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FBI Thriller #21
Enigma
Librarian’s note: This is a previously-published edition of
Kindle ASIN: B071RBPMVB.
The highly anticipated twenty-first FBI thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter presents Agents Savich and Sherlock with two baffling mysteries. Working with Agent Cam Wittier (Insidious) and New York-based former Special Forces agent Jack Cabot, they must race against the clock to catch an international criminal and solve the enigma of the man called John Doe.
When Agent Dillon Savich saves Kara Moody from a seemingly crazy man, he doesn’t realize he will soon be facing a scientist who wants to live forever and is using “John Doe” to help him. But when the scientist, Lister Maddox, loses him, he ups the stakes and targets another to take his experiments to the next level.
It’s a race against time literally as Savich and Sherlock rush to stop him and save both present and future victims of his experiments. In the meantime, Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot must track a violent criminal through the Daniel Boone National Forest. When he escapes through a daring rescue, the agents have to find out who set his escape in motion and how it all ties into the murder of Mia Prevost, the girlfriend of the president’s Chief of Staff’s only son, Saxton Hainny. It’s international intrigue at the highest levels and they know they have to succeed or national security is compromised.
Featuring Coulter’s signature “breakneck plot and magnetic characters” (Huffington Post), Enigma is a shocking thrill ride that will keep the you turning pages as fast as you can.
Kindle ASIN: B071RBPMVB.
The highly anticipated twenty-first FBI thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter presents Agents Savich and Sherlock with two baffling mysteries. Working with Agent Cam Wittier (Insidious) and New York-based former Special Forces agent Jack Cabot, they must race against the clock to catch an international criminal and solve the enigma of the man called John Doe.
When Agent Dillon Savich saves Kara Moody from a seemingly crazy man, he doesn’t realize he will soon be facing a scientist who wants to live forever and is using “John Doe” to help him. But when the scientist, Lister Maddox, loses him, he ups the stakes and targets another to take his experiments to the next level.
It’s a race against time literally as Savich and Sherlock rush to stop him and save both present and future victims of his experiments. In the meantime, Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot must track a violent criminal through the Daniel Boone National Forest. When he escapes through a daring rescue, the agents have to find out who set his escape in motion and how it all ties into the murder of Mia Prevost, the girlfriend of the president’s Chief of Staff’s only son, Saxton Hainny. It’s international intrigue at the highest levels and they know they have to succeed or national security is compromised.
Featuring Coulter’s signature “breakneck plot and magnetic characters” (Huffington Post), Enigma is a shocking thrill ride that will keep the you turning pages as fast as you can.
497 pages, ebook
First published September 12, 2017
3143 people are currently reading
5166 people want to read
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September 6, 2017
When FBI detective Dillon Savich saves Kara Moody from a hostage taker, little does he know he will be in a race against time to figure out the Enigma.
Kara is in labor after the kidnapping. She remembers the words of her captor "I can't let them take me...take you! It's evil, a monstrous evil." She gives birth, and a few hours later her son Alex is missing. Detective Savich and Sherlock are not only on duty to find a kidnapper but to unravel a twisted plot of a mad scientist obsessed with finding the secrets to immortality. While the two detectives enmeshed with science, Agent Cam Witter (from Insidious #20) and former special forces agent Jack Cabot are in a cat and mouse chase in the Appellations foothills to find an escaped prisoner who was in transport to Lee Federal Penitentiary. Manta Ray, an Irish master thief, is wanted for grand theft for six security boxes. But a Russian interest also wants to capture Manta Ray and his stash that is more important than he's aware.
Enigma is a story that blends science with a thrill ride against crime. The narrative's fast pace delivers a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are many moving parts to this novel, and it all works together brilliantly. The characters are well-developed, and two plots-lines are twisting seamlessly. Coulter offers palpable emotion in the characters, ambiance that puts you in center stage, and imagery that your eyes can see. Especially when the lights suddenly turn off in the parking garage, you feel the anticipation and tension. Coulter does her research when it comes to the medical system. The details of several classes of drugs, therapy, and the infrastructure of a hospital setting are on point. My only critique is a predictable nature of parts of the story, but that did not detract from the enjoyment of the novel.
Unwittingly, I picked out this book unaware of the 20 books that came before. But the story stood well on its own; characters developed well enough to retain my investment. Enigma is my first Catherine Coulter novel, and I was pleasantly surprised by intricate plots emerging in a well-written narrative. I may need to start at book #1.
Thank you, NetGalley, Gallery Books, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Kara is in labor after the kidnapping. She remembers the words of her captor "I can't let them take me...take you! It's evil, a monstrous evil." She gives birth, and a few hours later her son Alex is missing. Detective Savich and Sherlock are not only on duty to find a kidnapper but to unravel a twisted plot of a mad scientist obsessed with finding the secrets to immortality. While the two detectives enmeshed with science, Agent Cam Witter (from Insidious #20) and former special forces agent Jack Cabot are in a cat and mouse chase in the Appellations foothills to find an escaped prisoner who was in transport to Lee Federal Penitentiary. Manta Ray, an Irish master thief, is wanted for grand theft for six security boxes. But a Russian interest also wants to capture Manta Ray and his stash that is more important than he's aware.
Enigma is a story that blends science with a thrill ride against crime. The narrative's fast pace delivers a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are many moving parts to this novel, and it all works together brilliantly. The characters are well-developed, and two plots-lines are twisting seamlessly. Coulter offers palpable emotion in the characters, ambiance that puts you in center stage, and imagery that your eyes can see. Especially when the lights suddenly turn off in the parking garage, you feel the anticipation and tension. Coulter does her research when it comes to the medical system. The details of several classes of drugs, therapy, and the infrastructure of a hospital setting are on point. My only critique is a predictable nature of parts of the story, but that did not detract from the enjoyment of the novel.
Unwittingly, I picked out this book unaware of the 20 books that came before. But the story stood well on its own; characters developed well enough to retain my investment. Enigma is my first Catherine Coulter novel, and I was pleasantly surprised by intricate plots emerging in a well-written narrative. I may need to start at book #1.
Thank you, NetGalley, Gallery Books, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 14, 2017
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
Ain't no use wishing for something that's already gone. That's a country song, right? Well is fits here too, folks. The romance is gone and I'm not going to lament it in future reviews, but I will say, I will always miss it. Now, let's review what we have and not what we don't. We have a superb mystery, actually two mysteries. They both keep you guessing as to who and why well past the midpoint of the book. It got a little complicated as the CAU Team were working both of them and the process of solving each mystery overlapped with Savich and Sherlock right in the middle.
The Mystery of the Crazy Man: When an old friend of his grandmother's calls him to help her young, pregnant neighbor, Kara Moody, Dillon Savich goes. What he finds is a nasty situation where a seemingly crazy man is holding Kara and keeping Metro police at bay with a semi-auto AR15. “John Doe” seems to be off his meds, escaped from some mental institution, maybe. He is ranting about someone being after him and that he must save Kara. Savich shoots him, leaving him unconscious. Kara goes into labor, gives birth to Alex and later Alex is kidnapped from the hospital. Savich and Sherlock are sure that John Doe is the key to solving who kidnapped little Alex, but he is in a coma and the doctors don't know why.
the Mystery of the Box Agents Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot must track an escaped criminal through the Daniel Boone National Forest. They have to find out who helped him and why. When all this leads back to the murder of Mia Prevost, it also leads to government officials and the Russians.
Ain't no use wishing for something that's already gone. That's a country song, right? Well is fits here too, folks. The romance is gone and I'm not going to lament it in future reviews, but I will say, I will always miss it. Now, let's review what we have and not what we don't. We have a superb mystery, actually two mysteries. They both keep you guessing as to who and why well past the midpoint of the book. It got a little complicated as the CAU Team were working both of them and the process of solving each mystery overlapped with Savich and Sherlock right in the middle.
The Mystery of the Crazy Man: When an old friend of his grandmother's calls him to help her young, pregnant neighbor, Kara Moody, Dillon Savich goes. What he finds is a nasty situation where a seemingly crazy man is holding Kara and keeping Metro police at bay with a semi-auto AR15. “John Doe” seems to be off his meds, escaped from some mental institution, maybe. He is ranting about someone being after him and that he must save Kara. Savich shoots him, leaving him unconscious. Kara goes into labor, gives birth to Alex and later Alex is kidnapped from the hospital. Savich and Sherlock are sure that John Doe is the key to solving who kidnapped little Alex, but he is in a coma and the doctors don't know why.
the Mystery of the Box Agents Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot must track an escaped criminal through the Daniel Boone National Forest. They have to find out who helped him and why. When all this leads back to the murder of Mia Prevost, it also leads to government officials and the Russians.
October 6, 2021
Wow, this was a wild ride from start to finish! Not only is ENIGMA well-paced and all but impossible to put down, but Coulter writes a really smart, tight plot that keeps you hanging on every detail to see how they all knit together. Just brilliant!
Agents Savich and Sherlock become involved with their next complicated case after Savich interrupts what he believes to be a hostage situation. A crazed young man has broken into a neighbor's house and is holding a pregnant woman captive, screaming that they are in danger. It's only once he is unconscious and the woman goes into labor that they realize he may have been speaking the truth. This was my favorite thread of the story arcs. I found it absolutely intriguing and loved how Coulter managed to peel back layer after layer.
On another layer of the story, agents Jack and Cam are after a notorious criminal who's broken out of jail and is trying to get back to his underground ties. This thread was also fascinating, with its various players moving around secretly on the chessboard. A thrilling book from start to finish and I'll definitely be reading more by Catherine Coulter!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings Entered on screen reader.
Agents Savich and Sherlock become involved with their next complicated case after Savich interrupts what he believes to be a hostage situation. A crazed young man has broken into a neighbor's house and is holding a pregnant woman captive, screaming that they are in danger. It's only once he is unconscious and the woman goes into labor that they realize he may have been speaking the truth. This was my favorite thread of the story arcs. I found it absolutely intriguing and loved how Coulter managed to peel back layer after layer.
On another layer of the story, agents Jack and Cam are after a notorious criminal who's broken out of jail and is trying to get back to his underground ties. This thread was also fascinating, with its various players moving around secretly on the chessboard. A thrilling book from start to finish and I'll definitely be reading more by Catherine Coulter!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings Entered on screen reader.
December 18, 2017
An FBI superstar saves a pregnant woman from a madman who claims to be saving her. And an Irish thug is freed from jail by a powerful figure to fulfill a very secret mission. These two story lines alternate throughout the entire novel without much connection until the very end.
Well, I'm clearly out of sync with most of the other people who've enjoyed this novel. The novel starts with a bang as an FBI superstar, Savage, saves a pregnant woman from a man claiming to be an enigma. He goes into a coma for most of the rest of the novel so he remains an enigma! The second story line also begins with a bang as ex-military professionals free the thug, called the Manta Ray, from prison. This story line is more interesting than the first, which languishes with a comatose madman.
It's always suspect to me when the last chapter of a book spends 5 pages explaining how all of the details in the novel fit together. The revelation is always more exciting when it comes together for the reader without authorial explanation. Reading the revelation rather than coming upon it by ourselves means the story either wasn't clear or the connections are too strained. Coulter had some big ideas that she voices in the last chapter. But, frankly, you've heard of this aspiration too many times before.
So, languishing plot lines that remain unconnected way too long, overreaching on big ideas that are not quite pulled off, and a big idea (I can't divulge) that's been written about for decades lead me to my 3-star review. Add to that was having to suffer through a very annoying set of readers for the audio version of this novel. I may have enjoyed reading the novel more than listening to it. Given the other reviews and that this is her 21st mystery, clearly I am in the minority.
Well, I'm clearly out of sync with most of the other people who've enjoyed this novel. The novel starts with a bang as an FBI superstar, Savage, saves a pregnant woman from a man claiming to be an enigma. He goes into a coma for most of the rest of the novel so he remains an enigma! The second story line also begins with a bang as ex-military professionals free the thug, called the Manta Ray, from prison. This story line is more interesting than the first, which languishes with a comatose madman.
It's always suspect to me when the last chapter of a book spends 5 pages explaining how all of the details in the novel fit together. The revelation is always more exciting when it comes together for the reader without authorial explanation. Reading the revelation rather than coming upon it by ourselves means the story either wasn't clear or the connections are too strained. Coulter had some big ideas that she voices in the last chapter. But, frankly, you've heard of this aspiration too many times before.
So, languishing plot lines that remain unconnected way too long, overreaching on big ideas that are not quite pulled off, and a big idea (I can't divulge) that's been written about for decades lead me to my 3-star review. Add to that was having to suffer through a very annoying set of readers for the audio version of this novel. I may have enjoyed reading the novel more than listening to it. Given the other reviews and that this is her 21st mystery, clearly I am in the minority.
September 7, 2017
Enigma: “a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.” Well, I can see that definition as a fitting title for this book. Maybe not for the reason envisioned my Ms Coulter. But I will get to that.
Two story-lines: FBI Special Agents and married couple Savitch and Sherlock investigating the tie between a comatose man and a pregnant woman and Special Agents Cam Whittier and Jack Cabot going after a dangerous escaped prisoner who has ties to the Russian mob and the Russians have ties with the White House. (No, not political ties.)
Both are interesting story lines, one produces some thought provoking ideas about aging and the ethical considerations of the on-going research into the "Fountain of Youth". The other is just a good old fashioned crime story in the trappings of bank robberies, blackmail, murder and several daring escapes. Coulter writes very well and develops some fascinating criminals.
I have two small puzzles with Enigma. Coulter has decent access to the FBI, yet she still manages to get procedure really wrong in some instances. I understand this is in support of her story, but maybe some sections should have been re-written so they are more realistic. Another reviewer, with no access to FBI procedure was spot on with her remarks about how unrealistic some scenes seemed to be.
My other puzzlement, one major part of the escaped prisoner story line just flat out seemed to be dropped. There was a small, but unsatisfying ending given in an epilogue. The epilogue hinted at a good story, but the story just wasn't there for us.
I have read and been a fan of Coulter from her first book written 21 years ago. Recently she has been leaving the hot romance (who can forget Sherlock's seduction of Savich) scenes aside and concentrating more on the thriller aspects. Darn it, I miss a little heat in the books.
Always, always Coulter writes books brimming with excitement, originality and heart. Enigma is no exception.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Two story-lines: FBI Special Agents and married couple Savitch and Sherlock investigating the tie between a comatose man and a pregnant woman and Special Agents Cam Whittier and Jack Cabot going after a dangerous escaped prisoner who has ties to the Russian mob and the Russians have ties with the White House. (No, not political ties.)
Both are interesting story lines, one produces some thought provoking ideas about aging and the ethical considerations of the on-going research into the "Fountain of Youth". The other is just a good old fashioned crime story in the trappings of bank robberies, blackmail, murder and several daring escapes. Coulter writes very well and develops some fascinating criminals.
I have two small puzzles with Enigma. Coulter has decent access to the FBI, yet she still manages to get procedure really wrong in some instances. I understand this is in support of her story, but maybe some sections should have been re-written so they are more realistic. Another reviewer, with no access to FBI procedure was spot on with her remarks about how unrealistic some scenes seemed to be.
My other puzzlement, one major part of the escaped prisoner story line just flat out seemed to be dropped. There was a small, but unsatisfying ending given in an epilogue. The epilogue hinted at a good story, but the story just wasn't there for us.
I have read and been a fan of Coulter from her first book written 21 years ago. Recently she has been leaving the hot romance (who can forget Sherlock's seduction of Savich) scenes aside and concentrating more on the thriller aspects. Darn it, I miss a little heat in the books.
Always, always Coulter writes books brimming with excitement, originality and heart. Enigma is no exception.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of a fair and honest review.
September 8, 2017
Fully a score of books in this series has preceded this one, and despite my good intentions - they've been on my want-to-read list for quite some time - up to this point I've read nary a single one. Big mistake, but one I certainly won't make again. Ms. Coulter earned a spot on my list of favorite authors with The Devil's Triangle, her "A Brit in the FBI" series, and this one ensures that she won't be moving off anytime soon. Or, to put it another way, wow!
That the characters weren't familiar to me going in wasn't an issue; early on, I got the drift, and at no time did I feel lost (although I'll advise, as I always do, that it's best to start a series as close to the beginning as possible if only to see how the characters change and who comes and goes over time). Here, the most important people to know are FBI agents named Savich (Dillon), Wittier (Cam), Cabot (Jack) and Sherlock (if she has a second name, it slipped past me). There are a couple of plots going on at the same time, but even though they don't overlap much, I never got confused as to who's who and what's what.
The first story begins with Savich in the home of a very pregnant woman named Kara, who's being threatened by a man who's ranting about people out to get him and insisting he's an "enigma." Savich nails the guy, who then falls into a coma and is taken to a hospital. Kara soon follows - and gives birth to baby Alex. Then comes the unthinkable; the baby is kidnapped from the hospital right under the noses of the doctors and nurses. Further investigation turns up bizzare links between the still unidentified comotose guy, Kara and her baby - and leads Savich, Sherlock and their team to a grandiose scheme involving drugs of a very different sort.
While this is going on, a psychopathic bank robber somehow escapes just as he's arriving at his future home - a federal penitentiary. Whittier and Cabot get the case, following the convict and the people who helped him escape into the wilds of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Apparently, the convict, dubbed "Manta Ray," stole and hid some kind of safe deposit box before he was captured. Could it be that his new companions have an ulterior motive of their own for springing him?
The two investigations lead from U.S.-sanctioned Russian bankers (could that topic be more timely?) to the inner workings of a pharmaceutical firm to the highest echelons of the U.S. government. There's plenty of intrigue to go round, and the action rarely takes a break. This one's a don't-miss - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
That the characters weren't familiar to me going in wasn't an issue; early on, I got the drift, and at no time did I feel lost (although I'll advise, as I always do, that it's best to start a series as close to the beginning as possible if only to see how the characters change and who comes and goes over time). Here, the most important people to know are FBI agents named Savich (Dillon), Wittier (Cam), Cabot (Jack) and Sherlock (if she has a second name, it slipped past me). There are a couple of plots going on at the same time, but even though they don't overlap much, I never got confused as to who's who and what's what.
The first story begins with Savich in the home of a very pregnant woman named Kara, who's being threatened by a man who's ranting about people out to get him and insisting he's an "enigma." Savich nails the guy, who then falls into a coma and is taken to a hospital. Kara soon follows - and gives birth to baby Alex. Then comes the unthinkable; the baby is kidnapped from the hospital right under the noses of the doctors and nurses. Further investigation turns up bizzare links between the still unidentified comotose guy, Kara and her baby - and leads Savich, Sherlock and their team to a grandiose scheme involving drugs of a very different sort.
While this is going on, a psychopathic bank robber somehow escapes just as he's arriving at his future home - a federal penitentiary. Whittier and Cabot get the case, following the convict and the people who helped him escape into the wilds of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Apparently, the convict, dubbed "Manta Ray," stole and hid some kind of safe deposit box before he was captured. Could it be that his new companions have an ulterior motive of their own for springing him?
The two investigations lead from U.S.-sanctioned Russian bankers (could that topic be more timely?) to the inner workings of a pharmaceutical firm to the highest echelons of the U.S. government. There's plenty of intrigue to go round, and the action rarely takes a break. This one's a don't-miss - and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2017
Baffling crimes don’t take a holiday and the FBI team of Savage and Sherlock are knee deep in a mystery that will impact the world while Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot are hot on the trail of an escaped prisoner with a penchant for leaving no loose ends who may have ties to the murder of a top government official’s daughter. Welcome to ENIGMA from Catherine Coulter, so settle in and prepare for edge of your seat action in a race against time, crime, murder and twisted science.
One young woman, drugged at a party is now pregnant and being held captive by a gunman who claims he is there to protect her. What his capture reveals is a sinister plot by a twisted scientist whose sights may be set on the unborn child. It will be up to Savage and Sherlock to uncover the truth behind the genome research of a monster.
Wittier and Cabot find themselves caught up in what could become an international incident if they don’t retrieve their prey and discover who is behind the daring prison break and why.
Catherine Coulter can write intrigue, toss in elements of danger, a plethora of unresolved riddles and completely captivate her audiences from start to finish as we follow the action! High tension, high stakes and great story telling fill each and every page.
I received an ARC edition from Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review.
Series: FBI Thriller - Book 21
Publisher: Gallery Books (September 12, 2017)
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Gene: Mystery | Thriller
Print Length: 496 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
One young woman, drugged at a party is now pregnant and being held captive by a gunman who claims he is there to protect her. What his capture reveals is a sinister plot by a twisted scientist whose sights may be set on the unborn child. It will be up to Savage and Sherlock to uncover the truth behind the genome research of a monster.
Wittier and Cabot find themselves caught up in what could become an international incident if they don’t retrieve their prey and discover who is behind the daring prison break and why.
Catherine Coulter can write intrigue, toss in elements of danger, a plethora of unresolved riddles and completely captivate her audiences from start to finish as we follow the action! High tension, high stakes and great story telling fill each and every page.
I received an ARC edition from Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review.
Series: FBI Thriller - Book 21
Publisher: Gallery Books (September 12, 2017)
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Gene: Mystery | Thriller
Print Length: 496 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 10, 2017
This is the 21st book in the series but the first I have read. It can be read without reading the others. I have heard alot about this author as she writes with a favourite of mine JT Ellison. This was a great story, fast and exciting with alot going on. Thanks to Gallery Books via Netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review
June 23, 2020
Superb. A wonderful read. Once again Catherine Coulter writes a superb FBI thriller. This time focusing on 2 main plots. The reader, me, waits to find out how they link.
Unputdownable
Unputdownable
November 18, 2017
This story of expanding one's life cycle at the trial and expense of others demonstrates the depths of inhumanity some possess. 5 of 10 stars
August 19, 2017
Good story that blended science, a somewhat mad scientist, a kidnapped baby, assorted wanton killers, and the FBI. This happens to be the twenty-first book in the series so as I have not read any of the others, I felt like I came late to the party.
While it was certainly a quick read and had all the components of a thriller, I felt it also had some drawbacks. For some reason it left me feeling a bit let down although I did enjoy the characters of Sherlock and Savich and in a second storyline, Jack and Cam. I do love the blending of science and mayhem (which by the way, James Rollins is the master of). I also had a hard time with some of the action scenes. I had to question how or if FBI agents in real life, would have rushed into some of the situations the protagonists found themselves in as unprepared as they were. It seemed that perhaps the characters put themselves in harm's way without necessary preparation. Perhaps if I had read some of the previous outings of the characters mentioned, it would have achieved a higher rating from me.
All in all it was not a bad book, just one that left me a bit bereft of that quickening of feelings one gets as a thriller novel oftentimes rushes the reader to that ultimate "ah ha" ending. However, I do think this book would transition well to a TV series or even a movie. I did like it and might in the future read some others in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Book for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for an unbiased review.
While it was certainly a quick read and had all the components of a thriller, I felt it also had some drawbacks. For some reason it left me feeling a bit let down although I did enjoy the characters of Sherlock and Savich and in a second storyline, Jack and Cam. I do love the blending of science and mayhem (which by the way, James Rollins is the master of). I also had a hard time with some of the action scenes. I had to question how or if FBI agents in real life, would have rushed into some of the situations the protagonists found themselves in as unprepared as they were. It seemed that perhaps the characters put themselves in harm's way without necessary preparation. Perhaps if I had read some of the previous outings of the characters mentioned, it would have achieved a higher rating from me.
All in all it was not a bad book, just one that left me a bit bereft of that quickening of feelings one gets as a thriller novel oftentimes rushes the reader to that ultimate "ah ha" ending. However, I do think this book would transition well to a TV series or even a movie. I did like it and might in the future read some others in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Book for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for an unbiased review.
September 7, 2017
It’s been a long while since I’ve read a thriller that didn’t have an ounce of romance in it. Well, technically, this does have just a tad bit of romance, but it’s a story of special agents that are working on two different cases. It is fast paced, well written, deeply intelligent without bogging the reader down with complicated details and extremely entertaining and engaging. Once I started it was hard to stop for things like work and sleep. I couldn’t read it fast enough. I enjoyed every word and the multiple epilogues were perfect!
ARC provided by NetGalley
Multi POV
Safe and clean
Possible trigger -
ARC provided by NetGalley
Multi POV
Safe and clean
Possible trigger -
December 6, 2017
Ms. Coulter is one amazing writer! The entire time I was left guessing. She has a way of building up the suspense and crafting one helluva story. I haven't followed the series consistently but this is good as a standalone. Kara Moody is one of the characters at the focal point of this one, and the race is on to find her baby. I thought this was a page-turner and couldn't wait to get to the end.
September 29, 2019
The book is a mishmash of too many very boring and unbelievable characters orbiting around the saintly and infallible Savich and Sherlock. The two mysteries were interesting enough in premise, but they’re both very boringly told and having to split the page count between them means you never really get invested in either one. Almost no one involved behaves in a believable manner and the dialogue is cringe-inducingly awful
So I don’t think I’ll read any more of these S & S books. None of the characters are ever interesting or compelling and the interpersonal relationships are so cringe in makes me embarrassed to read about them.
So I don’t think I’ll read any more of these S & S books. None of the characters are ever interesting or compelling and the interpersonal relationships are so cringe in makes me embarrassed to read about them.
October 2, 2017
Def a favorite series for me...love these characters!!! I wasn't fully thrilled with the resolution/ending...to be continued?? FYI feel like something is missing or was way too rushed and smushed together ... it's still a really good read and always a ball being back in the FBI with Sherlock and Savich and their crew!! :))
August 17, 2017
Enigma is an intriguing fusion of characters and events that blend into a riveting novel.
SUMMARY
ENIGMA is the twenty-first FBI Thriller novel written by CATHERINE COULTER. Married Agents Savich and Sherlock work tirelessly to solve two perplexing mysteries in the Washington D.C. area. One involves a seemingly crazy man who calls himself an enigma, who came barreling into a woman’s house and holds her at gunpoint.
Agent Dillion Savich saves the pregnant woman, Kara Moody from the unkempt dirty man who was trying to take her somewhere, to protect her from something or someone. The man is captured, hospitalized and sinks into a coma. The mystery of who he is and what he was trying to protect Kara from remains. Kara goes into to labor from the stress and gives birth to a healthy baby boy. When her baby, Alex is kidnapped from the hospital, the race is own to find him.
The second mystery involves an escaped violent prisoner who has disappeared into Daniel Boone National Forest. Agents Cam Whittier and Jack Cabot are on his tail. Liam Hennessey was convicted of robbing a bank. The search is on to find who helped him escape and why. It may all somehow tie to the murder of Mia Prevost, the girlfriend of Saxon Hainny, the only son of President Gilbert’s chief of staff.
REVIEW
ENIGMA was like the big pot of delicious vegetable soup my mom used to make, with a good mix of fresh ingredients. You have a raging madman, an agonizing baby kidnapping, a violent escapee on the loose, a cunning pharmaceutical CEO, several brutal murders, honorable homeless men, a unscrupulous lawyer, a shoot out on the Potomac and then add in savy FBI agents, a worried Presidents Chief of Staff and a pale Russian banker. And like the soup, it all comes together at the end to make an tantalizing and savory offering, fit for quick and enjoyable consumption.
Having read many of CATHERINE COULTER’s FBI Thriller series I was looking forward to the banter and chemistry typically between Sherlock and Savich. Sadly, there wasn't a lot of interaction between the two. Instead the focus and repartee seem to be gravitating to the younger Agents Whittier and Cabot. I guess after twenty-one novels maybe it's time. But I hope not!
Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Book and Catherine Coulter for a advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
SUMMARY
ENIGMA is the twenty-first FBI Thriller novel written by CATHERINE COULTER. Married Agents Savich and Sherlock work tirelessly to solve two perplexing mysteries in the Washington D.C. area. One involves a seemingly crazy man who calls himself an enigma, who came barreling into a woman’s house and holds her at gunpoint.
Agent Dillion Savich saves the pregnant woman, Kara Moody from the unkempt dirty man who was trying to take her somewhere, to protect her from something or someone. The man is captured, hospitalized and sinks into a coma. The mystery of who he is and what he was trying to protect Kara from remains. Kara goes into to labor from the stress and gives birth to a healthy baby boy. When her baby, Alex is kidnapped from the hospital, the race is own to find him.
The second mystery involves an escaped violent prisoner who has disappeared into Daniel Boone National Forest. Agents Cam Whittier and Jack Cabot are on his tail. Liam Hennessey was convicted of robbing a bank. The search is on to find who helped him escape and why. It may all somehow tie to the murder of Mia Prevost, the girlfriend of Saxon Hainny, the only son of President Gilbert’s chief of staff.
REVIEW
ENIGMA was like the big pot of delicious vegetable soup my mom used to make, with a good mix of fresh ingredients. You have a raging madman, an agonizing baby kidnapping, a violent escapee on the loose, a cunning pharmaceutical CEO, several brutal murders, honorable homeless men, a unscrupulous lawyer, a shoot out on the Potomac and then add in savy FBI agents, a worried Presidents Chief of Staff and a pale Russian banker. And like the soup, it all comes together at the end to make an tantalizing and savory offering, fit for quick and enjoyable consumption.
Having read many of CATHERINE COULTER’s FBI Thriller series I was looking forward to the banter and chemistry typically between Sherlock and Savich. Sadly, there wasn't a lot of interaction between the two. Instead the focus and repartee seem to be gravitating to the younger Agents Whittier and Cabot. I guess after twenty-one novels maybe it's time. But I hope not!
Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Book and Catherine Coulter for a advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2020
What can I say but I enjoyed this story. The thing that shocked me the most was the contents of the metal box that was stolen from the bank vault! I certainly never expected that! Nor did I think that certain characters would be shady and they ended up that way. I guess I was just enjoying the story so I wasn't really thinking about if a particular person was honest or dishonest. There was lots of action, running about, fights and gunfire, etc.
I enjoyed both plots that were running through the tale. One involves a baby kidnapped from a hospital and the other was about a bank robbery. Both went in directions I hadn't expected..lots of twists in the books plot.
I did feel there were a lot of FBI agents involved and it was hard keeping track of them all, especially since I never read any of the previous books. They also use some acronyms in here that I have no idea what they mean, like MAX and CARD, etc. Like a line would say they were talking to MAX but who is that? The book doesn't really explain it. It's obviously not a person...but then maybe it is as sometimes they say "he"... But then why is it in all capital letters? I think the story could have developed the agents more so I would know them better, so I wouldn't confuse who is who. You know, get into their heads. Because I feel I really don't know them any better at the end than at the beginning. I even kept forgetting which ones were female agents! That doesn't happen with other books...
I admit I kind of weirdly like the very end?
I enjoyed both plots that were running through the tale. One involves a baby kidnapped from a hospital and the other was about a bank robbery. Both went in directions I hadn't expected..lots of twists in the books plot.
I did feel there were a lot of FBI agents involved and it was hard keeping track of them all, especially since I never read any of the previous books. They also use some acronyms in here that I have no idea what they mean, like MAX and CARD, etc. Like a line would say they were talking to MAX but who is that? The book doesn't really explain it. It's obviously not a person...but then maybe it is as sometimes they say "he"... But then why is it in all capital letters? I think the story could have developed the agents more so I would know them better, so I wouldn't confuse who is who. You know, get into their heads. Because I feel I really don't know them any better at the end than at the beginning. I even kept forgetting which ones were female agents! That doesn't happen with other books...
I admit I kind of weirdly like the very end?
September 23, 2017
In Catherine Coulter's 21st in the FBI Thriller series, Enigma (Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster 2017) FBI Agents and husband-and-wife Savitch and Sherlock find themselves trying to unravel a mysterious attack on a pregnant woman by a man who seems demented, claiming he is an 'enigma'. When the woman goes into labor right after the attack is thwarted and delivers her baby, the infant is immediately kidnapped and the man who attacked her ends up in a coma and barely escapes being killed in his hospital bed. A surprise twist binds the new mother and the attacker together and it's up to Savitch and Sherlock to find her child and unravel the mystery that surrounds him. All this is going on while another part of Savitch's team is chasing an escaped prisoner who is vicious and remorseless.
As with all the books in this series, Enigma is a tightly-plotted, fast-moving winner of a read. Definitely recommended to thriller lovers, as is the rest of the series.
As with all the books in this series, Enigma is a tightly-plotted, fast-moving winner of a read. Definitely recommended to thriller lovers, as is the rest of the series.
September 6, 2017
Enigma by Catherine Coulter
FBI thriller with recurring characters Savich and Sherlock from this long running series. This is the 21st book and while it can stand alone a mystery, having some familiarity with the series will make it a better and richer storyline.
Since it is a series, there is a lot of name dropping in the first 50 pages as the story gets set up for the FBI team to go after the escapee. Keeping track of them all can be a bit difficult.
Chapters alternate between characters and situations.
Overall I really enjoyed the quick action, intelligent analysis, and how all the threads wove together.
Multiple epilogues wrapped up several relationships and started new directions. Don't skip these or you will miss the fun.
I received a copy of the book from NetGalley.
FBI thriller with recurring characters Savich and Sherlock from this long running series. This is the 21st book and while it can stand alone a mystery, having some familiarity with the series will make it a better and richer storyline.
Since it is a series, there is a lot of name dropping in the first 50 pages as the story gets set up for the FBI team to go after the escapee. Keeping track of them all can be a bit difficult.
Chapters alternate between characters and situations.
Overall I really enjoyed the quick action, intelligent analysis, and how all the threads wove together.
Multiple epilogues wrapped up several relationships and started new directions. Don't skip these or you will miss the fun.
I received a copy of the book from NetGalley.
October 5, 2017
I am a fan of the FBI series, but I was somewhat disappointed with this book. The plot was very complicated with a lot of agents to keep track of. I kept waiting for the two plots to come together. But in spite of two very similar "roofie" episodes, they never did. And three epilogues? Why not just finish writing the book? The third and final epilogue would have been sufficient. Another thing that bothered me was her completely erroneous description of a Cessna 182 Skylane small airplane. My dad flies this type of airplane often and the description of "steps in the door" is totally wrong. When her research on one thing is so far wrong, it makes me doubt every other fact in the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2022
Re-read.
I LOVE these books!!!!! Gave me pause for thought about "kompromat" and current situations. Yes, very interesting thoughts. Hmmm. ;)
I LOVE these books!!!!! Gave me pause for thought about "kompromat" and current situations. Yes, very interesting thoughts. Hmmm. ;)
November 12, 2017
I'm late to the party. This is book twenty-one of the FBI thrillers by Catherine Coulter.
Enigma begins when a man enters the house of Kara Moody, a young pregnant woman and barricades himself there. He claims he's there to keep her safe. Someone is after "them" and he wants to protect her. The woman's neighbor calls her friend in the FBI Agent Dillon Savich after hearing the screams of the deranged man. Savich saves the day and shoots the intruder without killing him. Surprisingly, the man enters into a coma and Kara goes into labor. Kara delivers a baby boy she names Alex but her happiness is short-lived when her baby is kidnapped.
Agents Cam Witte and Jack Caboot will form a temporary partnership to find a well-known criminal who goes by the name of Manta Ray. Someone has helped him escape and all the leads take them to the Daniel Boone National Forest. With the help of the local police, they will start tracking Manta Ray and his two companions.
Sherlock is an agent for the FBI. She's also married to Savich. Together, they will chase after the person or persons who are involved in the kidnapping of the newborn and the mistreatment of John Doe, which the FBI team believes has been used for an experimental drug treatment without his consent.
I like that these two different plot lines are run simultaneously and they're weaved together in a way that by the end, it all makes sense.
Many of the characters have a voice and the POV's switched multiple times. It gives the reader a bigger idea of what really is happening between the good guys and the bad ones.
I have to admit that I liked Manta Ray. He's an Irish thief but very smart and resourceful. I liked that the author was able to humanize him with a couple of situations like when he gets a blister or he gives money to someone who needs it. I was hoping he was able to survive all the drama surrounding him.
Sherlock and Savich have a strong relationship. They seemed to truly care for one another. They have a child and their home feels homey. Now, when they are at work, they are full on don't-mess-with-me agents.
Cam and Jack made a good team. There's a spark between them and it wouldn't surprise me if they become an item in the next book.
Kara and John Doe's storyline was a good one. I felt Kara's devastation when her son is taken from her but instead of becoming a mess, she turned to the person who tried to warn her about the danger she and her baby were in.
Enigma is a fast-paced thriller. It had two well-done plot lines and had a myriad of engaging characters. I can see why there have been twenty books before in the FBI thriller series.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.
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December 16, 2018
Enigma is an FBI crime thriller involving two major storylines that never intersect. This was my core problem with this book; the whole time it seems to be building to connect the main threads, but instead, it drops out and you are left feeling like you read two seperate stories within the one book. Some people may enjoy the format, however, as I was expecting everything to be tied up in one satisfying package, it left me feeling flat. Coulter’s writing in Enigma is primarily dialogue focused. At times, it reads like a screenplay as it is so dialogue heavy. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it makes the book very easy to read, but sometimes the dialogue misses its mark; it comes off cheesy and forced and at many times unrealistic. The crime that features in the book is unremarkable, and a sense of threat or danger to any of the characters never feels imminent. The characters themselves are not developed and seem generic, homogenous and cliched, with no nuance or personality to them. Coulter also seems to try to inject a strange moral or warning to the audience about the book’s theme, which to me comes off strained and unnecessary, worthy of an eye roll.
Enigma was an easy-to-read, generic and very watered down crime thriller. It never left me wanting to figure out what happened, and when the mystery was solved, primarily through clumsy exposition from limp characters, it was lacklustre at best.
Enigma was an easy-to-read, generic and very watered down crime thriller. It never left me wanting to figure out what happened, and when the mystery was solved, primarily through clumsy exposition from limp characters, it was lacklustre at best.
September 10, 2017
Two long time characters of the FBI, Sherlock and Savich, team up again in a very complicated case as we see a 'crazy' man breaking into the home of a pregnant woman, yelling they need to leave to be safe from these people, at the same time a murderer and robber escapes in a flurry of tricks. These two cases seem separate but soon intertwine as more about each becomes known. This is book 21 in the authors' series and the stories continue to entertain and interest all adventure/thriller readers. The two cases are both worked separately , and we turn from one to another as they begin to meld. Great characters and wonderful locations for the story lines keep you turning pages,as it is very hard to put this book down!
I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Catherine Coulter and publisher Gallery books for the chance to read this and give you my thoughts. If you like a blend of science,kidnapping and adventure with exciting action you must read this book.
I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Catherine Coulter and publisher Gallery books for the chance to read this and give you my thoughts. If you like a blend of science,kidnapping and adventure with exciting action you must read this book.
December 10, 2018
Another great installment of Savich and Sherlock - lots of suspense and action! Two separate stories very well written. The first story is about "Big Pharma" - a very dangerous business, especially if left uncontrolled or monitored. A pregnant woman is in danger from a crazy man, she goes into labour, then her baby is stolen from the hospital - is everything connected? The second is a brazen, planned escape of a vicious prisoner. Who exactly is actually behind this escape?
From the blurb: After Agent Dillon Savich stops a crazy man from harming a pregnant woman, the man unexpectedly falls into a coma. Doctors discover a drug in his blood they can't identify, and his only identification is a yellow wristband marked E 2. Did this John Doe escape from a mental hospital? And why was he at the pregnant woman's house? When her newborn baby is kidnapped from the hospital, Savich realizes there's a connection between the kidnapping and the unconscious John Doe. DNA tests uncover a startling fact: his cells are unlike any other—he's an Enigma.
Savich, Sherlock, and an FBI team of experts must find the kidnapped baby, uncover the link, and determine what bizarre drug was used on John Doe and, most importantly, why.
Meanwhile, Liam Hennessey, aka Manta Ray, a convicted bank robber, escapes from the Federal Marshals on his transport to a federal penitentiary. He and his "handlers" are seen going into the Daniel Boone National Forest. Savich sends Agents Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot after them.
Why break out this violent criminal? Or did the safe deposit box he stole and hid before he was captured contain something critically dangerous to somone? Wittier and Cabot are in hot pursuit. What they discover turns the case sideways.
2 thumbs up and 4.5 stars!
From the blurb: After Agent Dillon Savich stops a crazy man from harming a pregnant woman, the man unexpectedly falls into a coma. Doctors discover a drug in his blood they can't identify, and his only identification is a yellow wristband marked E 2. Did this John Doe escape from a mental hospital? And why was he at the pregnant woman's house? When her newborn baby is kidnapped from the hospital, Savich realizes there's a connection between the kidnapping and the unconscious John Doe. DNA tests uncover a startling fact: his cells are unlike any other—he's an Enigma.
Savich, Sherlock, and an FBI team of experts must find the kidnapped baby, uncover the link, and determine what bizarre drug was used on John Doe and, most importantly, why.
Meanwhile, Liam Hennessey, aka Manta Ray, a convicted bank robber, escapes from the Federal Marshals on his transport to a federal penitentiary. He and his "handlers" are seen going into the Daniel Boone National Forest. Savich sends Agents Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot after them.
Why break out this violent criminal? Or did the safe deposit box he stole and hid before he was captured contain something critically dangerous to somone? Wittier and Cabot are in hot pursuit. What they discover turns the case sideways.
2 thumbs up and 4.5 stars!
October 17, 2017
I was very happy to see the cases in this book were solved with normal FBI and computer problem solving. I did not enjoy the last book I read in this series that had a huge paranormal aspect. Once again there are two different cases being solved at the same time. They do not intertwine as far as the cases go, but Sherlock and Savich are involved in both.
When FBI agent Dillon Savich saves Kara Moody from a hostage taker, he doesn't realize that he will be involved in her life in a few more days. He is also not sure what the nagging feeling in his head will bring when he remembers the hostage taker mumbling that he is an Enigma. When the John Doe ends up in a coma and Kara's newborn baby boy is kidnapped from the hospital, Savich knows that it is somehow connected. Meanwhile they are also dealing with an escaped convict who was freed in a high risk rescue from his transport vehicle. Once again Savich is sure the lawyer who represented "Manta Ray" was a go-between who helped set up the escape. Not only are Agent Cam Wittier and former special forces agent Jack Cabot chasing him down in the forested area of Appalachian foothills, but Savich and others are trying to find the mastermind of the escape.
Enigma is a story that blends science and organized crime in a thrill ride with the FBI coming out on top. This was a fast paced story that has a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are well-developed, and the two plots-lines mesh together well. Her descriptive writing makes you feel like you are a part of the story. The emotions of the characters comes across and you can't help but feel for them. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next one. I recommend this story to any and all thriller lovers. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
When FBI agent Dillon Savich saves Kara Moody from a hostage taker, he doesn't realize that he will be involved in her life in a few more days. He is also not sure what the nagging feeling in his head will bring when he remembers the hostage taker mumbling that he is an Enigma. When the John Doe ends up in a coma and Kara's newborn baby boy is kidnapped from the hospital, Savich knows that it is somehow connected. Meanwhile they are also dealing with an escaped convict who was freed in a high risk rescue from his transport vehicle. Once again Savich is sure the lawyer who represented "Manta Ray" was a go-between who helped set up the escape. Not only are Agent Cam Wittier and former special forces agent Jack Cabot chasing him down in the forested area of Appalachian foothills, but Savich and others are trying to find the mastermind of the escape.
Enigma is a story that blends science and organized crime in a thrill ride with the FBI coming out on top. This was a fast paced story that has a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are well-developed, and the two plots-lines mesh together well. Her descriptive writing makes you feel like you are a part of the story. The emotions of the characters comes across and you can't help but feel for them. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next one. I recommend this story to any and all thriller lovers. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
December 22, 2017
First, I would like to express my thanks to Gallery Books, NetGalley and the author who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Wow. What an interesting book Catherine Coulter has written in her 21st FBI thriller, Enigma. I thoroughly enjoyed this book in which Coulter took the reader deeper in thought and depth than usual. There were two storylines going on to create one plot and a great story with ethical questions leading to an exciting ending. Some are aware that I am a Coulter fan, and she started out extremely hot with some excellent FBI thrillers that are hard to beat. Yet, Coulter still cranks them out like very few authors can.
FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are back again with agent Cam Wittier (gotta love the name if nothing else) and Special Forces agent Jack Cabot in a fast-paced thriller with international implications. Enigma begins with a hostage stand-off in which a crazy man is holding a pregnant Kara Moody. Savich comes in the back door and ends the stand-off and the crazy man, “John Doe”, is left in a coma. The agents must solve this case, but what to do and where to go?
Do we have the right of eternal youth? Do we have the right to suddenly become 15 years younger than we really are? Do we have the right to test other humans in any means necessary in order to advance science and, thus society? These are all questions that will mill through the reader’s head. Lister Maddox has finally achieved his near perfection with “John Doe” and now he has literally been snatched from his hands. He was the near-perfect specimen. But, is there anybody else out there? Ahh …
Cam and Jack are chasing an international killer through Daniel Boone Forest. Alas, the criminal escapes. Among his suspected victims are the President’s Chief of Staff’s only son’s girlfriend, Mia Prevost. (Boy, try saying that last sentence real fast 10 times in a row) What is the meaning of this killing-a very important case that needs to be solved urgently? Who is aiding this killer? Usually, the motive soon becomes apparent in a crime of this magnitude, but, in this case, it is somewhat of a quandary.
Enigma is a great read IMHO, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to readers of thillers or police procedurals. Coulter has done a masterful job of writing and setting up a wonderful thriller with very interesting characters. Moreover, Coulter is a very credible writer and puts to paper only that which furthers the story in a positive way IMHO, again. For example, there is no unnecessary blood and gore, graphic sexual scenes, or hands falling off the bad guy on page 227 and then magically, for the first time, re-attaching. If this is your kind of a thriller, then I would suggest checking out Catherine Coulter and Enigma. An easy 4.4, so I wil give it a 4-star.
Wow. What an interesting book Catherine Coulter has written in her 21st FBI thriller, Enigma. I thoroughly enjoyed this book in which Coulter took the reader deeper in thought and depth than usual. There were two storylines going on to create one plot and a great story with ethical questions leading to an exciting ending. Some are aware that I am a Coulter fan, and she started out extremely hot with some excellent FBI thrillers that are hard to beat. Yet, Coulter still cranks them out like very few authors can.
FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are back again with agent Cam Wittier (gotta love the name if nothing else) and Special Forces agent Jack Cabot in a fast-paced thriller with international implications. Enigma begins with a hostage stand-off in which a crazy man is holding a pregnant Kara Moody. Savich comes in the back door and ends the stand-off and the crazy man, “John Doe”, is left in a coma. The agents must solve this case, but what to do and where to go?
Do we have the right of eternal youth? Do we have the right to suddenly become 15 years younger than we really are? Do we have the right to test other humans in any means necessary in order to advance science and, thus society? These are all questions that will mill through the reader’s head. Lister Maddox has finally achieved his near perfection with “John Doe” and now he has literally been snatched from his hands. He was the near-perfect specimen. But, is there anybody else out there? Ahh …
Cam and Jack are chasing an international killer through Daniel Boone Forest. Alas, the criminal escapes. Among his suspected victims are the President’s Chief of Staff’s only son’s girlfriend, Mia Prevost. (Boy, try saying that last sentence real fast 10 times in a row) What is the meaning of this killing-a very important case that needs to be solved urgently? Who is aiding this killer? Usually, the motive soon becomes apparent in a crime of this magnitude, but, in this case, it is somewhat of a quandary.
Enigma is a great read IMHO, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to readers of thillers or police procedurals. Coulter has done a masterful job of writing and setting up a wonderful thriller with very interesting characters. Moreover, Coulter is a very credible writer and puts to paper only that which furthers the story in a positive way IMHO, again. For example, there is no unnecessary blood and gore, graphic sexual scenes, or hands falling off the bad guy on page 227 and then magically, for the first time, re-attaching. If this is your kind of a thriller, then I would suggest checking out Catherine Coulter and Enigma. An easy 4.4, so I wil give it a 4-star.
March 30, 2024
I've been reading this series since the first book. I love the main characters of Dillon and Sherlock, FBI agents who married to each other. The books are always a mix of their married, a mystery that or one or both of them are working on, and a secondary mystery that usually introduces another couple, one of whom is usually not an FBI agent. There's action, romance, humor, and an intriguing mystery or two. The two story lines usually come together. In "Enigma" we get all that in a story that also blends medicine, science, an unethical scientist, family, a kidnapped baby, theft, blackmail, and death.
"Enigma" is a quick read even though it's more than 400 pages long. The story is fast-paced with a lot of action. I wouldn't call it thrilling as I never once believed any of the main characters or the the FBI agents were in serious danger. Coulter may have them get shot or injured but there's never any serious harm and of course, they don't die. This despite the fact that the agents are quick to rush into dangerous situations, well, most of the time. The FBI is a government bureaucracy, you know there's red tape and procedures! Yet,we see little of that and little in the way of repercussions for their behavior. I have doubts that the FBI really works the way that Coulter's FBI does.
I enjoyed the character interactions and trying to guess how the different plots would come together. Some of my guesses were right and some weren't. I wish the medical plot had more depth to it and more detail. Frankly, that could have made for a compelling story all on its own. The escaped con story did keep my guessing and there was a twist at the end that I did not see coming.
Overall, not a particularly thrilling story but one that kept me reading and kept my interest. And though it's book 21 in the series, it works fine as a stand alone.
"Enigma" is a quick read even though it's more than 400 pages long. The story is fast-paced with a lot of action. I wouldn't call it thrilling as I never once believed any of the main characters or the the FBI agents were in serious danger. Coulter may have them get shot or injured but there's never any serious harm and of course, they don't die. This despite the fact that the agents are quick to rush into dangerous situations, well, most of the time. The FBI is a government bureaucracy, you know there's red tape and procedures! Yet,we see little of that and little in the way of repercussions for their behavior. I have doubts that the FBI really works the way that Coulter's FBI does.
I enjoyed the character interactions and trying to guess how the different plots would come together. Some of my guesses were right and some weren't. I wish the medical plot had more depth to it and more detail. Frankly, that could have made for a compelling story all on its own. The escaped con story did keep my guessing and there was a twist at the end that I did not see coming.
Overall, not a particularly thrilling story but one that kept me reading and kept my interest. And though it's book 21 in the series, it works fine as a stand alone.
April 26, 2018
What is an enigma? It is a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand; it is a mystery!
Whether a novel concerns a police office, a detective or an FBI agent solving a crime; the fact is, they are solving a mystery and in this book, there are two mysteries, occurring simultaneously. The first involves the escape of an international criminal being transported to a federal prison. The second is the identity of a man who breaks into the home of a single pregnant woman, declaring he needs to save her. A grazed scalp places the man, now known as John Doe into a coma, and the woman, Kara Moody, into labor.
Liam Hennessey is the international criminal; having robber a bank and stolen a few items from a few safe deposit boxes; agents Sherlock, Savage, Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot realize early on that this escape was planned by one of the safe deposit box holders and they must find out not only who that owner is; but, why he is willing to break a felon out of custody to have the items returned. What could possibly be in a simple safe deposit box? How far will this person (or people) go to secure what they want?
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Savich wonders why this raving madman had called himself an enigma and why he chose Kara Moody to protect? The man appears to be so young, maybe in his mid-twenties; the track marks on his arm initially indicate a drug user; but Savich will soon learn that those marks have nothing to do with using drugs and everything to do with Kara Moody’s newborn son who is kidnapped from the hospital.
While attempting to locate the abducted newborn, the FBI will stumble on a plot that belongs in a Science Fiction movie. Now, the agents must scramble, not only to find those responsible for John Doe’s condition and the abduction of Kara Moody’s newborn; but, to protect both present and future victims of a terrifying human experiment!
A thrill per page! The reader is never quite sure what will happen next!
Whether a novel concerns a police office, a detective or an FBI agent solving a crime; the fact is, they are solving a mystery and in this book, there are two mysteries, occurring simultaneously. The first involves the escape of an international criminal being transported to a federal prison. The second is the identity of a man who breaks into the home of a single pregnant woman, declaring he needs to save her. A grazed scalp places the man, now known as John Doe into a coma, and the woman, Kara Moody, into labor.
Liam Hennessey is the international criminal; having robber a bank and stolen a few items from a few safe deposit boxes; agents Sherlock, Savage, Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot realize early on that this escape was planned by one of the safe deposit box holders and they must find out not only who that owner is; but, why he is willing to break a felon out of custody to have the items returned. What could possibly be in a simple safe deposit box? How far will this person (or people) go to secure what they want?
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Savich wonders why this raving madman had called himself an enigma and why he chose Kara Moody to protect? The man appears to be so young, maybe in his mid-twenties; the track marks on his arm initially indicate a drug user; but Savich will soon learn that those marks have nothing to do with using drugs and everything to do with Kara Moody’s newborn son who is kidnapped from the hospital.
While attempting to locate the abducted newborn, the FBI will stumble on a plot that belongs in a Science Fiction movie. Now, the agents must scramble, not only to find those responsible for John Doe’s condition and the abduction of Kara Moody’s newborn; but, to protect both present and future victims of a terrifying human experiment!
A thrill per page! The reader is never quite sure what will happen next!
October 18, 2017
Enigma is the twenty-first thriller by Catherine Coulter featuring Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock but, admittedly, the first I have read. The novel is divided between two plots. In the first, she raises interesting ethical questions about human medical testing. A seemingly insane young man holds a pregnant woman, Kara Moody, hostage claiming he is there to protect her from some unspecified danger. When Savich arrives, he assesses the man’s erratic behaviour as a threat to the woman and, fearing for her life, he shoots him. The young man is taken to the hospital where he remains in a coma. Kara gives birth to a son at the same hospital shortly after. The next day the baby is kidnapped and an attempt is made on the young man’s life.
The second plot is a more typical thriller although very topical. The girlfriend of the president’s Chief of Staff’s son is murdered. Then a bank robber known as Manta Ray escapes while en route to prison. Somehow, as Savich looks into the escape, he begins to believe that these two seemingly disparate events are, in fact, related.
Enigma is a real rollercoaster ride full of suspense, intrigue, action, and constant twists and turns. The chapters alternate between the two different plots but Coulter handles these changes with aplomb assuring that the reader never gets lost in the shuffle. Although this was my introduction to the series, it worked very well as a standalone. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of this series in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
The second plot is a more typical thriller although very topical. The girlfriend of the president’s Chief of Staff’s son is murdered. Then a bank robber known as Manta Ray escapes while en route to prison. Somehow, as Savich looks into the escape, he begins to believe that these two seemingly disparate events are, in fact, related.
Enigma is a real rollercoaster ride full of suspense, intrigue, action, and constant twists and turns. The chapters alternate between the two different plots but Coulter handles these changes with aplomb assuring that the reader never gets lost in the shuffle. Although this was my introduction to the series, it worked very well as a standalone. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of this series in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
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