with intense emotional depth. Overall I definitely recommend The Crimson Knot for fans of multilayered, complex plots! The fact that it is based on true events is exactly what my true crime loving soul needed!!

Thank you so much Nadija for letting me be a part of your team!! Absolutely can't wait for the third book!! Publication date is June 2nd 2025.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crimson Knot by Nadija Mujagic
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I can’t say enough about this amazingly gut wrenching and soul crushing crime thriller! It’s fantastic!! I was at the edge of my seat the entire book!
Holy crap is this story intense!!
I thought book 1, The First Thread, was deep, and it’s astonishing to me that book 2 is able to continue with such an extremely high level of intensity within this storyline also!

In this book, Agent Daisy Adams is back with her partner Kirby trying to solve a new missing person report. This story takes place 6 years after the disappearance of a young girl Charlotte, from book 1.
Now, the FBI agents are trying to figure out what has happened to a missing young lady, Julia. This case
is bringing up memories of the past case with the missing little girl. Agent Adams refuses to give up without answers!

This book is super fast paced, as the suspense never seems to fade.
The feelings and emotions invoked in me from reading this story are so strong, and the depth in the author’s writing can be felt in my soul!

This is book 2 in the trilogy:
Book 1. The First Thread
Book 2. The Crimson Knot
Book 3. The Final Stitch

Thank you to Nadija Mujagic for allowing me to be an alpha reader for this super intense and easily one of top books that I’ve read!

All 3 books are inspired by true events, taking place in the 80’s/90’s, which blows my mind!!

🪢 This book comes out June 13th!! A definite must read! Start with book 1 to tie it all together!! 🪢

“I missed the thread that could’ve unraveled everything.”
(I love this quote from the book)

[Monica Mil-Homens · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Book Review – "The First Thread" #2 ✨
📖 ARC Review – No Spoilers

The long-awaited sequel to The First Thread is EVERYTHING I hoped for—and more! This trilogy is quickly becoming one of my top reads of the year. 💥

We’re back with Agent Daisy Adams, now in the 90s, facing a new disappearance—Julia, a young adult whose case reopens old wounds and brings the past crashing into the present. The tension, the emotions, the dark secrets... it’s all here and done masterfully.

Characters from the first book are explored more deeply, and the raw cruelty of the crimes hits hard. With her daughter Lila now a teenager, Daisy feels the pressure to solve this case fast—before hope runs out. ⏳

Another family devastated, two agents racing against time, and a haunting mystery begging to be solved. Will the truth finally come to light?

🔥 I highly recommend this book if you love thrillers that grip you from page one.
🙏 Huge thanks to the author for letting me be part of this amazing ARC team!

@bibliotecamil_insta

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE CRIMSON KNOT BY NADIJA MUJAGIC.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
Based on a true story.
This is book 2 out of 3.
The first book THE FIRST THREAD is out now and also on kindle unlimited
I loved book 1 so much that I dived straight into this book as soon as it landed on my kindle.
I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book.
These are amazing crime thriller books that are a MUST READ.
I really can't wait for book 3 to be released in August.
I adore nadijas writing style and she always leaves me wanting the next book out like NOW .
Amazing.
I highly recommend this book.

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

rounding up from 4.5 stars

The first book was a great introduction, but it seemed as if the reader now knew who the killer is and is just waiting to see how they got caught, but no. There is so much more in store and we learn who the 3 brothers are from book one. Book #1 got me interested, but The Crimson Knot has me hooked! I can't wait to read the third and final book!

[Melissa R · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Book 2 of 3
(FBI Agent Daisy Adams Thriller)

🤯🤯🤯 This book was INTENSE!!!! I’m still shocked this is based on true events.

A fast past suspense thriller. I was invested from chapter one and needing more. I absolutely love a “just one more chapter” read. This story was dark, but in all the good ways.

Definitely looking forward to reading book 3 (The Final Stitch) and seeing how this guy wrenching series ends.

The Crimson Knot is available June 2nd

Thank you Nadija Mujagic for giving me the opportunity to receive a ARC copy. I was so excited to be selected for this opportunity.

[Elaine Rainbolt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book. I can't wait for part 3. During this book I've picked up different hints so I'm waiting to see if I am right. This book goes into more details about different things. This book leaves your mind twisted wondering if it's this person or someone else.

[JD Setzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again! Absolutely amazing and beautiful written!highly recommend

[Evie Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Book Blogging Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nadija Mujagić delivers another standout entry in the Daisy Adams series with The Crimson Knot—gripping, smart, and impossible to put down. From the very first page, The Crimson Knot grabs hold and pulls you into a chilling mystery that only gets deeper and darker. Mujagić has crafted a masterfully written thriller that balances psychological suspense, procedural intrigue, and just enough emotional depth to keep you fully invested from beginning to end.

Set in 1992, the story follows FBI Agent Daisy Adams as she investigates the mysterious disappearance of Julia Monroe, a seemingly well-adjusted Harvard grad who vanishes without warning shortly after returning home. What starts as a routine missing persons case quickly turns into something far more complex and sinister.  And when the case starts to echo the unsolved disappearance of a child from years earlier… things get chilling fast.

Daisy Adams continues to be such a compelling lead. She's smart, driven, and refreshingly human—confident in her instincts but not immune to doubt or missteps, which makes her feel incredibly real. Watching her untangle the clues—especially as they connect to a cold case from years earlier—was both satisfying and chilling.

The pacing is just right: never too slow, never rushed. Each chapter reveals just enough to keep you guessing but never overwhelming you with too much at once.Mujagić drops just enough hints along the way to keep you guessing without ever feeling predictable. The dialogue is believable, the secondary characters are memorable, and the 1990s setting adds a subtle, nostalgic edge that works really well for the story.

If you're a fan of well-crafted FBI thrillers with strong female leads and complex plots, this series needs to be on your radar. The Crimson Knot raises the stakes from book one, and I can’t wait to see where Daisy Adams goes next.

Highly recommended for fans of crime fiction, psychological suspense, and page-turning mysteries!

[VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so The Crimson Knot grabbed me by the collar and yanked me straight into 1992 Bethesda, and I swear, I could smell the rain-soaked pavement and feel the tension in every single page. Nadija Mujagic’s writing? Vivid like a movie reel in my head—sharp, immersive, and sneaky-good at making me think I was Agent Adams (minus the badge and trauma).

This isn’t your average missing persons case. Julia Monroe—a Harvard grad with secrets of her own—vanishes without a trace. And the deeper Agent Adams digs, the weirder it gets. Offbeat family vibes, a suspiciously charming gardener, and a timeline that screams something’s not right. And just when you think you’ve figured it out? Nope. Mujagic drops a clue that connects Julia to a creepy cold case and—bam!—you’re off to the races again.

The pacing is on point—zero lulls, all plot. And the character development? Chef’s kiss. These people felt real. Like, I could bump into Julia’s mom at the grocery store and instantly avoid eye contact because… yikes. And Agent Adams? The perfect mix of jaded and driven, and someone I’d 100% follow into another case.

Based on true events, this story doesn’t just unravel—it unspools like a haunting, beautiful crime documentary with heart. This is book 2 in the Daisy Adams FBI Thriller Series. Book one, The Final Thread is available now. Book three The Final Stitch is scheduled for release on August 1st. Absolutely recommend for fans of layered mysteries, sharp writing, and books that feel like they’re watching you back.

[Susan Belman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy crap, this book is intense—in the best way. I thought the 1st book, “The First Thread” was already a heavy, emotional ride, but “The Crimson Knot” somehow takes it even further. It’s honestly wild how the intensity holds steady without ever feeling overdone. The fact that this series is inspired by true events from the '80s and '90s just makes everything hit even harder.

The pacing is exactly what I love in a thriller—not too fast, not too slow. Each chapter gives you just enough to keep turning pages without dumping too much on you at once. There are great little clues and twists that keep you guessing, but it never feels predictable. The way the story weaves together past and present is so well done, and the emotional punches land hard. I flew through the last half and now I need book 3. Like, now.

If you're into dark, emotional thrillers that keep you on your toes (and make you feel a lot along the way), definitely pick this one up.

[Patricia Corbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crimson Knot by Nadija Mujagic is the second book in a true crime thriller trilogy and is another 5 🌟 masterpiece! (Seriously, that’s all she writes!) I received this as an ARC and am sooo excited for “The Final Stitch” (the third and final book in the trilogy). We continue our story with FBI agent Daisy Adams while she is working on a new case in 1992 (6 years after the events of book one). Sharper than ever, but with more on the line this time, Daisy is able to give me answers to some of my burning questions from book one, but we also discover even more secrets. The details in this book are even intense than the previous one, but that left me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Thank you so much Nadija for this copy! I cannot wait to get my hands on The Final Stitch and see how everything is pieced together in the end!

[Danielle Lundquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Wow is all I have to say. This is the second book in the Agent Daisy Adams series. I was hooked from the first page! Julia Monroe is the daughter of a woman named Priscilla, who is church going and meets a friend that helps her and does her gardening because she no longer has time for it and he could use the money, so it works for both of them. Julia graduates from college and comes home, so she figure out what she wants to do with life. She takes a temporary position for now.

Julia immediately notices out the window that someone is stating at her. Turns out to be Priscilla’s friend, the gardener. Priscilla told Julia not to worry about him, because he’s harmless. Julia gives her mother the ultimatum that either she fires him, or she is leaving. Priscilla decides to fire the gardener that gives Julia weird vibes.

Now Julia is missing…..

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Daisy Adam's Series was fantastic. Followed on beautifully from The First Thread, giving me some answers I needed. Loved Dee's Character, she's real, vulnerable and deep. Nadija has a talent for making me FEEL the character's - like I know them personally. The writing flows dramatically through the many plot twists to leave you wanting to keep turning those pages until your eyes glaze over (yes, mine did). The multiple POV's were exciting and left you forming your own theories along the way. I CANNOT WAIT for The Final Stitch, I can't seem to get into another book with the same eagerness, plus, I have zero patience. Thanks Nadija, you rock

[Elisa Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second part in a true event-based series, and let me just say… I am completely hooked!! Each book pulls me in deeper, and I honestly can’t get enough of it. It’s hard to write a review without spoiling anything, but trust me when I say the author did a phenomenal job developing this story. This is the fifth book I’ve read by this author, and each one just keeps getting better.

Little note to the author: I am beyond excited for the third book in this series!! I already know it’s going to blow me away!

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was waiting for part two of this series and I was so not disappointed! I loved this one even more than I did the first one! I love the different points of view. The characters are well developed and the tension is felt throughout the story. It gets dark and gritty and just knowing that it’s based on a true story makes it that much darker. I definitely recommend reading book one, The First Thread, first because well it was really good and secondly it helps better understand what's happening in the story. I can't wait for book three!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crimson Knot by Nadija

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
An absolutely breath-taking second installment, this book will keep you up all night just to finish it!!

Julia moves back home with her mother Priscilla, but gets the creeps from her mother’s gardener. She asks her mother to get rid of him because of the way he makes her feel. A few days later, Julia goes missing.

Daisy Adam’s is back on the case when Julia goes missing. She finds links between her and Charlotte’s disappearance, leading her to further down a rabbit hole.

[Bookdragon_Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agent Adams left us in Book 1, not being able to solve what happened to the missing girl. She just completely disappeared without a trace. This case has always bothered her. Well, it's now a few years later, and this time a woman has gone missing. Vanished into thin air. This brings back the missing girl case that's still unsolved. Agent Adams has all but exhausted everything she can think of when the mother of the missing woman notices a vital clue that finally jumpstarts this case. With a suspect now in custody, a missing woman's body found, that leaves one lingering question: where is the little girl? But the suspect isn't talking, to anyone but Jesus, that is. This story is just so riveting and intense. Once you start, you do not want to put the book down. This is not a series to miss out on!

[Rogère Buivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is the second book of the FBI Agent Daisy Adams series !
It was really good, it still follows the same real crime but it takes place at another time that the first book.
That time we are in really deep and as we read, we realize a lot of things that make sense and tie to the first book.
This was again a fast read but a solid one!
Excited to read the third and last one !

[Sarah * Between the Lines Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following book one, The First Thread, The Crimson Knot was phenomenal. This series is based on true events, and that alone kept me intrigued, I didn't want to put this down.
And yes, this is part of a series, however, Nadija does a great job keeping it as a series, yet, not having to read the first book first in my opinion, but DEFINITELY recommend reading it anyways!
I am definitely looking forward to book 3!

[Denise Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 1992 and Julia is a 24 year old, just home from college. She suddenly goes missing and Agent Adams gets the case. I love following Agent Adams as she pushes through, determined to find Julia, and find out what happened to her. This is an amazing book two which follows book one, The First Thread. Filled with the determination of a dedicated detective, you won’t be able to put this down!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crimson Knot is a chilling and gripping thriller with a smart, strong female lead and a twisty plot that keeps you hooked. It builds on the first book in all the right ways, raising the stakes and deepening the mystery. Based on true events, it’s a must-read for fans of dark, suspenseful thrillers and crime fiction!

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star read by Nadija Mujagic! She definitely knows how to write thrillers! Agent Adams on the case again looking for a missing 24 year old college student that just returned home to figure out her next steps in life. Her mom arrives back home from a work trip and her daughter is nowhere to be found. Where could she be? Start reading the trilogy today! You will not be disappointed!

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, finally I was able to read the ARC of the second book of the series, and damn, it was a wild ride!

Again, I was hooked from the first page, and this book surely stole some of my sleep again because I just HAD to finish it before being able to rest. I just love Daisy Adams and how she is always determined to just not give up!

Again, I am usually not so much into crime thrillers, but this one? A must read! That it is based on true events only made it more chilling, leaving me stare at the wall once again after the last page was turned.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️GRIPPING!!! I love this 2nd book same as I did the 1st 😍 Priscilla really pissed me off a lot. This book continues to follow agent Adams as she tries to solve a murder. Each page pulls you in and you just can't stop reading! I am very excited and can't wait to read book 3!! Bring it on sister!! 💜🩷💜

[Mrs Buffie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Monroe vanishes, and what starts as a missing person case turns into something far more twisted. Agent Adams is sharp, but the clues are slippery and the connection to a cold case six years prior gave me goosebumps. The pacing is perfect, the family dynamics are unnerving, and that final reveal? Absolutely haunting.

[R.L. Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sequel to The First Thread. If book 1 left you wondering then you need to grab this book now. It picks up right where book 1 left off and answers a lot of the questions that you may have had. It is a three book trilogy so I'm looking forward to continuing along for the ride with The Final Stitch.