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Kat Beckman #3
Burned
The mistakes of Kat Beckman's past have come calling…
A raging fire has destroyed a historic cathedral in England. What the British don’t know is that American intelligence officials have been using the site as a hidden communications hub. The U. S. government needs someone to check the covert foreign station without drawing unnecessary attention to what they’ve done.
The people asking saved her. She can’t very well say no, can she?
Her decision to help pulls her into a web of lethal terrorist threats. She’s on the clock to find a missing SEAL and uncover a larger plot that has put a murderous target on her own back and on the backs of people from her past.
Can she figure out the endgame before she gets burned?
Moving from continent to continent, Kat finds allies and enemies around every corner as she works to eliminate the threat that could expose her, her family and all the work she’s done.
But will Kat have the strength to face her past, get her friends out of danger and get back to her family?
A raging fire has destroyed a historic cathedral in England. What the British don’t know is that American intelligence officials have been using the site as a hidden communications hub. The U. S. government needs someone to check the covert foreign station without drawing unnecessary attention to what they’ve done.
The people asking saved her. She can’t very well say no, can she?
Her decision to help pulls her into a web of lethal terrorist threats. She’s on the clock to find a missing SEAL and uncover a larger plot that has put a murderous target on her own back and on the backs of people from her past.
Can she figure out the endgame before she gets burned?
Moving from continent to continent, Kat finds allies and enemies around every corner as she works to eliminate the threat that could expose her, her family and all the work she’s done.
But will Kat have the strength to face her past, get her friends out of danger and get back to her family?
355 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2020
149 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 21, 2020
This is book three of the Kat Beckman series and sees Kat now married to Van, her former editor and friend, for a year, her son Jack now seven settled at school and their dog Woof, all living under one roof. She has had a few big stories in the past few years and thought she was finally recovering from the difficult choices she had to make to save the life of her mother-in-law, as her husband at the time betrayed her and her son was kidnapped, all to get her to release some secret information about a mission she was imbedded with as a journalist in Afghanistan. Now this blackmail event is about to come back and bite Kat’s future, leaving many more dead in her wake. One of Kat’s previous Army Intelligence contacts, Hannah Carter, calls her out of the blue to travel to Cambridge, England, to investigate a huge fire at Stratham Cathedral, where the US Army had a secret communications hub in its basement, being used by its many secret operatives on foreign soil.
She is to try and access the secret hub, to ensure nothing has been taken, in case the fire was a targeted attack on the Cathedral. There will also be a story in it for her, and she is a trusted but separate entity who should be able to fly under the radar. She eventually gets picked up in London by Henry Nash, who is high up in Scotland Yard’s Counter Terrorism Command (CTC). He accompanies her to Cambridge and they reach it just as news of a further three firefighters lose their lives after parts of the roof collapsed, to add to the two already killed in the dangerous building. There are still hotspots in the ruins, but the fire chief allows them in with some protective equipment and a warning to get out if anything sounds like it might start to fall. Nash calls in his former wife and colleague Bev Chittock, along with her sniffer dog Tyrant, to look and see if any accelerants or explosives were used to start the fire. Her dog Tyrant finds some evidence, not that Henry trusts the nose of a dog, for something he can’t see for himself!
Bev takes some scrapings and puts them into evidence bags, so they can be dropped off at the CTC forensics lab in the morning. Kat manages to find a hymn book with some strange markings inside and a small memory card on the floor of the Cathedral. Kat and Henry book into a hotel and Kat gets the sense of someone watching her! News from home of a dead SEAL linked to the Bluebird mission she went on years ago to kill a local chief and the piece of information she was blackmailed into releasing, soon starts the ball rolling on a series of deaths, some seemingly accidental, but all soon discovered to be assassinations. Of the five names on the list she was forced to reveal, one is dead and another follows shortly after. The locations of the three remaining men are sought, but one has gone missing in the UK. What they don’t know at the time is that he is actually doing a job for the CIA and the local contact he met with in Cambridge, tried to kill him. But Blake Watson was a bit harder to get rid of than the contact knew. He is presumed dead, killed in the fire at the cathedral by those behind this attack and now he is looking for why he was targeted and has gone black to keep himself safe.
Kat now gets to try and find Watson as well as keep herself safe, as she is also one of those on this list. An act of terror has been perpetrated upon UK soil, but the US have a large amount of skin in the mix. It is the men who accompanied Kat on that mission all those years ago, who looked after her and kept her safe, whilst still doing their mission, who have now been targeted and are being killed off, one by one! Kat is feeling all the blame should be on her shoulders for the decision she made to save her mother-in-law’s life and the guilt is beginning to push her back into PTSD and anxiety attacks. If she can’t get a handle on her guilt, she won’t be able to use her brilliant investigative skills to help the stop the killers. When someone who was not on the list Kat gave up, is killed, it throws a bit of a spanner into the works, until that person’s record is fully investigated and they were also involved in the mission, but not in such a direct manner. Someone is leaking information and getting servicemen current or past, killed. Innocents are also being killed, for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The number of bodies is growing, but Kat can’t go home and place her family members in danger.
Kat, Nash and Tyrant travel back to the Pentagon to try and find the leak and to keep the remaining mission members alive, including Kat. She has a very close call, somewhere she should have been safe and only a lucky addition saves her life. She is still a target, until they can figure to who is behind this act of terrorism on both UK and US soil. One of the killers has a massive endgame planned and Kat and the others need to work quickly to save lives. I loved the addition of Trevy, Blake Watson’s commander and a real teddy bear of a character! He is a commander who gets involved in all his team’s lives and will do anything to make sure they are safe and get home in one piece. He acts gruff and is very loud, shouting out orders and taking charge, but definitely someone you want on your side, especially if you’re in trouble. Another dangerous case for Kat to investigate and this time her own name is on a kill list! What started out as a simple trip to the UK, brings back a time she has tried hard to forget! This book is full of action and danger, with a seemingly straight forward fire for Kat to investigate, but so many other parts to it, such as Tyrant and Trevy add another dimension to the read. I look forward to the next book in the series, which seems to get better with each book. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
She is to try and access the secret hub, to ensure nothing has been taken, in case the fire was a targeted attack on the Cathedral. There will also be a story in it for her, and she is a trusted but separate entity who should be able to fly under the radar. She eventually gets picked up in London by Henry Nash, who is high up in Scotland Yard’s Counter Terrorism Command (CTC). He accompanies her to Cambridge and they reach it just as news of a further three firefighters lose their lives after parts of the roof collapsed, to add to the two already killed in the dangerous building. There are still hotspots in the ruins, but the fire chief allows them in with some protective equipment and a warning to get out if anything sounds like it might start to fall. Nash calls in his former wife and colleague Bev Chittock, along with her sniffer dog Tyrant, to look and see if any accelerants or explosives were used to start the fire. Her dog Tyrant finds some evidence, not that Henry trusts the nose of a dog, for something he can’t see for himself!
Bev takes some scrapings and puts them into evidence bags, so they can be dropped off at the CTC forensics lab in the morning. Kat manages to find a hymn book with some strange markings inside and a small memory card on the floor of the Cathedral. Kat and Henry book into a hotel and Kat gets the sense of someone watching her! News from home of a dead SEAL linked to the Bluebird mission she went on years ago to kill a local chief and the piece of information she was blackmailed into releasing, soon starts the ball rolling on a series of deaths, some seemingly accidental, but all soon discovered to be assassinations. Of the five names on the list she was forced to reveal, one is dead and another follows shortly after. The locations of the three remaining men are sought, but one has gone missing in the UK. What they don’t know at the time is that he is actually doing a job for the CIA and the local contact he met with in Cambridge, tried to kill him. But Blake Watson was a bit harder to get rid of than the contact knew. He is presumed dead, killed in the fire at the cathedral by those behind this attack and now he is looking for why he was targeted and has gone black to keep himself safe.
Kat now gets to try and find Watson as well as keep herself safe, as she is also one of those on this list. An act of terror has been perpetrated upon UK soil, but the US have a large amount of skin in the mix. It is the men who accompanied Kat on that mission all those years ago, who looked after her and kept her safe, whilst still doing their mission, who have now been targeted and are being killed off, one by one! Kat is feeling all the blame should be on her shoulders for the decision she made to save her mother-in-law’s life and the guilt is beginning to push her back into PTSD and anxiety attacks. If she can’t get a handle on her guilt, she won’t be able to use her brilliant investigative skills to help the stop the killers. When someone who was not on the list Kat gave up, is killed, it throws a bit of a spanner into the works, until that person’s record is fully investigated and they were also involved in the mission, but not in such a direct manner. Someone is leaking information and getting servicemen current or past, killed. Innocents are also being killed, for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The number of bodies is growing, but Kat can’t go home and place her family members in danger.
Kat, Nash and Tyrant travel back to the Pentagon to try and find the leak and to keep the remaining mission members alive, including Kat. She has a very close call, somewhere she should have been safe and only a lucky addition saves her life. She is still a target, until they can figure to who is behind this act of terrorism on both UK and US soil. One of the killers has a massive endgame planned and Kat and the others need to work quickly to save lives. I loved the addition of Trevy, Blake Watson’s commander and a real teddy bear of a character! He is a commander who gets involved in all his team’s lives and will do anything to make sure they are safe and get home in one piece. He acts gruff and is very loud, shouting out orders and taking charge, but definitely someone you want on your side, especially if you’re in trouble. Another dangerous case for Kat to investigate and this time her own name is on a kill list! What started out as a simple trip to the UK, brings back a time she has tried hard to forget! This book is full of action and danger, with a seemingly straight forward fire for Kat to investigate, but so many other parts to it, such as Tyrant and Trevy add another dimension to the read. I look forward to the next book in the series, which seems to get better with each book. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
January 9, 2022
Kat Beckman is at it again in this fast paced novel. This time she has been sent to London at the bequest of the Army to find out if their secret communication facility is still intact after the church in which it is concealed in the basement is set on fire and collapses. But that is only the beginning of Kat’s adventure which leads her to a person who is killing all the Navy Seals who were involved in a mission in Afghanistan which Kat also participated in as an embedded journalist.
The story takes place over two continents and there is even a lovable K9 who adopts Kat. The writing is excellent and kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t read the pages fast enough.
The thing I like most about the Kat Beckman stories is that they are believable, no words are minced and bad things happen as they often do in real life but the characters push through and the conclusions are realistic.
I’m already reading the next book and am looking forward to many more Kat Beckman adventures.
The story takes place over two continents and there is even a lovable K9 who adopts Kat. The writing is excellent and kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t read the pages fast enough.
The thing I like most about the Kat Beckman stories is that they are believable, no words are minced and bad things happen as they often do in real life but the characters push through and the conclusions are realistic.
I’m already reading the next book and am looking forward to many more Kat Beckman adventures.
November 11, 2020
Kat is in it again. She is sent to investigate a fire to see if it destroyed a covert military facility. She thinks it will be an easy assignment. Then there is a terrorist plot, a hit on her, and a missing seal. This book has it all. Intrigue, suspense, and plenty of action. This book not only has it all but is presented in a way that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your chair. The characters are all have depth and are well written. There is not a dull moment trying to guess what will happen and then seeing how it plays out. Great book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 6, 2021
4+****
Really getting into this series. The military aspect of this story is something I didn't think I would be interested in, but I have been pulled in, lock, stock and barrel. I'm still having problems with the fact Kat is a journalist with no military training. Please, if she is going to continue doing these military missions get her some training. Even though she is a great shot with a gun she really needs hand to hand combat and tactical trainag. Looking forward to book 4.
Really getting into this series. The military aspect of this story is something I didn't think I would be interested in, but I have been pulled in, lock, stock and barrel. I'm still having problems with the fact Kat is a journalist with no military training. Please, if she is going to continue doing these military missions get her some training. Even though she is a great shot with a gun she really needs hand to hand combat and tactical trainag. Looking forward to book 4.
July 4, 2021
Well.......
I would never have guessed that I would be interested in international terrorism thrillers, until I started reading the Kat Beckman books! I guess I’m hooked. They are brilliant books that keep you on the edge of your seat, really hard to put down. Thank you K.J Kalis for such wonderful books.
I would never have guessed that I would be interested in international terrorism thrillers, until I started reading the Kat Beckman books! I guess I’m hooked. They are brilliant books that keep you on the edge of your seat, really hard to put down. Thank you K.J Kalis for such wonderful books.
June 29, 2022
Not for me but ... Well written
The book is well written and edited. The plot is good and the story flows well but at the end I get felt that I would not read any more in this series.
The book is well written and edited. The plot is good and the story flows well but at the end I get felt that I would not read any more in this series.
July 3, 2022
The book was great to read.
You are taken on a journey that will leave you wondering what will happen next and wondering whether everything will work out. You will not be able to stop reading the book , the author keeps you wanting more. Well done by the author.
You are taken on a journey that will leave you wondering what will happen next and wondering whether everything will work out. You will not be able to stop reading the book , the author keeps you wanting more. Well done by the author.
June 2, 2023
There are a few minor gaffes in this story, the worst is Rodriguez putting something in a keg, it can’t be done Kalis. Then Ellis Fox was drinking from a bottle and would have notice something was up, seals just don’t go to sleep. I absolutely didn’t like the ending of this book. 4
November 14, 2020
Really love this series! Once again, another page-turning thriller from Kalis! I hope she continues this series for a while, because it’s definitely one of my all time favorites!
November 28, 2020
Deep Revenge
International action and thrills keep you reading this military thriller. Seals are being targeted and the track down begins. Action keeps you reading this story.
International action and thrills keep you reading this military thriller. Seals are being targeted and the track down begins. Action keeps you reading this story.
May 26, 2021
Super book
December 18, 2021
This was improved
This one was better than the last one, probably because of the dog, Tyrant. Kat is a journalist who has a knack for seeing things others miss.
This one was better than the last one, probably because of the dog, Tyrant. Kat is a journalist who has a knack for seeing things others miss.
June 13, 2025
Awesome àuthor
Have loved reading all of her books. Trying to finish all of them by end of summer. Highly recommend her books.
Have loved reading all of her books. Trying to finish all of them by end of summer. Highly recommend her books.
July 6, 2025
Very interesting story line. ITT was a great read loved the suspenseful drama of each SEAl team member. It could actually be a true story.
September 8, 2021
Another captivating adventure…
In this third Kat Beckman adventure we find Kat, once again, pulled into the thick of the action when she is tasked with establishing whether or not a covert military facility was destroyed when the overlying structure, the historic Stratham Cathedral just outside Cambridge, England, was consumed by a devastating fire of suspicious origin. What starts as a straight-forward one or two day overseas assignment ushers in a much more complicated and dangerous intercontinental adventure as it becomes clear that Kat, an investigative journalist with ties to the military, is one of several people being systematically targeted by terrorists. I was captivated from start to finish by this tension-filled page-turner. This series is filled intriguing story lines, amazing characters, and carefully detailed descriptions which draw the reader in and keep you glued to the story right to the last page. I especially loved the details about the exceptional care given to military dogs in this book. I can’t wait to read the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.
In this third Kat Beckman adventure we find Kat, once again, pulled into the thick of the action when she is tasked with establishing whether or not a covert military facility was destroyed when the overlying structure, the historic Stratham Cathedral just outside Cambridge, England, was consumed by a devastating fire of suspicious origin. What starts as a straight-forward one or two day overseas assignment ushers in a much more complicated and dangerous intercontinental adventure as it becomes clear that Kat, an investigative journalist with ties to the military, is one of several people being systematically targeted by terrorists. I was captivated from start to finish by this tension-filled page-turner. This series is filled intriguing story lines, amazing characters, and carefully detailed descriptions which draw the reader in and keep you glued to the story right to the last page. I especially loved the details about the exceptional care given to military dogs in this book. I can’t wait to read the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews