What do you think?
Rate this book
Mackenzie White #5
Before He Needs
In BEFORE HE NEEDS (A Mackenzie White Mystery--Book 5), FBI special agent Mackenzie White finds herself summoned to crack a case she has never encountered before: the victim is not a man or a woman--but a couple.
The third couple found dead in their homes this month.
As Mackenzie and the FBI scramble to figure out who would want happily-married couples dead, her search takes her deep into a disturbing world and subculture. She quickly learns that all is not what it seems behind the picket fences of perfectly-suburban homes--and that darkness lurks at the edge of even the happiest-seeming families.
As her hunt morphs into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, Mackenzie, still struggling to find her own father's killer, realizes she may be in too deep--and that the killer she seeks may be the most elusive of all: shockingly normal.
A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, BEFORE HE NEEDS is book #5 in a riveting new series--with a beloved new character--that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
The third couple found dead in their homes this month.
As Mackenzie and the FBI scramble to figure out who would want happily-married couples dead, her search takes her deep into a disturbing world and subculture. She quickly learns that all is not what it seems behind the picket fences of perfectly-suburban homes--and that darkness lurks at the edge of even the happiest-seeming families.
As her hunt morphs into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, Mackenzie, still struggling to find her own father's killer, realizes she may be in too deep--and that the killer she seeks may be the most elusive of all: shockingly normal.
A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, BEFORE HE NEEDS is book #5 in a riveting new series--with a beloved new character--that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2017
696 people are currently reading
1055 people want to read
About the author
Blake Pierce
774 books5,837 followersBlake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 4, 2018
The crime in this one had me giggling when we found out the connection, then when we found out the why I was like...meh. I was glad that the ending was a bit more fleshed out and involved.
Once again I was more interested in Mac. I like the her new partner, Harrison and hated how things turned out there on a couple of fronts. The replacement brought him had me smiling, interested in seeing if things would go the way I hoped.
I loved that Mac took advantage of things and that this time things went her way, was disappointed with her when she picked a fight later, but was happy once again at the end, glad she could share her burden.
Once again I was more interested in Mac. I like the her new partner, Harrison and hated how things turned out there on a couple of fronts. The replacement brought him had me smiling, interested in seeing if things would go the way I hoped.
I loved that Mac took advantage of things and that this time things went her way, was disappointed with her when she picked a fight later, but was happy once again at the end, glad she could share her burden.
February 14, 2020
Ce tome m’a vraiment choqué 😯 les victimes sont étranges !!
Des couples modèles riches et heureux retrouvés assassinées avec férocité dans leurs lits sans aucun signe d’effraction ou pour but de piquer quoi que ce soit de leurs maisons de rêves dans des quartiers de luxe !
Qu’elle est Le lien entre ces couples ? Quel plaisir porte ces scènes de crime sanglantes et cruelles au assassin ?
Tueur en série ouiii , sauvage... cruel... psychopathe... ou lui aussi était victime de quelque chose qui le métamorphose en monstre humain !!
Mackenzie se retrouve en face d’un nouveau challenge des crimes aussi bizarres avec aucune piste ou suspect potentiel !!
Un tome qui coupe le souffle, et ma première fois que je connais le vrai sens de mot « Échangisme » entre les couples !!!
Aussi la relation d’agent Mackenzie White et son Équipier Progresse tendrement ♥️
Des couples modèles riches et heureux retrouvés assassinées avec férocité dans leurs lits sans aucun signe d’effraction ou pour but de piquer quoi que ce soit de leurs maisons de rêves dans des quartiers de luxe !
Qu’elle est Le lien entre ces couples ? Quel plaisir porte ces scènes de crime sanglantes et cruelles au assassin ?
Tueur en série ouiii , sauvage... cruel... psychopathe... ou lui aussi était victime de quelque chose qui le métamorphose en monstre humain !!
Mackenzie se retrouve en face d’un nouveau challenge des crimes aussi bizarres avec aucune piste ou suspect potentiel !!
Un tome qui coupe le souffle, et ma première fois que je connais le vrai sens de mot « Échangisme » entre les couples !!!
Aussi la relation d’agent Mackenzie White et son Équipier Progresse tendrement ♥️
December 25, 2023
“Antes de que necesite”, la quinta entrega de esta saga nos presenta un caso más retorcido que los anteriores, ya que son parejas las que están siendo asesinadas, el trasfondo de estos asesinatos no te deja insensible.
Sigue siendo una narración en tercera persona, como ya sabemos quien lleva la batuta es nuestra protagonista, pero también no olvidar los capítulos donde se ve el punto de vista de las víctimas y victimarios.
En esta entrega realmente se me hacía imposible como iban a hilar la trama para encontrar al asesino, aunque me pareció algo apresurado el como lo encontró, me agradó la actitud de Mackenzie que se le ve más madura y la toma de decisiones más certeras.
Por fin Ellington tiene un poco más de protagonismo, no solo un relleno más para tener una pizca de romanticismo, aún así sigue con tonos grises y a veces es innecesario tenerlo ahí.
Finalmente entiendo que esto se trata de Mackenzie pero mi lado detective siempre querrá conocer más a los asesinos, si bien se les da algunos capítulos, no lo es suficiente, pero creo que para otras personas no hay inconveniente con eso. Solo que siento que son personajes que valdría la pena explotar más, por lo menos yo lo agradecería.
Sigue siendo una narración en tercera persona, como ya sabemos quien lleva la batuta es nuestra protagonista, pero también no olvidar los capítulos donde se ve el punto de vista de las víctimas y victimarios.
En esta entrega realmente se me hacía imposible como iban a hilar la trama para encontrar al asesino, aunque me pareció algo apresurado el como lo encontró, me agradó la actitud de Mackenzie que se le ve más madura y la toma de decisiones más certeras.
Por fin Ellington tiene un poco más de protagonismo, no solo un relleno más para tener una pizca de romanticismo, aún así sigue con tonos grises y a veces es innecesario tenerlo ahí.
Finalmente entiendo que esto se trata de Mackenzie pero mi lado detective siempre querrá conocer más a los asesinos, si bien se les da algunos capítulos, no lo es suficiente, pero creo que para otras personas no hay inconveniente con eso. Solo que siento que son personajes que valdría la pena explotar más, por lo menos yo lo agradecería.
May 9, 2021
4...Wasn't quite as good as the last, but still a very good, quick read! I am hoping Mac gets some answers on her dad's case soon because that storyline grab is getting old...time for closure there!
August 6, 2017
Yep, I kept going. Once I finished Before He Takes, I realized the next book in the series was already available - damn, this dude writes fast! In this one, Mackenzie investigates the violent murders of four Miami couples who all turn out to be swingers. This one didn't seem to move quite as quickly as the books before it, but (spoiler alerttt)v the two main characters did finally hook up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2017
Cette série est vraiment très réussie. J'ai hâte de lire la suite
July 23, 2022
Amazing and I highly recommend all of her books and or the audiobooks!
Great mystery/thriller writer. She has a few things that bug me and a few crutches she needs to using them in her books. All it does is adds fluff to her books and she is so good she doesn't need the extra fluff at all. The fluffy stuff she writes is why she got 3 stars. She cuts the fluff and she will get 5 stars from me again :)
Great mystery/thriller writer. She has a few things that bug me and a few crutches she needs to using them in her books. All it does is adds fluff to her books and she is so good she doesn't need the extra fluff at all. The fluffy stuff she writes is why she got 3 stars. She cuts the fluff and she will get 5 stars from me again :)
April 26, 2025
FBI special agent Mackenzie White finds herself summoned to crack a case she has never encountered before: the victim is not a man or a woman--but a couple.
The third couple found dead in their homes this month.
As Mackenzie and the FBI scramble to figure out who would want happily-married couples dead, her search takes her deep into a disturbing world and subculture. She quickly learns that all is not what it seems behind the picket fences of perfectly-suburban homes--and that darkness lurks at the edge of even the happiest-seeming families.
As her hunt morphs into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, Mackenzie, still struggling to find her own father's killer, realizes she may be in too deep--and that the killer she seeks may be the most elusive of all: shockingly normal.
The third couple found dead in their homes this month.
As Mackenzie and the FBI scramble to figure out who would want happily-married couples dead, her search takes her deep into a disturbing world and subculture. She quickly learns that all is not what it seems behind the picket fences of perfectly-suburban homes--and that darkness lurks at the edge of even the happiest-seeming families.
As her hunt morphs into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, Mackenzie, still struggling to find her own father's killer, realizes she may be in too deep--and that the killer she seeks may be the most elusive of all: shockingly normal.
August 23, 2018
Pretty similar to the previous ones in the series. Ends a little differently. Mackenzie doesn’t venture out in her own this time. I still prefer a mystery in which I can be a little more involved in figuring out the killer. The books in this series do not allow you to become personally involved in the hunt. Also, it’s difficult to follow just how the clues they had led them to the killer. This is not my favorite series but I guess I’ll stick with it
April 7, 2018
Predictable but entertaining, easy reading. I've read the entire series so I know what I'm getting and it's something that I can read without having to give too much thought to it. These books deliver a good bit of suspense with exciting stories and characters that I've come to know well.
January 20, 2018
This is the 5th in the series about FBI Agent - McKenzie White..She is determined and can very much take care of herself. This time she is paired with a "rookie" FBI agent in a case in FL about couples being murdered.
During the investigation, the FBI agent she was working with is called away due to family problems and she is on her own, well so she thinks..Who shows up at her door but Ellington. Ellington is the FBI agent that actually got McKenzie into the academy. She had quite a "thing" for him, but when she found out he was married, she tried to forget him..Being thrown back in another case with him, comes with those feelings, but this time Ellington has been divorced for a couple of years. So working closely on this case, might they get together this time?
This delves into the "swingers" and the Miami night life..Good read, but not my favorite of all of the books so far. Don't get me wrong, there is lots of action, and it will get you turning pages to see how this one ends up.
During the investigation, the FBI agent she was working with is called away due to family problems and she is on her own, well so she thinks..Who shows up at her door but Ellington. Ellington is the FBI agent that actually got McKenzie into the academy. She had quite a "thing" for him, but when she found out he was married, she tried to forget him..Being thrown back in another case with him, comes with those feelings, but this time Ellington has been divorced for a couple of years. So working closely on this case, might they get together this time?
This delves into the "swingers" and the Miami night life..Good read, but not my favorite of all of the books so far. Don't get me wrong, there is lots of action, and it will get you turning pages to see how this one ends up.
May 23, 2017
Once again, Blake Pierce pulls off another winner!! Mackensie White, a hotshot FBI agent, is assigned to solve a series of murdered couples.
The author pieces together this winding pathway as a serial killer is loose in Miami. One step at a suspenseful time, Agent White uncovers fact after fact in this tale of gruesome murders of swinging married couples.
This is yet another successful thriller by Mr. Pierce sure to keep you perched on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. This is a must read for all!!
The author pieces together this winding pathway as a serial killer is loose in Miami. One step at a suspenseful time, Agent White uncovers fact after fact in this tale of gruesome murders of swinging married couples.
This is yet another successful thriller by Mr. Pierce sure to keep you perched on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. This is a must read for all!!
January 16, 2020
I am totally hooked on this series and Mackenzie White. She is so damaged by her past yet can get no resolution about who or why.
She and Ellington are working together as partners now, so long as they can keep their romance separate from their work, as McGrath said.
Again, they are seeking a serial killer and again I could not put this down. If you like a fast paced mystery with a female lead, get book number one and jump in. I especially love it because there are so many books already written so I can go seamlessly to the next book.
She and Ellington are working together as partners now, so long as they can keep their romance separate from their work, as McGrath said.
Again, they are seeking a serial killer and again I could not put this down. If you like a fast paced mystery with a female lead, get book number one and jump in. I especially love it because there are so many books already written so I can go seamlessly to the next book.
May 16, 2019
These books are incredibly addictive and as you can see from my reading list, I am reading them at the rate of knots. I have been devouring this series and every other series this author has written. What I will note, is that the books seem to be getting shorter at the same price point and the editing leaves a lot to be desired. However, the stories just bring me back for more and more and more.
May 3, 2020
A typical Blake Pierce book.
1) The protagonist gets beaten up badly but still manages to survive against all odds!
2) Around when 85% of the book is complete, we Mackenzie knows who the killer is
3) The rest 15% of the book is Mackenzie struggling with the killer
4) No progress on her dad's murder :(
Overall worth a read if you have nothing better to do and I dont!
1) The protagonist gets beaten up badly but still manages to survive against all odds!
2) Around when 85% of the book is complete, we Mackenzie knows who the killer is
3) The rest 15% of the book is Mackenzie struggling with the killer
4) No progress on her dad's murder :(
Overall worth a read if you have nothing better to do and I dont!
April 25, 2021
Couples are being murdered in their homes in Miami at a surprising rate. Mackenzie and a new partner are sent to investigate. She picks away at their lives until some common themes emerge. The fourth couple are found in their cabin on a cruise ship. As the clues come together, it's a race to catch the killer before he kills again.
May 30, 2017
I read every book by Blake Pierce and love them all !!!!!!
I read every book by Blake Pierce and love them all !!!!!! Every series
Always keeps me guessing until the end. Great writing
I read every book by Blake Pierce and love them all !!!!!! Every series
Always keeps me guessing until the end. Great writing
September 11, 2017
Excellent very good book couldn't put it down I would recommend this highly to people who love thrillers!
Recommend highly get good book couldn't put it down good to readers who like thrillers Blake Pierce is an excellent author
Recommend highly get good book couldn't put it down good to readers who like thrillers Blake Pierce is an excellent author
October 11, 2018
Interesting
I find the series interesting but all the books seem to have the same plot line, like it’s scripted. Also, the spelling and grammatical errors make for frustrating reads. I felt that the characters had very little depth in this novel.
I find the series interesting but all the books seem to have the same plot line, like it’s scripted. Also, the spelling and grammatical errors make for frustrating reads. I felt that the characters had very little depth in this novel.
December 3, 2018
Great
This is really a good one. Mackenzie is getting really good with finding the killer.Even with having a love life, it doesn't stop her from looking for a killer of swinging couples.Good storyline.On to the next book.
This is really a good one. Mackenzie is getting really good with finding the killer.Even with having a love life, it doesn't stop her from looking for a killer of swinging couples.Good storyline.On to the next book.
February 4, 2019
I expected this book to be a bit dull which it was in the beginning but it picked up well again after few chapters. I'm surprised to see Ellington and White hooking up finally but glad they did.
Even though I'm infatuated with Riley, I can't stop admiring Mackenzie for her bravery and her stubbornness towards her work.
This was a delightful read. It now makes me look at the beautiful Miami beaches with a bit of caution, swinger's club?? Who would imagine this ?
Blake pierce, you never fail to surprise me♥️
Even though I'm infatuated with Riley, I can't stop admiring Mackenzie for her bravery and her stubbornness towards her work.
This was a delightful read. It now makes me look at the beautiful Miami beaches with a bit of caution, swinger's club?? Who would imagine this ?
Blake pierce, you never fail to surprise me♥️
Read
November 26, 2020I have got hooked on the character of Blake Pierce, but the cost of his books are going up it seems. Since his books are only around 200 pages long I'm no longer willing to spend nearly as much on them as I would a full length novel.
April 14, 2024
Another Mackenzie one woman show. This time she hooks up with Ellington. Not sure about this relationship. But how many times can both of them get badly hurt and not wash up in the FBI. I guess they are super heroes. On to the next book.
June 28, 2024
Another great book!
Another great book in this series! Real this character development of new ones and the ones characters get better. There was plenty of tension through it the book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Enjoy
Another great book in this series! Real this character development of new ones and the ones characters get better. There was plenty of tension through it the book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Enjoy
May 23, 2017
I love this series!
May 23, 2017
Great book ... looking forward to #6!
August 3, 2017
Brilliant
Another fantastic read. And at long last they get together hopefully stay together lol this was another page turner for me.
Another fantastic read. And at long last they get together hopefully stay together lol this was another page turner for me.
February 10, 2018
Another Winner
I have run out of adjectives because I am totally hooked on this series. Ready for the next episode of this series
I have run out of adjectives because I am totally hooked on this series. Ready for the next episode of this series
February 15, 2018
Absolutely Mesmerizing
This book like all the others totally captured me from the words to the last. Mackenzie is the ultimate heroine and is obsessed with catching the bad guys.
This book like all the others totally captured me from the words to the last. Mackenzie is the ultimate heroine and is obsessed with catching the bad guys.
February 28, 2019
loved it❤️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews