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Quinn & Costa #1
The Third to Die
An edgy female police detective… An ambitious FBI special agent. Together they are at the heart of the ticking-clock investigation for a psychopathic serial killer. The bond they forge in this crucible sets the stage for high-stakes suspense.
Detective Kara Quinn, on leave from the LAPD, is on an early morning jog in her hometown of Liberty Lake when she comes upon the body of a young nurse. The manner of death shows a pattern of highly controlled rage.
Meanwhile in DC, FBI special agent Mathias Costa is staffing his newly minted Mobile Response Team. Word reaches Matt that the Liberty Lake murder fits the profile of the compulsive Triple Killer. It will be the first case for the MRT. This time they have a chance to stop this zealous if elusive killer before he strikes again. But only if they can figure out who he is and where he is hiding before he disappears for another three years. The stakes are higher than ever before, because if they fail, one of their own will be next…
Detective Kara Quinn, on leave from the LAPD, is on an early morning jog in her hometown of Liberty Lake when she comes upon the body of a young nurse. The manner of death shows a pattern of highly controlled rage.
Meanwhile in DC, FBI special agent Mathias Costa is staffing his newly minted Mobile Response Team. Word reaches Matt that the Liberty Lake murder fits the profile of the compulsive Triple Killer. It will be the first case for the MRT. This time they have a chance to stop this zealous if elusive killer before he strikes again. But only if they can figure out who he is and where he is hiding before he disappears for another three years. The stakes are higher than ever before, because if they fail, one of their own will be next…
400 pages, ebook
First published February 4, 2020
1505 people are currently reading
11766 people want to read
About the author
Allison Brennan
106 books5,355 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year.
In 2019, Allison relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her family and assorted pets. She loves baseball, hiking, family game night, and (of course) reading.
RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.
With over 45 books and dozens of short stories, Allison is writing multiple series and the occasional stand alone thriller. Her most recent book out now is THE MISSING WITNESS, part of the Quinn & Costa series. In June Allison is launching a new Phoenix-set series about a family of private investigators starting with YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME.
You can reach Allison through Goodreads or her website.
In 2019, Allison relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her family and assorted pets. She loves baseball, hiking, family game night, and (of course) reading.
RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.
With over 45 books and dozens of short stories, Allison is writing multiple series and the occasional stand alone thriller. Her most recent book out now is THE MISSING WITNESS, part of the Quinn & Costa series. In June Allison is launching a new Phoenix-set series about a family of private investigators starting with YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME.
You can reach Allison through Goodreads or her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,161 reviews
May 3, 2020
Suspenseful Page Turner!
Kara Quinn is an undercover detective who is on a mandatory leave from her L.A.P.D. job so she is staying with her grandmother in Liberty Falls, Washington when she discovers a corpse while out for her morning run. Little does she know that the dead body will be the victim of a serial killer and a team of FBI agents will be arriving immediately and Kara will become involved with the team of agents against her better judgement and is now taking a working vacation and will put her heart and soul into stopping more murders and they only have 6 days before the killer will try to take two more victims.I
This was a fast paced and interesting police procedural crime mystery. The book steadily moves forward introducing many characters from the FBI task force and many members of the Liberty Falls police department and giving a good background for this suspenseful story. The main characters were strong with relatable personalities. The last 30% if this book was excellent with edge of your seat action and twists and turns that I just couldn't get enough! Hopefully there will more books to follow because I will definitely be on the list to read them.
I wanted to say that I really enjoyed this book but I felt there were many repetitive thoughts and statements from characters that could have been left out, although this did not affect the storytelling in anyway and some readers may like the characters repeating their thoughts. This book was a first in the series but there were a few characters that seemed to have a huge history together and unfinished business yet this was the first book in this series so that left me a little puzzled and wondering if a future book will backtrack the development of these characters since there seemed to be many missing pieces to their history together and left me wanting to know more.
I want to thank the author "Allison Brennan" and the publisher "Harlequin-Mira" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story!
I highly recommend for all crime mystery of suspense readers and have given a rating of 4 Page Turning 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
Kara Quinn is an undercover detective who is on a mandatory leave from her L.A.P.D. job so she is staying with her grandmother in Liberty Falls, Washington when she discovers a corpse while out for her morning run. Little does she know that the dead body will be the victim of a serial killer and a team of FBI agents will be arriving immediately and Kara will become involved with the team of agents against her better judgement and is now taking a working vacation and will put her heart and soul into stopping more murders and they only have 6 days before the killer will try to take two more victims.I
This was a fast paced and interesting police procedural crime mystery. The book steadily moves forward introducing many characters from the FBI task force and many members of the Liberty Falls police department and giving a good background for this suspenseful story. The main characters were strong with relatable personalities. The last 30% if this book was excellent with edge of your seat action and twists and turns that I just couldn't get enough! Hopefully there will more books to follow because I will definitely be on the list to read them.
I wanted to say that I really enjoyed this book but I felt there were many repetitive thoughts and statements from characters that could have been left out, although this did not affect the storytelling in anyway and some readers may like the characters repeating their thoughts. This book was a first in the series but there were a few characters that seemed to have a huge history together and unfinished business yet this was the first book in this series so that left me a little puzzled and wondering if a future book will backtrack the development of these characters since there seemed to be many missing pieces to their history together and left me wanting to know more.
I want to thank the author "Allison Brennan" and the publisher "Harlequin-Mira" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story!
I highly recommend for all crime mystery of suspense readers and have given a rating of 4 Page Turning 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
June 11, 2020
2.5*
This is book one of a new series. The Mobile Response Team is a newly developed division within the FBI. Before they can work out all the kinks, they’re rushed off to their first assignment. A suburb just outside Spokane, Washington where the infamous Triple Killer has struck again.
Though a new series, I felt all the characters were so fully developed that I was stepping into the middle of a series. Because this is my first read by this author, I’m not aware if any of these characters have appeared in her previous series, with this being a spin-off?
It left me feeling like an outsider looking in.
I know there was a good story buried in there. I just got tired of waiting for it to surface. It became a struggle to finish, and felt much too long.
I know I’m very much an outlier as most everyone loved this book. Do take a look at all the amazing five-star reviews before making your decision to read or pass on this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA for an ARC to read and review.
This is book one of a new series. The Mobile Response Team is a newly developed division within the FBI. Before they can work out all the kinks, they’re rushed off to their first assignment. A suburb just outside Spokane, Washington where the infamous Triple Killer has struck again.
Though a new series, I felt all the characters were so fully developed that I was stepping into the middle of a series. Because this is my first read by this author, I’m not aware if any of these characters have appeared in her previous series, with this being a spin-off?
It left me feeling like an outsider looking in.
I know there was a good story buried in there. I just got tired of waiting for it to surface. It became a struggle to finish, and felt much too long.
I know I’m very much an outlier as most everyone loved this book. Do take a look at all the amazing five-star reviews before making your decision to read or pass on this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA for an ARC to read and review.
November 8, 2019
That Ending!! It may not have been a cliffhanger but it definitely left me wanting more, now.... immediately. How soon can she write the next in this series!?!
Brennan is well known for her psychological thrillers so when I was offered an ARC for her newest book I jumped at the opportunity. The Third to Die is the first book in a new series by Brennan revolving around the FBI's Mobile Response Team. This newly formed segment of the FBI consists of highly specialized agents who are top in their field, whether it is forensics, crime scene specialists or investigators. They are mobilized primarily in rural areas where the local force most likely is lacking in either experience or equipment. This is their first case in the field and it is a nightmare. A serial killer has re-emerged after years of silence. His method is killing someone on March 3rd, 6th or 9th. This story is made more interesting by the addition of a SFPD officer who is on "vacation" in the area and ends up helping the FBI solve their case. This detective, Kara Quinn, is one of the most interesting characters I've run across in a thriller in a long while. The chemistry between her and FBI agent Matias Costa is electric - and fun! The story is engaging, interesting and, yes, thrilling! So much so that I'm reading past written books by Brennan and cannot wait for her next in this series - and this one is not out yet!! But it will be soon and should be bookmarked on your to-read list.
Brennan is well known for her psychological thrillers so when I was offered an ARC for her newest book I jumped at the opportunity. The Third to Die is the first book in a new series by Brennan revolving around the FBI's Mobile Response Team. This newly formed segment of the FBI consists of highly specialized agents who are top in their field, whether it is forensics, crime scene specialists or investigators. They are mobilized primarily in rural areas where the local force most likely is lacking in either experience or equipment. This is their first case in the field and it is a nightmare. A serial killer has re-emerged after years of silence. His method is killing someone on March 3rd, 6th or 9th. This story is made more interesting by the addition of a SFPD officer who is on "vacation" in the area and ends up helping the FBI solve their case. This detective, Kara Quinn, is one of the most interesting characters I've run across in a thriller in a long while. The chemistry between her and FBI agent Matias Costa is electric - and fun! The story is engaging, interesting and, yes, thrilling! So much so that I'm reading past written books by Brennan and cannot wait for her next in this series - and this one is not out yet!! But it will be soon and should be bookmarked on your to-read list.
April 5, 2022
LAPD Detective Kara Quinn has returned to her hometown of Liberty Lake, Washington while on leave following a tough undercover assignment. She discovers a dead body while out for her morning jog and contacts the local police, instructing them to reach out to the state law enforcement for assistance. They recognize that the crime scene fits one described in a recent FBI communiqué and invite them to assist. FBI Special Agent in Charge Mathias (Matt) Costa and his Mobile Response Team (MRT) are dispatched and assume control of the case as they recognize that the Triple Killer is back. Matt also quickly realizes that his witness is no ordinary one, has skills that already have given them a leg up and invites Kara to work with the team as he hasn’t finished staffing his newly formed unit.
I didn’t know what to expect when I began this new series but was thrilled when it became clear it was all about police procedurals with strong character dynamics in the background. Kara is unique in that she’s spent most of her career undercover, which means she’s highly skilled but a bit of a loner. Matt is all business, consumed by what he does with very little time for a personal life. While they had a prickly start professionally because of their natural tendency to mistrust, Kara and Matt quickly realize they think alike and work well together, on both levels.
The case was fascinating as the killer’s point of view is provided, offering a contrast of the realities of the crimes to the progress of the investigation. I listened to the story and, at first, the narrator’s style and rapid pace felt troublesome until I realized it was tailored to that of the story. After a bit, she felt perfect, delivering the procedurals in a way that moved the story at the breakneck speed of how the case flowed. It all happened over a few days and a lot was going on. I had a tough time finding stopping points as the killer was dangerous and ahead of the team. This is a great start to what will be an intriguing series going forward. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
I didn’t know what to expect when I began this new series but was thrilled when it became clear it was all about police procedurals with strong character dynamics in the background. Kara is unique in that she’s spent most of her career undercover, which means she’s highly skilled but a bit of a loner. Matt is all business, consumed by what he does with very little time for a personal life. While they had a prickly start professionally because of their natural tendency to mistrust, Kara and Matt quickly realize they think alike and work well together, on both levels.
The case was fascinating as the killer’s point of view is provided, offering a contrast of the realities of the crimes to the progress of the investigation. I listened to the story and, at first, the narrator’s style and rapid pace felt troublesome until I realized it was tailored to that of the story. After a bit, she felt perfect, delivering the procedurals in a way that moved the story at the breakneck speed of how the case flowed. It all happened over a few days and a lot was going on. I had a tough time finding stopping points as the killer was dangerous and ahead of the team. This is a great start to what will be an intriguing series going forward. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
February 12, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
“Six months… Six months and the triplets start kindergarten.” She looked at her FitBit. “Five months, twenty-six days.”… Kara was still hung up on triplets. She’d definitely shoot herself. Or never have sex again.
Small town cop with a small town girlfriend and a small town life. Kara almost felt sorry for him. Like he still believed in Santa Claus and she was going to burst his bubble.
My Review:
This was quite a complicated and multifaceted tale with a full cast of compelling, intriguing, and complex characters. I quickly fell into this brilliantly contrived, tautly written, and brain-tickling vortex that alternated between the killer and those doggedly working to find him and end his spree.
The storylines packed a visceral punch and were cunningly crafted, quickly paced, and occasionally cringe-worthy. I was rabid to know all the deets about everybody and everything, and even when I knew who the killer was and why - I was still rabid to know how it would resolve. Basically, I was rabid and close to hissing at any interruption of my perusal. Pity my poor little husband.
Despite her prolific body of work, this was my first exposure to the shrewd and haunting storytelling and profoundly insightful character development of Allison Brennan. I was an instant fangirl, although I wouldn’t want to get too close as I would imagine her interior life may be a bit scary to inhabit.
“Six months… Six months and the triplets start kindergarten.” She looked at her FitBit. “Five months, twenty-six days.”… Kara was still hung up on triplets. She’d definitely shoot herself. Or never have sex again.
Small town cop with a small town girlfriend and a small town life. Kara almost felt sorry for him. Like he still believed in Santa Claus and she was going to burst his bubble.
My Review:
This was quite a complicated and multifaceted tale with a full cast of compelling, intriguing, and complex characters. I quickly fell into this brilliantly contrived, tautly written, and brain-tickling vortex that alternated between the killer and those doggedly working to find him and end his spree.
The storylines packed a visceral punch and were cunningly crafted, quickly paced, and occasionally cringe-worthy. I was rabid to know all the deets about everybody and everything, and even when I knew who the killer was and why - I was still rabid to know how it would resolve. Basically, I was rabid and close to hissing at any interruption of my perusal. Pity my poor little husband.
Despite her prolific body of work, this was my first exposure to the shrewd and haunting storytelling and profoundly insightful character development of Allison Brennan. I was an instant fangirl, although I wouldn’t want to get too close as I would imagine her interior life may be a bit scary to inhabit.
December 4, 2019
Intricate detail, loaded with action and suspense. Very long story!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are some books that just grip you right from the very beginning and never let up! This story is one of those.
This is the first time I have read this author and even though this is part of a series, I didn’t feel overly lost with the story. There were some references to other people, places, and things, however, it did not distract or detract from the story itself.
I just fell in love with Kara. She’s a bit of a bad ass but knows her job very well. She was simply born to be a cop. I love her interactions with Matt. They are a wonderful team and the author has mastered the delicate balance between the two of them.
The story is very complex with the way that Brennan wrote this work. She gives hints of the suspect along the way. Dropping clues here and there for us to pick up.
This book is a race against time and the suspense factor ramps up as the clock ticks down. It will have you holding your breath as you feel your pulse increase with each page turn.
What a wild ride!!! Love this one and you will too if you enjoy a true crime murder mystery involving a serial killer. Not for the weak-hearted for sure, but sooo good! Intricate detail, loaded with action and suspense. Be prepared – It’s a very long story!
* copy received for review consideration
https://amidlifewife.com/the-third-to...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are some books that just grip you right from the very beginning and never let up! This story is one of those.
This is the first time I have read this author and even though this is part of a series, I didn’t feel overly lost with the story. There were some references to other people, places, and things, however, it did not distract or detract from the story itself.
I just fell in love with Kara. She’s a bit of a bad ass but knows her job very well. She was simply born to be a cop. I love her interactions with Matt. They are a wonderful team and the author has mastered the delicate balance between the two of them.
The story is very complex with the way that Brennan wrote this work. She gives hints of the suspect along the way. Dropping clues here and there for us to pick up.
This book is a race against time and the suspense factor ramps up as the clock ticks down. It will have you holding your breath as you feel your pulse increase with each page turn.
What a wild ride!!! Love this one and you will too if you enjoy a true crime murder mystery involving a serial killer. Not for the weak-hearted for sure, but sooo good! Intricate detail, loaded with action and suspense. Be prepared – It’s a very long story!
* copy received for review consideration
https://amidlifewife.com/the-third-to...
May 14, 2023
The Third to Die by Allison Brennon
Quinn & Costa series #1. Contemporary police procedural via a new FBI investigation group.
Detective Kara Quinn is on an enforced vacation for the LAPD and temporarily in her home town of Liberty Lake. On an early morning jog, Kara discovers a woman’s body in the lake. FBI special agent realizes the killed woman is likely the victim of a serial killer nicknamed the Triple Killer. His new mobile task force is formed and Kara helps with analysis hoping to catch the killer before he gets to his next victim.
Intense and thrilling. Kara is impressive with her analysis and critical thinking if not her people skills. You can totally understand why some would be intimidated by forthright style.
Impressive suspense and storytelling. I’m going directly to the next book in the series.
🎧 the audiobook is narrated by Suzanne T Fortin. Unlike most audiobooks I’ve listened to, this narrative is quick and cannot be sped up without loss of expression and emotion. I found the best speed was 1.3 when my usual is 1.5 or more.
4.5
Quinn & Costa series #1. Contemporary police procedural via a new FBI investigation group.
Detective Kara Quinn is on an enforced vacation for the LAPD and temporarily in her home town of Liberty Lake. On an early morning jog, Kara discovers a woman’s body in the lake. FBI special agent realizes the killed woman is likely the victim of a serial killer nicknamed the Triple Killer. His new mobile task force is formed and Kara helps with analysis hoping to catch the killer before he gets to his next victim.
Intense and thrilling. Kara is impressive with her analysis and critical thinking if not her people skills. You can totally understand why some would be intimidated by forthright style.
Impressive suspense and storytelling. I’m going directly to the next book in the series.
🎧 the audiobook is narrated by Suzanne T Fortin. Unlike most audiobooks I’ve listened to, this narrative is quick and cannot be sped up without loss of expression and emotion. I found the best speed was 1.3 when my usual is 1.5 or more.
4.5
October 14, 2025
This is the first in a new series by the author, following the newly formed FBI Mobile Response Team, a team set up to help small towns with limited policing resources to solve complex crimes.
This is a chilling tale about a smart, meticulous and twisted killer determined to get revenge against the people he believed wronged him.
I found it to be a riveting read, difficult to put down – but, I had to, because it was also a large book, and I needed my sleep!
Fans of crime procedurals with smartly written, and multi-layered characters should enjoy this page-turner.
This is a chilling tale about a smart, meticulous and twisted killer determined to get revenge against the people he believed wronged him.
I found it to be a riveting read, difficult to put down – but, I had to, because it was also a large book, and I needed my sleep!
Fans of crime procedurals with smartly written, and multi-layered characters should enjoy this page-turner.
February 3, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
The Third to Die (Mobile Response Team Book #1) by Allison Brennan is the action packed first book of a new FBI thriller/romantic suspense series. This book grabs you from page one and does not let up.
LAPD Detective Kara Quinn is exceptional undercover, but there were some problems with her last case. She is put on leave for two weeks and returns to her hometown of Liberty Lake to spend time with her grandmother. While jogging, she discovers a murdered young nurse.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Mathias “Matt” Costa is working on setting up his new Mobile Response Team. They will travel the country to help jurisdictions with their special skills. Matt is notified that the murder in Liberty Lake fits an alert that is set for the Triple Killer. Even though his team is incomplete, he sets out to work the case.
The Triple Killer is meticulous. He returns every three years on March third to kill three times. This time, Matt and his team are out to stop him before he can kill again. Kara cannot stand being off work, so when she realizes Matt has limited manpower, she volunteers to help. Matt accepts and the two work against the clock to discover who the Triple Killer is and stop him before he disappears again.
This book has everything I look for in this genre! An edgy, individualistic and strong female lead with a hard-outer emotional shell, an alpha male FBI agent male lead and a group of secondary characters that play an important part in the plot and will be further fleshed and integrated in future stories. Ms. Brennan also always gives me an antagonist killer that is smart, intelligent and scary in their psychopathy.
I love these types of books and this is a definite winner. Ms. Brennan never disappoints me and I cannot wait for more Mobile Response Team books!
The Third to Die (Mobile Response Team Book #1) by Allison Brennan is the action packed first book of a new FBI thriller/romantic suspense series. This book grabs you from page one and does not let up.
LAPD Detective Kara Quinn is exceptional undercover, but there were some problems with her last case. She is put on leave for two weeks and returns to her hometown of Liberty Lake to spend time with her grandmother. While jogging, she discovers a murdered young nurse.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Mathias “Matt” Costa is working on setting up his new Mobile Response Team. They will travel the country to help jurisdictions with their special skills. Matt is notified that the murder in Liberty Lake fits an alert that is set for the Triple Killer. Even though his team is incomplete, he sets out to work the case.
The Triple Killer is meticulous. He returns every three years on March third to kill three times. This time, Matt and his team are out to stop him before he can kill again. Kara cannot stand being off work, so when she realizes Matt has limited manpower, she volunteers to help. Matt accepts and the two work against the clock to discover who the Triple Killer is and stop him before he disappears again.
This book has everything I look for in this genre! An edgy, individualistic and strong female lead with a hard-outer emotional shell, an alpha male FBI agent male lead and a group of secondary characters that play an important part in the plot and will be further fleshed and integrated in future stories. Ms. Brennan also always gives me an antagonist killer that is smart, intelligent and scary in their psychopathy.
I love these types of books and this is a definite winner. Ms. Brennan never disappoints me and I cannot wait for more Mobile Response Team books!
March 11, 2020
Sometimes it's easy to say why a book didn't work for you and other times it's a number of small things and disconnects that keeps you putting down a book and never really connecting with the plot and characters.
It felt like it took forever to get through this one and I admit to some skim reading after the halfway point. I almost DNF'd and I almost 1 starred.
I really didn't care for either the female or male lead. Kara was way too overboard on working and not having down time. It felt like she was running the case...you know because the small town cops were just not capable. Mathias/Matt/whatever was just too arrogant and really didn't do that much. Everyone else was doing the work, they just needed to report to Kara. The "relationship" was just a f*ck buddy thing. Let's f*ck while one of the people that's in danger gets killed. It didn't really feel like more than a convenience and the book would have been better if it was edited out.
The setup for the next in the series felt really contrived. Everything in Kara's LA live happened off page and the reader was spoon fed the results.
I seriously doubt I will continue the series.
It felt like it took forever to get through this one and I admit to some skim reading after the halfway point. I almost DNF'd and I almost 1 starred.
I really didn't care for either the female or male lead. Kara was way too overboard on working and not having down time. It felt like she was running the case...you know because the small town cops were just not capable. Mathias/Matt/whatever was just too arrogant and really didn't do that much. Everyone else was doing the work, they just needed to report to Kara. The "relationship" was just a f*ck buddy thing. Let's f*ck while one of the people that's in danger gets killed. It didn't really feel like more than a convenience and the book would have been better if it was edited out.
The setup for the next in the series felt really contrived. Everything in Kara's LA live happened off page and the reader was spoon fed the results.
I seriously doubt I will continue the series.
January 31, 2025
I really liked this story. It had me on the edge of my seat while enjoying the characters and their interactions. The bad guy was easy to dislike and the good guys were mostly complicated. The losses were tough to take as they should be but the future of the team is bright. This was a great set up for seeing Costa and Quinn working together as they take on more bad guys.
April 7, 2021
RATING: 4.5 STARS
2020; Mira/Harlequin
The Third to Die is the first book in a new series by Allison Brennan. Even though I have not read all of Brennan's novels, I collect them as they come out to read when I need a guaranteed great read. I have fallen behind in the series so I was happy to see a new series come out that wasn't a spin-off from an already published book (or, at least I hope so). I am a fan of the romantic suspense genre as long the mystery is not secondary to the story. One thing like about Brennan (and are similar to Karen Rose, Mary Burton, Mariah Stewart, to name a few) is that the characters are strong and well written. The chemistry between the hero and heroine, extends to all the characters. For me a good series is when characters have a good base with one another. Brennan always has a great mystery, with suspense. Even if you can figure out the murderer you are still in it to see how it ends. This novel doesn't disappoint. Again, Brennan writes a creepy villain that makes your skin crawl and rooting for the good guys to get him quick. I highly recommend this one, and it has whet my curiosity to start back up with her novels.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2020; Mira/Harlequin
The Third to Die is the first book in a new series by Allison Brennan. Even though I have not read all of Brennan's novels, I collect them as they come out to read when I need a guaranteed great read. I have fallen behind in the series so I was happy to see a new series come out that wasn't a spin-off from an already published book (or, at least I hope so). I am a fan of the romantic suspense genre as long the mystery is not secondary to the story. One thing like about Brennan (and are similar to Karen Rose, Mary Burton, Mariah Stewart, to name a few) is that the characters are strong and well written. The chemistry between the hero and heroine, extends to all the characters. For me a good series is when characters have a good base with one another. Brennan always has a great mystery, with suspense. Even if you can figure out the murderer you are still in it to see how it ends. This novel doesn't disappoint. Again, Brennan writes a creepy villain that makes your skin crawl and rooting for the good guys to get him quick. I highly recommend this one, and it has whet my curiosity to start back up with her novels.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
January 28, 2020
The Third to Die is the first in a new series by Allison Brennan, following the newly formed FBI Mobile Response Team, a team set up to help small towns with limited policing resources to solve complex crimes. Mathias Costa, the Special Agent in Charge lands the first case before he even has time to fully staff the team, but all that must be put on the back burner because this killer will murder two more people unless they catch him quickly.
Undercover Detective Kara Quinn is on a forced vacation in her hometown of Liberty Lake and while out jogging she catches sight of a body. Her quick response and thinking yields useful information, and Mathias gladly accepts her help as he’s short handed and in need of smart investigators. Kara was a strong, intelligent investigator, with knack for reading people, and a superb memory. She was a bit prickly, spoke her mind, and seemed to hold people at arm’s length, which made her a complicated love interest for Mathias, but I’m definitely rooting for them in the long-term. I’m looking forward to peeling back Kara’s layers in the coming books and seeing her progress emotionally (I hope) in the future.
We get a little glimpse of Mathias’ past involving his reluctant profiler, Catherine Jones. Not all is explained, but somehow a prior case led to the death of Catherine’s sister who was involved with Mathias. It seems it was more of a superficial relationship for Mathias, but not all the particulars were spelled out, so I’m not sure. I think more will be revealed in future installments. Catherine is dealing with a lot of guilt from the death of her sister, affecting her marriage and family and had her questioning her decision to be a profiler.
After reading and loving Allison Brenan’s Max Revere series and other mysteries, I was excited pick up her newest, and it did not disappoint! Ms. Brennan excels at writing suspenseful, action-packed thrillers, and this one had me on the edge of my seat so that, even though the story was a little on the long side page-wise, I didn’t really notice it. Any fan of crime procedurals with smartly written, and multi-layered characters should enjoy The Third to Die, and really any of Ms. Brennan’s books. I’m a huge fan of her writing!
The immediate case was solved, but the character’s lives, and past cases are not all wrapped up, leaving a lot of room for future stories. I’m eager to find out what’s next!
A copy was kindly provided by MIRA via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Undercover Detective Kara Quinn is on a forced vacation in her hometown of Liberty Lake and while out jogging she catches sight of a body. Her quick response and thinking yields useful information, and Mathias gladly accepts her help as he’s short handed and in need of smart investigators. Kara was a strong, intelligent investigator, with knack for reading people, and a superb memory. She was a bit prickly, spoke her mind, and seemed to hold people at arm’s length, which made her a complicated love interest for Mathias, but I’m definitely rooting for them in the long-term. I’m looking forward to peeling back Kara’s layers in the coming books and seeing her progress emotionally (I hope) in the future.
We get a little glimpse of Mathias’ past involving his reluctant profiler, Catherine Jones. Not all is explained, but somehow a prior case led to the death of Catherine’s sister who was involved with Mathias. It seems it was more of a superficial relationship for Mathias, but not all the particulars were spelled out, so I’m not sure. I think more will be revealed in future installments. Catherine is dealing with a lot of guilt from the death of her sister, affecting her marriage and family and had her questioning her decision to be a profiler.
After reading and loving Allison Brenan’s Max Revere series and other mysteries, I was excited pick up her newest, and it did not disappoint! Ms. Brennan excels at writing suspenseful, action-packed thrillers, and this one had me on the edge of my seat so that, even though the story was a little on the long side page-wise, I didn’t really notice it. Any fan of crime procedurals with smartly written, and multi-layered characters should enjoy The Third to Die, and really any of Ms. Brennan’s books. I’m a huge fan of her writing!
The immediate case was solved, but the character’s lives, and past cases are not all wrapped up, leaving a lot of room for future stories. I’m eager to find out what’s next!
A copy was kindly provided by MIRA via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2020
Suspenseful Page Turner!
Kara Quinn is an undercover detective who is on a mandatory leave from her L.A.P.D. job so she is staying with her grandmother in Liberty Falls, Washington when she discovers a corpse while out for her morning run. Little does she know that the dead body will be the victim of a serial killer and a team of FBI agents will be arriving immediately and Kara will become involved with the team of agents against her better judgement and is now taking a working vacation and will put her heart and soul into stopping more murders and they only have 6 days before the killer will try to take two more victims.I
This was a fast paced and interesting police procedural crime mystery. The book steadily moves forward introducing many characters from the FBI task force and many members of the Liberty Falls police department and giving a good background for this suspenseful story. The main characters were strong with relatable personalities. The last 30% if this book was excellent with edge of your seat action and twists and turns that I just couldn't get enough! Hopefully there will more books to follow because I will definitely be on the list to read them.
I wanted to say that I really enjoyed this book but I felt there were many repetitive thoughts and statements from characters that could have been left out, although this did not affect the storytelling in anyway and some readers may like the characters repeating their thoughts. This book was a first in the series but there were a few characters that seemed to have a huge history together and unfinished business yet this was the first book in this series so that left me a little puzzled and wondering if a future book will backtrack the development of these characters since there seemed to be many missing pieces to their history together and left me wanting to know more.
I want to thank the author "Allison Brennan" and the publisher "Harlequin-Mira" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story!
I highly recommend for all crime mystery of suspense readers and have given a rating of 4 Page Turning 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
Kara Quinn is an undercover detective who is on a mandatory leave from her L.A.P.D. job so she is staying with her grandmother in Liberty Falls, Washington when she discovers a corpse while out for her morning run. Little does she know that the dead body will be the victim of a serial killer and a team of FBI agents will be arriving immediately and Kara will become involved with the team of agents against her better judgement and is now taking a working vacation and will put her heart and soul into stopping more murders and they only have 6 days before the killer will try to take two more victims.I
This was a fast paced and interesting police procedural crime mystery. The book steadily moves forward introducing many characters from the FBI task force and many members of the Liberty Falls police department and giving a good background for this suspenseful story. The main characters were strong with relatable personalities. The last 30% if this book was excellent with edge of your seat action and twists and turns that I just couldn't get enough! Hopefully there will more books to follow because I will definitely be on the list to read them.
I wanted to say that I really enjoyed this book but I felt there were many repetitive thoughts and statements from characters that could have been left out, although this did not affect the storytelling in anyway and some readers may like the characters repeating their thoughts. This book was a first in the series but there were a few characters that seemed to have a huge history together and unfinished business yet this was the first book in this series so that left me a little puzzled and wondering if a future book will backtrack the development of these characters since there seemed to be many missing pieces to their history together and left me wanting to know more.
I want to thank the author "Allison Brennan" and the publisher "Harlequin-Mira" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story!
I highly recommend for all crime mystery of suspense readers and have given a rating of 4 Page Turning 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
January 2, 2025
“The Third To Die”, by Allison Brennan
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This was my second book by this author. I started this series reading book #4, which was on sale for $1.99 (Canadian). She has written over 80 books, since 2005!
If book 4 lacks action, this one got plenty in comparison.
I thought that the concept was excellent and the development of the storyline was gripping.
The reason I’m not rating it any higher is because the writing was quite repetitive, and another turn off was how easily they arrived to a conclusion following formulaic phycological analysis. This book could have been a lot shorter, but I really enjoyed reading it.
I didn’t like being inside of the killer’s head, who constantly praised himself as being so smart but I thought that the pacing was very good and interesting.
The characters were strong, with lots of baggage, as if they were already showcased on previous books (I wonder if a prequel will be part of this series, although I don’t think it’s needed).
And the conclusion was quite riveting.
I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.
e-book (Kobo): 400 pages (default), 129k words, 53 chapters (a fast read)
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This was my second book by this author. I started this series reading book #4, which was on sale for $1.99 (Canadian). She has written over 80 books, since 2005!
If book 4 lacks action, this one got plenty in comparison.
I thought that the concept was excellent and the development of the storyline was gripping.
The reason I’m not rating it any higher is because the writing was quite repetitive, and another turn off was how easily they arrived to a conclusion following formulaic phycological analysis. This book could have been a lot shorter, but I really enjoyed reading it.
I didn’t like being inside of the killer’s head, who constantly praised himself as being so smart but I thought that the pacing was very good and interesting.
The characters were strong, with lots of baggage, as if they were already showcased on previous books (I wonder if a prequel will be part of this series, although I don’t think it’s needed).
And the conclusion was quite riveting.
I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.
e-book (Kobo): 400 pages (default), 129k words, 53 chapters (a fast read)
May 2, 2024
4.5 ☆'s
As many of you know, I'm a huge suspense- thriller fan. It was initially one of the first genres I started reading adamantly when I started to read for pleasure and not for academic purposes.
I've recently discovered Allison Brennan's writing over the last couple of years, and I now look forward to her book releases because she usually delivers an interesting, engaging story.
"The Third to Die" is no exception.
This was an engaging, well written and wonderfully developed story.
The characters were smart, insightful, courageous, believable and likable.
I liked the dynamics of the primary and secondary characters. The story flowed smoothly and was consistent without being predictable.
This is the first book in the "Mobile Response Team" series and it's an excellent beginning for a series.
The only problem I had with the story is that a previous case is mentioned throughout the story that involved Catherine (the team's profiler) and Matt (the Special Agent in Charge).
I think readers (I) would have gotten a little bit more out of the story if the author would have done a brief recap of what happened in the previous case and what happened to Beth (Catherine's sister). I think this would have enhanced the story especially if a person hasn't read all Ms. Brennan's previous books or if they've just newly discovered her writing.
Other than that this was a great story, and
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
"I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review."
As many of you know, I'm a huge suspense- thriller fan. It was initially one of the first genres I started reading adamantly when I started to read for pleasure and not for academic purposes.
I've recently discovered Allison Brennan's writing over the last couple of years, and I now look forward to her book releases because she usually delivers an interesting, engaging story.
"The Third to Die" is no exception.
This was an engaging, well written and wonderfully developed story.
The characters were smart, insightful, courageous, believable and likable.
I liked the dynamics of the primary and secondary characters. The story flowed smoothly and was consistent without being predictable.
This is the first book in the "Mobile Response Team" series and it's an excellent beginning for a series.
The only problem I had with the story is that a previous case is mentioned throughout the story that involved Catherine (the team's profiler) and Matt (the Special Agent in Charge).
I think readers (I) would have gotten a little bit more out of the story if the author would have done a brief recap of what happened in the previous case and what happened to Beth (Catherine's sister). I think this would have enhanced the story especially if a person hasn't read all Ms. Brennan's previous books or if they've just newly discovered her writing.
Other than that this was a great story, and
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
"I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review."
March 21, 2021
A new procedural series with a mobile response team that feels a lot like Criminal Minds. I love that it’s not focused on one character in particular & we also get a killer POV. There’s nothing new or inventive about it but it just really worked for me. I want more & now I have to wait God knows how long for another installment. I listened via Scribd & thought the narration was perfect.
May 2, 2021
This is an excellent beginning to Ms. Brennan's new series! I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced, well written, entertaining romantic suspense novel. I am looking forward to reading the next installment in this series, and I am glad that Lucy Kincaid will keep me occupied until then. Ms. Brennan never disappoints her readers!
February 2, 2020
Forced to take at least a week's break from her job as a detective at the LAPD, Kara doesn't know how she can avoid complete boredom. She is itching to get back to work. Well, she has work, if not will full capacity however, when she happens upon a body of a woman while jogging.
At the same time, FBI special agent Mathias Costa is handpicking a new team called the Mobile Response Team. Called to the murder, Matt quickly realizes that the woman who found the body might end up being instrumental to his team. He has been focused on finding a killer with the moniker Triple Killer. If the killer remains true to pattern, another gruesome murder is sure to happen again very soon.
Even though he just might get to have Kara work with the team, there is at least one other critical person he would like to add, a profiler named Catherine Jones. Not only is she a genius, but she is more than familiar with this killer. However, Catherine is dealing with more than a lot at the current time. So, Kara ends up working with Matt's team, although it is clear that she is not always keen to take instruction.
With just a couple more people on the team, the scene is set and the critical players are in place. Can they all work together at breakneck speed and catch the killer? This story is fast-paced, full of twists and turns, deals with personal angst and obviously, the sick mind of a brutal killer. To top it off, it has a mind-blowing conclusion.
What a great start to what is sure to be a stellar series. I love Kara and Matt. They may knock heads (and even more) in this story, but there is no doubt that they will be working together again in future books. I cannot believe that this is my first book by Allison Brennan but it certainly will not be my last.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
At the same time, FBI special agent Mathias Costa is handpicking a new team called the Mobile Response Team. Called to the murder, Matt quickly realizes that the woman who found the body might end up being instrumental to his team. He has been focused on finding a killer with the moniker Triple Killer. If the killer remains true to pattern, another gruesome murder is sure to happen again very soon.
Even though he just might get to have Kara work with the team, there is at least one other critical person he would like to add, a profiler named Catherine Jones. Not only is she a genius, but she is more than familiar with this killer. However, Catherine is dealing with more than a lot at the current time. So, Kara ends up working with Matt's team, although it is clear that she is not always keen to take instruction.
With just a couple more people on the team, the scene is set and the critical players are in place. Can they all work together at breakneck speed and catch the killer? This story is fast-paced, full of twists and turns, deals with personal angst and obviously, the sick mind of a brutal killer. To top it off, it has a mind-blowing conclusion.
What a great start to what is sure to be a stellar series. I love Kara and Matt. They may knock heads (and even more) in this story, but there is no doubt that they will be working together again in future books. I cannot believe that this is my first book by Allison Brennan but it certainly will not be my last.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
December 16, 2025
If you’re a fan of Criminal Minds type vibes, add this one to your TBR!
February 21, 2020
The Third to Die, the first book in The Mobile Response series, is a chilling tale about a smart, meticulous and twisted killer determined to get revenge against the people he believed wronged him. He would match wits with the members of the FBI’s newly formed Mobile Response Team and local law enforcement, who would find themselves in a race against time to capture him before he could execute his next target.
A riveting read which proved difficult to put down. The story started slow and took its time building up to a thrilling end. The story gave nothing away. I followed the evidence along with the team and got my answers the same time they did.
I thought the characters were well developed, and I had a great time getting to know them. I found Kara’s character intriguing. As an undercover cop, she proved an asset to the Mobile Response Team. Her working with the team was due to her discovery of a murder scene while jogging. A discovery that placed her in the middle of the hunt for a serial killer. She has an interesting past, which played a role in molding her strong, intelligent and maverick personality.
At the time of Kara’s discovery, Mathias Costas was selected to head the Mobile Response Team. At this point, he and Kara’s paths will cross. Mathias proved to be a great leader but did not have the patience for inter-agency politics. He and Kara worked well together
I feel that this book is a spinoff of another series. I came to this conclusion based on the limited background information provided regarding Mathias and his behavioral analyst Catherine. There is history there, which was not fully explored in this book.
I loved how the author blended the personal lives of the characters with the solving the case. I mourned and celebrated with them as a result.
Conclusion / Recommendation
The Third to Die highlighted how easy it was for the criminal mind to unravel when plans go awry. This was an enjoyable read and a great start to the series. Fans of mysteries and police procedurals would enjoy this latest offering from Allison Brennan.
A riveting read which proved difficult to put down. The story started slow and took its time building up to a thrilling end. The story gave nothing away. I followed the evidence along with the team and got my answers the same time they did.
I thought the characters were well developed, and I had a great time getting to know them. I found Kara’s character intriguing. As an undercover cop, she proved an asset to the Mobile Response Team. Her working with the team was due to her discovery of a murder scene while jogging. A discovery that placed her in the middle of the hunt for a serial killer. She has an interesting past, which played a role in molding her strong, intelligent and maverick personality.
At the time of Kara’s discovery, Mathias Costas was selected to head the Mobile Response Team. At this point, he and Kara’s paths will cross. Mathias proved to be a great leader but did not have the patience for inter-agency politics. He and Kara worked well together
I feel that this book is a spinoff of another series. I came to this conclusion based on the limited background information provided regarding Mathias and his behavioral analyst Catherine. There is history there, which was not fully explored in this book.
I loved how the author blended the personal lives of the characters with the solving the case. I mourned and celebrated with them as a result.
Conclusion / Recommendation
The Third to Die highlighted how easy it was for the criminal mind to unravel when plans go awry. This was an enjoyable read and a great start to the series. Fans of mysteries and police procedurals would enjoy this latest offering from Allison Brennan.
September 29, 2020
I have to say this book drug out way to long. It was a very long winded story. I had to struggle to finish it. It was my first book by Brennan, so I am not sure if all her books are like this. I will ty one more of her older books in the future and see.
I sadly gave this book 3 stars.
I sadly gave this book 3 stars.
April 28, 2020
I was delighted to find that I thoroughly enjoyed The Third to Die as I read the first third or so of the book. Unfortunately, from that point on, it went seriously downhill. Since I am continually on the search for good authors whose work I have not yet read, my initial reaction was very positive but...
A serial killer has captured the attention of Matt Costa, an FBI agent who is forming a new unit that has all of the skills necessary for a comprehensive investigation and is ultra-mobile and, as such, can be dropped into relatively rural areas where few crime investigative resources exist. He decides to work with a profiler who has resigned from the bureau after a particularly rough case.
An undercover cop from LA is on leave in the Spokane area and, on a morning run, she discovers a body that turns out to be the seventh victim of a most unusual serial killer. Every three years, beginning on March 3rd, he kills a series of three people, one every three days. Costa's newly formed team, aided by our intrepid LA cop investigate.
I found the plot to be very unique and intriguing. The characters were interesting and the LA undercover cop really hooked me. So, you might ask, "Why a two star rating?"
After this top quality start, the story rather dramatically deteriorated. The investigative work seemed very simplistic (ie, very obvious conclusions were not drawn), but I have no expertise in this area, so my comments have be taken with a grain of salt. The profiling and psychological elements of the story were a hodgepodge of pop psychology, old wives tales (I spoke with several old wives to verify this evaluation) and pure silliness. Whereas I know little about investigative technique, I know a great deal about psychology since that was my life's work. There was also a romantic element that was only slightly distracting and added nothing.
Bottom line: I could not recommend this book to anyone and will not read another of Brennan's books.
The End.
A serial killer has captured the attention of Matt Costa, an FBI agent who is forming a new unit that has all of the skills necessary for a comprehensive investigation and is ultra-mobile and, as such, can be dropped into relatively rural areas where few crime investigative resources exist. He decides to work with a profiler who has resigned from the bureau after a particularly rough case.
An undercover cop from LA is on leave in the Spokane area and, on a morning run, she discovers a body that turns out to be the seventh victim of a most unusual serial killer. Every three years, beginning on March 3rd, he kills a series of three people, one every three days. Costa's newly formed team, aided by our intrepid LA cop investigate.
I found the plot to be very unique and intriguing. The characters were interesting and the LA undercover cop really hooked me. So, you might ask, "Why a two star rating?"
After this top quality start, the story rather dramatically deteriorated. The investigative work seemed very simplistic (ie, very obvious conclusions were not drawn), but I have no expertise in this area, so my comments have be taken with a grain of salt. The profiling and psychological elements of the story were a hodgepodge of pop psychology, old wives tales (I spoke with several old wives to verify this evaluation) and pure silliness. Whereas I know little about investigative technique, I know a great deal about psychology since that was my life's work. There was also a romantic element that was only slightly distracting and added nothing.
Bottom line: I could not recommend this book to anyone and will not read another of Brennan's books.
The End.
February 7, 2020
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Mystery / Thriller
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
The Third to Die is the first installment in author Allison Brennan's Mobile Response Team which is supposed to be a book a year series featuring recurring characters. The story takes place between March 3 & 14, in & around Liberty Lake, Washington. The main characters in this book are Los Angeles Detective Kara Quinn who has been an undercover cop for 12 years, and Special Agent in Charge Mathias Costa who leads the newly formed Mobile Response Team. MRT is supposed to go to areas where the local law enforcement is under served or have limited forensics capability.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Mystery / Thriller
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
The Third to Die is the first installment in author Allison Brennan's Mobile Response Team which is supposed to be a book a year series featuring recurring characters. The story takes place between March 3 & 14, in & around Liberty Lake, Washington. The main characters in this book are Los Angeles Detective Kara Quinn who has been an undercover cop for 12 years, and Special Agent in Charge Mathias Costa who leads the newly formed Mobile Response Team. MRT is supposed to go to areas where the local law enforcement is under served or have limited forensics capability.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
September 7, 2022
I'm afraid that my reading/listening to this book suffered to constant distractions and unending interruptions. There just never seemed to be a time I could get much reading done before I needed to be doing something else. Overall, it was an edgy story with a new cast of characters for Allison Brennan. It will be really interesting to see where these characters go and how this new FBI unit works out. I see lots of possibilities for the Quinn and Costa characters. They are both very different people and have very different backgrounds. Quinn reminds me a lot of Sean; she tends to play fast and loose with her toe right on the line. Costa reminds me of Lucy, a more by the book approach but still willing to bend the rules to get the bad guy.
Kara Quinn is on administrative leave from her job as an LAPD undercover detective. While out jogging in her hometown of Liberty Lake, Washington, she comes across a dead body. The murder victim turns out to be number seven for a serial killer known as the Triple Killer and the FBI is hot to catch this guy. Kara can't help but take an interest in this case and her help is invaluable to both the police and the FBI.
Mathias Costa is the head of a newly formed FBI team. The mobile Response Team, MRT, is devised to respond to rural areas with understaffed police departments. He is just getting his team together and can use all the help he can get, and Kara brings insight to the people and the area he finds himself in right now. The killer has killed a trauma nurse and the pattern he has previously established will have him targeting an educator and a cop before he disappears for another three years. The time is short, and the threat is real.
Kara Quinn is on administrative leave from her job as an LAPD undercover detective. While out jogging in her hometown of Liberty Lake, Washington, she comes across a dead body. The murder victim turns out to be number seven for a serial killer known as the Triple Killer and the FBI is hot to catch this guy. Kara can't help but take an interest in this case and her help is invaluable to both the police and the FBI.
Mathias Costa is the head of a newly formed FBI team. The mobile Response Team, MRT, is devised to respond to rural areas with understaffed police departments. He is just getting his team together and can use all the help he can get, and Kara brings insight to the people and the area he finds himself in right now. The killer has killed a trauma nurse and the pattern he has previously established will have him targeting an educator and a cop before he disappears for another three years. The time is short, and the threat is real.
October 16, 2023
Allison Brennan begins a new series on fairly strong footing with The Third to Die, a thriller with some interesting and complex characters that remain unique but occasionally dip into some tired tropes. The book begins from the point of view of a serial killer whose meticulous nature and disturbing psychology are immediately apparent as he is described cleaning up after his latest crime. Liberty Lake is a small Washington town, unused to such violence and the local law enforcement is ill-equipped to handle such a complex case. Luckily, the body happens to be discovered by Kara Quinn, an LAPD undercover detective who is on a mandatory vacation for reasons that will be discovered as the story evolves. Because of its similarity to other cases known to be committed by the “Triple Killer,” the FBI sends a newly formed unit called the Mobile Response Unit to aid the investigation. Matt Costa barely has time to form his team and coax his best friend and expert profiler out of retirement before the killer is due to strike again. Targeting nurses, teachers, and police, the “Triple Killer” has evaded capture due to his long waiting periods and victim profiles that defy easy classification. Of course, small-town politics and jurisdictional issues arise to complicate matters further. Kara Quinn is enormously perceptive, and due to her inability to relax while visiting her grandmother, she is an eager and assertive help to Costa and the MRT. Still, her complicated past and cavalier approach to excessive force may also make her a liability. Of course, Costa and Quinn find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other and quickly tumble into a sexual liaison of the “I’m damaged, so won’t let anyone get too close” variety. The action in The Third to Die is fast-paced and compelling, if also a bit predictable. Brennan is at her best when she is inside the mind of the killer and weakest in her portrayal of the formulaic carnal passages. The cast of characters is obviously crafted to continue past this book and is drawn convincingly enough to attract a following. This new release will appeal mostly to those who like their thrillers traditional and comfortably familiar. Hopefully, Brennan’s follow-up will go deeper into the development of the MRT team and avoid veering again into unnecessary romance.
Thanks to the author, MIRA/Harlequin Books and Edelweiss for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thanks to the author, MIRA/Harlequin Books and Edelweiss for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 29, 2020
I had to abandon this at about 60%. It just seemed to keep going on and on and never really making much forward progress. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters and was bored by the story. This is the third time I’ve tried a book by this author and been disappointed so I guess she is just not for me.
January 29, 2020
This book was so, so good. I lived everything about it. It was the first book in the FBI investigative team, the Mobile Response Team with FBI Agent Mattias Costa at the helm.
A young woman was found murdered, an act of a serial killer that Matt had been searching for many years. He killed every three years on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th March. And he needed to be stopped STAT. That was the seventh murder. Cop Kara wjo had originally fond the victim soon became a part of the investigation along with profiler Catherine.
My first book by Allison Brennan, I savored every word in the book. Though it was a police procedural at the core, it read like a thriller. I love books which can keep me hooked just by the power of the words. Allison's writing was magical, the need to stop the murderer was a crazy fervor in my blood. I felt as if I were standing next to the characters prodding them on. I think Detective Kara heard me. She had the same impatience that was in my blood whole reading.
The plot was crazy good and I loved looking at the investigation at all angles. Agent Matt had no time for office politics, I loved his frustration while dealing with idiots. The investigation was thorough with great cop instincts at play. I liked them all, but it was Kara who got me, so I felt.
Their was a zingy chemistry between Matt and Kara, which had me grinning with happiness, but there was respect there too. Kara was fiercely independent with a sense of justice in her soul. The ending raised some goosebumps and made me long for the next book. Pronto.
This book was mind blowing, and I completely enjoyed it. I need to read more by this author. Wow!!
A young woman was found murdered, an act of a serial killer that Matt had been searching for many years. He killed every three years on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th March. And he needed to be stopped STAT. That was the seventh murder. Cop Kara wjo had originally fond the victim soon became a part of the investigation along with profiler Catherine.
My first book by Allison Brennan, I savored every word in the book. Though it was a police procedural at the core, it read like a thriller. I love books which can keep me hooked just by the power of the words. Allison's writing was magical, the need to stop the murderer was a crazy fervor in my blood. I felt as if I were standing next to the characters prodding them on. I think Detective Kara heard me. She had the same impatience that was in my blood whole reading.
The plot was crazy good and I loved looking at the investigation at all angles. Agent Matt had no time for office politics, I loved his frustration while dealing with idiots. The investigation was thorough with great cop instincts at play. I liked them all, but it was Kara who got me, so I felt.
Their was a zingy chemistry between Matt and Kara, which had me grinning with happiness, but there was respect there too. Kara was fiercely independent with a sense of justice in her soul. The ending raised some goosebumps and made me long for the next book. Pronto.
This book was mind blowing, and I completely enjoyed it. I need to read more by this author. Wow!!
February 4, 2020
HOLY $&@?!
What a wild ride. I was fortunate to get an early copy for an honest review and let me tell you...I can’t wait for more in this series.
Detective Kara Quinn in a total badass, and so dang smart. She is described as edgy and that is a perfect word for her.
The cast of characters in this book are seriously awesome. I love FBI Mathias Costas, he is scary smart and a great leader. I cant wait to see where this series goes. I’m especially interested also in the forensic psychologist she has some baggage too. I am really looking forward to all the surrounding players in this series, and hearing their story.
This was a fantastic beginning to a new series for this author. Allison Brennan packs a big punch with this edge of your seat, dark, twisted read. Must read!!!!
Now bring on book 2.
What a wild ride. I was fortunate to get an early copy for an honest review and let me tell you...I can’t wait for more in this series.
Detective Kara Quinn in a total badass, and so dang smart. She is described as edgy and that is a perfect word for her.
The cast of characters in this book are seriously awesome. I love FBI Mathias Costas, he is scary smart and a great leader. I cant wait to see where this series goes. I’m especially interested also in the forensic psychologist she has some baggage too. I am really looking forward to all the surrounding players in this series, and hearing their story.
This was a fantastic beginning to a new series for this author. Allison Brennan packs a big punch with this edge of your seat, dark, twisted read. Must read!!!!
Now bring on book 2.
February 4, 2020
The Third to Die by Allison Brennan is the first in the Mobile Response Team series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harlequin-MIRA, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Information:
Under Assistant Director Tony Greer, Special Agent Mathias Costa runs the new Mobile Response Team at the FBI. The goal is to travel to locations which have minimal law enforcement and offer their assistance. So far the team consists of Matt and Ryder Kim, the new analyst. Michael Harris, a former Navy SEAL, and Jim Esteban, a forensic specialist, are also joining the team.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Matt is on a recruiting mission when the first case for his Mobile Response Team arises. "The Triple Killer" has struck again. Matt will have 3 days before the next body is found, and then 3 more before the next. Then the killer will not be active for another 3 years. They have to stop this guy. Maybe Matt will be able to recruit Dr. Catherine Jones for the team. After all, she wrote the profile on The Triple Killer, so he is sure she'll want to be involved, although she's on sabbatical after her last case. That one hurt Matt too.
Los Angeles Police Detective Kara Quinn, an undercover cop with 12 years experience, is on administrative leave, back visiting her grandmother in Liberty Lake, Washington. She is the witness who finds the first body. She eagerly inserts herself into the investigation. After all, she isn't allowed back in LA for a while.
With the team working quickly, they quickly find more clues than they've ever had, and Catherine soon finds a pattern emerging. But it looks like one of the targets may be one of their own...and the count-down is on.
My Opinions:
This was a great start to a new series! I really like most of the characters. The author has already given them enough depth that I am looking forward to seeing them in future books. I didn't particularly like Kara, whose exterior is very rough, and her attitude careless, and although the author occasionally tried to show a sensitive side, it wasn't convincing. However, I really liked Matt and Ryder. The verdict is still out on Catherine, and I don't know enough about Jim and Michael.
I did not like the romantic angle between Kara and Matt. It seemed really unprofessional in the middle of a time-sensitive case - although as I am not a romance reader, that could be on me.
The plot was good, and part of the book was told from the killers perspective, which I found really interesting. His main goal was revenge for wrongs he felt he suffered. He created a rather intricate plan to exact payback, which he felt would leave him clear of any repercussions. There was a lot of action and suspense, so I just kept turning the pages. It was a really captivating and engrossing read.
Looking forward to more!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and quotations), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
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