Deadeye

Luce Hansen Thriller #3

by Meredith Doench

Special Agent Luce Hansen’s Thanksgiving vacation with her new lover, forensic pathologist Harper Bennett, is cut short when she’s tasked to recapture Deadeye, a vicious serial predator who has escaped custody. The timing couldn’t be worse, especially when Bennett seems to be struggling with the realities of Hansen’s work and questioning whether she’s willing to risk building a life with a woman who puts work first, even when the job puts her in the line of fire.

Hansen can’t put aside the chase even with her relationship on shaky ground when, on the anniversary of Deadeye’s first kill, two brothers are shot while jogging along a quiet country road. Before Deadeye can claim another victim, Hansen and her team must track a killer who has proven to be an expert at hiding in plain sight. The stakes, both professional and personal, get even higher when Hansen is cut off from her team in rural Ohio and must fight for her very survive. As Bennett frantically searches for clues to Hansen’s disappearance, Deadeye’s hunt draws ever closer to home.

Genres: Mystery, Lesbian, Thriller, LGBT, Crime, Fiction, Procedural

242 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2019

About the author

Meredith Doench is the author of the Luce Hansen LGBTQ Thriller series. These crime novels follow the work of Special Agent Luce Hansen of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation who specializes in tracking serial killers. Crossed, the first in the series, won Silver in the 2015 IndieFab Awards in the mystery genre. In 2017, Crossed was awarded the Mary Dasher Award for fiction from the College English Association of Ohio. The second novel, Forsaken Trust, was published in 2017 followed by Deadeye in 2019. All were mystery/thriller Goldie Award finalists in their respective years from Golden Crown Literary Society. Whereabouts Unknown, Doench’s fourth thriller and stand-alone novel, was published in 2022.

Doench’s works of short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in literary journals such as Hayden’s Ferry Review, Women’s Studies Quarterly, and The Tahoma Literary Review. She was one of the founding associate prose editors of the literary journal Camera Obscura: Journal of Literature and Photography and currently serves on the board of Mystery Writers of America, Midwest Chapter. She is a senior lecturer of creative writing, literature, and composition at the University of Dayton in Ohio.

Learn more about Meredith at www.meredithdoench.com

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars. Good but not great. This is the third book in the Luce Hansen series. All of the books have been exciting crime/mysteries stories but I did feel like this one wasn’t quite on the same level. The first book Crossed is still the best, in fact I think I personally have it rated too low. And while most of this story is contained in this one book, I would suggest reading these in order to get the most out of the series.

If you are new to this series these are pretty gritty crime/mysteries. The main character Luce specializes in serial killers so do not go reading these looking for cozy mysteries. In fact all of these books have some nice bits of excitement to them although this book was probably least exciting of all three.

All three books are really well written however I must admit I was disappointed in the mystery this time. I love when authors can drop little subtle clues that if you are paying attention you might be able to guess who the “bad guy/girl” was. In this case I felt like the killer came out of left field. Maybe I missed something but I didn’t really get how it all tied in, basically the “why” of it all. I was just left scratching my head which was disappointing for me from such a good series.

I’m going to keep this review short because honestly my brain is still on the USA winning the World Cup! I need to go back to Twitter and search for more locker room celebrations:) I would still recommend this book and this series. I think I have very high expectations for this series because it is so good, so this book did seem a little off compared to the others. It was a good book but Crossed is still by far my favorite of the series.

An ARC was given to me for a honest review.

[Farah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deadeye did the opposite of what Red/Morgan Freeman did in The Shawshank Redemption. Granted, Red was released on parole while Deadeye escaped from prison but he should have followed Red's move by moving to some exotic seaside instead of returning to where everything started and bored me to death.

This book did not start with a BANG, it started with BANG! BANG! What a way to start a thriller, it had me researching on the rifles used for deer hunting, NATO casings and acted out one scene with a friend to have a clearer picture. However, the reason why Deadeye returned home for an encore performance still bugged me. Did I go Cher when she realized that she was in love with Josh after finding out the reason why Deadeye returned? Nope!

After the brilliant start, the story began to lag. There were no more murders, I couldn't feel the fear/panic almost every character in the book was feeling, Luce and the rest of the gang were either running around like headless chickens or talking - talking - talking - talking about the case and how dangerous Deadeye was. I now know what some of my friends were talking about when their bed/couch/countertop partners will go to town on their body parts but they didn't feel a thing. At least they did feel something when the thought of their next playtime with Hitachi came to mind, but I wasn't that lucky.

Remember, W - T - F? Author added another lesbian character, I'm going to label her as H. T was only mentioned in this, W was worried about F meeting up with T and got pissed a few times. Excuse me, it wasn't
F who fucked her ex gf in the previous book, it was.. Yeah, it was you. W enjoyed working with H and one night while working on surveillance, drank excessively, got drunk and H had to take her back to the hotel. Thankfully, nothing happened but W said this to herself " I realized that things could have been so much worse. H could easily have stayed with me, I wasn't in any frame of mind to say no " Breathe, Farah, just keep breathing.

I highly recommend Crossed, that was a piece of gem but the sequels are going to my soon to build shelf, ' Here Lies '. What can you expect from GR? Excellent reviews by amazing members so do check out their thoughts and make up your mind, don't take my word for it. I'm still hungover from the best serial killer series written in this decade. Lex, thank you for Crossed.

[Bugs · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having read Books 1 and 2 of Meredith Doench's utterly engaging "Luce Hansen Thriller" crime series, which I thoroughly enjoyed, obviously I HAD to read its 3rd installment, "Deadeye!" Speaking of Doench, it was thanks to Jeannie Levig who first recommended her series to me when we talked about dark lesfic crime thrillers. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known and would've missed an opportunity to explore Doench's brilliant crime writing style and plot weaving in lesfic! For me, her style is reminiscent of James Patterson and Thomas Harris', which is my cuppa tea. Needless to say, Doench's 3rd installment continued to showcase her crime/thriller writing skills in crafting yet another intriguing case, not to mention, her insights into the ongoing development of Hansen's emotional and psychological journey as she continued her efforts to juggle her work with her personal life better this time. One swift read later, yup, this one's my favourite installment of the series, yet.

Obviously, I have to comment on the captivating book cover! Feast thy eyes: A scope target. Fixed on a Celtic cross. Red all over. Interpretation: Danger. Insidious. Deadly. Sniper. That's the story. Right there. Staring at me. Who wouldn't be curious? Well, I was! And as I explored the story, I was immediately struck by its symbolism. Well done!

Because Doench also included Hansen's private life which she first developed in "Crossed" (Book 1), continued growing in "Forsaken Trust" (Book 2), including her romantic relationships/entanglements, there was no reason she wouldn't further advance Hansen's relationship with her current partner, Bennett (first introduced in "Forsaken" not merely as Hansen's love interest but played a major role in investigating and solving the featured case), in this installment. So, even though, like other crime serials, the Luce Hansen series is a procedural, meaning each installment can be read as a stand-alone, I'd personally advise readers who haven't read the previous two books, to do so, IF you're also interested in the chronological development of Hansen's private life besides the case-of-the-week plot.

Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words

*An ARC copy was furnished, with much appreciation, by BSB via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The man they call Deadeye has escaped from prison, just as Special Agent Luce Hansen goes on vacation with her lover, forensic pathologist Harper Bennett.

Deadeye is a vicious serial killer, a sociopath with no feelings or thoughts for anyone. On the anniversary of his first kill, two brothers are shot while out jogging.

But something seems a little off. Manner of killing is different ... bodies left out in the open is different ... trophy taking is a little different.

Has Deadeye changed? Is there a copy cat? A partner in crime?

Hansen and her team must track a killer that is extremely good at hiding in plain sight. It becomes even more dangerous when Hansen goes missing.

Suspenseful from start to finish, this well written crime fiction is full of action. The characters are solidly defined. I enjoy the blend of the professional along with the private lives of Hansen and Bennett.

Although third in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. As always I recommend starting at the very beginning to see how the recurring characters have grown.

Many thanks to the author / Bold Stroke Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first read the blurb for Deadeye by Meredith Doench, I was intrigued. It sounded really interesting. Then I realized it was the third book in a series. I knew I would not have enough time to get the first two novels and read them before I needed to review this book, so I initially passed it by. The problem was, the blurb kept calling to me, so I finally gave in and asked for the book. I hope all the publishers and authors out there see how important blurbs and book covers can be for sales.
I’m glad I got the novel. I really enjoyed the story. It is a straightforward murder mystery by characters who are obviously well-developed from the past books. While I know I probably missed out a little by not reading books one and two first, I can tell you that it did not detract from my enjoyment of the tale. Whenever I really needed info from the other novels, the author was good enough to let the main character give the information though her thoughts. The murder mystery itself is well-written with a bit of a surprise ending. This is a romance-light story. Hansen and Bennett are already an established couple, though like all couples, they do have some rough moments.

This is a good solid murder mystery that I’m very glad I read. I do wish that I’d had the time to read all three in order though. I believe that I would have enjoyed this book even more if I had. Therefore, I’m going to encourage you to do as I say and not as I did. If you love great mystery books, get all three novels in this series and read them in order. I think you will be glad you did.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

[Joc · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me a long time to read but there are parts I really liked and others I didn’t care for. Luce Hansen is called in from her vacation when a serial killer escapes from prison. Leaving her lover, Bennett, she makes her way to rural Ohio where two young men have been shot and killed. Finding a sniper serial killer in the hunting community is going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

The Luce Hansen Thriller series is definitely more of a mystery and suspense with a lesbian lead than anything resembling a romance. It’s one of the things I really like about the two books I’ve read in the series. Luce comes from a difficult background and is constantly trying to get the better of her demons. I didn’t read the second in the series and I’m on the fence as to whether I’m going to.

In this installment, Luce and Bennett have a fairly good relationship because they’re both within the realm of law enforcement. Bennett doesn’t have a huge role to play which disappointed me a little but I did enjoy Luce’s growth and development. What I didn’t enjoy that much was the actual serial killer. Snipers and shooters who kill people they don’t know don’t make sense to me. I can almost understand killing someone known and hated or the likeness of someone hated but I don’t really get it when it’s random or sport. Coming from this point of view, I wasn’t very engaged by the story line, even though I enjoyed the characters.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wowzah! What a wild ride I've been on with Hansen and her team... I didn't have the pleasure of reading this author's other books before I read this one but I must admit that this one snagged my attention from the first page and it held me captive until I began to question the motives of some of the main characters. It was an overall good read but there were a few grey areas that needed to be cleared up because I thought the author should have expanded a few scenarios between Hansen and Bennett—there were a lot of unresolved issues in their relationship. Besides that, I think this story was awesome! I couldn't put my kindle down because I was just as anxious as Hansen—I think I wanted Deadeye behind bars way more than she did! Now, I think I need to do my homework and read the other two books in this really cool series.

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to the first two reads in the series; not so much about romance as it is about relationships, family, and finding a voice for the victims. This story is well written with much detail. An escaped serial killer with skill to kill with one shot. As the read unfolds, the plot thickens and becomes more complex and creepy. Special Agent Lucinda "Luce" Hansen and Harper Bennett, forensic pathologist along with Colby Sanders constitute a solid and supportive friend group. Each person has issues and try and help in their own way all in the name of love and caring.

ARC provided by NetGalley via Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

[MEC · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Deadeye was released last month, my OCD kicked in and I had to go back and re-read the first and second books.  As the third in the Luce Hansen series, this could be read as a standalone, but to truly appreciate both the book and Luce, do yourself a favour and read the first two books in the series - Crossed and Forsaken Trust.  Doench has created a compelling series that balances character and plot.  Her writing is top notch - you become completely immersed in the settings, the action and the character.

The book begins with the senseless murder of two brothers who are out for a run before a family dinner.  Stopping to offer assistance to someone they think is lost, they are summarily shot - the killer stripping their shirts as a trophy and leaving the mortally wounded younger man to die slowly.  The random nature of the murder resonates and sets the stage to introduce a rather chilling killer who kills randomly, from a distance with no apparent remorse.

At the news that David Johnson, Deadeye, a convicted sniper/serial killer has escaped from prison, Luce Hansen is pulled from her Thanksgiving vacation with Bennett.  Quickly the link between Deadeye and the two murdered brothers is made and Hansen coordinates the investigation and search for the escaped killer.  This is more of a hunt than an investigation as Hansen tries to understand why Johnson would return to his original hunting grounds and where he may be hiding out.  Hansen does follow the leads - including a separate shooting incident that may shed light on Johnson and his motivations- and is drawn deeper into the world of hunters and survivalists in the small rural community.

There's strong elements of mystery, suspense and thriller in Deadeye  with a really good dose of action in the latter half of the book.   As with the other books, this is as much a character study as a thriller.   I really do like Luce - she's a damned good investigator and profiler but she's still haunted by the lingering ghosts and insecurities from her past.   As much as she recognizes them, she still struggles to acknowledge and deal with them and open herself to the people who are in her life like Bennett and Saunders.

There really isn't a romance in this book - the relationship is established and dynamic between Hansen and Bennett plays out in the background.  It provides more insight into Luce and her inner struggles.  At first there's the impression that Bennett's seeming controlling nature  - pushing Luce into "clean living" - that doesn't bode well for them as a couple, but as we get deeper into the story and Luce's head, it seems to be more concern than control.  There's a great passage where Luce admits that she's capitulated to Bennett's push for clean living "because its easier than telling Bennett the truth:  a small, soft animal lived inside me who wanted exactly what it wanted.  I didn't tell Bennett that this animal sometimes couldn't be satiated, or that in my heart of hearts I knew exactly what it was hanging around for - my eventual self-destruction."  There's a realistic maturity in their relationship and you can see the bond grow stronger as Luce continues to recognize and struggle with her own insecurities. 

Deadeye is another strong book in the Luce Hansen series.   I'm torn between wanting things to end with Luce finding a level of contentment and continuing the series and putting Luce through more soul-searching.   Either would make me happy - as long as Doench keeps writing more books as engaging and satisfying as these first three have been.

Recommended

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special Agent Lucinda "Luce" Hansen and Harper Bennett, forensic pathologist and kind of controlling where Hansen's eating and exercise is concerned.

Along with a cast of characters, some good, some bad (and you won't know who's who until the end) this is a gripping and detailed story of a serial killer and his diabolical killing game.

This isn't a lesbian romance, per se, but it's a good thriller that has lesbians in it. I wasn't convinced that Luce and Bennet were all that devoted to each other, but that wasn't the point of the story, although it would have been nice to see something like caring go on between them. Their relationship seemed impersonal and mechanical most of the time.

"Deadeye" likes to play a killing game where he kills with one shot and takes a souvenir from each kill. Apparently, he does not work alone. Who are his accomplices and how many are there?

This is well-written and compelling as a murder/serial killer thriller, and is made for those who try to guess who the bad guys are.

I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

[Mary Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book, and was so excited to read it. I liked it the best of the three!!! In this book, Luce, who I love so much, shows a lot more of herself in terms of her relationships and the struggles she has with Bennett. The mystery is fantastic and the ending of the book took me by surprise. It’s a page-turner, for sure. I couldn’t put it down. I hope there will be more in this series!

[Aleana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This is the third book in this series that I'm going to have to get the first two so I can get to know the characters.

Agent Luce is just been appointed co-director of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and her girlfriend Harper is a forensic pathologist just went on vacation when Luce is called upon to recapture escape serial killer nicknamed Deadeye known for his single deadly shot.


I like that this was told from Luce point of view because we get the reasoning behind her searching for Deadeye as she recalled memories of past events. As Harper tries to deal with the reality of Luce work and wonder if she can built a life with someone who puts her life on the line and the job first.

This was well paced story that had you guessing what going to happen next. I like the friendship between Luce and Colby because the scenes in the hospital was very emotional.

[Bee Sherrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know that this book was the third installment of ‘Luce Thrillers’, so all I can say is I’m sorry I missed the first two books. When you start reading a series you have no choice but to go back and read from the first but this is a stand-alone, I had know problem following.
Harper Bennett, forensic pathologist has had her share of bad relationships and being in a relationship with Luce Hansen’s has its challenges. She looks after herself and expects Luce to follow her lead. Eat right, exercise and most importantly stop drinking. Not an easy task for Luce who has always fallen into a bottle as her way of dealing with life. We first meet up with the women while they are on vacation.
Someone is stalking and murdering people who are just trying to do a little hiking in the forests of Simmons County, Ohio. The MO lead them to believe that the killer is none other than Deadeye, a man already serving a life sentance for murder. Just so happens Deadeye had some friends on the outside willing to help him escape, starting with a nurse that works at the prison.
Even though they are on vacation when Luce’s supervisor and good friend Sanders calls for her to come help she has no choice but to go. She put Deadeye behind bars once and is determined to do it again. So the hunt begins.
Excellent read. Had a hard time putting this one down. Very, very enjoyable.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

[XR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooo... this was good!

I was getting a little annoyed with Bennett with the changes she tried to force on Luce, but then at the end... it just made me see how much she truly cares for Luce. Especially with that little offer at the very end of the book.

Also, that one twist! Thinking it was Senor Senior but it's the Senora!!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Luce Hansen series and I like the way Ms Doench has developed the character over the 3 books. This is an exciting crime novel with good characterisation and a genuinely nail biting ending. It’s difficult in a fictional book to say the characters are a bit two dimensional as, of course, they are but apart from Luce, none of the characters in this book feel "real". I liked the plot of Deadeye escaping but throughout I was wondering why he didn’t just keep going - why come back? And Luce at the end... well I won’t put any spoilers as I think that is a cardinal sin but I wasn’t convinced by her actions. I will stick with the series though as I love Luce and I’m keen to see how the author develops her character.

Recommended if you’ve read book 1 and 2 though this will stand alone.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review

[E.F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading these out of order, but this definitely still works as a stand-alone novel. Great characters, strong settings, and very tightly paced. This book is a sure bet for fans of mysteries and thrillers, and I can't wait to read the first two in the series!

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

when is this book actually set because they mention the hunger games but then say that the guy first killed in 1992 which was four years ago so the math isn’t mathing

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special Agent Luce Hansen is on a much needed break with her new partner Dr Harper Bennett when Hansen gets the call that serial killer Deadeye has escaped from custody. Two brothers are shot which may or may not be the work of Deadeye and Hansen, for the first time, is put in charge of the investigation. At the same time Hansen's mentor is in hospital and also Hansen is questioning her relationship with Bennett so she's under immense pressure. 
This book is definitely more of a thriller rather than a romance thriller. I felt he relationship between Hansen and Bennett was more of bit part and if you're into romance this book probably won't do it for you. Having said that, l really enjoyed this book as a stand alone murder mystery, you were kept guessing till the end as to who done it. The really interesting part was the ending, I felt it was dragged out but am left wondering if that's because I felt I was being lectured to!

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you looking for a thriller that's got some interesting twists? There are few dull moments in this thriller as Special Agent Luce Hansen follows clues, questions suspects and family members, and digs deep down for the truth. The tension is just right as the story moves forward to its startling conclusion.

Serial killers don't come much worse than this one, especially when they team up with other people who are lacking emotions and a conscience.

For a different review, check out the Ohioana Library Qarterly Newsletter http://www.ohioana.org

[Colleen Corgel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Methodical thriller that comes off as more of an introspective look at the lead than a high octane thriller. I haven't read the first two books so that does put me at a disadvantage in regards to the build up, but Doench gives us enough to refresh veteran readers and to help out new readers. Luce Hansen is a bit of a mess, after having been through a ton of really dark stuff, but she can't rest, as an old nemesis comes back to haunt Hansen. It was interesting to look at an established relationship, which we see here, with Harper Bennett, Luce's girlfriend. Even though they are in the same field, Harper has a much healthier outlook on life, while Luce is a brooder. It feels like the relationship should be at a crossroads, but because Harper really isn't there most of the time, it just feels like Luce is distancing herself.

So for me, there was an interesting case, with some good characters, but because of the flat narration by Luce (the story is told in first person, from her perspective), it feels like the book is just going through the motions. So, unless this is just Luce dealing with her demons, this comes off as just a little too weightless for me.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Samantha Luce · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4 stars. Luce is a complicated heroin. This is the 3rd book in the series and while I think you could read it as a stand alone novel, I think you'd be missing out on a lot of character development. This is a fast paced read that should leave you feeling satisfied.

Arc received for an honest review.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

After finishing the book, I was like Wait...What? Either I missed a whole lot of clues on Duncan and Joyce or the information dropped out of the sky and landed at my feet. I hope it is the former as the latter with this caliber writer will be seriously disappointing! Will be reading again to see what I missed.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this third installment in the Luce Hansen series. The characters developments feel organic and the storyline is gripping.

[Elliott Hay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is this book for? Lovers of thrillers that focus more on the lives people trying to the catch the killer than on the crime.

I received this book as a Christmas gift and it’s the sort of thing I like to read every so often as a palate cleanser between science fiction tales. I’ve not read the previous books in the series, but I think this stood well on its own.

Luce Hansen is called away from her holiday with her girlfriend, Bennett, when a serial killer breaks out of prison and starts killing again.

This book moves at a brisk, but not a furious, pace. Overall, I enjoyed it, but there were two small things that let the story down. First, the character of Debbie Turner didn’t ring true. No one that stupid, that gullible, or that single-minded in her ignorance is going to get a nursing licence — let alone a job in a prison hospital.

The second flaw (in my opinion) is that, even though the story is told in first person, it’s not until almost the end that we really see Hansen’s personality. We need more of her inner thoughts to get to know who she really is. We start to get that at the end, but we needed it sooner.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

This book was just ok. I was expecting it to be interesting.... I was hoping to engage with the characters and the plot but it never happened. While I enjoy romantic stories I also love thrillers but I did not find myself at the edge of my seat or interested, unfortunately.

Im sure followers of the series will like it but I did not enjoy it.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

[Alena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I’ve reached my fill of serial killers and I’m just incredibly bored by them. I remember liking her previous books but don’t remember anything about them so I couldn’t draw on that to fill this with life.

There was nothing wrong with the writing, just the content wasn’t for me.

[Rose Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! Luce Hansen has come a long way and the mystery in this book is spot on. It kept me guessing until the end. I can’t wait to read Doench’s next book!

[Alealea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiuu. What a ride. Non-stop suspense, really tight plot, bewildering suspect, and a very good mystery.