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For years, Carter has searched for the man who killed his daughter, unable to let go of the pain of her loss and the anger swirling inside him at the violent way she was taken. He's dedicated his life to hunting down pedophiles, trying to save others from suffering the loss and pain he has suffered.

Archer has spent years tracking down a serial killer, unable to banish the memories of the graves from his mind, and always dreading there will be more. He left the FBI so that he could focus on a case he couldn't forget, working now as a private detective.

With both men passionate about bringing the killer to justice, they work together, combining knowledge and evidence, leading them down a path of darkness as they move closer to finding the man responsible for so many deaths.

Seeking vengeance isn't what he thought it would be, taking Carter to the breaking point, and worrying others that he might not return. With Archer by his side, he must face the past in order to move into the future, but sometimes letting go isn't as easy as it seems.

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 25, 2019

46 people are currently reading
68 people want to read

About the author

E.M. Leya

100 books304 followers
E.M. Leya lives surrounded by the beautiful mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah with her amazing daughter and loving pets. She is passionate about the world we live in and current events, deeming herself a "news junkie". She believes that we are all here to create something beautiful, whether it's through our talents or our actions. She enjoys writing stories that take us deep into real world problems while showing that love can happen for anyone, regardless of how dark their past might be.

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5 stars
127 (57%)
4 stars
67 (30%)
3 stars
23 (10%)
2 stars
3 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for F..
1,343 reviews65 followers
July 30, 2019
I liked this story though not as much as the others in the series. This book was at a different tempo. Some reviewers have expressed annoyance at Carter but I thought the author got his reactions spot on. Finding his daughter's killer had been his drive, his reason to keep living and when that was done, he was empty. He had to rediscover a reason for being and carrying on and thus had to change direction.He was lucky to have Archer or the ending may well have been different.
Profile Image for Tina.
1,781 reviews1 follower
June 3, 2019

10 stars for one of the best m/m series ever.

Loved loved loved Carter and Archer.... and all the guys from the STK-Team.

I hope there is more to come?
164 reviews
June 7, 2019
I DO LOVE THIS BOOK I read it in one shot ...I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to . I cried for Carter and his terrible loss,I hoped for Carter for his new love but,above all, I felt all his pain and fear after killing the monster that had killed his daughter and his wife (if not directly). Archer is the best !!! This is definitely the most poignant and most hard story of all in this series.I cried (and I am not one who cries easily) . I loved this series so much and this story did not betray my expectations. The author is one of my favorite , and I read all of her books and she never disappointed me ...so far
Profile Image for Heather♥.
794 reviews6 followers
June 1, 2019
3.5 stars

I've been looking forward to Carter's story since book 1. I could only imagine the horrors he saw on a daily basis while collecting evidence and searching the dark web, and I wanted to see how deeply it impacted his life. How his role on the team was just non-stop gritty insanity. And we did get to see some of that. Eventually.

For me, the first half of the book seemed to move at a slow pace and the inner monologues felt repetitive after awhile. Carter took time away from the team, and he and Archer (private detective) basically spent days/weeks going over Archer's notes and files about Lyle, the serial killer responsible for the death of Carter's daughter. They hoped if they worked together they would find new leads and they kept commenting how the answers/missing pieces had to be there but they just couldn't see them yet. But they were getting closer. They felt it in their gut we were told. I had trouble with this initial part of the investigation holding my attention because there really wasn't a lot happening.

I liked Carter and Archer as a couple. They worked comfortably together, understood just what the other needed, and simply got each other. Even if that meant giving each other space. But then they kept dancing around the fact they might have deeper feelings. They said they'd have to talk about it later, after the investigation, but yet their inner monologues wouldn't shut up about it.

When they finally discovered Lyle's location, things got interesting again. The team offered to provide backup to Carter when he organized the sting and I loved hearing all the details that went into planning it. But then it started to drag again.

Sadly this wasn't my favorite in the series. I think the crying, over-analyzing and insecurity from one of the founding members of the team was a little unexpected considering how he was portrayed in previous books .
Profile Image for John Altman.
258 reviews33 followers
May 30, 2019
Hack! STK Book 5

Total Rating: 3.4 Stars out of 5
Rating Review Rollout:
(1) Attention Keeper: 3.5 🌟🌟🌟🌙
(2) Digging deep in Character Development: 4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
(3) Danger-Drama-Friction-Suspense Fulfillment?: 2 🌑🌑
(4) Edit to Perfection!: 4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
(5) Feeling the Words: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(6) Give me more please factor: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(7) Going with the Flow of the Story: 4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
(8) Grammar Police: 4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
(9) It's all about the Chemistry, baby: 4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
(10) Laugh out loud funny: N/A
(11) Love connection: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(12) Main characters appeal: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(13) Plot Worthy: 4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
(14) Show me Entertainment: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(15) Super-Duper-Natural feels: N/A
(16) The Writing speaks for itself: 4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
(17) The Wrap Up of all loose ends in a tidy bow: 4 🌞🌞🌞🌞
(18) Too sexy for my shirt kinda sex: 2.5 🌑🌑🌙
Profile Image for Lioness7.
563 reviews8 followers
September 30, 2019
I don't think I'll ever get tired of reading this series. This book was a little bit different that the previous ones though. This book is all about Carter finding the person that killed his daughter. It doesn't have as much team time as some of the others.

I loved the storyline for this because I have always been curious about Carter's backstory. I even understood his need for justice. I also loved the dynamic between Carter and Archer.

I think that what I missed the most about this book was the team dynamic though. Sure, everyone appeared in the book, but it just didn't feel quite the same. It wasn't so different that I won't be reading the next book though. I just know that when everyone is regularly in the book, I have a lot more fun reading.
Profile Image for LeeAnn.
795 reviews
September 23, 2019
Wonderful.

All of the books on this series have been amazing. I cheered when the team goes in and does what it needs to. The main and supporting characters are people you can get behind and root for.
Carter had so much tragedy in his life. It was great when he found the love he did with Archer . Their teamwork, support, and love for each other was wonderful to experience. Yes their lovemaking was off the charts but it wasn't the main thing in their relationship...it was just a huge bonus. Kindness, understanding, caring, support and love were.
I thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series and am looking forward to Trenton's story.
113 reviews2 followers
May 31, 2019
Thoroughly recommend

Carter had never grieved the loss of his wife and daughter. He had just wanted vengeance against the man who killed them and others like him. Archer gave up everything for that one case he couldn't let go of. When Archer hits a dead end he turns to the father of one of the victims - a man who knows how to hunt paedophiles - in order to stop the man responsible for the rape and deaths of so many children. In parts this book is quite harrowing but is a fantastic read. This whole series I thoroughly recommend.
Profile Image for Lucrecia.
413 reviews16 followers
May 29, 2019
Hack (Save The Kids Book 8)

I love this series. All books in it are hard to read at one point of another. Heartbreaking, more so when I think that this is a mirror of real horrors happening irl. But these books, they also fix that heartbreak by the end and that's enough, they cannot fix it irl...
This one was way up there. Carter story broke my soul and Archer was right there, great at being perfect for him and healing us both.
Keep them coming ^^

I'll keep reading 📖
Profile Image for Patti.
989 reviews7 followers
October 26, 2019
Brilliant!

Oh my, I have no words to describe the feeling and emotion this book pulled from me. Carter's pain and suffering was immense and soul crushing. As he worked with Archer to find the closure he needed , he started to open up a bit more and discover feelings he had lost along the way. I can't summarise without spoilers, so I'm just saying that this book is brilliantly written and the whole series is awesome.
1,159 reviews7 followers
September 12, 2019
Brilliant

I have to say this book was absolutely brilliant. I think this had one of the best story lines in the series Not only was it about Archer and Carter getting together it was also about their past and how they could move forward together. I wish the epilogue was longer and I really hope the writer continues with this series as there is so much potential
203 reviews
June 18, 2019
Great book

This book was so great. It was so heartbreaking what happened to carter both before the team and when he finally finds his daughters killer. Both carter and Archer are fabulous characters and the team once again makes for a great story.
Profile Image for Li Taylor.
1,839 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2019
Brilliant

A truly amazing series of book and I hope there are still more from the STK series. This is one series I could re read all the time . Highly recommended
Profile Image for Jeanine Beaulieu St Pierre.
1,189 reviews3 followers
August 23, 2019
Loved it

I love Carter I felt so sorry for the life hits that he took,but I think he came out a better man,I hope we will be seeing more books in this series from this author
Profile Image for Silkeeeeeereads.
1,448 reviews95 followers
August 27, 2019
Gray

This one is the darker one of the bunch. I wouldn’t say it’s black, but some shade of gray. There is some sadness here but and HEA at the end.
Profile Image for Lu.
627 reviews55 followers
August 21, 2023
I’ve cried for 1 hour.
It's too much, I have no words.



P.S.
For the first time ever reading books, I wish these guys really existed.
The world needs them.
285 reviews
May 18, 2025
Good story and author

This series is hard to read. Extreme mature content. Keep in mind that the content might have triggers within the story. This author is great.
Profile Image for keren davidi cohen.
213 reviews7 followers
June 22, 2019
I'm not sure how I feel about all the changes that the team goes through in the previous book. It was Dyson and now Carter left
I guess the writer seems to be moving slowly toward the end of the series
But the book was still excellent
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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