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Riley Paige #12

Once Bound

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ONCE BOUND is book #12 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1). In this heart-pounding thriller, women are being found dead on train tracks across the country, forcing the FBI into a mad race against time to catch the serial killer.

FBI Special Agent Riley Paige may have finally met her a sadistic killer, binding victims to the tracks to be killed by incoming trains. A killer smart enough to evade capture across many states—and charming enough to go unseen. She soon learns it will require all of her faculties to enter into his sick mind—a mind which she unsure she wants to enter. And all with a final twist that is so shocking, even Riley could not expect it.

A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE BOUND is book #12 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 26, 2018

760 people are currently reading
1335 people want to read

About the author

Blake Pierce

1,056 books5,767 followers
Blake 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.

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5 stars
744 (48%)
4 stars
556 (36%)
3 stars
209 (13%)
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22 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Wonda.
1,146 reviews9 followers
March 7, 2021
4...Less dramatic than the last novel, with more psychology...dug the case, even if it made me think of cheesy westerns...I will admit I'm getting sick of Riley getting fired, suspended and pulled from cases...it's old!
Profile Image for Tania.
201 reviews3 followers
March 6, 2018
Brilliant! Absolutely love this series!
Profile Image for Ranjini.
316 reviews18 followers
March 13, 2019
When Riley Paige, along with her team, Jenn and Bill, are summoned to investigate women being murdered in the most gruesome way, they are chilled to the bone.
Two back-to-back murders, where the victims were tied to the rail tracks in such a way, that they were decapitated.

The case is brutal.
How can someone be so relentless in their ways? It is definitely someone with a troubled and distressed mind.
However, the team is clueless. Because the killer seems to strike at random, at various cities.
The only clue: all his/her victims were on a train in-bound from Chicago.

With no leads to work on, Riley is at her wits end.
What could possibly be the killer’s relationship with the rail tracks?
And how can they track which city he’s going to target the next victim?

As her team face flak and criticism, there is only one man in the local team, who is willing to help them. With his help, will they be able to outwit the killer?
Or will Riley again need to seek advice from Shane Hatcher, whom she thinks of constantly, especially in times of challenging cases like these?
Profile Image for Michelle Wallace.
743 reviews13 followers
August 27, 2019
I really like this series and am so glad there are so many books. The writing seems to be getting a bit tired and stale but the plots continue to shine. I'd love to read a spinoff starring Jenn Roston!

I found the surprising overuse of the derogatory term "hobo" in reference to a homeless person very distasteful at about 60 percent into the book. Some of the use was necessary in order to make the dialect believable, but Pierce wore this offensive word out. I hope to not be disappointed like this again.

Once I finish the Riley Paige books, I am going to start on one of Pierce's several other series with female protagonists.
Profile Image for Heidi | Paper Safari Book Blog.
1,142 reviews21 followers
January 8, 2020
Riley Paige is called in as women are being abducted and tied to railroad tracks. As she struggles to connect with the killer as she usually does she finds that she is getting absorbed in her work to the detriment of everything else in life. She forgets Gilly's birthday and once again her relationship plays 2nd to her job. Her new team is also struggling to fit together. With too many secrets that can't be shared among the three of them I'm not sure this team can hold together unless someone decides they all need to trust each other even with secrets that could doom them all. This is another fast paced novel that reminds me a bit of the Lincoln Rhyme books by Jeffrey Deaver.
Profile Image for Cassandra Struble.
188 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2020
I felt this one brought the series back up! Women are bound to train tracks to be decapitated. So awful! This one does bring back up the higher ranking men in the BAU that are only focused on publicity and not team work. That gets quite annoying! You also learn some more about Jenn and her story which is a bit relieving. Of course Riley gets an idea for how to trap and track the killer, but other publicity hungry men send reporters their way. As she gets sent back home, when you think she is going to seek help from her source, she gets a tip elsewhere. The killer is a definite surprise! The book then ends on quite the cliff hanger to make you want to keep going!
Profile Image for Teresa.
784 reviews14 followers
July 12, 2020
What's going on with Riley's "instincts" here? Women are being abducted and then tied to railroad tracks and ultimately killed by trains. There are no clues, nothing to tie any of the women to one another, and Riley's team is frustrated. Riley's personal life is falling apart, and she has so many questions about her new team member, Jenn Roston. Why has someone sinister from Jenn's past contacting Riley and seemingly taking over for the terminated Shane Hatcher? And what will become of Riley's soon-to-be adopted daughter, Jilly? Most questions are answered in this book, but there are couple left to Book 13. Read on!
Profile Image for Susan.
1,163 reviews26 followers
February 25, 2022
I have said repeatedly how much I love the Riley Paige and Jesse Hunt series. This book is with Riley Paige and her partners Bill and Jenn. I really like all the characters in her books but I wasn't wild about Jenn. In the last book one of the agents ended getting shot and killed and I really liked that agent. She was sweet but got the job done. This new agent is prickly and has a bunch of secrets that I'm sure is going to bite Riley in the butt because somehow they always come after Riley and her family.

If you like murder mystery or a book with serial killers then this entire series is for you.
Profile Image for Meridith.
10 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2020
As with every other Riley Page mysteries written by Blake Pierce this one did not disappoint! This one I actually didn’t have a clue who the killer was and actually gasped as Riley figured it out!
Blake Pierce has become one of my favorite writers! There is something about it and I always eagerly look forward to his next book! I simply love the fact that there are just enough details about the crimes and yet the books are clean with barley and explicit details which I love!

Now one to listening to his next book!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
3,167 reviews67 followers
January 24, 2020
I rewound because I somehow missed this volume. I'm glad to have figured out what happened to Liam >< Also, I'm more enthusiastic than I thought that I would be about the incorporation of a new character (Jennifer) into the series, and learning more about her mastermind crime foster mother. For some reason, the murders in this volume struck me, partially because of the graphic description of the bodies, but also because, as Riley notes, the murderer isn't a "monster," unlike the other killers that she has hunted and captured.
22 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2018
Another excellent book by Blake Pierce! Read the book in one day! I started out with a free book (Once Gone) and now own EVERY book written by Blake Pierce. Definitely my favorite author find from last year and I look forward to each new book. I love Riley Paige, Mackenzie White, Avery Black and Keri Locke, but Riley is my favorite. Would highly recommend reading all of the books. They are fantastic!
Profile Image for ReaderMomCarissa.
210 reviews8 followers
September 14, 2018
Ugh

Better than the last one, but still needs an editor who halfway cares about the book and the integrity of it. I can’t stand the inconsistencies or typos. Like Liam was in the living room in the last book now this one he’s in the family room, which was distinctly differentiated in the last book. It just interrupts the flow of the story and makes me wonder why I care to read this whole series if even the author doesn’t care to keep track of his stories!
74 reviews1 follower
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May 4, 2023
Another Good Read

The Riley Paige Series is really good. Riley battles criminals and tries to balance her home life.
The characters are well developed and the cases are always different. There are enough plot twists and turns, you usually do not discover who the criminal is until close to the end of the book.
Riley is constantly plagued by a supervising director even though she is an accomplished field agent.
Profile Image for Amber.
379 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2025
women are being found duct tape to a train track in which they die from the Train. Riley and both are old and new partner join her in this mystery. they first need to discover what the connection is between these women. which of course is the ride the train and talk with a stranger about their problems. but the stranger has a dark secret. his wife committed suicide on tracks. and he has a tumor in his brain in which he is seeing things.
Profile Image for Donna ~ The Romance Cover.
2,907 reviews323 followers
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.
846 reviews
September 20, 2019
Intriguing

Alot of different things are happening in this book.
Reiley is so wrapped up in the case of women being beheaded by freight trains that she forgets her adoptive daughters birthday. When she comes home she is feeling hopeless because she hasn't been able to figure out who is killing these women or why he is killing them.

Another hard to put down book.
12 reviews
March 1, 2018
Once bound

Another fantastic book Blake well written and great characters I can't wait for next book keep them coming . l have read them all just waiting for next release thank you
Profile Image for Debbie Evans.
36 reviews
March 19, 2018
Amazing

This book keeps you flipping the pages till the wee hours of the morning. The characters keep you wondering what they will do next. It's another great book and the best series I have read.
Profile Image for Teena.
6 reviews
September 12, 2018
This book had me!!! Never till the end did I think , I know who the killer is. Such a good read. I couldn't put it down. Can you believe I even shed a tear for the kiddos :( Definitely one of my top 5 in this series.
Profile Image for Angel ♡.
20 reviews
November 1, 2019
I find it truly disturbing that evil is among us, sometimes...even beside us. No one us truly safe nowadays.

Evil can still have a personality and features of an angel.

The cliffhanger of what will happen to Riley and Jilly in the mere future is killing me. 😖
Profile Image for Donna.
1,547 reviews37 followers
July 23, 2020
A train barreling toward its new victim

Riley Paige on the case with a creepy arrogant cop and her boss wanting to discipline her. Again. April and Jilly waiting at home. Aunt Cora calls.
On to the next in the series.
Profile Image for JAE Monroe.
109 reviews
July 22, 2024
Still powering through with the lip smacking narrator. Not all Americans talk like this. What's the likelihood of a mental illness leading down a perilous dark path? I do wish Agent Riley would have more confidence in herself. She's really smart and clever.
83 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2019
Can't wait

I am getting ready to read the next book. I know it will be great. What a fantastic writer. I love these books.
Profile Image for Giuseppe.
236 reviews
May 21, 2019
Più propriamente sarebbero 3 stelline e mezza.
164 reviews
June 16, 2019
Never wastes time this books are the best

All Riley adventure are the best , all BLake books definitely are the best book ever other happy ending,next book .
42 reviews2 followers
September 8, 2019
Best of the 12

Each book was better than the previous and Once Bound delivered. I highly recommend. Getting started on book 13 today.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews

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