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Special Agent Constant Marlowe #3
Untouchable: A Novella
For Special Agent Constant Marlowe, a quiet college town hides a nest of malice and revenge in this twisty novella by
New York Times
bestselling author Jeffery Deaver.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe is passing through the charming college town of Prescott, Illinois, when a chance encounter with a terrified student stops her in her tracks. Kathleen Delaine thought she was doing the right thing when she demanded an inquiry into traumatic brain injuries among the university’s football team. But after a manosphere shock jock picks up the story on his radio show and makes it personal, the online uproar bleeds into the real world. As Constant works to identify which of the host’s fanboys is threatening Kathleen, she discovers that behind the bullying campaign lies a vast and deadly conspiracy.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe is passing through the charming college town of Prescott, Illinois, when a chance encounter with a terrified student stops her in her tracks. Kathleen Delaine thought she was doing the right thing when she demanded an inquiry into traumatic brain injuries among the university’s football team. But after a manosphere shock jock picks up the story on his radio show and makes it personal, the online uproar bleeds into the real world. As Constant works to identify which of the host’s fanboys is threatening Kathleen, she discovers that behind the bullying campaign lies a vast and deadly conspiracy.
Audible Audio
First published February 17, 2026
638 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jeffery Deaver
526 books11.8k followers#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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
March 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a review
3.5: There are a lot of layers to this story. Every time something seemed straightforward, there’s another twist waiting in the wings.
The main character Constant is the highlight here. She’s smart and strong. She's so competent. She gets shit DONE. Love a protagonist who actually behaves like a functioning professional instead of a walking anxiety spiral.
The pacing is wild. Blink and suddenly everything is escalating. It’s tense and sharp.
My only real complaint is emotional impact. I was entertained the whole time, but I wasn’t emotionally devastated or deeply invested. It’s clever and intricate, but more brain-busy than heart-punchy.
3.5: There are a lot of layers to this story. Every time something seemed straightforward, there’s another twist waiting in the wings.
The main character Constant is the highlight here. She’s smart and strong. She's so competent. She gets shit DONE. Love a protagonist who actually behaves like a functioning professional instead of a walking anxiety spiral.
The pacing is wild. Blink and suddenly everything is escalating. It’s tense and sharp.
My only real complaint is emotional impact. I was entertained the whole time, but I wasn’t emotionally devastated or deeply invested. It’s clever and intricate, but more brain-busy than heart-punchy.
February 17, 2026
While working a case in Prescott, Illinois, FBI Agent Constant Marlowe spots an unsettling exchange between a college student, Kathleen, and a man who instantly sets off her instincts. When Constant steps in, she learns Kathleen is being stalked and threatened after writing a letter to the university about potential brain injuries among the school’s football players. Instead of taking her concerns seriously, the situation spiraled when a chauvinistic talk show host blasted her name on air and twisted the facts for outrage and ratings.
I was relieved Constant intervened, Kathleen was getting almost no support from campus officials or local police, and that radio host was a piece of work!
This short mystery isn’t as straightforward as it first appears and I enjoyed seeing it all play out in such a satisfying way!
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Christina Traister, and she was fantastic. Her calm, steady delivery suits Constant perfectly, and she shifts into the other characters’ voices with ease. A really strong performance that enhanced the story.
I voluntarily listened to an audio copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
I was relieved Constant intervened, Kathleen was getting almost no support from campus officials or local police, and that radio host was a piece of work!
This short mystery isn’t as straightforward as it first appears and I enjoyed seeing it all play out in such a satisfying way!
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Christina Traister, and she was fantastic. Her calm, steady delivery suits Constant perfectly, and she shifts into the other characters’ voices with ease. A really strong performance that enhanced the story.
I voluntarily listened to an audio copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
February 22, 2026
Cool
Constant Marlowe solves another crime with her techniques again. I also enjoy
the twists in the last part of the book. Her detective skills are amazing.
Mystery readers should give Jeffery Deaver's detective series a read.
Constant Marlowe solves another crime with her techniques again. I also enjoy
the twists in the last part of the book. Her detective skills are amazing.
Mystery readers should give Jeffery Deaver's detective series a read.
February 24, 2026
Another good entry in Jeffery Deaver's Constant Marlowe series. There are some nice ideas here, and while some of the story is a little predictable it's still a good read.
February 23, 2026
Love this character of Constant Marlowe. Enjoy nearly everything this author writes so pleased a new novella is available in the U.K.
Untouchable by Jeffery Deaver is what we expect from him and carries the story of agent Marlowe further and allows readers to marvel at here range and scope of operations.
It is great that she is a strong female character; not a facsimile of male operatives but a unique individual full of humanity and a sense of justice. She isn’t content with a partial solution or a token gesture of support and resolution.
So much happens in these short chapters. The first half seems just a formal investigation where leg work and basic intuition will close the investigation. Asking the right questions of the right people to reveal the identity of the stalker intent to terrorise a young female student.
The second part of the book explodes into action and clever set pieces where sexual harassment and serious criminal misdirection is countered with investigatory skill, prompt intervention and legal compromise.
How the author weaves so many complex threads into satisfying conclusions is brilliant to discover in these pages. Integrity, ingenuity and hard work are rewarded and the reader is more than satisfied.
More please.
Untouchable by Jeffery Deaver is what we expect from him and carries the story of agent Marlowe further and allows readers to marvel at here range and scope of operations.
It is great that she is a strong female character; not a facsimile of male operatives but a unique individual full of humanity and a sense of justice. She isn’t content with a partial solution or a token gesture of support and resolution.
So much happens in these short chapters. The first half seems just a formal investigation where leg work and basic intuition will close the investigation. Asking the right questions of the right people to reveal the identity of the stalker intent to terrorise a young female student.
The second part of the book explodes into action and clever set pieces where sexual harassment and serious criminal misdirection is countered with investigatory skill, prompt intervention and legal compromise.
How the author weaves so many complex threads into satisfying conclusions is brilliant to discover in these pages. Integrity, ingenuity and hard work are rewarded and the reader is more than satisfied.
More please.
February 24, 2026
Untouchable is the 3rd novella in the Special Agent Constant Marlowe series from Jeffery Deaver.
"Constant is in town for a hearing when a chance encounter with a terrified student makes her pause. Kathleen Delaine demanded an inquiry into head injuries on the university football team. When a manosphere podcaster makes the story makes the story personal, Kathleen finds herself under attack from several places."
As in all Deaver stories, there's always more. He is the master of misdirection. It's not just a simple stalking or misogynist spouting his hatred - there's other layers. Constant gets to use her boxing skills a couple of times - and her acting skills.
Did he have to name the podcaster, Brad? The worst, most slimy character in the story - Brads are already taking a literary beating this year.
There's some interesting observations about freedom of speech in this story - some to make you question it's fairness sometimes.
Surprising ending - the short narrative has quick pace so this is a fast read. Would love to see a full-length with Constant.
"Constant is in town for a hearing when a chance encounter with a terrified student makes her pause. Kathleen Delaine demanded an inquiry into head injuries on the university football team. When a manosphere podcaster makes the story makes the story personal, Kathleen finds herself under attack from several places."
As in all Deaver stories, there's always more. He is the master of misdirection. It's not just a simple stalking or misogynist spouting his hatred - there's other layers. Constant gets to use her boxing skills a couple of times - and her acting skills.
Did he have to name the podcaster, Brad? The worst, most slimy character in the story - Brads are already taking a literary beating this year.
There's some interesting observations about freedom of speech in this story - some to make you question it's fairness sometimes.
Surprising ending - the short narrative has quick pace so this is a fast read. Would love to see a full-length with Constant.
February 22, 2026
Deaver novella with his usual twist
February 10, 2026
A dark and twisty crime novella with a strong female lead. Whistleblowing, football, corporate greed, academia, right-wing media shock-jocks and their trolls, social media, overburdened police forces, and more fill this interesting story about making and breaking a reputation and trying to do what's right. This well-narrated audiobook kept me listening compulsively. 4.6 rounded up.
My thanks to the author, @JefferyDeaver, @AmazonOriginalStories, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #Untouchable for review purposes. Publication date: 17 February 2026.
My thanks to the author, @JefferyDeaver, @AmazonOriginalStories, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #Untouchable for review purposes. Publication date: 17 February 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Special Agent Constant Marlowe is passing through the charming college town of Prescott, Illinois, when a chance encounter with a terrified student stops her in her tracks. Kathleen Delaine thought she was doing the right thing when she demanded an inquiry into traumatic brain injuries among the university’s football team.
At first I found this novella interesting and exciting, then somewhere it suddenly took a left and it lost its steam and its point. We had more than one story happenng at once and more red herrings then an open air fish market.
Any one of those fishes could have been the mysterious ending and would have made as much sense,which wasn't much.
Expected publishing date Feb. 17, 2026
Good but could have been better.
Thanks to @netgalley and Amazon Originals Storiesfor the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
At first I found this novella interesting and exciting, then somewhere it suddenly took a left and it lost its steam and its point. We had more than one story happenng at once and more red herrings then an open air fish market.
Any one of those fishes could have been the mysterious ending and would have made as much sense,which wasn't much.
Expected publishing date Feb. 17, 2026
Good but could have been better.
Thanks to @netgalley and Amazon Originals Storiesfor the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
February 24, 2026
A Woman of Constant Marlowe*
A review of the Amazon Original Stories eBook (February 17, 2026) released simultaneously with the Amazon Original Stories audiobook.
This one started off in Reacher territory with Illinois Division of Criminal Investigation special agent Constant Marlowe seeing a woman being harassed and stepping in to defend her in a confrontation that ends in fisticuffs. It is gradually revealed that the woman is being targeted by various macho and misogynistic characters for being a whistleblower about traumatic head injuries in the local college football team. The heart of the conspiracy turns out to be a local radio jockey with an incel cult following. It all ends with a very predictable reveal in the end.
I looked back at my earlier reviews in the Constant Marlowe series and noticed that they often required Unsatisfactory Ending Alerts™. Untouchable (which doesn't need a UEA) is listed as #3 in the series. The earlier Broken Doll mini-series (2022), which introduced Marlowe, is not even included in the canon.
There was nothing very surprising in this outing and the expected twist could be seen from a mile away. The only shock was that the football coach, instead of being portrayed as the stereotypical macho hard-ass, was actually grateful to the woman for having exposed the dangers of football head injuries.
Soundtrack
* My lede header was inspired by special agent Constant Marlowe's name's similarity to Constant Sorrow as in the song I am a Man of Constant Sorrow which you can hear in a performance by Alison Krauss and Union Station on YouTube here. Lead singer Dan Tyminski was also the voice performer for George Clooney's version as the Soggy Bottom Boys in the Coen Brothers film O Brother Where Art Thou?.
A review of the Amazon Original Stories eBook (February 17, 2026) released simultaneously with the Amazon Original Stories audiobook.
This one started off in Reacher territory with Illinois Division of Criminal Investigation special agent Constant Marlowe seeing a woman being harassed and stepping in to defend her in a confrontation that ends in fisticuffs. It is gradually revealed that the woman is being targeted by various macho and misogynistic characters for being a whistleblower about traumatic head injuries in the local college football team. The heart of the conspiracy turns out to be a local radio jockey with an incel cult following. It all ends with a very predictable reveal in the end.
I looked back at my earlier reviews in the Constant Marlowe series and noticed that they often required Unsatisfactory Ending Alerts™. Untouchable (which doesn't need a UEA) is listed as #3 in the series. The earlier Broken Doll mini-series (2022), which introduced Marlowe, is not even included in the canon.
There was nothing very surprising in this outing and the expected twist could be seen from a mile away. The only shock was that the football coach, instead of being portrayed as the stereotypical macho hard-ass, was actually grateful to the woman for having exposed the dangers of football head injuries.
Soundtrack
* My lede header was inspired by special agent Constant Marlowe's name's similarity to Constant Sorrow as in the song I am a Man of Constant Sorrow which you can hear in a performance by Alison Krauss and Union Station on YouTube here. Lead singer Dan Tyminski was also the voice performer for George Clooney's version as the Soggy Bottom Boys in the Coen Brothers film O Brother Where Art Thou?.
March 5, 2026
What was supposed to be a bit of smooth talking to get a suspect out of a college town for a change of venue to Chicago becomes something more sinister when Agent Constant Marlowe sees a young woman being approached by a leering man.
An interesting look at the toxic side of masculinity as Deaver paints a picture of the seedy underbelly of our modern world, where the law is abused to allow some people to say whatever they want and damn the consequences.
An interesting look at the toxic side of masculinity as Deaver paints a picture of the seedy underbelly of our modern world, where the law is abused to allow some people to say whatever they want and damn the consequences.
February 17, 2026
This one was short, yet there was a lot packed into it. I liked how Constant witnessed an off interaction and that led her to so much more. Glad that she got to the bottom of things and helped 2 different cases and was able to put someone in their place, someone who needed it very much!
February 25, 2026
This is a review of an ARC obtained from NetGalley.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe digs into a bullying case that turns out to be much more complicated than it seems to be on the surface.
All the usual beats of a Constant Marlowe adventure are present - a confrontation that serves as an excuse for Constant to show off her superior boxing skills, interesting characters, a whole host of red herrings and the inevitable plot twist finale.
This is jeffery Deaver at his finest and this novella definitely packs a punch.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe digs into a bullying case that turns out to be much more complicated than it seems to be on the surface.
All the usual beats of a Constant Marlowe adventure are present - a confrontation that serves as an excuse for Constant to show off her superior boxing skills, interesting characters, a whole host of red herrings and the inevitable plot twist finale.
This is jeffery Deaver at his finest and this novella definitely packs a punch.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Complex Story Excellently Contained In A Novella
The novella begins with Special Agent Constant Marlowe watching a confrontation between a young woman and a man standing next to her at a street vendor. As she walks away, she yells at the man, asking if it was him, and swears at him. Marlowe crosses the street. She asks for their IDs. The woman complies, but the man starts talking about his rights. She asks him again. He complies. She asks if they know each other. Both no. When asked what the exchange is about, the man tells Marlowe to ask her. The woman says it was a mistake. Marlowe lets the man go and tells him to stay away from the woman. After he leaves, she asks if everything is OK. The woman has an exam and doesn't want to be late. Marlowe gave the woman her card, thinking she would probably throw it in the nearest trash can. Marlowe tells her where she is staying and that she can call or stop by anytime. From this seemingly minor start, a complex story begins.
Even though this is a novella, there are three main storyline threads. The first continues after the first encounter when Marlowe observes a second encounter between that young woman and a young man. When Marlowe approaches, the young woman tells her to go away. The man echoes the same to Marlowe and makes a very salacious remark about the woman. His interaction with Marlowe did not go well for the young man. This time, the young woman opens up about why she is being harassed. Marlowe is the primary narrator of this thread. Suddenly, a second thread pops up. A professional operative is robbing a house. He is the narrator of this thread, and it concludes the first thread. Then, an unexpected thread finishes off the novella. If you like reading about a despicable person getting their comeuppance, you will like these few chapters. The pace is fast, and Marlowe's investigative style drew me in quickly. There is one tsumani-level twist that comes during the reveal chapter of the first thread, but it is achieved by withholding information from the reader.
For character development, there is one B-storyline thread. It continues from the last novella. It is Marlowe's relationship with a prosecutor who also provides legal assistance during her investigations. It gives the human side of Marlowe. Her pugilistic background offers insight into her uncommon interactions with people who irritate her. It does keep her from wasting time on paperwork! This novella's aspect kept a smile on my face as I read.
Aspects that can cause readers to stop reading are present but at a low level in this novella. There are no intimate scenes. The despicable character is very misogynistic, but it is needed for the storyline. Objectable and impious language is present, but at a low level. For violence, I have seen worse in Saturday morning cartoons when growing up. There are no references to the previous novellas. There should be no reason for anyone reading this novel.
There wasn't anything in this novel that didn't enhance my enjoyment of his novella. There were many things I liked, but one thing stood out. It was when the despicable person used a quote from Teddy Roosevelt to justify his view on the relationship. I looked it up, and it was a mashup of two quotes that, taken together, do not support his point. It showed how intense his misogyny was by misquoting him.
All potential loose ends that I found were tied up by the end. I was happy with the endings, especially the second ending. I was compelled to read this novel and finished it in three days, which is considerably faster than my usual pace for novellas. I have read seven of the author's works before this one and bought three others. He is one of my Must-Read authors for the series I follow. I enjoyed reading this novel and rate it with four stars.
I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Amazon Original Stories through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Amazon Original Stories, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
The novella begins with Special Agent Constant Marlowe watching a confrontation between a young woman and a man standing next to her at a street vendor. As she walks away, she yells at the man, asking if it was him, and swears at him. Marlowe crosses the street. She asks for their IDs. The woman complies, but the man starts talking about his rights. She asks him again. He complies. She asks if they know each other. Both no. When asked what the exchange is about, the man tells Marlowe to ask her. The woman says it was a mistake. Marlowe lets the man go and tells him to stay away from the woman. After he leaves, she asks if everything is OK. The woman has an exam and doesn't want to be late. Marlowe gave the woman her card, thinking she would probably throw it in the nearest trash can. Marlowe tells her where she is staying and that she can call or stop by anytime. From this seemingly minor start, a complex story begins.
Even though this is a novella, there are three main storyline threads. The first continues after the first encounter when Marlowe observes a second encounter between that young woman and a young man. When Marlowe approaches, the young woman tells her to go away. The man echoes the same to Marlowe and makes a very salacious remark about the woman. His interaction with Marlowe did not go well for the young man. This time, the young woman opens up about why she is being harassed. Marlowe is the primary narrator of this thread. Suddenly, a second thread pops up. A professional operative is robbing a house. He is the narrator of this thread, and it concludes the first thread. Then, an unexpected thread finishes off the novella. If you like reading about a despicable person getting their comeuppance, you will like these few chapters. The pace is fast, and Marlowe's investigative style drew me in quickly. There is one tsumani-level twist that comes during the reveal chapter of the first thread, but it is achieved by withholding information from the reader.
For character development, there is one B-storyline thread. It continues from the last novella. It is Marlowe's relationship with a prosecutor who also provides legal assistance during her investigations. It gives the human side of Marlowe. Her pugilistic background offers insight into her uncommon interactions with people who irritate her. It does keep her from wasting time on paperwork! This novella's aspect kept a smile on my face as I read.
Aspects that can cause readers to stop reading are present but at a low level in this novella. There are no intimate scenes. The despicable character is very misogynistic, but it is needed for the storyline. Objectable and impious language is present, but at a low level. For violence, I have seen worse in Saturday morning cartoons when growing up. There are no references to the previous novellas. There should be no reason for anyone reading this novel.
There wasn't anything in this novel that didn't enhance my enjoyment of his novella. There were many things I liked, but one thing stood out. It was when the despicable person used a quote from Teddy Roosevelt to justify his view on the relationship. I looked it up, and it was a mashup of two quotes that, taken together, do not support his point. It showed how intense his misogyny was by misquoting him.
All potential loose ends that I found were tied up by the end. I was happy with the endings, especially the second ending. I was compelled to read this novel and finished it in three days, which is considerably faster than my usual pace for novellas. I have read seven of the author's works before this one and bought three others. He is one of my Must-Read authors for the series I follow. I enjoyed reading this novel and rate it with four stars.
I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Amazon Original Stories through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Amazon Original Stories, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fast-paced novella with strong protagonist
Thank you to NetGalley, Jeffery Deaver, and Brilliance Publishing for this advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
CW: Online harassment/cyberbullying, stalking, threats, violence, misogyny, sexual harassment
Jeffery Deaver's Untouchable is about Special Agent Constant Marlowe. She's passing through Prescott, Illinois when she meets Kathleen Delaine, a college student who's being threatened. Kathleen raised concerns about traumatic brain injuries on the university's football team. A shock jock picked up her story on his radio show and turned his audience against her. Online harassment became real-world danger. Constant investigates to figure out who's threatening Kathleen and uncovers a bigger conspiracy.
Christina Traister reads the audiobook. She's great. Her tone and pacing work really well. The narration is solid.
This moves fast. It grabbed me right away and kept me engaged. The pacing works. At about 3 hours or 130 pages, it's short but it doesn't feel rushed or incomplete. Deaver knows what he's doing with story structure.
The plot is well executed. There are twists that I didn't see coming. The suspense builds as you try to figure out who's behind everything and what they're actually after.
Constant Marlowe is a strong character. She's capable and direct. She has a background as a fighter and she's not afraid to use those skills. Watching her work to keep Kathleen safe while investigating the threats was compelling. She can be borderline unlikable at times. That doesn't bother me. It makes her more interesting than if she was just straightforwardly heroic.
The book deals with online harassment and how it becomes real violence. A radio host weaponizes his listeners against someone who spoke up about athlete safety. That feels current and relevant. The emotional side of it works. Kathleen isn't just a plot device. Her fear and the impact of what's happening to her matter. Constant's protectiveness comes through clearly.
This champions women. Kathleen does the right thing and gets targeted for it. Constant makes sure she stays safe. That works as the core of the story.
This is part of a series. I haven't read the other books with Constant Marlowe. It still worked for me. I got enough context to understand who she is and what she's about. I didn't feel lost. Though I imagine people who've read earlier books would feel more connected to her. I'm adding the first book to my TBR after finishing this.
There are some issues. Marlowe's view of men gets repetitive. There's this ongoing idea that all men are terrible that shows up multiple times. It's not constant but it happens enough that I noticed it being stated over and over.
The ending wraps up too quickly. The tension builds throughout and then everything resolves very fast. The pieces come together but it feels compressed. I wanted more time with the aftermath. More space to see how things settled after the main conflict resolved.
Even with those problems, this works. It's a quick thriller that kept me paying attention the whole way through. Deaver handles the structure and the twists well even in a shorter format.
This works for people who want fast thrillers, readers interested in online harassment and how it affects real life, anyone who likes capable female leads, fans of suspense with social themes, and people looking for good novellas. If you need detailed character relationships, slower pacing, or endings that take time wrapping everything up, this might feel too quick.
A solid thriller that makes me want to read more about Constant Marlowe.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jeffery Deaver, and Brilliance Publishing for this advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
CW: Online harassment/cyberbullying, stalking, threats, violence, misogyny, sexual harassment
Jeffery Deaver's Untouchable is about Special Agent Constant Marlowe. She's passing through Prescott, Illinois when she meets Kathleen Delaine, a college student who's being threatened. Kathleen raised concerns about traumatic brain injuries on the university's football team. A shock jock picked up her story on his radio show and turned his audience against her. Online harassment became real-world danger. Constant investigates to figure out who's threatening Kathleen and uncovers a bigger conspiracy.
Christina Traister reads the audiobook. She's great. Her tone and pacing work really well. The narration is solid.
This moves fast. It grabbed me right away and kept me engaged. The pacing works. At about 3 hours or 130 pages, it's short but it doesn't feel rushed or incomplete. Deaver knows what he's doing with story structure.
The plot is well executed. There are twists that I didn't see coming. The suspense builds as you try to figure out who's behind everything and what they're actually after.
Constant Marlowe is a strong character. She's capable and direct. She has a background as a fighter and she's not afraid to use those skills. Watching her work to keep Kathleen safe while investigating the threats was compelling. She can be borderline unlikable at times. That doesn't bother me. It makes her more interesting than if she was just straightforwardly heroic.
The book deals with online harassment and how it becomes real violence. A radio host weaponizes his listeners against someone who spoke up about athlete safety. That feels current and relevant. The emotional side of it works. Kathleen isn't just a plot device. Her fear and the impact of what's happening to her matter. Constant's protectiveness comes through clearly.
This champions women. Kathleen does the right thing and gets targeted for it. Constant makes sure she stays safe. That works as the core of the story.
This is part of a series. I haven't read the other books with Constant Marlowe. It still worked for me. I got enough context to understand who she is and what she's about. I didn't feel lost. Though I imagine people who've read earlier books would feel more connected to her. I'm adding the first book to my TBR after finishing this.
There are some issues. Marlowe's view of men gets repetitive. There's this ongoing idea that all men are terrible that shows up multiple times. It's not constant but it happens enough that I noticed it being stated over and over.
The ending wraps up too quickly. The tension builds throughout and then everything resolves very fast. The pieces come together but it feels compressed. I wanted more time with the aftermath. More space to see how things settled after the main conflict resolved.
Even with those problems, this works. It's a quick thriller that kept me paying attention the whole way through. Deaver handles the structure and the twists well even in a shorter format.
This works for people who want fast thrillers, readers interested in online harassment and how it affects real life, anyone who likes capable female leads, fans of suspense with social themes, and people looking for good novellas. If you need detailed character relationships, slower pacing, or endings that take time wrapping everything up, this might feel too quick.
A solid thriller that makes me want to read more about Constant Marlowe.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Jeffrey Deaver, and Amazon Original Stories for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Jeffery Deaver first caught my attention through his short stories, though I have since worked my way through many of his full-length novels. After reading a collection of his short fiction last summer, I discovered that one recurring character had spun off into her own series—comprised so far of a novel and several novellas. This story centres on Illinois Department of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Constant Marlowe, who is visiting the college town of Prescott when she encounters a visibly terrified young woman.
Kathleen Delaine, believes she is being stalked, yet she cannot identify her harasser—only the paralysing fear the situation has created. As Marlowe begins to investigate, she uncovers a deeper and more troubling truth: Kathleen previously blew the whistle on a major scandal involving long-term brain injuries among elite college football players. The fallout has made her a target. With a shock-jock radio host fanning misogyny and public outrage, Marlowe must help Kathleen navigate accusations, threats, and escalating danger, only to discover that something far more sinister lies beneath the surface. Deaver once again impresses with a tightly constructed and timely novella.
Deaver is a standout storyteller who understands how to balance the moving parts of a narrative to pull the reader in. Whether writing series fiction or shorter works, he rarely misses the mark. This novella establishes its stakes early, creating both urgency and focus as Marlowe confronts the many disturbing actions taken against Kathleen. As the story gathers momentum, the reader is taken on a sobering journey that exposes how far some people will go to conceal their own shortcomings. It’s a sharp, compelling read that can easily be finished in a sitting or two.
The characters are effective from the outset. Constant Marlowe had already intrigued me in earlier appearances, and while Deaver doesn’t dwell on her backstory here, her professionalism and resolve remain front and centre. The supporting cast helps shape the broader narrative, allowing Deaver to explore issues that regularly plague college campuses—and many communities—giving the story added resonance.
The plot delivers surprises from the opening pages, particularly in how Kathleen’s situation unfolds. Deaver’s twists feel purposeful rather than gratuitous, maintaining tension while avoiding predictability. His pacing is spot-on, weaving suspense in at just the right moments and keeping Marlowe edgy, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to help those in need.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for impressing me once more!
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http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Jeffery Deaver first caught my attention through his short stories, though I have since worked my way through many of his full-length novels. After reading a collection of his short fiction last summer, I discovered that one recurring character had spun off into her own series—comprised so far of a novel and several novellas. This story centres on Illinois Department of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Constant Marlowe, who is visiting the college town of Prescott when she encounters a visibly terrified young woman.
Kathleen Delaine, believes she is being stalked, yet she cannot identify her harasser—only the paralysing fear the situation has created. As Marlowe begins to investigate, she uncovers a deeper and more troubling truth: Kathleen previously blew the whistle on a major scandal involving long-term brain injuries among elite college football players. The fallout has made her a target. With a shock-jock radio host fanning misogyny and public outrage, Marlowe must help Kathleen navigate accusations, threats, and escalating danger, only to discover that something far more sinister lies beneath the surface. Deaver once again impresses with a tightly constructed and timely novella.
Deaver is a standout storyteller who understands how to balance the moving parts of a narrative to pull the reader in. Whether writing series fiction or shorter works, he rarely misses the mark. This novella establishes its stakes early, creating both urgency and focus as Marlowe confronts the many disturbing actions taken against Kathleen. As the story gathers momentum, the reader is taken on a sobering journey that exposes how far some people will go to conceal their own shortcomings. It’s a sharp, compelling read that can easily be finished in a sitting or two.
The characters are effective from the outset. Constant Marlowe had already intrigued me in earlier appearances, and while Deaver doesn’t dwell on her backstory here, her professionalism and resolve remain front and centre. The supporting cast helps shape the broader narrative, allowing Deaver to explore issues that regularly plague college campuses—and many communities—giving the story added resonance.
The plot delivers surprises from the opening pages, particularly in how Kathleen’s situation unfolds. Deaver’s twists feel purposeful rather than gratuitous, maintaining tension while avoiding predictability. His pacing is spot-on, weaving suspense in at just the right moments and keeping Marlowe edgy, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to help those in need.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for impressing me once more!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I did not come into Untouchable with a dossier on Special Agent Constant Marlowe. I barely knew her name wasn’t a typo for “Constance,” and suddenly she’s yeeting a creeper off a college sidewalk like it’s a full-contact ethics seminar. But five pages in, I was fully sold. I’d trust this woman with my life, my credit score, and probably my dark secrets.
This novella? Fast. Furious. Full of internet rage and actual danger. We’ve got Kathleen Delaine, poor sweet bean of a whistleblower, who thought she was just trying to protect college football players from having their brains turned into pudding. But after her story gets snatched up by a manosphere radio bro (imagine if Joe Rogan got bit by a radioactive Reddit thread), the online harassment goes full real-world horror show. Creepy messages. Shadowy stalkers. Nobody taking her seriously. Except for one woman with fists of fury and zero chill about injustice.
Constant doesn’t technically have jurisdiction here, but she also doesn’t have patience for cowards, red tape, or toxic masculinity. She rolls in with her prizefighter backstory, her investigative instincts, and immediately starts shaking trees. And oh boy, do some nasty little apples fall out. The twists are solid Deaver craft... sharp left turns, breadcrumb clues, and at least two moments where I clutched my metaphorical pearls like, “EXCUSE ME?”
And here’s the kicker: even though it’s a novella, it doesn’t feel like plot-lite. The emotional beats hit. There’s a quiet thread of trauma in Kathleen’s desperation, a rage in Constant’s protectiveness that goes beyond “justice” and into “don’t-you-dare-touch-her” territory. I love when a thriller remembers that victims are people, not plot devices, and this one sticks the landing.
That said, we do get hit with what I call the Novella Slide... everything is tight and tense and twisty, and then the ending sprints across the finish line like the author suddenly remembered they had a dentist appointment. The final puzzle piece clicks into place a little too quickly, and I would’ve killed for maybe five more pages of emotional fallout or someone crying on a porch swing.
Still. The pacing? Perfect for a one-sitting read. The villain? Hateable with the fire of a thousand incel message boards. And Constant? I would follow her into hell or a Hobby Lobby brawl over reproductive rights. She’s that good.
Four stars, easily. I may not have read the first two books, but now I’m fully onboard the Marlowe train, destination: beatdowns and moral clarity.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspect Every Single Dude With a Podcast Mic
Huge thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the ARC and for enabling my newest hyperfixation: emotionally intense female agents with a mean right hook and no time for the patriarchy. You handed me one novella and accidentally unlocked my full inner crime gremlin. Congrats.
This novella? Fast. Furious. Full of internet rage and actual danger. We’ve got Kathleen Delaine, poor sweet bean of a whistleblower, who thought she was just trying to protect college football players from having their brains turned into pudding. But after her story gets snatched up by a manosphere radio bro (imagine if Joe Rogan got bit by a radioactive Reddit thread), the online harassment goes full real-world horror show. Creepy messages. Shadowy stalkers. Nobody taking her seriously. Except for one woman with fists of fury and zero chill about injustice.
Constant doesn’t technically have jurisdiction here, but she also doesn’t have patience for cowards, red tape, or toxic masculinity. She rolls in with her prizefighter backstory, her investigative instincts, and immediately starts shaking trees. And oh boy, do some nasty little apples fall out. The twists are solid Deaver craft... sharp left turns, breadcrumb clues, and at least two moments where I clutched my metaphorical pearls like, “EXCUSE ME?”
And here’s the kicker: even though it’s a novella, it doesn’t feel like plot-lite. The emotional beats hit. There’s a quiet thread of trauma in Kathleen’s desperation, a rage in Constant’s protectiveness that goes beyond “justice” and into “don’t-you-dare-touch-her” territory. I love when a thriller remembers that victims are people, not plot devices, and this one sticks the landing.
That said, we do get hit with what I call the Novella Slide... everything is tight and tense and twisty, and then the ending sprints across the finish line like the author suddenly remembered they had a dentist appointment. The final puzzle piece clicks into place a little too quickly, and I would’ve killed for maybe five more pages of emotional fallout or someone crying on a porch swing.
Still. The pacing? Perfect for a one-sitting read. The villain? Hateable with the fire of a thousand incel message boards. And Constant? I would follow her into hell or a Hobby Lobby brawl over reproductive rights. She’s that good.
Four stars, easily. I may not have read the first two books, but now I’m fully onboard the Marlowe train, destination: beatdowns and moral clarity.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspect Every Single Dude With a Podcast Mic
Huge thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the ARC and for enabling my newest hyperfixation: emotionally intense female agents with a mean right hook and no time for the patriarchy. You handed me one novella and accidentally unlocked my full inner crime gremlin. Congrats.
February 15, 2026
Description from Amazon:
For Special Agent Constant Marlowe, a quiet college town hides a nest of malice and revenge in this twisty novella by New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe is passing through the charming college town of Prescott, Illinois, when a chance encounter with a terrified student stops her in her tracks. Kathleen Delaine thought she was doing the right thing when she demanded an inquiry into traumatic brain injuries among the university’s football team. But after a manosphere shock jock picks up the story on his radio show and makes it personal, the online uproar bleeds into the real world. As Constant works to identify which of the host’s fanboys is threatening Kathleen, she discovers that behind the bullying campaign lies a vast and deadly conspiracy.
This is another quick read for Deaver, and even though Constant has popped up in previous novellas, this can be read as a standalone.
Constant is quite the spitfire and sometimes her ability to take down threats seems a little off the charts, like not calling for backup when in a dangerous situation but rather deciding to have a boxing match? After seeing Kathleen being harassed on the streets, she quickly intervenes even though Kathleen insists she doesn’t need help. But Kathleen’s good work in requesting an inquiry into brain injuries of football players seems to have been blown out of proportion when a caller named Sam phones in to Brad Phillip’s toxic “man show” to ridicule her and make her out to be some sort of easy lay. Constant now needs to find out who this Sam is and help Kathleen to get to the bottom of why this all started.
Brad’s character is written really well and gives you the icks immediately. He is slimy and judgemental and believes that his views are right no matter what and that women shouldn’t be offended by what he has to say because they should know their place.
There is another side plot to the story and initially it’s difficult to put them together, especially when a character enters whose motives are questionable.
Without giving any of the plot away, you can guess that Constant follows a rather unorthodox plan to try to solve it all.
I liked the fast pace of the novella and the idea behind the plot, but I found the ending rather rushed and didn’t really feel the connection that Constant’s love interest had to this book. It just seemed a bit easy and convenient. It’s one of those fabulous reads while you are in it, but besides the main plot I’m not sure if I’ll remember much else a week later. Still gave it four stars though...
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review this arc copy.
For Special Agent Constant Marlowe, a quiet college town hides a nest of malice and revenge in this twisty novella by New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe is passing through the charming college town of Prescott, Illinois, when a chance encounter with a terrified student stops her in her tracks. Kathleen Delaine thought she was doing the right thing when she demanded an inquiry into traumatic brain injuries among the university’s football team. But after a manosphere shock jock picks up the story on his radio show and makes it personal, the online uproar bleeds into the real world. As Constant works to identify which of the host’s fanboys is threatening Kathleen, she discovers that behind the bullying campaign lies a vast and deadly conspiracy.
This is another quick read for Deaver, and even though Constant has popped up in previous novellas, this can be read as a standalone.
Constant is quite the spitfire and sometimes her ability to take down threats seems a little off the charts, like not calling for backup when in a dangerous situation but rather deciding to have a boxing match? After seeing Kathleen being harassed on the streets, she quickly intervenes even though Kathleen insists she doesn’t need help. But Kathleen’s good work in requesting an inquiry into brain injuries of football players seems to have been blown out of proportion when a caller named Sam phones in to Brad Phillip’s toxic “man show” to ridicule her and make her out to be some sort of easy lay. Constant now needs to find out who this Sam is and help Kathleen to get to the bottom of why this all started.
Brad’s character is written really well and gives you the icks immediately. He is slimy and judgemental and believes that his views are right no matter what and that women shouldn’t be offended by what he has to say because they should know their place.
There is another side plot to the story and initially it’s difficult to put them together, especially when a character enters whose motives are questionable.
Without giving any of the plot away, you can guess that Constant follows a rather unorthodox plan to try to solve it all.
I liked the fast pace of the novella and the idea behind the plot, but I found the ending rather rushed and didn’t really feel the connection that Constant’s love interest had to this book. It just seemed a bit easy and convenient. It’s one of those fabulous reads while you are in it, but besides the main plot I’m not sure if I’ll remember much else a week later. Still gave it four stars though...
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review this arc copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With a handful of exceptions – like Ernest Hemingway’s “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” - I’ve just never been much enjoyed reading anything shorter than a full-fledged book. But then along comes a long-time never-miss-a-book author with a series of novellas featuring Special Agent Constant Marlowe. I read the first but somehow missed the second; this time, a publisher’s rep emailed me the offer to read a re-release copy (thank you very much), so I couldn’t help but notice. Next up? Rushing to download it at NetGalley. And proceed polish it off in a couple of hours, give or take 20 minutes for lunch and running to the basement to grab another pack of TP when I discovered we were uncomfortably low in the upstairs bathroom.
Confession time: No, neither experience turned me into a short-story lover. But this one sure did turn me into a bone fide lover of this character – a special agent in the Illinois Department of Criminal Investigations who has the ability to “read” people and, if she doesn’t like the fine print, knock them silly with a perfectly aimed right to the solar plexus (oh, did I mention she’s a champion prizefighter)?
As this story begins, Constant is in Prescott, Illinois, to finish up a job when she spies a young woman who appears to be in distress. One jaw knocked out of alignment later, she learns the woman, Kathleen Delaine, has been harassed and bullied because she pushed for an investigation into an overload of traumatic brain injuries being experienced by the local university’s football team. A bad situation then took a turn for the worse when the host of a popular radio show put it on the air, ridiculing her for interfering in something women should not worry their pretty little heads about and not letting manly men be manly men (after all, football is a contact sport and getting banged up is a given, don’t you know}? From that point on, Kathleen’s life has been a living hell. That, in turn, angers Constant, who vows to help find the person who’s been sending her nasty messages. Meantime, she insists that Kathleen go stay with her father, an attorney who’s in the middle of a high-stakes medical malpractice trial.
Now for a “regular” length book, I’d keep going a bit. But in this case, there’s absolutely nothing more I can say that wouldn’t spoil the adventure for all the readers who come after me. Suffice it to say most things are more complicated than they seem on the surface, and this story’s no exception. Got a couple of hours to spare? Grab a copy. You won’t be disappointed.
Confession time: No, neither experience turned me into a short-story lover. But this one sure did turn me into a bone fide lover of this character – a special agent in the Illinois Department of Criminal Investigations who has the ability to “read” people and, if she doesn’t like the fine print, knock them silly with a perfectly aimed right to the solar plexus (oh, did I mention she’s a champion prizefighter)?
As this story begins, Constant is in Prescott, Illinois, to finish up a job when she spies a young woman who appears to be in distress. One jaw knocked out of alignment later, she learns the woman, Kathleen Delaine, has been harassed and bullied because she pushed for an investigation into an overload of traumatic brain injuries being experienced by the local university’s football team. A bad situation then took a turn for the worse when the host of a popular radio show put it on the air, ridiculing her for interfering in something women should not worry their pretty little heads about and not letting manly men be manly men (after all, football is a contact sport and getting banged up is a given, don’t you know}? From that point on, Kathleen’s life has been a living hell. That, in turn, angers Constant, who vows to help find the person who’s been sending her nasty messages. Meantime, she insists that Kathleen go stay with her father, an attorney who’s in the middle of a high-stakes medical malpractice trial.
Now for a “regular” length book, I’d keep going a bit. But in this case, there’s absolutely nothing more I can say that wouldn’t spoil the adventure for all the readers who come after me. Suffice it to say most things are more complicated than they seem on the surface, and this story’s no exception. Got a couple of hours to spare? Grab a copy. You won’t be disappointed.
February 14, 2026
This is a novella… So it’s only about 3 hours long.
But, wow! What an amazing PUNCH it delivers in such a short time!!
So apparently this is the first I’ve read with Constant Marlowe as the main character.
She is fierce! She is loyal! She has a gun! (And a badge!) And… you don’t want to get on the wrong side of her…
The story opens up with her being at a hearing in Prescott, Illinois. As she’s wandering the street afterward, she comes across a young woman, who appears very tense and upset…shouting at an older man…Was it you? He laughs and curses at her. At this point, Marlowe steps across the street, flashes her badge, and begins questioning…
The man, dressed in a suit, replies that she has no right to do this. He knows his rights!
The girl, dressed in college gear, answers the questions…
She leaves the girl, Kathleen Delaine, with her card, and tells her where she’s staying. She knows that look. The girl is scared…
She next runs into her on the college campus where another young man is yelling slurs at her. Marlowe is now fuming. And… he makes the mistake of coming at Marlowe. (Did I mention she’s also a prize fighter?) Now, Kathleen has some respect for her… and she begins to open up!
Apparently, Kathleen did some research on TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) for football players in college… and the results were horrifying. And she shared these results… leading to a couple of the players being benched for now. This somehow was leaked to a manly (Big LOL) shock-jock in the area who has had it out for Kathleen since. In fact, he has a huge following… and they all seem to know about Kathleen.
All. About. Her….
And she has been mercilessly attacked/harassed since then…
So, a whole big can of worms has now been opened… and Marlowe is not going to rest until she gets to the bottom of this!
But, then the twists start coming!!!! 😮😳😕😮
5 big, fierce, fighting, blazing, amazing stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#Untouchable by @JefferyDeaver and narrated Beautifully by @ChristinaTraister.
**** THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!! Soooo…..Look 👀👀for it in a couple of days… on 2/17/26! ****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @BrilliancePublishing and @AmazonOriginalStories for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
But, wow! What an amazing PUNCH it delivers in such a short time!!
So apparently this is the first I’ve read with Constant Marlowe as the main character.
She is fierce! She is loyal! She has a gun! (And a badge!) And… you don’t want to get on the wrong side of her…
The story opens up with her being at a hearing in Prescott, Illinois. As she’s wandering the street afterward, she comes across a young woman, who appears very tense and upset…shouting at an older man…Was it you? He laughs and curses at her. At this point, Marlowe steps across the street, flashes her badge, and begins questioning…
The man, dressed in a suit, replies that she has no right to do this. He knows his rights!
The girl, dressed in college gear, answers the questions…
She leaves the girl, Kathleen Delaine, with her card, and tells her where she’s staying. She knows that look. The girl is scared…
She next runs into her on the college campus where another young man is yelling slurs at her. Marlowe is now fuming. And… he makes the mistake of coming at Marlowe. (Did I mention she’s also a prize fighter?) Now, Kathleen has some respect for her… and she begins to open up!
Apparently, Kathleen did some research on TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) for football players in college… and the results were horrifying. And she shared these results… leading to a couple of the players being benched for now. This somehow was leaked to a manly (Big LOL) shock-jock in the area who has had it out for Kathleen since. In fact, he has a huge following… and they all seem to know about Kathleen.
All. About. Her….
And she has been mercilessly attacked/harassed since then…
So, a whole big can of worms has now been opened… and Marlowe is not going to rest until she gets to the bottom of this!
But, then the twists start coming!!!! 😮😳😕😮
5 big, fierce, fighting, blazing, amazing stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#Untouchable by @JefferyDeaver and narrated Beautifully by @ChristinaTraister.
**** THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!! Soooo…..Look 👀👀for it in a couple of days… on 2/17/26! ****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @BrilliancePublishing and @AmazonOriginalStories for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
March 1, 2026
Untouchable by Jeffery Deaver (2026)
Special Agent Constant Marlowe #3
related Dodge - Broken Doll #2 (2022)
137-page Kindle Ebook story pages 7-131
Genre: Crime Thriller, Novella
Featuring: Parts, Special Agent, Fictional College Town near Chicago, Illinois; Autumn, Misogyny, Toxic Masculinity, College Campus, References to Previous Book, Investigations, Bibliography for Jeffery Deaver
Rating as a movie: R for adult content
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📡🎙💻
My thoughts: 🔖Page 49 of 137 Chapter 7- It took about 30 pages for me to develop interest in the story. It's okay, but I'm going to spend my evening elsewhere and maybe knock this out before midnight.
Got a few phone calls during the climax, so my vibe was off. It was a bit of a slower start than usual, there was action in the early chapters but I was looking for a case. The second half carried the book for me. The ending was very satisfying.
Recommend to others: Yes, as a series.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe
0.5 Dodge (2022) Broken Doll #2
1. The Rule of Threes (2024)
2. Downstate (2025)
3. Untouchable (2026)
Songs for the soundtrack: "Overburdened" by Disturbed
Books and authors Mentioned: The Handmaid's Tale by Bruce Miller [based on] The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood; Peter Pan by Ted Sears, Erdman Penner, Bill Peet, Winston Hibler, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Ralph Wright, and Bill Cottrell [based on] Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie; Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane by Sean McKeever, Alias by Brian Michael Bendis, Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin, Green Arrow and Black Canary #1 by Judd Winick, Midnighter and Apollo by Steve Orlando, Hercules and the Hydra
Memorable Quotes: “The bad guys get away with bad stuff because the good people let them.” He then turned to a distinguished-looking man at the defense table—presumably the CEO, careless about both equipment design and writing emails—and added, “Well, I am not letting the defendants get away with doing bad stuff.”
“Bad people do bad stuff because good people let them. There’s bad stuff out there that isn’t technically criminal. And his show was bad stuff. It had to go.”
Special Agent Constant Marlowe #3
related Dodge - Broken Doll #2 (2022)
137-page Kindle Ebook story pages 7-131
Genre: Crime Thriller, Novella
Featuring: Parts, Special Agent, Fictional College Town near Chicago, Illinois; Autumn, Misogyny, Toxic Masculinity, College Campus, References to Previous Book, Investigations, Bibliography for Jeffery Deaver
Rating as a movie: R for adult content
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📡🎙💻
My thoughts: 🔖Page 49 of 137 Chapter 7- It took about 30 pages for me to develop interest in the story. It's okay, but I'm going to spend my evening elsewhere and maybe knock this out before midnight.
Got a few phone calls during the climax, so my vibe was off. It was a bit of a slower start than usual, there was action in the early chapters but I was looking for a case. The second half carried the book for me. The ending was very satisfying.
Recommend to others: Yes, as a series.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe
0.5 Dodge (2022) Broken Doll #2
1. The Rule of Threes (2024)
2. Downstate (2025)
3. Untouchable (2026)
Songs for the soundtrack: "Overburdened" by Disturbed
Books and authors Mentioned: The Handmaid's Tale by Bruce Miller [based on] The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood; Peter Pan by Ted Sears, Erdman Penner, Bill Peet, Winston Hibler, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Ralph Wright, and Bill Cottrell [based on] Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie; Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane by Sean McKeever, Alias by Brian Michael Bendis, Black Panther by Reginald Hudlin, Green Arrow and Black Canary #1 by Judd Winick, Midnighter and Apollo by Steve Orlando, Hercules and the Hydra
Memorable Quotes: “The bad guys get away with bad stuff because the good people let them.” He then turned to a distinguished-looking man at the defense table—presumably the CEO, careless about both equipment design and writing emails—and added, “Well, I am not letting the defendants get away with doing bad stuff.”
“Bad people do bad stuff because good people let them. There’s bad stuff out there that isn’t technically criminal. And his show was bad stuff. It had to go.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’ll pretty much read anything Jeffery Deaver writes, so picking up Untouchable was an easy yes for me. It’s a tight, twisty novella that wastes no time getting its hooks in. What starts as a quick stop in a quiet Illinois college town turns into something far darker when Special Agent Constant Marlowe crosses paths with a student who dared to question the cost of college football glory. From there, the story spirals into online outrage, real-world threats, and the uncomfortable realization that mobs do not need a mastermind in plain sight to become dangerous. Sometimes all they need is a microphone and a match.
I appreciate how precise Constant Marlowe is. She does not just chase suspects. She studies people. She reads tone, motive, insecurity. Watching her peel back the layers of what looks like random trolling and recognize the strategy behind it is deeply satisfying. Deaver has always been good at misdirection, and he absolutely plays fair while still managing to pull the rug out from under you. If you think you know who the real threat is, you probably do not. And that is half the fun.
The other concept that Deaver plays with in this story is the idea of the weaponized mob. The novella feels ripped from the current moment. It explores how outrage can be engineered and how a crowd can be used as cover. College football here is more than a sport. It is treated like a sacred institution, and questioning it is almost heresy. Deaver leans into that tension without preaching. The result is a story that feels both entertaining and uncomfortably plausible.
The audiobook, narrated by Christina Traister, adds to the reader experience. Traister gives Constant a calm, controlled authority that fits her perfectly. She handles the emotional swings of the threatened student with sensitivity, and her portrayal of the more aggressive voices in the story carries just enough edge without tipping into caricature. It is a nuanced performance that keeps the tension humming.
In the end, Untouchable feels like a sharp jab rather than a long, drawn-out brawl, and I mean that as a compliment. It is lean, smart, and just unsettling enough to stick with you after the final chapter. If you like thrillers that respect your intelligence and still manage to surprise you, this one delivers. It is proof that you do not need 400 pages to leave a mark.
I appreciate how precise Constant Marlowe is. She does not just chase suspects. She studies people. She reads tone, motive, insecurity. Watching her peel back the layers of what looks like random trolling and recognize the strategy behind it is deeply satisfying. Deaver has always been good at misdirection, and he absolutely plays fair while still managing to pull the rug out from under you. If you think you know who the real threat is, you probably do not. And that is half the fun.
The other concept that Deaver plays with in this story is the idea of the weaponized mob. The novella feels ripped from the current moment. It explores how outrage can be engineered and how a crowd can be used as cover. College football here is more than a sport. It is treated like a sacred institution, and questioning it is almost heresy. Deaver leans into that tension without preaching. The result is a story that feels both entertaining and uncomfortably plausible.
The audiobook, narrated by Christina Traister, adds to the reader experience. Traister gives Constant a calm, controlled authority that fits her perfectly. She handles the emotional swings of the threatened student with sensitivity, and her portrayal of the more aggressive voices in the story carries just enough edge without tipping into caricature. It is a nuanced performance that keeps the tension humming.
In the end, Untouchable feels like a sharp jab rather than a long, drawn-out brawl, and I mean that as a compliment. It is lean, smart, and just unsettling enough to stick with you after the final chapter. If you like thrillers that respect your intelligence and still manage to surprise you, this one delivers. It is proof that you do not need 400 pages to leave a mark.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC!
“Untouchable” is book three in the “Special Agent Constant Marlowe” Series, following the titular character as she solves cases. In this instalment, Constant is passing through the college town of Prescott, when she happens to see an odd interaction a terrified female student has. This student is Kathleen Delaine, who is experiencing harassment after a well-meaning good deed by her is misrepresented by a radio show host famous in the manosphere (for those who don’t know what that is, right-wing content which is anti-feminist, often also includes other forms of bigotry). As Kathleen confides in Constant, she decides to investigate who the stalker, who has been sending Kathleen creepy emails, is. But as she investigates, she finds out that things may be more complicated than they seem.
I must admit, I requested this not knowing it was the third in a series, but I did go ahead and read those two before I read this one. I don’t think this is strictly necessary, to me it seems that all the important details are explained again with each book, but I think it is still probably best to experience them in order.
I thought this was good for what it is, and I actually did appreciate the messages this book tried to convey. I was also surprised that one of the twists in this book actually got me, something I don’t think happens too often.
This is an easy and entertaining read, and while I don’t particularly love thrillers, I do think this will be the perfect read for those who do. I must confess I was a bit sceptical when I read book one, but by now Constant Marlowe has really grown on me, and I think it’s realistic there will be more books in this series, which I will gladly also read.
“Untouchable” is book three in the “Special Agent Constant Marlowe” Series, following the titular character as she solves cases. In this instalment, Constant is passing through the college town of Prescott, when she happens to see an odd interaction a terrified female student has. This student is Kathleen Delaine, who is experiencing harassment after a well-meaning good deed by her is misrepresented by a radio show host famous in the manosphere (for those who don’t know what that is, right-wing content which is anti-feminist, often also includes other forms of bigotry). As Kathleen confides in Constant, she decides to investigate who the stalker, who has been sending Kathleen creepy emails, is. But as she investigates, she finds out that things may be more complicated than they seem.
I must admit, I requested this not knowing it was the third in a series, but I did go ahead and read those two before I read this one. I don’t think this is strictly necessary, to me it seems that all the important details are explained again with each book, but I think it is still probably best to experience them in order.
I thought this was good for what it is, and I actually did appreciate the messages this book tried to convey. I was also surprised that one of the twists in this book actually got me, something I don’t think happens too often.
This is an easy and entertaining read, and while I don’t particularly love thrillers, I do think this will be the perfect read for those who do. I must confess I was a bit sceptical when I read book one, but by now Constant Marlowe has really grown on me, and I think it’s realistic there will be more books in this series, which I will gladly also read.
March 9, 2026
good plot and twists as usual with DEAVER but…
The crusade at the end against the caricatural man podcaster showman is at best weak and at worst lame. The pretenses to arrest him are beyond questionable, anything he did was flirting, and the real and only problem which could -and should- trigger legal action and jail time cannot be merely brushing knees, try to kiss and touching the back of a woman who, granted, said at first she just wanted to talk, but then made the decision to actually follow the guy - in a bar? No. In a restaurant? No again? In a cafe next day or any days to come for a morning Joe? Nope. But indeed in is very penthouse, mind you, the utmost personal and intimate place where you could join anyone…
under those circumstances, I don’t see how you can blame the guy for trying, nothing happened but trying, which is flirting. On the other hand, would he have been more entrepreneurial and forceful, then we’d have a case of sexual misconduct, but nothing the like happened from what I read here so it’s bad rendering on the author’s part. I know I’m but an old timer and (Lucky me not in the market) but how are men to expect having intercourse those days ? Just sit, shut up (or crack jokes) and look pretty until the lady would try to get a French kiss out of them to signal the relationship may go to the next level? Perhaps it’s what it is. I kind of doubt about it but who am I to tell?
Anyway, this last part ruined the whole good effect built up in the first 3 quarters of the novella. I hope you’ll do better next time Jeffery
The crusade at the end against the caricatural man podcaster showman is at best weak and at worst lame. The pretenses to arrest him are beyond questionable, anything he did was flirting, and the real and only problem which could -and should- trigger legal action and jail time cannot be merely brushing knees, try to kiss and touching the back of a woman who, granted, said at first she just wanted to talk, but then made the decision to actually follow the guy - in a bar? No. In a restaurant? No again? In a cafe next day or any days to come for a morning Joe? Nope. But indeed in is very penthouse, mind you, the utmost personal and intimate place where you could join anyone…
under those circumstances, I don’t see how you can blame the guy for trying, nothing happened but trying, which is flirting. On the other hand, would he have been more entrepreneurial and forceful, then we’d have a case of sexual misconduct, but nothing the like happened from what I read here so it’s bad rendering on the author’s part. I know I’m but an old timer and (Lucky me not in the market) but how are men to expect having intercourse those days ? Just sit, shut up (or crack jokes) and look pretty until the lady would try to get a French kiss out of them to signal the relationship may go to the next level? Perhaps it’s what it is. I kind of doubt about it but who am I to tell?
Anyway, this last part ruined the whole good effect built up in the first 3 quarters of the novella. I hope you’ll do better next time Jeffery
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Untouchable is a novella by best-selling American author, Jeffery Deaver that features Special Agent Constant Marlowe, itinerant investigator for the Department of Criminal Investigations in the state of Illinois. The audio version is narrated by Christina Traister. She thinks she’s all done in the college town of Prescott, and about to head out for a pleasant interlude with Evan Quill in the Wisconsin Dells, until she witnesses a disturbing exchange on the street, between a female college student and an older, suited man.
Constant can’t help stepping in; the man is seen off, but she’s still puzzled; the second person to approach, another college student, requires some physical convincing; Constant invites the young woman to share the cause of her distress. As is commonly the case with whistle-blowers, not everyone is happy about what she revealed, and a radio shock jock has made her the target of the town’s toxic males. Getting to her most are the creepy emails…
Local police and campus security seem unwilling to put in any effort, but some insightful questioning of the right people, a bit of research, and Constant has the real story figured out. An innocent is saved from becoming collateral damage, Quill lends his expertise, and someone gets a hard lesson in how not to be a toxic male. Quite a good twist in the tail.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing.
Constant can’t help stepping in; the man is seen off, but she’s still puzzled; the second person to approach, another college student, requires some physical convincing; Constant invites the young woman to share the cause of her distress. As is commonly the case with whistle-blowers, not everyone is happy about what she revealed, and a radio shock jock has made her the target of the town’s toxic males. Getting to her most are the creepy emails…
Local police and campus security seem unwilling to put in any effort, but some insightful questioning of the right people, a bit of research, and Constant has the real story figured out. An innocent is saved from becoming collateral damage, Quill lends his expertise, and someone gets a hard lesson in how not to be a toxic male. Quite a good twist in the tail.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing.
February 17, 2026
This novella was a quick read, with a propelling plot and interesting characters.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe is smart, strong, and tough. She is passing through the college town of Prescott, Illinois, when she observes Kathleen Delaine, a young college student, being harassed by multiple men. Kathleen is reluctant to share her story at first, but finally explains to Constant that she is being harassed. She went to the local paper with concerns that her school's successful football program was putting its athletes at risk of traumatic brain injury. Someone upset about the impact of her actions on the football team called in to a "manosphere" shock jock's radio show and the host implied that Kathleen had slept with the whole football team, after which men started harassing her on the street. As Constant looks into the case, she realizes something far more nefarious is at play, but will she be able to stop it before someone gets hurt?
The plot moves at a good pace and the twists are surprising yet believable. Although character development can be difficult to accomplish in a short novella, Deaver does a good job of introducing the essence of Constant Marlowe, her principles and motivations. I didn't realize that there are two previous Constant Marlowe books, but I think this one is a good introduction to the series and worked fine as a stand-alone.
Big thank you to Jeffrey Deaver, Amazon Originals, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe is smart, strong, and tough. She is passing through the college town of Prescott, Illinois, when she observes Kathleen Delaine, a young college student, being harassed by multiple men. Kathleen is reluctant to share her story at first, but finally explains to Constant that she is being harassed. She went to the local paper with concerns that her school's successful football program was putting its athletes at risk of traumatic brain injury. Someone upset about the impact of her actions on the football team called in to a "manosphere" shock jock's radio show and the host implied that Kathleen had slept with the whole football team, after which men started harassing her on the street. As Constant looks into the case, she realizes something far more nefarious is at play, but will she be able to stop it before someone gets hurt?
The plot moves at a good pace and the twists are surprising yet believable. Although character development can be difficult to accomplish in a short novella, Deaver does a good job of introducing the essence of Constant Marlowe, her principles and motivations. I didn't realize that there are two previous Constant Marlowe books, but I think this one is a good introduction to the series and worked fine as a stand-alone.
Big thank you to Jeffrey Deaver, Amazon Originals, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2026
I strongly recommend this story
Jeffrey Deaver has such a way with words! His characters are so well drawn. In this story, he describes a high school student so well, he looked like he could be a stalker. Or a school shooter, for that matter. He is not the focus of the story, though. Constant Marlowe stops an attack on a woman in a college town.
It, of course, it's just the beginning of the woman's story. She wrote a letter to the newspaper, asking why the university was not doing more to protect student athletes from head injuries. It is a good question that results in some football players being benched. This should have been the end of it, but instead, someone complained about her doing this to a hyper-male radio show host. He jumps in and makes a pariah of the woman, implying she is having sex with half the football team and only write the letter because she was upset about her boyfriend, star quarterback on the football team, had broken up with her. Now, the town she grew up in has turned against her. She is nearly assaulted nearly everyday and has acquired stalker. Constant, naturally enough, decides to help her and brings her investigating powers and law resources into play. She also protects the girl while looking into what has been done to her.
I chose this story because it's a short taste of Deaver's writing.
Jeffrey Deaver has such a way with words! His characters are so well drawn. In this story, he describes a high school student so well, he looked like he could be a stalker. Or a school shooter, for that matter. He is not the focus of the story, though. Constant Marlowe stops an attack on a woman in a college town.
It, of course, it's just the beginning of the woman's story. She wrote a letter to the newspaper, asking why the university was not doing more to protect student athletes from head injuries. It is a good question that results in some football players being benched. This should have been the end of it, but instead, someone complained about her doing this to a hyper-male radio show host. He jumps in and makes a pariah of the woman, implying she is having sex with half the football team and only write the letter because she was upset about her boyfriend, star quarterback on the football team, had broken up with her. Now, the town she grew up in has turned against her. She is nearly assaulted nearly everyday and has acquired stalker. Constant, naturally enough, decides to help her and brings her investigating powers and law resources into play. She also protects the girl while looking into what has been done to her.
I chose this story because it's a short taste of Deaver's writing.
February 22, 2026
I've read some of the Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme books in the past, but wasn't aware of this series of novellas. I found out later this is the third, butI didn't need the earlier ones to enjoy this story. Deaver draws the reader into a small college town in the Midwest. A place that seems normal, all-American, for the most part. Of course a Special Agent wouldn't be there unless she had a particular reason.
Constant Marlowe did not have have to get involved with Kathleen Delaine while she was in Prescott, Illinois. She could have minded her own business, but she saw a woman in trouble. Kathleen tried to expose the profligacy of traumatic brain injuries among the college's football team and that angered the wrong people. Deaver crosses Howard Stern with Ben Shapiro into a frighteningly realistic incel-supporting radio host who seems to have made it his mission to utterly ruin Kathleen Delaine, who has started to fear for her life.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC
Marlowe does have her own investigation to do but it takes a back seat to untangling the snarl of misdirections Deaver eventually weaves together into a conspiracy that I did not see coming.
Compact and intense. I'll be digging up the rest of the books.
Constant Marlowe did not have have to get involved with Kathleen Delaine while she was in Prescott, Illinois. She could have minded her own business, but she saw a woman in trouble. Kathleen tried to expose the profligacy of traumatic brain injuries among the college's football team and that angered the wrong people. Deaver crosses Howard Stern with Ben Shapiro into a frighteningly realistic incel-supporting radio host who seems to have made it his mission to utterly ruin Kathleen Delaine, who has started to fear for her life.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC
Marlowe does have her own investigation to do but it takes a back seat to untangling the snarl of misdirections Deaver eventually weaves together into a conspiracy that I did not see coming.
Compact and intense. I'll be digging up the rest of the books.
February 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of Untouchable by Jeffery Deaver
This was a smart, well plotted and highly engaging novella that showcased the author’s strengths as a master of suspense. At just novella length, Untouchable delivers the kind of tension fans have come to expect, with enough twists and clever manoeuvring to make it feel like a full-length thriller in miniature.
The story is intriguing: a seemingly unstoppable antagonist and a protagonist pushed into a game of cat and mouse where the rules are deceptive and survival depends on outthinking an opponent who always seems one step ahead. The author keeps the pace brisk and the stakes high throughout.
The audiobook narration adds an extra layer of enjoyment. The delivery helps to heighten tension and keeping the immersive quality strong from start to finish. The narrator’s control of pace and tone draws you in, making this an engaging listening experience even though the material is shorter than a standard novel.
A clever, fast-paced and entertaining thriller that works brilliantly as a listen. A very solid four star read.
This was a smart, well plotted and highly engaging novella that showcased the author’s strengths as a master of suspense. At just novella length, Untouchable delivers the kind of tension fans have come to expect, with enough twists and clever manoeuvring to make it feel like a full-length thriller in miniature.
The story is intriguing: a seemingly unstoppable antagonist and a protagonist pushed into a game of cat and mouse where the rules are deceptive and survival depends on outthinking an opponent who always seems one step ahead. The author keeps the pace brisk and the stakes high throughout.
The audiobook narration adds an extra layer of enjoyment. The delivery helps to heighten tension and keeping the immersive quality strong from start to finish. The narrator’s control of pace and tone draws you in, making this an engaging listening experience even though the material is shorter than a standard novel.
A clever, fast-paced and entertaining thriller that works brilliantly as a listen. A very solid four star read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This novella was an absolute page-turner—so gripping that I had to push it to the top of my reading list!
At its core, it’s a brilliant investigative story featuring a formidable female lead who knows exactly how to outsmart her targets. The plot is intricately woven with several unexpected twists. Just when I thought the main mystery had reached its conclusion, the story pushed further into a subsequent sub-plot that tied everything together perfectly, making the overall narrative feel much more complete and impactful.
If I had one minor critique, it would be that the resolution of the initial mystery felt a bit rushed—it caught me off guard how quickly the pieces fell into place given the limited page count. However, this didn't take away from the overall enjoyment.
Overall, this was a highly rewarding and fast-paced read. It’s the perfect book for anyone looking for a sharp, satisfying thriller that you can finish in a single sitting. Highly recommended!
#Untouchable #NetGalley
At its core, it’s a brilliant investigative story featuring a formidable female lead who knows exactly how to outsmart her targets. The plot is intricately woven with several unexpected twists. Just when I thought the main mystery had reached its conclusion, the story pushed further into a subsequent sub-plot that tied everything together perfectly, making the overall narrative feel much more complete and impactful.
If I had one minor critique, it would be that the resolution of the initial mystery felt a bit rushed—it caught me off guard how quickly the pieces fell into place given the limited page count. However, this didn't take away from the overall enjoyment.
Overall, this was a highly rewarding and fast-paced read. It’s the perfect book for anyone looking for a sharp, satisfying thriller that you can finish in a single sitting. Highly recommended!
#Untouchable #NetGalley
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