What do you think?
Rate this book
Aftermath
Perfect for fans of the show Criminal Minds and Navessa Allen’s
Lights Out
.
It's been 3 years since the Coastal Killer has claimed a victim.
Lenore Calder threw herself into her work 3 years ago, as a historian at Briarport’s local museum, and never looked back. Aside from her day-to-day tasks, she uses her resources to continue her research on the infamous Coastal Killer, hopeful that one day the victims will see justice. When the cold case draws an FBI agent to town, Lenore can’t pass on the opportunity to see this project through till the end.
Agent Winston Beck has dedicated himself to the FBI and bringing killers to justice, until everything goes wrong. One mistake, and his world comes crumbling around him. When a cold case has new leads, he takes a temporary leave from Quantico to follow the trail of a killer no one has seen in years, seeking justice and redemption.
Forced to accept each other’s help, Lenore and Agent Beck cannot ignore the tension that grows each day. Tracking down a killer that seemingly left almost no trace, the two find themselves falling for each other. Will they be able to put feelings aside to catch the killer before the trail goes cold once and for all?
If you
Tattooed menFBI romancesgrump x golden retrieverTension and banterNew England settingThen Aftermath is for you!
It's been 3 years since the Coastal Killer has claimed a victim.
Lenore Calder threw herself into her work 3 years ago, as a historian at Briarport’s local museum, and never looked back. Aside from her day-to-day tasks, she uses her resources to continue her research on the infamous Coastal Killer, hopeful that one day the victims will see justice. When the cold case draws an FBI agent to town, Lenore can’t pass on the opportunity to see this project through till the end.
Agent Winston Beck has dedicated himself to the FBI and bringing killers to justice, until everything goes wrong. One mistake, and his world comes crumbling around him. When a cold case has new leads, he takes a temporary leave from Quantico to follow the trail of a killer no one has seen in years, seeking justice and redemption.
Forced to accept each other’s help, Lenore and Agent Beck cannot ignore the tension that grows each day. Tracking down a killer that seemingly left almost no trace, the two find themselves falling for each other. Will they be able to put feelings aside to catch the killer before the trail goes cold once and for all?
If you
Tattooed menFBI romancesgrump x golden retrieverTension and banterNew England settingThen Aftermath is for you!
308 pages, Hardcover
Published May 19, 2025
93 people are currently reading
1000 people want to read
About the author
M.K. Ahearn
23 books385 followersMK Ahearn grew up in Massachusetts as one of three sisters. She now lives in Maryland with her husband and their three cats. She received her bachelor of arts in international relations and is now completing a master of professional studies in homeland security. When not writing or studying she can be found planning her next travel adventure.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
May 16, 2025
3.5/5 ⭐️
This is definitely a cute read for someone who enjoys romance and the show criminal minds without it being real dark or gory. It was a quick read which I did enjoy, but it definitely had the opportunity to be longer. I do wish it was a bit longer to not only have more of the romance aspect of it but also the suspense parts as well. I feel like some parts were only touched on and didn’t go into detail as much as I would have liked. I also wished we did get more of an in depth background on the killer and why they did what they did.
I did like all of the characters and by the middle of the book I could instantly tell who was who and what was going to happen. Even though it is listed as a romance book, I feel like we didn’t get much of that aspect of it. I think because it was a closed door romance it made it seem less than it was.
Overall I did enjoy the story! I really did love Lenny and Stones relationship and how he melted like putty for her. You gotta love a tattooed golden retriever. Told from dual POV with that small town vibe.
*Thank you to M.K Ahearn for the ARC!*
This is definitely a cute read for someone who enjoys romance and the show criminal minds without it being real dark or gory. It was a quick read which I did enjoy, but it definitely had the opportunity to be longer. I do wish it was a bit longer to not only have more of the romance aspect of it but also the suspense parts as well. I feel like some parts were only touched on and didn’t go into detail as much as I would have liked. I also wished we did get more of an in depth background on the killer and why they did what they did.
I did like all of the characters and by the middle of the book I could instantly tell who was who and what was going to happen. Even though it is listed as a romance book, I feel like we didn’t get much of that aspect of it. I think because it was a closed door romance it made it seem less than it was.
Overall I did enjoy the story! I really did love Lenny and Stones relationship and how he melted like putty for her. You gotta love a tattooed golden retriever. Told from dual POV with that small town vibe.
*Thank you to M.K Ahearn for the ARC!*
May 7, 2025
In the words of Cristina Yang, “somebody sedate me!!!”
This book took. me. through. it.
As a fan of MK Ahearn and Spencer Reid I was so excited to get the e-arc for this! This book perfectly reads as a Criminal Minds episode with a tinge of romance. I came for the suspense and I wasn’t let down! While I did enjoy the romance subplot, it wasn’t my main focus. Don’t get me wrong. Winston Beck is a top 10 book boyfriend for sure, but Ahearn made sure to flush out the case that the slow burn romance became an afterthought. Now I know that I prefer my suspense/mystery with a splash of romance from time to time.
i can’t recommend this book or author enough! Go add this to your TBR, your cart, everything right now!!!
This book took. me. through. it.
As a fan of MK Ahearn and Spencer Reid I was so excited to get the e-arc for this! This book perfectly reads as a Criminal Minds episode with a tinge of romance. I came for the suspense and I wasn’t let down! While I did enjoy the romance subplot, it wasn’t my main focus. Don’t get me wrong. Winston Beck is a top 10 book boyfriend for sure, but Ahearn made sure to flush out the case that the slow burn romance became an afterthought. Now I know that I prefer my suspense/mystery with a splash of romance from time to time.
i can’t recommend this book or author enough! Go add this to your TBR, your cart, everything right now!!!
August 27, 2025
This book was okay. It’s definitely a cute quick read. I did see the plot twist coming. It’s an interesting read but I wanted more of the MMC and FMC. It was fast paced but I didn’t feel much towards the characters and the romance between them.
May 11, 2025
Do I think it should be compared to Lights Out? No. I don’t get those vibes at all. Did I see the plot twist coming? Yes. It felt a little obvious in my opinion. However, it was still a good read. I just think I wanted a little bit more from the characters and the relationship.
I appreciate the author for sending me an arc for an honest review!
I appreciate the author for sending me an arc for an honest review!
June 4, 2025
Three years after the coastal killer case went cold, Agent Beck decided to look into some tips that were left by Lenore Calder. Agent Beck takes some much-needed time off and travels to Briar port. There he meets Lenore, who is a researcher at her local museum. Lenore doesn’t want to just hand over all her hard work, so they decide to work together to see if they can catch the coastal killer. Together they search for leads and try to piece together all the clues. But when the surviving victims file is blank, Agent Beck starts to question why. The last victim of the coastal killer left the hospital before they were able to identify her and after that, the coastal killer just vanished, or so they thought.
I am all for spice in my books, but this book was so good, that I wasn’t even thinking of spice. There was so much chemistry between Lenore and Agent Beck and they had such amazing character development throughout the book. Agent Beck made a mistake in the past and it’s haunted him ever since. My heart truly broke for him and seeing him heal and get through it, brought me so much joy. Lenore has her secrets and went through something horrible and has been dealing with it by herself. Together, they were able to help each other heal and move on from the haunting memories of their past. The plot was well executed and there were some things that I didn’t see coming. These characters are easy to fall in love with, and the story is one that will have you finishing it in one sitting. Once I picked the book up, I couldn’t put it down. The ending of the book couldn’t of been more perfect and I was smiling the whole time. Overall, this story was amazing and one that I could read over and over.
I am all for spice in my books, but this book was so good, that I wasn’t even thinking of spice. There was so much chemistry between Lenore and Agent Beck and they had such amazing character development throughout the book. Agent Beck made a mistake in the past and it’s haunted him ever since. My heart truly broke for him and seeing him heal and get through it, brought me so much joy. Lenore has her secrets and went through something horrible and has been dealing with it by herself. Together, they were able to help each other heal and move on from the haunting memories of their past. The plot was well executed and there were some things that I didn’t see coming. These characters are easy to fall in love with, and the story is one that will have you finishing it in one sitting. Once I picked the book up, I couldn’t put it down. The ending of the book couldn’t of been more perfect and I was smiling the whole time. Overall, this story was amazing and one that I could read over and over.
May 15, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The moment I noticed this marketed with Spencer Reid-coded characters and Lights Out vibes, I was sold! However, my biggest complaint was the marketing. The MMC does work for the FBI and for me, that is where the similarities end. That being said, I still like the MMC.
It also doesn't give off any dark romance, or rom-com vibes that you get from Lights Out. This is an easy-to-read, slowly passed, mystery/thriller. I took notes as I read and I didn't pick up on who Jane Doe was before the reveal. Instead, I made a correct prediction at 24% through on who the killer was and never thought otherwise. It was predictable with really no one else as a possible suspect.
Marketing aside, I did enjoy the story progression and the small-town romance vibes with a splash of light suspense. The romance matched the context of the story well. I also loved the added touch of the newspaper article to start the book.
I wish I could've felt more of what was being told to us, like the high IQ, MFC being clever enough to peruse the FBI or the deep psychological input from the FBI agent. Now for the ending, even though I knew who the killer was, I was able to enjoy how nicely it all played out and the epilogue was honestly perfect for the story.
It also doesn't give off any dark romance, or rom-com vibes that you get from Lights Out. This is an easy-to-read, slowly passed, mystery/thriller. I took notes as I read and I didn't pick up on who Jane Doe was before the reveal. Instead, I made a correct prediction at 24% through on who the killer was and never thought otherwise. It was predictable with really no one else as a possible suspect.
Marketing aside, I did enjoy the story progression and the small-town romance vibes with a splash of light suspense. The romance matched the context of the story well. I also loved the added touch of the newspaper article to start the book.
I wish I could've felt more of what was being told to us, like the high IQ, MFC being clever enough to peruse the FBI or the deep psychological input from the FBI agent. Now for the ending, even though I knew who the killer was, I was able to enjoy how nicely it all played out and the epilogue was honestly perfect for the story.
May 12, 2025
Spencer Reid Vibes ✔️
Small Town Romance ✔️
Cold Case Killer Thriller ✔️
I really enjoyed this book! I received it as an ARC, and it was a bit of a slower read, but easy to follow and kept me interested. I think this book accomplishes exactly what it needs to. I love the connection between the two MCs, and I like how they lean on and heal each other.
The thriller aspect was well paced, with a several twists to keep things interesting. I like that this gives true crime/criminal minds vibes and you can see the case evolve throughout the book. There is a good twist ending that I think many will not see coming.
The romance is no-spice and is slower paced, but I feel like it matches the vibe, pacing, and context of the story.
All in all, really enjoyable! 💜
Small Town Romance ✔️
Cold Case Killer Thriller ✔️
I really enjoyed this book! I received it as an ARC, and it was a bit of a slower read, but easy to follow and kept me interested. I think this book accomplishes exactly what it needs to. I love the connection between the two MCs, and I like how they lean on and heal each other.
The thriller aspect was well paced, with a several twists to keep things interesting. I like that this gives true crime/criminal minds vibes and you can see the case evolve throughout the book. There is a good twist ending that I think many will not see coming.
The romance is no-spice and is slower paced, but I feel like it matches the vibe, pacing, and context of the story.
All in all, really enjoyable! 💜
May 11, 2025
Overall:3/5
Romance:3/5
Plot:3/5
This is a cute light contemporary romance that reads like it was marketed. The Spencer Reid vibes of the mmc were 100% present. The book was definitely more romance driven than crime solving. It was also too short to strike a better balance between the two. I almost wish it was longer so we could get more plot and romance because it felt very rushed at times. I almost wish the author just waited to come out with this so they could make it longer and better fleshed out because the potential was otherworldly.
It is also a HEA which was done nicely. As a usual hater of epilogues this one was actually pretty nice. Nothing too unrealistic while still making me smile. I wanted to love this so badly it just fell a bit short for me. It was still a nice time and I read it extremely fast. I did enjoy the author though and will definitely be checking out their fantasy books next!
Disclaimer: I was sent an ARC copy by the author.
Romance:3/5
Plot:3/5
This is a cute light contemporary romance that reads like it was marketed. The Spencer Reid vibes of the mmc were 100% present. The book was definitely more romance driven than crime solving. It was also too short to strike a better balance between the two. I almost wish it was longer so we could get more plot and romance because it felt very rushed at times. I almost wish the author just waited to come out with this so they could make it longer and better fleshed out because the potential was otherworldly.
It is also a HEA which was done nicely. As a usual hater of epilogues this one was actually pretty nice. Nothing too unrealistic while still making me smile. I wanted to love this so badly it just fell a bit short for me. It was still a nice time and I read it extremely fast. I did enjoy the author though and will definitely be checking out their fantasy books next!
Disclaimer: I was sent an ARC copy by the author.
August 24, 2025
3.5 stars. This reminds me of a mid-season arc of Criminal Minds episodes and I’m not at all mad about it.
Some of the writing was a bit wonky but the overall story was so interesting! It had the right balance of suspense and romance - I only wish it were longer to explore more of both!
Some of the writing was a bit wonky but the overall story was so interesting! It had the right balance of suspense and romance - I only wish it were longer to explore more of both!
May 6, 2025
Calling all Criminal Minds lovers! This one is for you! This amazing book features a tattooed FBI MMC and the local historian FMC and let me tell you I ate this book up! I am so grateful to have been sent this book as an ARC
I’m a huge Criminal Minds fan, specifically Mr Spencer Reid, and this book felt like a love letter to the show.
I fell in love with the characters instantly, I’m already starting to miss them!
There was one specific plot twist that I thought might be revealed at the end of the story but it was actually revealed quite early on which was such a refreshing change. I thought I had guessed the plot twist but the amazing writing had be second guessing myself. I LOVED IT!
If you love suspense, plot twist, and sexy FBI men this is for you!
I’m a huge Criminal Minds fan, specifically Mr Spencer Reid, and this book felt like a love letter to the show.
I fell in love with the characters instantly, I’m already starting to miss them!
There was one specific plot twist that I thought might be revealed at the end of the story but it was actually revealed quite early on which was such a refreshing change. I thought I had guessed the plot twist but the amazing writing had be second guessing myself. I LOVED IT!
If you love suspense, plot twist, and sexy FBI men this is for you!
August 27, 2025
Minor spoilers
I’m frustrated. The plot twist was pretty obvious in my opinion. Maybe not the why, but definitely the who. Also, the back and forth at the end of Len deciding to stay and then deciding to travel and then deciding to move and change careers. Like I get it but it was too much and too convenient. Both the writing and the editing could have been better. There were parts that didn’t feel fully developed or were rushed or just didn’t seem to make sense for the characters or where they were at in their relationship. Like all of a sudden he starts calling her Lenny and we don’t even know thats a new nickname for her until later. Or like how they know things about each other and I was left wondering if we were ever told that they told that to each other.
Overall I enjoyed the story and the concept but I’m giving it a low rating because the delivery could have been better and it left me feeling frustrated and annoyed more than anything.
I’m frustrated. The plot twist was pretty obvious in my opinion. Maybe not the why, but definitely the who. Also, the back and forth at the end of Len deciding to stay and then deciding to travel and then deciding to move and change careers. Like I get it but it was too much and too convenient. Both the writing and the editing could have been better. There were parts that didn’t feel fully developed or were rushed or just didn’t seem to make sense for the characters or where they were at in their relationship. Like all of a sudden he starts calling her Lenny and we don’t even know thats a new nickname for her until later. Or like how they know things about each other and I was left wondering if we were ever told that they told that to each other.
Overall I enjoyed the story and the concept but I’m giving it a low rating because the delivery could have been better and it left me feeling frustrated and annoyed more than anything.
May 19, 2025
If this book would have been marketed as mystery/suspense with a small subplot of romance, I probably would’ve enjoyed it a bit more. Now this is not to say that I disliked this book—I love anything related to crime and the FBI, so that part was super fun! However, the romance was pretty lackluster for me. One minute they were strangers, and the next they were kissing; we didn’t really get to see them form a connection. Also, the FMC had some pretty intense relationship trauma and hadn’t dated in 3 years, and rather than us seeing her heal and slowly let her walls down, it felt like her walls just collapsed.
My other big qualm is that the MMC in this book is marketed as being “Spencer Reid coded.” The only similarities I saw were him working for the FBI and having a good memory (I’m not even sure you can say he had an eidetic memory). Nevertheless, I liked Stone as a character—he was very much a golden retriever, and I always love that! (P.S. did we ever get an explanation for the whole Stone/Beck thing???)
I am notoriously horrible at guessing plot twists, so I did not see these coming! I think the twists and the motives behind them were pretty unique.
Thank you MK Ahearn for letting me read this book early and share my thoughts! <3
My other big qualm is that the MMC in this book is marketed as being “Spencer Reid coded.” The only similarities I saw were him working for the FBI and having a good memory (I’m not even sure you can say he had an eidetic memory). Nevertheless, I liked Stone as a character—he was very much a golden retriever, and I always love that! (P.S. did we ever get an explanation for the whole Stone/Beck thing???)
I am notoriously horrible at guessing plot twists, so I did not see these coming! I think the twists and the motives behind them were pretty unique.
Thank you MK Ahearn for letting me read this book early and share my thoughts! <3
May 19, 2025
You GUYSSSSS this FREAKIN BOOOOOOOK. I’m in love!!! This is a book for the criminal minds true crime girlies that are in love with Spencer Reid. If you like any ONE of those things then this book is for YOU. Not ONLY is this book a dream come true for the people that love true crime and a little murder mystery it’s also an incredibly beautiful romance that’s set in northern New England.
This book was a legit home run for me. It hit every damn base in my fav parts of reading. The story was incredible. The writing was amazing. The plot was never boring or difficult to understand. It was exciting and nerve wracking and romantic and AMAZING. the characters are so beautifully written with painfully real characteristics and heartbreaking backstories that only supplemented their growth and development through the story.
I’m so in love with this read and I know anyone else that reads this will feel the same way. 10000000/10 recommend and if you do listen to my wisdom and happen to pick this one up please please please come and tell me bc I need someone to fangirl over these characters with. Ok? Ok
This book was a legit home run for me. It hit every damn base in my fav parts of reading. The story was incredible. The writing was amazing. The plot was never boring or difficult to understand. It was exciting and nerve wracking and romantic and AMAZING. the characters are so beautifully written with painfully real characteristics and heartbreaking backstories that only supplemented their growth and development through the story.
I’m so in love with this read and I know anyone else that reads this will feel the same way. 10000000/10 recommend and if you do listen to my wisdom and happen to pick this one up please please please come and tell me bc I need someone to fangirl over these characters with. Ok? Ok
May 13, 2025
I will be the first one to admit, I usually read romance books heavily filled with spice and after a while, you just need a change. This book was that change. Aftermath is SO GOOD. It primarily focuses on the plot, solving the mystery, and building a solid foundation between the two main characters - it made the little romantic gestures that much better. The relationship building throughout this book as well as feeling like you stepped into an episode of Criminal Minds made this a super fast read. I got to the epilogue and was bummed out that it was over. MK did a spectacular job creating the Briarport world as well as creating a mysterious vibe and highly interesting side characters. The plot twists throughout the book really kept me interested and kept the storyline moving at a nice pace. I cannot thank MK enough for letting me be a part of her ARC Team for this release! You have to check this book out on release day, May 20!!
May 21, 2025
I enjoyed this book once I got into the meat of it, but it was hard to get through at some parts and other parts felt really glossed over. This story definitely had the potential to be a 5-star read and unfortunately fell a little flat. I would have liked to have had more of an in depth dive into the pasts of the main characters and the killer. I would have also liked if the romance felt more developed as it just sort of fell flat to me. I was able to guess where the story was going and who the killer would be fairly early on, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I do think there could’ve been more of a deep dive into evidence and suspects that could’ve thrown more red herrings in there to make it a little less obvious and a little more shocking when the “big reveal” took place.
I may be open to reading the next book in the series, but it will definitely depend on the blurb once it’s released.
I may be open to reading the next book in the series, but it will definitely depend on the blurb once it’s released.
May 26, 2025
Thank you to the author for selecting me to arc read this but sadly I was a bit behind my arcs so this book is already out in the world. Five plus stars! This book was nothing I thought it’d be honestly but it was soooooooooo good, I couldn’t put it down! The suspense, the characters the PLOT! I did not expect what had happened by the end!!! No spoilers so trying to not say names!! I thought the killer was someone else but unexpected came and wow!!!! I love Stone’s and Len’s characters, how they became stronger together. Highly recommend reading this! 10/10/10!
May 14, 2025
Serial killer cold case? Amazingly fleshed out. I was on the edge of my seat, loving every second of the case! The romance was a gentle, sweet, no-spice one but gave the perfect amount of added stress for our MCs.
Criminal Minds has always been a comfort show for me, so I had super high expectations hearing our MMC was Spencer Reid coded🤭 Ahearn didn’t disappoint one👏🏻 bit 👏🏻 Winston is 100/10. Give me more “For my aftermath” 🥹
Thank you so much to the author for the gifted copy!🖤
Criminal Minds has always been a comfort show for me, so I had super high expectations hearing our MMC was Spencer Reid coded🤭 Ahearn didn’t disappoint one👏🏻 bit 👏🏻 Winston is 100/10. Give me more “For my aftermath” 🥹
Thank you so much to the author for the gifted copy!🖤
June 20, 2025
MK said “Spencer Reid” and I immediately said “YES PLEASE!”
Winston Beck definitely has a lot of Spencer Reid characteristics, but I definitely saw others in him too. His need to catch the Coastal Killer reminded me of so many moments from Criminal Minds such as Gideon’s struggles to follow the rules at times regarding his final case.
MK did a really good job building up the plot and the suspense. I had some suspicions of who the killer actually was and I was so impressed that I was right. (If you know me, you know I’m always surprised in romantic suspense novels!)
Winston Beck definitely has a lot of Spencer Reid characteristics, but I definitely saw others in him too. His need to catch the Coastal Killer reminded me of so many moments from Criminal Minds such as Gideon’s struggles to follow the rules at times regarding his final case.
MK did a really good job building up the plot and the suspense. I had some suspicions of who the killer actually was and I was so impressed that I was right. (If you know me, you know I’m always surprised in romantic suspense novels!)
May 8, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up!
Overall, this was an enjoyable easy to read book! It was a suspense/thriller with a romantic subplot! The romance was a softer/gentle love that was super precious!
The thriller premise/set up was really good, but a bit more on the predictable side! So totally good if you are looking for an easy to read/easy to digest thriller!
Thank you to the author for an eARC! 💜
Overall, this was an enjoyable easy to read book! It was a suspense/thriller with a romantic subplot! The romance was a softer/gentle love that was super precious!
The thriller premise/set up was really good, but a bit more on the predictable side! So totally good if you are looking for an easy to read/easy to digest thriller!
Thank you to the author for an eARC! 💜
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2025
MK you will PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES with making me remember the Zugswang episode of Criminal Minds. I’ve thought about it for 3 days and I’m still sad.
This Criminal Minds inspired romantic suspense is the energy we all wish the writers would have given Reid. He deserved better!! So much trauma, so much healing, so much more evidence that Maine and the north eastern part of the US is nowhere I ever want to be!!
This was a cute and fast read you’ll definitely enjoy if you like the genre and wish police procedurals had a lot less gore. You’re DEFINITELY going to want to mind the TWs in the start though, because it’ll be hard to read if you are sensitive to some of the topics (particular miscarriages/child loss and domestic violence (though not between MCs!))
Anywho, I definitely need to go start a rewatch of CM now and delusionally hope things end differently this time!!!
This Criminal Minds inspired romantic suspense is the energy we all wish the writers would have given Reid. He deserved better!! So much trauma, so much healing, so much more evidence that Maine and the north eastern part of the US is nowhere I ever want to be!!
This was a cute and fast read you’ll definitely enjoy if you like the genre and wish police procedurals had a lot less gore. You’re DEFINITELY going to want to mind the TWs in the start though, because it’ll be hard to read if you are sensitive to some of the topics (particular miscarriages/child loss and domestic violence (though not between MCs!))
Anywho, I definitely need to go start a rewatch of CM now and delusionally hope things end differently this time!!!
July 22, 2025
I picked up this book for two reasons. One, local author! Shoutout Maryland :). Two, criminal minds - say less. This was very good and enjoyable. The writing was smooth and storyline intriguing. I loved reading it like I was one of the FBI profilers for the BAU. Lenore and Stone make a great couple and I enjoyed watching them evolve over time. I feel like I guessed the Coastal Killer towards the end, which I feel like the author wanted you to pick it up slowly. I liked the different POV's to help you gain a rounded view of everything. This was a closed door romance. Some kissing but very mild romantic scenes.
May 21, 2025
3.25 / 5 Stars
This was a fun, quick read that unfortunately lacked some character development. A quick synopsis: Beck has been teaching at the FBI academy since his partner passed away. He hasn't been ready to go back into the field until some tips point him towards a cold case in Maine. The Coastal Killer hasn't been active for years but a museum worker, Lenore, has continued researching and emailing the FBI in order to get justice for the victims. The case piques Beck's interest and he travels to Maine (unsanctioned) where he, reluctantly, teams up with Lenore to find the Coastal Killer before they strike again.
The plot was really gripping. It's a serial killer thriller so I was deeply invested from the get go. I did predict some of the twists (I guess humble brag, but maybe more humble concern that I have watched so much crime) but even still, I was deeply invested. If you are a true crime or mystery fan, you will enjoy this book a lot. Maybe don't read it at night -- more of a reminder to myself that reading about women getting murdered right before going to bed will lead to some gnarly dreams.
I just wish that there was more character development. To me, it felt like for the first 25% of the book, Beck and Lenore were boiled down to just one character trait a piece: Beck feels guilty for the murder of his partner and Lenore wants justice for the victims. Those are really important but those lines got repeated over and over before we began to dive deeper into how those things happened or why they really mattered. I liked both of the characters which is why I wanted more for them. It felt like because time was spent on repeating information, we also didn't get basic info like when Beck joined the FBI or why he joined. They could have both been richer characters and then I would have felt more invested in their connection as well.
Thank you M.K. Ahearn for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
__________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: You tell me this is Spencer Reid coded and I am there. One time my laptop broke in college (which was a total nightmare) and I would go rent a laptop from the library so that I could work on my finals and MORE IMPORTANTLY watch Criminal Minds.
This was a fun, quick read that unfortunately lacked some character development. A quick synopsis: Beck has been teaching at the FBI academy since his partner passed away. He hasn't been ready to go back into the field until some tips point him towards a cold case in Maine. The Coastal Killer hasn't been active for years but a museum worker, Lenore, has continued researching and emailing the FBI in order to get justice for the victims. The case piques Beck's interest and he travels to Maine (unsanctioned) where he, reluctantly, teams up with Lenore to find the Coastal Killer before they strike again.
The plot was really gripping. It's a serial killer thriller so I was deeply invested from the get go. I did predict some of the twists (I guess humble brag, but maybe more humble concern that I have watched so much crime) but even still, I was deeply invested. If you are a true crime or mystery fan, you will enjoy this book a lot. Maybe don't read it at night -- more of a reminder to myself that reading about women getting murdered right before going to bed will lead to some gnarly dreams.
I just wish that there was more character development. To me, it felt like for the first 25% of the book, Beck and Lenore were boiled down to just one character trait a piece: Beck feels guilty for the murder of his partner and Lenore wants justice for the victims. Those are really important but those lines got repeated over and over before we began to dive deeper into how those things happened or why they really mattered. I liked both of the characters which is why I wanted more for them. It felt like because time was spent on repeating information, we also didn't get basic info like when Beck joined the FBI or why he joined. They could have both been richer characters and then I would have felt more invested in their connection as well.
Thank you M.K. Ahearn for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
__________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: You tell me this is Spencer Reid coded and I am there. One time my laptop broke in college (which was a total nightmare) and I would go rent a laptop from the library so that I could work on my finals and MORE IMPORTANTLY watch Criminal Minds.
May 21, 2025
This was a cutesy criminal minds-esq story that was a fun read!!! I never see the obvious suspects so the twist got me but they always do hehe and I’m glad because I hated that character so it made sense. The romance was fun and cute and simple. 3/5
Thank you to the author for an ARC!!!
Thank you to the author for an ARC!!!
May 20, 2025
Love Romantic Suspense? Then this book is for you! This book had everything- book nerds, museums, stalker killers, and sweet moments.
Thank you to M.K Ahearn for a copy of the e-ARC!
Thank you to M.K Ahearn for a copy of the e-ARC!
May 23, 2025
Quick read. The book was well paced, and I definitely got Spencer Reid vibes from the MMC!
June 2, 2025
I’m not usually a true crime fan, but I really enjoyed this book! I would definitely recommend!
June 11, 2025
Well written characters. The book is simply too short to have the desired effect the author was looking for. It could and should have been 100 pages longer.
Very predictable villain imo. Clocked who it was the second one of the characters internal monologues called her a “textbook narcissist” upon meeting her for the first time.
Slightly odd romance bc of how quickly they fall for each other.
For anyone into spice or smut, there is none of that.
Very predictable villain imo. Clocked who it was the second one of the characters internal monologues called her a “textbook narcissist” upon meeting her for the first time.
Slightly odd romance bc of how quickly they fall for each other.
For anyone into spice or smut, there is none of that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2025
I was chosen to read it as an ARC and was a bit late in doing so.
However, it kept me curious at every turn! I was not expecting the ending to end just like that. I did have an inkling she would be involved but didn’t know how much.
The only thing I was not sold on at first was Stone. He was slow to fall in love with but I ended up loving him towards the end when he finally opened up!
Len, our little Len. She grew phenomenally throughout the book and I honestly did not see her spilling that big of a secret!
The book was a slow burn. It didn’t become fast paced until about 70% of the way through but I’m glad I read through it.
I liked it! Definitely out of the realm of which I usually read but it thoroughly enjoyed it.
However, it kept me curious at every turn! I was not expecting the ending to end just like that. I did have an inkling she would be involved but didn’t know how much.
The only thing I was not sold on at first was Stone. He was slow to fall in love with but I ended up loving him towards the end when he finally opened up!
Len, our little Len. She grew phenomenally throughout the book and I honestly did not see her spilling that big of a secret!
The book was a slow burn. It didn’t become fast paced until about 70% of the way through but I’m glad I read through it.
I liked it! Definitely out of the realm of which I usually read but it thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 9, 2025
I was picked to be an eARC reading after finding M.K. Ahearn on the threads app, and with the tag "Spencer Reid Coded Romance", I just had to apply.
I absolutely adored this book, Winston/Stone and Lenore's characters were the cutest - absolutely loved the birthday surprise. While I do not think Stone is a fairly accurate representation of the beloved Spencer Reid, the book does go along with a criminal minds vibe! I would still recommend it for anyone who likes Criminal Minds. Also love the slow burn, made my little heart feel warm.
This book did convince me to read more from M.K. Ahearn so I am planning to dive into her Fantasy reads next!
I absolutely adored this book, Winston/Stone and Lenore's characters were the cutest - absolutely loved the birthday surprise. While I do not think Stone is a fairly accurate representation of the beloved Spencer Reid, the book does go along with a criminal minds vibe! I would still recommend it for anyone who likes Criminal Minds. Also love the slow burn, made my little heart feel warm.
This book did convince me to read more from M.K. Ahearn so I am planning to dive into her Fantasy reads next!
May 14, 2025
Thanks MK Ahearn for the eARC! My first finished eARC before a release! The book was marketed for fans of Criminal Minds and Lights Out > I could see the Criminal Minds play out but it’s not necessarily a dark romance. So if you’re looking for morally gray men, this isn’t the book for you.
MMC Stone lots of green flags esp with his level of detailedness with FMC Lenny. Definitely no spice beyond kissing and yearning to be near. Romance felt a bit rushed in the beginning but it wasn’t too bad. The plot with the Coastal Killer was kind of easy to figure out but that’s what happens when you watch a lot of crime television - you pick up on details and things! Overall, quick and easy read. Enjoyed it, thank you!
PS: MK Ahearn, if you do read this please do a triple check for spelling errors as I noticed quite a few throughout the book that would pull me out for a few seconds of the story.
MMC Stone lots of green flags esp with his level of detailedness with FMC Lenny. Definitely no spice beyond kissing and yearning to be near. Romance felt a bit rushed in the beginning but it wasn’t too bad. The plot with the Coastal Killer was kind of easy to figure out but that’s what happens when you watch a lot of crime television - you pick up on details and things! Overall, quick and easy read. Enjoyed it, thank you!
PS: MK Ahearn, if you do read this please do a triple check for spelling errors as I noticed quite a few throughout the book that would pull me out for a few seconds of the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews