Without Remorse

Dakota Steele FBI Suspense Thrillers #2

by Ava Strong

MMA champ-turned-FBI Special Agent and BAU specialist Dakota Steele is as tough as they come—and as brilliant, too, able to crack serial killers that no one else can. But when bodies turn up in scrap metal yards, displayed in dramatic and disturbing ways, Dakota may have finally met her match.

WITHOUT REMORSE is book #2 in a brand new series by critically-acclaimed and #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Ava Strong.

As the case grows more complex, leading down a maze of dead ends, Dakota realizes there may be one clue just out of reach. And after a shocking twist, Dakota realizes that this killer may not be who she thinks he is. He may just be far more diabolical.

Yet Dakota must still battle her own demons—the disappearance of her sister, the estrangement of her father—as all of it bears down on her at once.

Can she hold it together long enough to solve the case?

Or will the trauma of her past threaten to swallow her for good?

A complex psychological crime thriller full of twists and turns and packed with heart-pounding suspense, the DAKOTA STEELE mystery series will make you fall in love with a brilliant new female protagonist and keep you turning pages late into the night.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Fiction, Audiobook, Ebooks

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2022

About the author

Ava Strong is author of the REMI LAURENT mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the ILSE BECK mystery series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the STELLA FALL psychological suspense thriller series, comprising six books (and counting); of the DAKOTA STEELE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising six books (and counting); of the LILY DAWN suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the MEGAN YORK suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting).

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Ava loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit her website.

Reviews

[Musi ✨Vegacrux’s first child✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s fine. Because it’s a short book, not a lot of room for twists

[Arthur C. Eadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am struggling to finish this before I just give up. Too much enphasis on Dakota's demons and not enough on the actual crimes, my rating is a C-. I won't read another in this series.

[Ricki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure how this book is getting high ratings. I read the first and was disappointed and the second one is worse. Dakota is back with Marcus as her partner at the FBI, they are sent to Chicago to chase a killer that encases his victims in "Metal Art". One kill becomes three rather quickly.

Dakota has demons resulting from a decision to investigate on her own on a prior case that is never explained. They get to the crime scene immediately after landing and seem never to eat or sleep- impossible. Then she gets a lead, takes off alone and confronts a killer three times her size but being a former MMA fighter actually thinks she can take him on (so implausible).

I am abandoning this series.

[Patricia Emkens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Without Remorse

I thought that the book was a little bit too wordy and at times very repetitive . I a!most stopped reading the book because of afore mentioned issues.

[M.H. David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb for this book drew me in almost instantly, and I was looking for a good short mystery read at the time, so I gave it a shot. However, I failed to pay attention to the subtitle, and realize that this book is actually second in a series. *palm on face It's right there on the cover. I was a few chapters in, wondering why the character development seemed a little shy before I realized I had clearly missed something which apparently happened in book one.
That aside, Without Remorse was an intense thrill ride strapped into a buddy cop sequel kind of story. Dakota Steele is a likable character who has demons she is struggling with, not to mention whatever it was that happened in book one. The banter between her and her partner was great to not only move the plot forward, but also bring a shade of humor to such a dark story. My favorite character though was antagonist. He was portrayed very maniacal but believable in the that he concocted reason for everything he did. His "artwork" felt like an original take on a villain.

This is definitely a book and series worth checking out, but I would suggest reading book one first so you won’t be a little lost like I was. Though I was able to follow the story just fine, I appreciate a little extra in the backstory area. I will certainly be picking up book one for sure!

[Terence M [on a brief semi-hiatus] · Rating 1 out of 5]

1-Star - "I Did Not Like It"
I should not have bothered with this, #2 in the series. As an FBI agent, some of Dakota Steele's activities, without her partner, were absurdly implausible, particularly her encounter with the seven feet tall, mega-muscled kidnapper. I certainly won't be listening to books #3 and #4!

From my Listening Activity:
Jan 4, 2024 @ 43%: "Dakota Steele FBI #1, Without Mercy" earned a bare 3-Stars rating and a not too positive review when I heard it in Feb '23. While this book, #2, has started a little more favourably, I am not confident it will be a great listen, although at just six hours, it will be a short one!"

Jan 5, 2024 @ 99%: "Not a great listen. The story wasn't worth the effort and the audio quality was poor. One chapter was "as recorded" and "unedited", with multiple stop/starts by the narrator, Tanya Saari. Another chapter was "Chapter 1" from an entirely different author and narrator!"

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dakota and Marcus are facing one of the worst serial killers they could encounter in their career - he kills people and - in his preconceived idea - transforms their bodies into works of art. They follow several leads and they finally reach one that might take them to the culprit but that only happens after much fighting and risking their lives. This is a story full of suspense and mystery that kept me engrossed from the beginning.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Maryann Hornbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New Twist To Evil

There have been all kinds of murders and murderers but here’s something new. Seemingly unconnected women are being killed and displayed as works of art. Dakota and her partner have been given a a timeline to solve this case but they have nothing to go on.

There are no clues to follow. No suspects to interrogate. All they have are welded “. Works of art“ and the killer is escalating. Once Dakota zeros in on the monster she gets to use her fighting skills. With the help of her partner.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second book inthe series, and I am only continuing because I bought them as a bundle. The story is actually pretty good in “Without Remorse”, but the most frustrating part of this book was the overuse of words (similar to asphalt in the last book).. How does a published writer use the same word, or form of a word, nine times in one chapter?! In chapter 20-30ish, Ava Strong uses the word hasten(ed) 5 times, hastening and hasten, and hastily and haste all in one chapter. It was comically absurd!

[John A. Sillasen]

Better Story than Book 1 and that was a very good Story!

Agent Dakota Steele now reinstated with the FBI, was settling in to her new place near Quantico when her new boss called. Why aren't you in the office, (she was supposed to be off yet), your partner is here. You have a case. And so it begins with a sleep deprived race to catch a serial killer who has been adorning his victims for display.

[Marguerite Corbett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good book, fast paced and entertaining. However I'm getting tired of being in the main character's head listening to her thoughts circle. If she was supposed to have been in the FBI for 10 years before her 3 month hiatus then WTF is with her saying that no one will believe in her and maybe she isn't cut out for the FBI if her first lead less than 24 hrs on a new case isn't in fact the killer.

[Mrs Susan J Bociek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monsters are real

After being reinstated as an agent with the FBI, Dakota is teamed up with her old partner on a case that goes from bad to worse. Still haunted by the last case - that she lost, couldn't solve, failed - Dakota feels all eyes on her, waiting for her to mess up again. She is determined to prove to her superior Carter, that her reinstatement is justified. But the murderer is clever. And in his mind, he is not just big, he is great.

[Fred A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author needs a thesaurus.

I hasten to say that, while the story in general was ok, it had me hastening to frown. And frown I did. So much did I frown that I was hastening for an end to the book. But before that end would come there was just too much frowning and hastening to frown so I finally had to frown and hasten to frown while I hastened to give up about half way through for I was sufficiently frowned and hastened.

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick little thriller read, part 2 in the Dakota Steele series. Agent Steele has a new case right away on her first day back in the FBI- her and her partner spend time trying to track down a killer while she continues to revisit thoughts from her past… decent thriller, I’m more interested in uncovering what happened in the past then the current cases they cover in the series. Still going to see it through because I want to know what happened!

[PJ 3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great addition to the story

Just as in book #1 the 2 main characters are likable (Dakota Steele & Marcus Clement) author Ava Strong keeps the story moving but is also ramping up the suspense to really make the reader want to finish the book & move on to the next Which I will be doing

[diannscollins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Killing Women

Can't the authors of today come up with a plot that doesn't involve someone killing women? I couldn't finish reading this book because I suspected from reading numerous books that the killer probably had some dumb reason for his crimes. Then I would be very disappointed that I wasted my time.

[Jodi W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started another series by this author and it almost went on the DNF pile, the main character was unlikable to say the least. This is the second book with Dakota Steel and I find her a very genuine and likeable character. I am looking forward to future books in this series.

[Terri Wiltshire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simple and easy to read.

Fun and easily digestible. Characters are likable and style keeps you engaged without being taxing.
I'd call this an ideal summer read or pool read...can be done in one sitting while enjoying the sun.

[Daryl Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth it

Suspenseful. Intriguing. Well planned out. Did encounter several grammatical errors. Dakota and !Marcus are indeed a well oiled team. Can't wait to see who killed her sister.

[Antigone Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art of Murder

A serial killer views himself as artist and saviour. Former MMA fighter FBI Agent Steele and her partner must end his reign of terror.

Good book. Fast paced, exciting and satisfying. The agents use brains as well as brawn to solve the case.

[bandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Good storyline and characters. Dakota was not gung ho she was a team player. And Marcus is a great partner. My favorite genre and novel had a good ending. Planning to add Ms Strong to my list of favorite writers!

[Kathleen E. Apodaca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The internal battle of addiction

While recently sober and battling her past Dakota returned to work with the FBI. v the mental battle she fights within herself,rages along with her case.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story more than Without Mercy (bk 1). Yes, Dakota is still stressing the disappearance of her sister but not as much time is spent on that during the book.

The murders were engaging - bodies posed as art!

[Tameka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh bugger. That brute was stronger than an ox mule plowing sun-dried dirt. I wasn't sure how things would play out. One thing that did irk me was because she didn't want to go to sleep and rest, I felt like she compromised her partner because she wasn't fully up to par.

[Rose Scarrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demons, real and imagined

A plot with very unusual characters and portrayal, almost beyond belief, and
a driven FBI agent bent on solving the case and proving herself in her relentless pursuit of a killer or killers.

[Mark Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Read Quirky Plot

WITHOUT REMORSE is a fast paced thrill ride. The characters, both good and evil, are excellent. The villain is like an Ancient Greek god. In his mind and in the minds of all who saw him.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this murder mystery! Catching on to a bit of the Danielle Steele’s back story and motivations. This is the first novel I have read in this series. Thinking I need to back up and read Book 1.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

good series, great characters

Love Dakota and Marcus as partners. Dakota uses her MMA background to help solve their cases. This case had a giant creating art with his victims.

[Nola Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeping me up nights !!!!!

That's what this book has done lol!!!!! I couldn't put it down now I'm ready for the next ,CAN'T WAIT !!!!

[Lopsided · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does not use the F word. A few curse words like damn and shit used sparingly. Good book and now on to the next in the series. Listened at 1.75 speed.