Tracking Evil: A Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery Thriller Book Seven

by Melinda Woodhall

A Celebration at a Luxury Island Resort Ends in a Brutal Murder at the Hands of an Evil Man
When a bachelorette party at the luxurious Bellamy Island Resort turns deadly, Special Agent Bailey Flynn suspects the murder may be the work of the same man who strangled a young bride-to-be on the island a decade earlier.

After the investigation turns up an unidentified set of remains near the body, and a possible witness to the crime goes missing, Bailey calls on FBI profiler Bridget Bishop to help her track down the evil serial killer responsible before another innocent life can be taken.

Book Seven in the new FBI mystery thriller series by Melinda Woodhall, author of the Bridget Bishop FBI Mystery Thriller Series and the Veronica Lee Thriller Series.

323 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2025

Reviews

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had me hooked from beginning to end. What should be a happy and fun occasion at Bailey's sister's hen party takes a turn when a prominent woman is murdered. There are similarities to a murder at the same resort from ten years earlier. A further murder escalates things.

I love this series. The characters, the interactions, the stories, all are so enjoyable. I found this fascinating with the background of the killer's past life and the actual reveal of the killer was a twist I did not expect. I enjoyed the crossover with characters from another series - it added to the overall enjoyment of the story. Bring on book eight.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bailey Flynn Mystery book # 7

When one of Melinda Woodhall’s stories comes out I surely wouldn’t want to miss out on the offer to read and review it. I am a huge fan and so far, Melinda hasn’t disappointed.

The story is a few words:

In this latest we at the luxurious Bellamy Island Resort taking part in a bachelorette party when a murder is committed. Agent Bailey Flynn suspects the same man who had strangled the bride to be decade earlier is at work again. During her investigation an unidentified set of remains is found close by, could this new find also be related? Bailey had to get to the bottom pronto before things get out of hands and teaming up with profiler Bridget Bishop is what was needed. They then set off to track down the serial killer before he strikes again.

My thoughts:

As always, the story is fast paced, action packed and filled with excitement. Another one of those stories hard to put down. Although we follow different stands the plot is easy to follow and will keep the interest till the final word. After many books I still find the characters to be enjoyable and how they interact with each other warm.

Although part a series this book stands well by its own so no worries if you pick up this one at this stage.

Another great story and an enjoyable read that is well-said and well-done.

I received this ARC for free with no obligations to write a review.

[Trudie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another great mystery from this talented author. You would have thought by now I would have worked out how to sprot what are red herrings and what are real clues, but apparently not. Not only does this one have a great storyline, with a number of murders, including one from the past, but it also moves the lives of some of the main characters on well. Characters from another series by this author also appear, which is great. I highly recommend you read these books in order.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an ARC reader for Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. I am a long time fan of Melinda Woodhall and this latest book is a good as they get. Especially since, for some reason it really pleases me when an author who writes more than one series combines the characters from both - or each in one story, as in this one, when FBI profiler Bailey Flynn, stationed in Miami, calls on colleagues Bridget Bishop in Washington DC a more experienced profiler, and a forensic analyst who is experimenting with forensic genealogy. With Bridget's husband, an FBI investigator, and the Belle Harbour police, there did become quite a few characters to keep straight in my mind. That not counting the dogs! But this author's writing skills are such that, as with this book I'm always taken from the first page. When a woman is murdered on a resort island during a bachelerette weekend, exactly like a bride to be who was staying in the same bungalow was murdered ten years before, people start pointing the finger at the man who would have married the first woman, even though he was proven innocent. With more bodies turning up and the lack of clues causing the killer to be christened The Phantom, I first suspected one man, the investigators another, but as soon as the forensic genealogy began to reveal evidence…. Tense, twisty, and mysterious to the end, with romance in the air for the principal characters, this book continues this author's record of writing unput -downable stories!

[Nancy Fagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story in true Melinda style. You can never guess who the killer is. The small side stories of Bailey's colleagues and friends are interesting as well. I recommend this book.

I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracking Evil is Book 7 a Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery Thriller by Melinda Woodhall. The weekend is for Cafe's bachelorette party, NOT murder. I really enjoyed this thriller. From the first page until The End Tracking Evil is a can't put down book. The characters are well written and this author writes gripping thrillers. I loved that there is a touch of romance. Tracking Evil should be on the reading list of everyone who loves mystery thrillers. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Cat B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific murder mystery thriller by this author. This series focuses on FBI agent Bailey Flynn, another strong female lead, and is the 7th in the series. All have been wonderful reads and I love the way that Melinda Woodhall books contain the same characters, adding new ones along the way. Each series bring forth one of the characters to focus on them so that you already have an inkling of who they are BUT you do not have to have read the previous books to enjoy each and every one. As always, we are introduced to a crime at the beginning and follow along as the clues are gathered, more murders are committed and the suspect pool grows. I so thoroughly enjoy these books that I do believe I almost squeal with delight when a new one drops.
I received a copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my opinion of the tale.

[Sandy T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable murder mystery. Bailey is asked to assist in tracking a serial killer, one who killed her mother's best friend. The story is well written and moves quickly. There are several characters helping in the pursuit from the local police department to FBI offices and let's not forget the trained service dogs. I didn't guess the guilty person till right before the author revealed them.

I received a free advance copy via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bachelorette turns deadly

Amazing! When your bachelorette turns into a serial murder case. That’s this book. It blends a cold case, multiple new murders along with investigative styles of local PD, FBI, US Marshals, a local PI and the press for good measure. Loved the story told from all angles and I’m not usually one who likes multiple POVs. So many twists it just sucks you in and you are along for the wild ride! Great story and I loved the cameos from Bridget Bishop and Santino. Excellent read!!

[Katrina Freckleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I felt like it was only the other day I was reading about Detective Bailey Flynn and the other characters. It was like coming home to find that nothing had changed and they were once again involved and working together in getting to the bottom of several murders.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book! I just can't not get enough of the characters this author creates. I almost had this one figured out but didn't have all the pieces, which I love. Can't wait to see what's in store for these characters next.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

FBI Agent Bailey Flynn and her friends find the body of Mimi Harper in the marsh at Bellamy Island. This starts a hunt for a serial killer on the loose. An action packed suspense thriller which has you on the edge of your seat. A captivating read which is unputdownable. I received this ARC copy via Booksirans and recommend this book to other readers.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

What was supposed to be a fun weekend for a bachelorette party turned deadly. The murdered person was someone close to Bailey and her family. But this isn't the first time this has happened at this resort. Is there a connection and what or who is it? I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Kathryn Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps me glued to every page.

In this latest instalment many of the strands and open loops from previous books have been closed, whilst still leaving plenty of scope for more books in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed the premise of this kind of long term evil approach as well as the secondary themes in the personal lives of the now-familiar characters.

[M. Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely Recommend

Another exciting read beginning with the always terrific opening chapter that is Ms Woodhall's trademark. I was happy to find characters from the author's Bridget Bishop series. I truly enjoyed the blending of characters from the two series. I'm hoping to see more in the future. Can't wait for #8!

[Kellie Whittam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Tracking Evil. Bailey and Bridget made a great team in this one, and I enjoyed them working together. It was also nice to see a softer side of Jackie. The story moved quickly and kept me hooked the whole time. I didn’t fully guess who the Phantom was, so that twist was a good surprise. A great read, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracking Evil is the 7th book in A Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery Thriller series by Melinda Woodhall. Another very good book in this series, once again Bailey is in search of a murderer. At Cate's bachelorette party, a family friend is murdered in the same way a murder happened at same place 10 years prior. Who is responsible, and can they find them before more people are killed. I would recommend this book to others.

I received and ARC from BookSirens, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another really enjoyable book in this series.
This time Bailey is investigating the murder of her mother's best friend which might be linked to another murder in the same venue years before.
The plot is easy to follow even though there are a couple of different strands, and the characters are really well developed.
Having said that I think this could work as a stand alone if you haven't read the previous ones.
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.

[Anne Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in the Bailey Flynn series. Bailey seems destined to stay attached to the Miami area and this is where we find her again.

A murder which hits close to home for her family and unearths secrets in the community. A great story;well told.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anne Regula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

This book has more twists and turns to keep the interest up to the very end! Highly recommend reading this author!

[Loves2 Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracking Evil: A Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery Thriller Book Seven was my first foray into Melinda Woodhall's work, and I'm genuinely impressed! While stepping into an established series meant I missed some of the character history, the story was compelling enough to stand on its own. It quickly drew me into a tense and twisty mystery.


The plot kicks off at Bailey Flynn's sister's bachelorette party at a resort with a dark past – the site of a murder ten years prior. What should be a joyous celebration takes a chilling turn when a prominent woman is found murdered, eerily mirroring the decade-old cold case. As more bodies pile up and clues remain scarce, the killer earns the ominous moniker, "The Phantom." The suspense builds beautifully as initial suspicions are cast, and the investigators pursue their leads.

Multiple POVs & Unexpected Twists
What truly elevated this book for me was Woodhall's masterful use of multiple points of view, including the killer's. This unique approach added incredible depth and layers to the narrative, making for a richer and more immersive reading experience. I found myself theorizing alongside the characters, initially suspecting one person while the investigators focused on another. The introduction of forensic genealogy as a crucial piece of evidence further heightened the tension, leading to a reveal I absolutely did not see coming! The killer's intricate backstory was fascinating, and the ultimate twist was genuinely unexpected.

While the story was captivating, my only minor quibble was the sheer number of side characters. As this was my first book in the series, I occasionally struggled to keep track of everyone. I imagine this wouldn't be an issue for readers who have followed the series from the beginning.

A Solid Read
Overall, Tracking Evil is a tense, twisty, and mysterious thriller that kept me hooked until the very end. The blend of intricate mystery, compelling characters, and even a hint of romance makes this a truly unput-downable read. It's a solid mystery that demonstrates why Melinda Woodhall is a beloved author in the genre.

I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my honest opinion.

[TrishAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melinda Woodhall is an author who just keeps giving, I have read most, if not all ,of her books and have never been disappointed, this one had me grabbed from the start.
Attorney, Cate Flynn, was marrying medical examiner, Mason Knox, she had arranged an extravagant bachelorette party at the Bellamy Island Resort but a guest, who was a great friend to the family, disappeared. The guests body was found in the nearby marshes, FBI Special Agent Bailey Flynn, Cate's sister ,was worried, the deceased guest was booked into the same room as bride to be Willow Ralson who was murdered at the resort ten years earlier, Bailey didn't believe in coincidences, to add to her problems, Ludwig, her much loved search and rescue dog had sniffed out human remains in a trash can close to the guest's body.........was there a serial killer on the loose ?
Robbie Lloyd had been Willows groom to be, he had been convicted of the murder but the courts had cleared him, many people in Belle Harbour thought that it was the wrong verdict including Willow's parents.
In true Melinda Woodhall style, the murder didn't stop at one and the body count escalated, there were so many suspects but no real evidence. Bailey was able to call on FBI Profiler, Bridget Bishop, Bailey and Bridget had worked together successfully before and Bailey needed all the help that she could get, this was personal.
Who is behind these murders ? Will Cate and Mason have to cancel their wedding ? Will Bailey and Daltons plans be scuppered ?
This is a can't put down story with wonderful characters, some happily from the authors previous series, if you love a good mystery thriller, with a great, unexpected ending and with just the right amount of romance thrown in, this could be the book for you.
I received a free copy of this book and my review is voluntary

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery Thriller Series: The books in this series are interesting, intriguing, and immersing reads that are difficult to set down. Set to a good pace with interesting characters, story lines, and dialog. Source: BookSirens.

TRACKING EVIL, #7 - Good story lines and good characters but I found this story a little on the light side. Still a good read. 4*

VANISHING ANGELS, #1 - Interesting, intriguing, and immersing with a good pace, well written story lines, and good characters made this a hard to put down read. Clean language and no graphic details. 5*

GATHERING BONES, #2 - A good continuation from Vanishing Angels. Interesting. Intriguing. A good pace, but Bailey does a stupid human trick near the end of the story. A couple of surprises add to the story. 4*

CHASING MONSTERS, #3 - Another good addition to this series. A little predictable here and there, but overall, an interesting read. 4*

FORGOTTEN REMAINS, #4 - Secrets exposed. Murders, old and new, solved. Futures determined. More romance? 4*

DREADING DARKNESS, #5 - Try to catch a killer without the bodies of the victims. Good twists with some unexpected. 5*

FORSAKEN SOULS, #6 - Interesting and immersing, good characters and good story lines. 4*
Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery Thriller Series end.

[Silje · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a dear family friend of Bailey and Cate is murdered at Cate's bachelorette weekend, everyone is in an uproar. The bones of a John Doe are also found at the murder site, and more evidence suggests a connection to an unsolved murder several years ago at the same resort.
It is now up to the crew in Belle Harbor PD, with some help from the FBI, to find out what happened, if all these murders are connected, and if a murderer has been lying dormant in their town.

This is book 7 in the Bailey Flynn series, and for the first time, there isn't as strong a connection to what has happened in previous books as there has been during the last few books. Honestly, that was quite refreshing. The murder cases are new and not connected to the cartel, though Tony Brunner is somewhat involved on the sideline. Information discovered at the end, though, is likely to be important in the next book.

The plot was brilliantly written, and it was not easy to spot the murderer or guess the reasons behind the murders. A lot was going on at once a few times, but if you're focused, it is possible to keep the plot threads separate. And although I haven't read the Bridget Bishop series, it was fun with a guest appearance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Melinda Woodhall. I still have not yet been able to guess who the evil person is until she reveals them in the end. But it’s what keeps me reading till the early morning hours.

This book starts with the murder of a close family friend and ends with as spectacularly as one would expect it to. The book brings in the BAU’s profilers from Quantico, which speeds up the process and sends them in a much more defined direction. There are a number of deaths all related to a close family friend’s murder and the finding of another body close by. The deaths start to snowball as the perp is eliminating people he thinks might know who he is and who he believes are a threat to his freedom.

I don’t want to reveal much as typical of Melinda’s books there are several rabbit holes to go down and come out seeing nothing you had hoped for, but its typical of the fast-paced action with Bailey and her dog and Dalton doing their own thing to meet a more uniform end. I loved the story even if I didn’t get enough sleep because of the usual just one more chapter then I’ll stop. Got to quit lying to myself and realizing its not going to happen till the books is finished. Maybe the next one….

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through "Booksirens" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story begins with Cate's sister's bachelorette party being held. Things get worse when Mimi's body was found. In addition, another body that had been discovered was decomposing. All signs pointed to a remake of an event which happened 10 years earlier. Mimi was in the same room as Willow who was murdered. The initial suspect that was believed responsible was Robbie, Willow's fiancé who was charged and found innocent.

As the investigation continued, several more victims were discovered and once again Robbie was suspected. Evidence was found at one of the scenes which cleared Robbie. Bailey decided she needed additional help on development of a profile on the killer. Argus meanwhile was working on a genealogy relating to DNA and discovered new information.

Read along and discover who the killer was, why the killings happened, how Bailey and Bridget came into danger and how it all worked out.

The ending will resolve all questions. This is definitely a book well worth reading, don't miss out!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

One sitting read. Twist, turns, suspense and more. Bailey is at her sister (Cate) Bachelorette weekend and discovers a body. One she knows and we are off. There were people dropping frequently, this killer was trying to tie up loose ends. As answers are far between Bailey talks her boss into getting FBI profiler Bridgett Bishop and Argus their electronic nerd with algorisms and more. While this is going on Conner feels it could be the bad guy they have been searching for and calls in a favor to US Marshall Vic Santino (Bridgetts' husband). Each character has such depth it's like they are your neighbor. Thats it no spoilers. I disagree with many of the reviewers, this is *not* a cliff hanger. It was a thread mentioned a couple times and pretty much gives a hint of what to come in book 8. Thank you for the advanced copy I freely volunteer my honest thoughts and opinions. #TrackingEvil #ABaileyFlynnFBIMysteryThriller #MelindaWoodhall #CreativeMagnolia #Booksirens

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A celebratory bachelorette party at a luxury resort is soon overshadowed when a dead body is discovered on the premises. The joy has been sucked out of the room for the Flynn family. Special Agent Bailey Flynn is intrigued as the scene looks eerily similar to a murder of a bride-to-be many years ago in this same place. She believes the killer is back, which means the wrong man was tried (though not convicted) for the crime.

The suspense is totally insane, unsettling and slightly creepy. As is the normal signature of this author, you will need your thinking cap on if you are going to solve this mystery. I suspected almost everyone at one point and time. The fear is well played and the building intensity is well controlled.

This book is addictive, twisted and a little terrifying. Serial killer mysteries are my favorite kind of mysteries, and this one was top notch.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm frustrated and spitting nickels over the cliffhanger ending!!! This was some great vigilante killings that were much needed imho. It was a settling of scores old and new. The body count was growing and where will it end?? I never expected it to go the way they did. It was a little bittersweet, because I'm certain several people would like to hunt the killer down and take legal action . Sometimes the law has its' hands tied and can't respond appropriately. When a criminal eludes fair play and justice, things need to happen. And they did!!! I'm hoping this character will survive, because they're too integral and vital to the story not to find a way through it all. Nail biting til the next book. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review .

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another enjoyable book featuring FBI agent Bailey Flynn. It is the 7th book in the series. While it can be read as a standalone, readers will likely enjoy it more if they have read the earlier books.

Melinda Woodhall always delivers a well-written book without the typos and grammatical errors that too many books contain. She does a fine job with this one, weaving the investigation of multiple murders with the development of the personal lives of the main characters.

There is no paucity of tension and danger, and the suspense was heightened by the difficulty in discovering who the killer was. I thought I had the killer's identity figured out, but I was wrong.

4.5 stars rounded down. Well recommended.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.