Dead End

Kaely Quinn Profiler #3

by Nancy Mehl

When a body is discovered in a field in Iowa, the police uncover fourteen additional corpses ranging from 20 years old to recent. The remains point to a serial killer with an MO the authorities have seen before--Ed Oliphant, a man who has been in prison for over 20 years . . . and is Special Agent Kaely Quinn's father. After several failed interview attempts to discover if Ed has been training someone to be a copycat killer, the police turn to Kaely in St. Louis.

Kaely promised herself she would never step foot in her hometown or set eyes on her father again. She's always refused to confront her past, but if she wants to prevent any more deaths, she must come face-to-face with the man she's hated for years.
As more bodies are discovered, Kaely races against time and her own personal turmoil to uncover the killer. Will this most personal case yet cost Kaely her identity and perhaps even her life?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Christian, Mystery Thriller

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2020

About the author

Nancy Mehl is the bestselling author of over 50 books. She’s won the Daphne Du Maurier Award, as well as an ACFW Mystery Book of the Year Award and a Carol award. She was also a finalist for the prestigious Christy award. Her short story, Chasing Shadows, was in the USA Today bestselling Summer of Suspense anthology. Learn more about her at www.nancymehl.com and on her blog, the Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com.

Reviews

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead End by Nancy Mehl - Book 3 in the Kaely Quinn Profiler Series
4.5 Stars

Great conclusion to the series! I love Nancy's writing - she can write a suspense like no other. We follow Kaely Quinn from events in books 1 & 2 and learn more about her father's past and the copy cat killer who is repeating her father's crimes. Kaely went into her role as a behavior analyst because of what her father's crimes were and now we have someone copying them. Her and Noah are back together figuring things out together, talking to her father directly and by the end, you will be satisfied with how things wrap up. Nice to see a little romance with them finally wrap up too.

Not much to say here since its book 3 of the series, but I highly recommend it for the good faith elements, suspense and light romance thread. People who aren't crazy about romance in books would love this series because the main focus is the suspense/mystery.

4.5/5 Stars

[Oceana Reads Co. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars!
Ok I loved everything about this except one thing!
I loved that we got to see more into Kaely’s dad and his past. I loved Noah throughout the whole book.
I relate so much to Kaely, and her need for control and security.
One thing I wished was more fleshed out was Kaely’s inner reflection and healing. I feel like the ending of this trilogy was lacking because a chunk of Kaely’s process was skipped over.
I did really like who this final serial killer turned out to be! Didn’t see that connection coming!
Overall, this is a new favourite Christian suspense trilogy!

[Sarah Grace Grzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to finally read the conclusion of the Kaely Quinn Profiler series! This book picks up not long after book two. There is a copycat killer and Kaely may be the only one who can stop him. Forcing Kaely to face her biggest fears was a great tipping point to end the series. Kaely's reactions and emotions felt very realistic throughout and it was easy to relate to her, even if you hadn't been through the trauma she had. I also enjoyed Noah's character, although I feel like his storyline, small as it may be, could have been wrapped up better. His emotions throughout the story as well were spot-on. The ending is climactic and intense, and I wasn't able to put the book down! I did not guess the villain's identity, so the shock factor was high.

I loved finally getting the conclusion to Noah and Kaely's romance. I think everyone has been waiting for it since book one! But I appreciated how the author didn't move too quickly on that subject; it was much more realistic to be slower and more drawn out throughout the series.

I mentioned in my review of the second book the issues I had with the lack of conclusion regarding the spiritual issues, so I was intrigued to see where this one would end. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what I was wanting. I appreciated that the subject of spiritual warfare was recognized, and in some way it was wrapped up. I just wish there had been a little more finality to it and a little more emphasis put on it.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this conclusion to the series, and look forward to reading more by this author! I highly recommend this to lovers of suspense\mysteries, especially with slow romances and spiritual themes.


FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed the Kaely Quinn Profiler series. I hated reading book three so fast but I could not turn the pages fast enough. Mehl is a fantastic suspense author. She keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole book.
This was a great ending to a super series.
I gave this book 5 stars and I HIGHLY recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

[Morgan's Endless Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this conclusion! Kaely's reactions and thoughts seemed very realistic for her having to finally confront her father, and what happened with him was really great!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it looks like the whole series is going to land at about a 2.5 rating for me. Kaely had a lot of promise but the constant zoom-in/zoom-out approach to her POV made it hard to get into her head as a character. One minute I'd be reading her inmost thoughts and fears and the next I would find out she'd done something plot-changing without me even having seen her do it. This trend continued in this book and took me out of the story every time.

Faith element: this one bugged me, honestly. Obviously the book is aimed toward a Christian audience and the readers are expected to know the meaning of general "Christianese" terms but Noah's not supposed to be a Christian and yet Kaely expects him to know the meaning of such terms. Faith, prayer, God, spiritual warfare, and a few other things are mentioned. It's said that Kaely has grown uncomfortable with "summoning the evil" of the subjects she "interviews." It is never mentioned why she should have a problem with this, though even in Christian circles many folks don't think it's wrong to hang out with evil. I felt like she could have easily had a reason to quit using her method based on her beliefs, but that was never addressed. Also there was zero mention of Jesus or of what salvation means; just "you ought to be saved" and no witness to Noah etc about what we need saving from. So it really seemed to send a mixed message that was missing most of the meat and wasn't a good example to readers of how to share the Gospel with unbelievers. It also resulted in me continuing to feel ambivalent about whether or not Noah was actually going to get his life right with God or if he was simply going to "become spiritual" and pray to a generic God rather than a specific Christian one.


This one has a serial killer to catch but I didn't think it was quite as dark a serial killer as the first book of the series. Maybe just because I spotted the killer right away? I don't know. There is a staggering body count--just saying.

Overall, while the plot of the book is solid and the author's handle of the written word is good, I continued to struggle with the POVs and the habit of keeping secrets from the reader for no reason. It kept me from feeling much suspense because they did it so often that I was quite sure they were doing it again and had no fears for them. Also, Kaely's methods are so unorthodox that I really didn't get to find out much of what it's really like to be a BAU agent (I'd have liked to see a contrasting view of the criminals from Noah to balance Kaely's methods which better reflects the actual FBI procedures).

Thanks to the NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

[Tales and Treats with Tay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great end to the series! I loved that we got to see this storyline with her father and the copycat killer. Kaely's thoughts and emotions felt very realistic.

Content: serial killer topics, PTSD, mental health, suicide (brief mention), alcohol consumption (brief)

Faith rating: 2/3 includes a little spiritual warfare discussion

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars


I think this was my favorite of the trilogy. It's hard to imagine a trilogy about serial killers and a woman who has a serial killer as her father could be wrapped up in a nice bow, but it was.

This story was interesting because we finally got a glimpse into who Kaely's father really was after hearing about her trauma from him over the first two books. I also really appreciated Kaely's vulnerability throughout her process of healing with the Lord.

This book was probably the strongest in the faith aspect and even challenged by emotions on some things, which made it great. Also, the reality of the demonic and spiritual warfare was on point.

As for the plot, I was definitely on the right path to who the killer was, but ultimately was surprised at the connection.. I'm not too sure how I feel about the outcome actually.

[Kailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great end to this series! I had been hooked into Kaely’s story since the beginning. I love how this was wrapped up. The story kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the message about forgiveness and healing. I also enjoyed the different character perspectives that we got with this book. I have loved Kaely and Noah and am very pleased with the ending.




I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Christine Indorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead End is the final book in this series. When there is another serial killer that is copying Kaely father killings, Kaely is forced to confront her father to find out if he is involved in these murders. As time goes on the strain of dealing with her father is pushing her towards the end herself. Even Noah, her partner, is distancing himself from her. So Kaely is determined to find out who is the killer, even if her father is involved. Now you are wondering who is the person behind all these murders. This book will have you guessing until the end who is responsible. Also will Noah finally let his true feelings towards Kaely be known to her? Is there a chance for love among this mystery. I have to say this is a solid series and I love it will have you guessing until the end who done it for all of the series. I am glad I have discovered Nancy Mehl and hope to read more of her books in the future!!

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series! Will definitely be reading more Nancy Mehl books.

[Kelly Bridgewater · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I adore suspense, romantic suspense, and thrillers novels. I get excited about a novel or series that features a reoccurring serial killer. I know. You're probably turned off now, but I love the hunt for someone and picking up on the clues and red herrings, trying to distract me from figuring out who the villain is. In Nancy Mehl's current series, Kaely Quinn Profiler, I have enjoyed the series because of the heroine's perspective. Being a serial killer's daughter is completely different and unique. She brought something new to the table. There is some romance between Kaely and Noah, a fellow officer, but nothing to touchy-feeling. Not for the true contemporary romance fans. Way more downplayed. I loved the action and suspense in Dead End. It really captured my attention. I was at lunch at work and reached the climactic point at the end of my lunch, and I didn't want to return. Needed to see how the story played out. The little disappointment for the story was that I figured out who the killer was in this novel before the end. Not that it took away from the story. I just read so many of these suspense novels that I usually have them figured out. Overall, Dead End was an enjoyable read. Definitely a series for my keeper shelf. If readers enjoy Lynette Eason, then I recommend picking up this series.

I received a complimentary copy of Dead End by Nancy Mehl from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead End is a great conclusion to the Kaely Quinn Profiler suspense series. Once again Kaely finds herself involved in a case with Noah Hunter. These 2 FBI agents are beginning to have feelings for one another, but they are both gun shy because of their pasts. The current case definitely hits too close to home for Kaely as it is a copycat serial killer who is copying her father who is currently in prison.

I really enjoyed the psychology of this book as Kaely dug deep to try and read her father to see if he had any connection to this copycat killer. She was also having to come to grips with both her imaginary friend as well as with her profiler imagining of the UNSUB. I loved how Noah tried to keep her grounded and also his care and concern for her. Through his support, Kaely was finally able to deal with her past, find forgiveness for her father, and learn to lean on her faith. In turn, Kaely was able to lead Noah back to his faith and to realize that God had nothing to do with his wife's death.

Lovely ending to another great thriller series.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

[Natalie Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the conclusion to the series. Author, Nancy Mehl, does a fantastic job keeping the suspense heightened and delivering a solid ending. I thought there would be more play on the psychological aspect of her "friend" since it was such a strong plot point throughout the series. Overall, this is one of the best suspense series I've read and I'd recommend to reader who love the genre.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series, and yes, I have read them all, not that I would want to, but, I do think you could read this one alone, the author does a wonderful job of bringing you up to date.
With this book, Kaely's father has now been in jail over 20 years, and now there are new murders with the same MO, how can that be?
There are so many twists and turns here, and no I did not see them coming, you will think you have your mind made up, when the rug is quickly pulled out from under you.
This is the end of the series, and yes, I would love to continue here, and the answers are forthcoming, will they be as you hope? There is a bit of sweet romance, and a lot of forgiveness, both to others and oneself, and throughout the book there is a love of God..
I will miss these characters, but am looking forward to the next read from this author, she never disappoints!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A conclusion to the Kaely Quinn profiler trilogy. We see her come to grips with her serial-killer father who is in prison and the deepening relationship with her partner Noah.

For fans of Criminal Minds TV show. This series is for you.

Although I think Mehl rushes her endings and some elements come from left-field, she writes enough suspense of a story to keep you turning the page.

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaely Quinn is one of the most fascinating heroines. She is a profiler and the child of an infamous serial killer. She has an unconventional way of figuring things out. She is becoming mentally unstable and her partner, Noah, doesn’t always know what to do about his feelings for her and her methods.
She gets drawn into a case when a mass grave is found in her hometown. The situation makes it seem like someone is trying to copy her father’s patterns and he may be the only one who can help them identify this killer.
There’s great suspense. Mehl does a good job of making you question a lot of different people before you get to the surprising finish. It’s a hard book to put down. I’d highly recommend it.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Kaely Quinn Profiler series:
Book 1: Mind Games
Book 2: Fire Storm
Book 3: Dead End

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Mehl takes us deeper into the life of FBI agent Kaely Quinn in this third book of her profiler series.
There is never a chance to get bored reading about this interesting character. Kaely has a strong faith but still struggles with unresolved issues concerning her father who is incarcerated. Ms. Mehl has done an admirable job of portraying her subjects as real, conflicted as they are. There are many layers to them that show us why they behave as they do.
Kaely is still reeling from her last case and surfs the Net for possible drug related cases. She comes across a breaking news article that brings back the awful memory she has of her father, a serial killer. She is afraid it could be happening again. To her surprise, she and her partner Noah Hunter are approached by the DeMoines Chief of Police and she is facing the possibility of confronting her father. Noah cares for Kaely but is scared as she regularly puts her life in danger. She is a Christian but is finding it hard to see the Will of God in the whole picture. They come to realize that they are fighting not only flesh and blood but evil forces behind evil people.
Exciting and complicated, this story leaves you guessing at times and comes to a fascinating conclusion, with the principal players stronger and more resilient.
Can’t wait to see what Nancy Mehl come up with next!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mehl's novel has a definite emphasis on character growth. There is really no suspense until near the end. Much of the book deals with Kaely's inner battles about her killer father, such as guilt. She also battles a feeling she will die young, something from childhood combined with a threat from an evil man she confronted in her FBI work. She also struggles with her faith, wondering if it is enough to get her through the hard experiences she anticipates coming.

There are several other psychological themes explored. What makes a serial killer, a psychopath? How do childhood experiences play a part? What part does the devil have in it? How does one handle anger toward God because of personal tragedy?

This is an interesting book for readers who like to get in the minds of main characters since suspense appears only near the end. There are good explorations of many themes involving evil behavior, its causes and cures and healing from its effects. While the edition I read contained no discussion questions, I think this book contains much to think about and discuss.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Iola]

Dead End is the third book in Nancy Mehl’s Kaely Quinn Profiler series. Kaely works in law enforcement, profiling and catching serial killers. She’s also the daughter of a serial killer, something that has shaped her life and career (for better and worse). And he’s back. At least, there is another serial killer on the loose, and he’s using her father’s signatures.

The suspense aspect of the plot was excellent. It’s obvious that Kaely’s father isn’t the killer: he’s safe in jail. So who is it? It must be someone who knows her father well, but who? I had my suspicions, and they were wrong. That made it a nailbiting read that was hard to put down.

Kaely isn’t always an easy character to relate to. She has her strengths: she’s intelligent, dedicated, and good at her job. But those are also her weaknesses: she can’t detach from her job, and she sometimes puts her own physical and mental health at risk to break the case. She comes across as mostly normal, but that hides a lot of inner insecurities and awkwardness.

Some of that awkwardness comes through in her faith. She’s been forced to seek answers to some of the hard questions about Christianity: can God save even the vilest sinner? Does anyone ever get so far from God that they can’t be saved? Does she have to forgive her father for his sins? Yes, there were strong faith aspects, and they were a strength of the story.

The writing was generally strong, although there were a couple of annoying instances when the point of view character discovered something but the reader didn’t know what. I guess that was supposed to add suspense. It kept me reading, but it did irritate me. My view is that if we’re in the viewpoint character’s head, we should be part of the conversation and not have the salient points blurred out for us to discover later.

But that’s a minor point in an otherwise excellent romantic suspense novel. It is the third book in the series, but can easily be read as a standalone—while there are a few references to earlier events, they are minor (and won’t spoil the earlier books if you accidentally read them out of order).

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

[Erin Laramore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd and final installment in the Kaely Quinn profiler series by Nancy Mehl. While the story line in this one can stand alone, having the background of the prior 2 books helps. Kaely is an FBI profiler and the daughter of an infamous serial killer. When some bodies are found in her old hometown that copy the MO of her father's kills, she's called on to face her own personal demons and come face to face with the person who fractured her life 20 years ago.

As a fan of suspense, this series fully drew me in. I enjoyed the unique perspective and quirks of Kaely and her profiling technique. The story lines of all 3 books and this one in particular were quite enticing. My one complaint is that the emotions seem stilted at times and out of proportion, and there's a lot of repitition in how feelings are stated in the book. I've struggled with this for all 3 books, though I don't remember it being quite as pronounced in the first book. I also struggled with Kaely's statement that she would deal with her feelings later, that she needed to press on with the case. Because she is a behavioral analyst and well versed in human psychology, she should know better than the average person how much that doesn't work. Her Christian witness was also frustrataing at times. The ending was still satisfying though, and the overall storyline mostly made up for these deficiencies in my mind. While the first book had pretty much zero romance and there was only a hit of it in the second book, this one had all the angst of a romantic suspense novel. I would recommend this book and series for fans of Christian romantic suspense.

Special thanks to NetGalley for an e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible roller coaster ride! Dead End gives readers so many thrilling plot twists as Kaely Quinn finds herself in the worst possible predicament: facing her serial killer father in an attempt to locate a copy cat killer. Of course, Kaely is one of the most complex characters ever written. She deals with her emotions in the most unusual ways, but this case sends all of her senses spiraling out of control.

While the plot is complex, the characters are even more intricate. Kaely is complicated and at times dark, yet struggles with the fact that she’s human just like everyone else. She never dealt with her past and can’t justify her father’s horrific actions with the fact that he’s still her father. And Noah has waited for Kaely for three books now and in Dead End he watches her unravel as she tries to navigate her inner and outer worlds. But how can he help someone who won’t accept any help?

I’m a fan of this entire series. I recommend reading these in order so definitely start with Mind Games (it’s on Kindle Unlimited). But Dead End brings so much drama and tension with some surprising plot twists. I highly recommend this series to any suspense fans – the plot twists and unique characters make this one of my all time favorites!

Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Library Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this is the last in the series, and I'm not upset by it.

I once again figured out who the bad guy was before it was revealed, but it had a nice explanation for it, which I was not expecting.

I think my main problem with this series is I never really connected with any of the characters. They always felt a bit removed, and not real. Also, there was, of course, a romance, and there was pretty much no chemistry with them at all. Like, they're coworkers, and then they declare they love each other?

4 stars based solely on the atmosphere of the book, and the bits of the plot I found interesting. But not sure I'll bother reading anymore of this author if I'm always figuring out the killer.

[Janet Marie Dowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very exciting. It keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end. The characters are so well written that you literally feel like you're part of the story. I have really enjoyed this series. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Kaely Quinn is an FBI Special Agent who is really good at her job.......sometimes too good. She's focused on data and facts so she won't have to deal with her emotions. Sometimes we all deal with other things to keep from facing what's really bothering us. She's dealt with hatred and betrayal most of her life. God is the only one who can give her the peace she needs to move on.

Kaely's father is a mass murderer who kills just for the fun of it. She has hated him for years and the current case she's assigned to forces her to face her worst enemy. She must come to terms with her past in order to face her future.


To see if she how she deals with her past.... to see if she finds the peace she needs, and to see if she fixes her relationship with her father.......you have to read the book.

[Marsha Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead End by Nancy Mehl
Great conclusion to the Kaely Quinn series. I’m sad to see it end. Kaely is forced to face her own feelings and fears. The book is also about love and forgiveness. The suspense pulled me through to the end. The romance between Kaely and Noah was brought through equally well. Thoroughly enjoyed this series and will be looking forward to reading other books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying conclusion to the series. My daughter and I enjoyed listening to this together on audiobook and puzzling through who the "unsub" was. (We guessed correctly fairly early on but there were doubts.)

Kaely's personal story, the romance (which isn't a major part of the story), and the crime were resolved tidily. Kaely Quinn is one of the more interesting heroines I've read, and I like that the author wasn't afraid to allow the reader to see her brokenness.

[Becka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This final book in the Kaely Quinn trilogy was my favorite of the three. Unlike the first two, the killer’s motive for wanting Kaely dead made sense. There was more action in this book, which made for a nice pace. My problem with this book and the trilogy as a whole is that there wasn’t enough depth to the characters for me to make a connection. Having now read about 900 pages about the protagonist, I still don’t know her much more than I did early in book one.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series, and this book was an awesome end to it.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this series! Highly recommend anyone who loves suspense novels to check this one out!

[Lovely Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Another interesting crime story. I guessed the “villain” right away though 😜