Face Last Seen

Sanchez & Heron #3

by Jeffery Deaver, Isabella Maldonado

When a dangerous AI weapon disappears, all hell breaks loose in a high-stakes thriller by New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Isabella Maldonado.

A high-stakes theft draws federal agent Carmen Sanchez and brilliant hacker Jake Heron into the hunt to recover the stolen Epsilon Core, a revolutionary autonomous weapon engineered to operate beyond human control.

An enemy in the shadows is assembling the final components to unleash it, causing unimaginable casualties. To stop the unthinkable, Carmen and Jake—experts in exposing intrusion and threats—must track down a mastermind who hides in plain sight behind a perfectly chilling disguise.

Racing against mercenaries, arms dealers, cult conspiracies and a nemesis from Jake’s past, the unlikely partners must navigate a complex and increasingly personal relationship—one put to the test when Jake himself falls under suspicion.

As the clock runs out, and the Epsilon Core’s devastation looms, Carmen must decide if she can trust her partner, a man she may not even recognize anymore.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller

Kindle Edition

Expected publication December 15, 2026

About the author

#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.

Reviews

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Description from Amazon:
When a dangerous AI weapon disappears, all hell breaks loose in a high-stakes thriller by New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Isabella Maldonado.

A high-stakes theft draws federal agent Carmen Sanchez and brilliant hacker Jake Heron into the hunt to recover the stolen Epsilon Core, a revolutionary autonomous weapon engineered to operate beyond human control.

An enemy in the shadows is assembling the final components to unleash it, causing unimaginable casualties. To stop the unthinkable, Carmen and Jake—experts in exposing intrusion and threats—must track down a mastermind who hides in plain sight behind a perfectly chilling disguise.
Racing against mercenaries, arms dealers, cult conspiracies and a nemesis from Jake’s past, the unlikely partners must navigate a complex and increasingly personal relationship—one put to the test when Jake himself falls under suspicion.

As the clock runs out, and the Epsilon Core’s devastation looms, Carmen must decide if she can trust her partner, a man she may not even recognize anymore.


This is book three in the series, and while some might say it can be read as a standalone, I don’t think enough of the intrusion aspect is explained in this one, so new readers might not completely understand what Heron does and how I-Squared came about.

There are two threads running through this story. One has the team chasing up on the missing Epsilon Core, and the other is the cult that Heron’s parents bought into.

The storyline around the Core and the AI behind it can become bogged down in tech speak at times, but when you start learning more about it and the ramifications of self-choice by AI, it starts looking a little scary. Heron is still only just off the naughty chair, and shouldn’t really be as involved as he is, but what with Reynolds, I-Squared’s overseer, seeming to be more interested in positive publicity and putting himself front and centre, it’s up to the team to sort out the real issue. This is one of those books where you can’t trust what you see, and the consequences for real life are frightening.

The cult section, with the reader learning more about the behind-the-scenes punishments for not toeing the line, is horrific, and the meaning behind the jewellery welded onto them and the brainwashing behind it brings home how different life is out there for others.

But as with good thrillers, things don’t always go to plan, and here we find villains behind villains, which made the threads move in some interesting misdirections. The writing is slow in places and speeds up elsewhere so there is a good mix of both. But I’m not sure it’s a standout for me.

As always, just when you think Heron and Sanchez have their issues sorted and things have worked out the best way possible, there is a curveball thrown in that sets a thread up well for the next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book.

[Mike Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who has read the previous efforts in this series by Deaver and Maldonado will rejoice at the fact there's a new book. Yes, it's good news that Sanchez and Heron are back. It's no surprise this talented writing duo has cooked up another adventure worthy of the I-squared team. This time they must square off against the ultimate AI threat. As if that isn't enough, Heron must also deal with some serious family issues. The shadow of Heron's nemesis is always present too and used to great effect by the authors. Of course, Face Last Seen has more twist and turns than Falcons Flight, Steel Vengeance, ArieForce One or any of the other world's greatest roller coasters. You wouldn't expect anything less from Deaver and Maldonado. It'll leave you hoping this isn't the last time we see the faces of Sanchez and Heron.

[Louise Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

A dangerous AI weapon disappear flame Carmen and Jake are in the hunt. With side missions of missing mothers and Jake as a suspect, they must get to the truth.

I am not going to lie. I did not understand the AI or technical talk. It didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book and made me even more convinced of Jake as a character and a tech genius! I enjoy the partnership of these two and the fart paced with a side of danger style of the series. The a cliffhanger ending I look forward to the next on. An enjoyable read! Lots of complex characters with a lot going on. At times almost hard to follow but I made sure I was paying attention.

[Marcie McPherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔐 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀.

There’s something very satisfying about taking that classic Jeffrey Deaver thriller style and bringing it into the modern age with AI, hacking and cybersecurity. Everything is explained clearly without getting too technical, the short chapters kept me firmly in the “just one more chapter” zone, and Jake Heron? Morally flexible and ridiculously competent. Exactly my kind of protagonist.

A thoroughly enjoyable thriller that works very well as a standalone, even as book three in the Sanchez & Heron series.

Thank you to Jeffery Deaver, Isabella Maldonado, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sanchez and Heron are back for another adventure. I will say, this one felt a little more tense and, honestly, sad. Not in a bad way. It’s just that there is some heaviness to some of the subject matters involved.

But in the midst of this, we have the typical incredible writing we have come to expect from the Deaver and Maldonando.

I know this review is really vague, but what I want to tell you about the novel would spoil it. So, let’s just say, great mystery. Really good character development with some emotional situations.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[KDRBCK]

Face Last Seen by Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado is book 3 in the Sanchez & Heron Series. Every book can easily be read as a stand alone. There are cross-overs, I recommend to read the books in order. The previous books are Fatal Intrusion and The Grave Artist.In this latest case fed agent Carmen Sanchez and brilliant hacker Jake Heron are in a race against villains and time when a weapon of mass destruction disappears.
Drama, danger, suspense, fast paced and complex, just what I love in a great thriller.
5 Stars.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast-paced thriller from the duo of Isabella Maldonado and Jeffrey Deaver. I am a big fan of the characters Carmen Sanchez and Jake Heron and was happy to see a third novel in this series. Maldonado and Deaver raise questions about the potential unknowns (and dangers) of AI, while acknowledging its inevitability. It was nice to have certain supporting story-lines move forward, with others left in progress - very much hoping that the series continues.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the advance reader's digital copy. #FaceLastSeen #NetGalley

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third novel in the Carmen Sanchez and Jake Heron Series. This time they are dealing with an international arms dealer who has an Epsilon Core along with an international tech criminal looking to steal it. It is an interesting storyline and a fast read.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, and my fiction book review blog.

[T Olsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

With experienced authors like these two, you would expect the writing to be good, and it is. There are, however, two drawbacks. The worst is all the techno-babble that's pure nonsense, and the second is all the unnecessary descriptions. So the book is readable and entertaining, but at the same time irritating.

[pranjalyyy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rate this book 3.75 ⭐. It was a very refreshing book; the theme of this book was amazing. It had a good plot twist
A gripping, suspenseful, and fast-paced novel. This book keeps readers on the edge.

[Matt Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read- with a well constructed plot, good character development and some difficult to predict twists in the tale. In one word- gripping!