Caught In Cryptic

by Janee' Butterfield

FBI Criminal Profiler, Clara Van Dorn, finds herself buried deep in an investigation dating back to the 1990’s involving the kidnapping of a baby girl. Along the way, Clara unravels several clues and finds herself a lot more involved than she wished for. She finds herself with the daunting challenge of trying to bring down the ring leaders, masterminds of the psychological maze called Cryptic. Once Clara believes she has a handle on the case, it takes an unexpected cruel turn where she’s fighting against time and for her life. It's up to her survival instincts whether she'll be able to save herself and others from falling victim to Cryptic

163 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2016

About the author

**"Janee' Butterfield is a thriller author crafting gripping stories with chilling twists. With three self-published novels, she masterfully blends psychological suspense and eerie mystery to keep readers on edge.

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Reviews

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[Goodness Mfonido · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Caught In Cryptic by Janee' Butterfield. I couldn't put the book down until I was done. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading!

[Teresa Lavender · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book here on goodreads. This book has a great deal of potential, but it doesn't quite hit the mark. I love the story idea, and the fact that this is the beginning of a series. The character development is sketchy - the main character was all over the place, and unbelievable as an FBI agent with experience, as well as couple of other main characters - too many complete personality changes! With some work this could be a really good beginning to a series. The story transitions and action need to be smoother and less immature. There are a number of awkward and run on sentences that detract from the overall story. Some of the actions of the characters don't make sense. The cover image in very captivating!

[Gino Cox]

“Caught in Cryptic” should appeal to fans of Thomas Harris’s Hannibal Lecter stories. The villain is dispassionate, morally ambiguous, wealthy, refined, and unusually intelligent, but ruthless and inclined to repugnant crimes involving kidnapping and mistreating vulnerable young women. A young FBI criminal profiler becomes personally and professionally involved in the investigation, which takes her to exotic locations and exposes her to the darkest sides of human nature, as she closes in on her elusive antagonist, who seems to have won the heart and mind of his latest victim.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for my honest review. I felt this book was scary but that the story was on organized. Definitely will have a problem sleeping tonight. The plot was excellent but needed more organization.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel has a compelling premise and flashes of genuine promise, but it ultimately falls short of its potential. The core idea is strong enough to carry a memorable story, and there are moments where the emotional stakes begin to take shape. However, the execution doesn’t consistently support the ambition behind it.

The most noticeable gap is in character development. While the protagonists are positioned for meaningful arcs, they never fully evolve beyond surface-level motivations. As a result, key turning points lack the emotional weight they should carry. Deeper interiority and clearer growth trajectories would have made their choices feel earned rather than convenient.

Dialogue is another area that needed refinement. Conversations often feel expository or overly polished, pulling the reader out of the moment. Stronger differentiation in voice and more natural rhythms would have helped the characters feel distinct and believable.

Additionally, the structure of certain scenes could have benefited from clearer focus. At times, descriptions linger where they might have been omitted, while in other moments, important transitions or emotional beats are glossed over too quickly. A more deliberate balance would have strengthened pacing and narrative cohesion.

This feels like a manuscript that would have greatly benefited from the guidance of an experienced editor. Thoughtful tightening, sharper character arcs, and more disciplined scene construction could have elevated the story significantly, taking it from okay to genuinely great. As it stands, it’s a book with clear potential; one that hints at what it could have been with a bit more polish and structural care.

[Alicia Huxtable · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read

I found myself completely immersed in this story. I just couldn't put it down. Battlefield Janee has written quite a compelling take that all readers should give a go.

[Maryanne Chappell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Caught in Cryptic by Janee Butterfield last night, the first book in this series. I loved the story, it was really intense with edge of your seat drama throughout. It's a super bizarre story if a secret society that is far outside the norm. No spoilers but a pretty good read!

[Richard Stover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really well written and enjoyable. I have yet to find a book I enjoyed as much as "Caught In Cryptic" until now. Great author. Highly recommended!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd read. A bit unnerving.

[Jess Schira]

Marking this one as a DNF. Nothing wrong with it, I just couldn't into the story