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Checkmate
The first thriller in the Blackstone and Prescott series by New York Times and USA Today best selling author, Linda S. Prather. Adam Blackstone is challenged to a unique game of chess by a deranged opponent. There won’t be a stalemate, resignation or draw—the only way to win the game is CHECKMATE.
Serial killers were an obsession of Adam Blackstone. A psychopath himself, the darkness inside him leads him not only to the bodies but into the minds of the killers.
Teamed up with feisty FBI agent Samantha Prescott, Blackstone returns to the city of his birth, Lexington, Kentucky to play an endgame he soon realizes he can’t win…unless he kills. And once he kills, the darkness will consume him and he won’t be able to turn back.
Serial killers were an obsession of Adam Blackstone. A psychopath himself, the darkness inside him leads him not only to the bodies but into the minds of the killers.
Teamed up with feisty FBI agent Samantha Prescott, Blackstone returns to the city of his birth, Lexington, Kentucky to play an endgame he soon realizes he can’t win…unless he kills. And once he kills, the darkness will consume him and he won’t be able to turn back.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 25, 2022
4 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 26, 2022
Well, didn't these characters just Explode from the page as I opened the book!! A psychopath who works for the cops, Adam Blackstone is living in that darkness that connects him to the minds of killers. He is able to lead straight to the victim at murder scenes, making many question if he isn't
the murderer himself. The FBI is contacted by an Agency seeking someone to watch over Blackstone, or kill him if it becomes necessary. And FBI Agent Samantha Prescott sweeps onto the scene! Feisty, gritty, with a varied vocabulary and a colorful personality this Agent feels like my twin on paper! I could understand her completely and lived through every scene right next to her. Her relationship with Blackstone is never easy, keeping both of them on their toes while dealing with the crimes around them.
This author has been a little quiet lately but this smashing start to what looks like a fantastic series will put her in lights!! Disgusting crimes, a dark, hard to understand man and a compassionate woman ready to fight for those she believes in all wrapped up in a thrilling story you just can Not close until you finish! I laughed, cried, yelled out at sights and held my poor cat a little too tightly...WOW!! YOU Need To Read THIS!!! 5 Million Stars All The Way!!!
the murderer himself. The FBI is contacted by an Agency seeking someone to watch over Blackstone, or kill him if it becomes necessary. And FBI Agent Samantha Prescott sweeps onto the scene! Feisty, gritty, with a varied vocabulary and a colorful personality this Agent feels like my twin on paper! I could understand her completely and lived through every scene right next to her. Her relationship with Blackstone is never easy, keeping both of them on their toes while dealing with the crimes around them.
This author has been a little quiet lately but this smashing start to what looks like a fantastic series will put her in lights!! Disgusting crimes, a dark, hard to understand man and a compassionate woman ready to fight for those she believes in all wrapped up in a thrilling story you just can Not close until you finish! I laughed, cried, yelled out at sights and held my poor cat a little too tightly...WOW!! YOU Need To Read THIS!!! 5 Million Stars All The Way!!!
January 20, 2022
What an absolute cracker of a read this was from one of my favourite authors. I've missed reading Linda's novels.
This is the first gripping thriller in the Blackstone and Prescott series. An amazing set of characters who keep you involved in the action which takes place on every page.
FBI agent Samantha Prescott is given a new undertaking, to team up with Adam Blackstone, who happens to be one of the most complex characters I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. They're relationship is feisty and controversial from the word go.
Their first case is that of a serial killer, who is keen to play games with his opponents. To say more would spoil it for others.
Plenty of twists and turns in this dark plotline that pushes the boundaries at every time. Loved it, highly recommended.
This is the first gripping thriller in the Blackstone and Prescott series. An amazing set of characters who keep you involved in the action which takes place on every page.
FBI agent Samantha Prescott is given a new undertaking, to team up with Adam Blackstone, who happens to be one of the most complex characters I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. They're relationship is feisty and controversial from the word go.
Their first case is that of a serial killer, who is keen to play games with his opponents. To say more would spoil it for others.
Plenty of twists and turns in this dark plotline that pushes the boundaries at every time. Loved it, highly recommended.
January 20, 2022
Really loved this book, very different lead characters who grow on you throughout the book. So looking forward to reading more about Adam and Samantha, the relationship between them is intriguing to say the least! A real humdinger of a read as they try to catch a serial killer who persistently communicates with them and leaves them desperately trying to work out the clues. Not for the faint hearted as the crimes become more and more horrific but makes for fantastic reading!
A great start to what I hope will become a long series, loved it.
A great start to what I hope will become a long series, loved it.
January 20, 2022
Ms. Prather took me on a ride with her characters in this book. You are unsure of what exactly is going on and she keeps you on your toes. I love the compassion of Prescott and the mystery of Blackstone. I want more!
July 28, 2024
I found “Blackstone & Prescott: Checkmate” on kindle unlimited & after reading the short summary I knew this type of story would have me hooked! I enjoy a lot of thriller/psychological/crime themed stories. The storyline had a nice pace about it, which made it hard to put down. I love stories that include all the character’s perspectives. My favorite character had to be Sam! I also enjoyed Blackstones backstory, I would love to learn more about him and how his character evolves. With the main character having alexithymia: a limited capacity for feelings and emotions, then having to seek out another deranged psychopath and play his sick cat and mouse game, made the plot so much more intriguing! This story had so much going on, but the flow was amazing and the plot had all the twists and turns!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 27, 2022
I loved this story. It kept you on the edge of your seat waiting for the strange, newly created chess pieces to arrive, with another dead body to investigate.
Samantha Prescott has been tasked to help Adam Blackstone. The agency thinks he IS the serial killer and wants someone on the inside. Samantha nails the interview to work with Blackstone and starts piecing things together. Unfortunately for the killer, she's on the case. The page turner comes to an explosive end. But who's left standing?
Samantha Prescott has been tasked to help Adam Blackstone. The agency thinks he IS the serial killer and wants someone on the inside. Samantha nails the interview to work with Blackstone and starts piecing things together. Unfortunately for the killer, she's on the case. The page turner comes to an explosive end. But who's left standing?
January 30, 2023
Adam Blackstock is profiler for serial killers. But, he also has a darkness around him that he is unable to have feelings for others. He is on a case and needs to hire someone to help. That someone,
is Samantha Prescott. She was contacted by her boss and wanted her to apply for the job
for Adam.
It seems that think Adam is the serial killer that they are looking for and Samantha's job is if she finds out Adam is the serial killer, she is to kill him.
This is a great thriller. One that I could not put down. Something is always going on with each turn of the page. Don't miss it.
is Samantha Prescott. She was contacted by her boss and wanted her to apply for the job
for Adam.
It seems that think Adam is the serial killer that they are looking for and Samantha's job is if she finds out Adam is the serial killer, she is to kill him.
This is a great thriller. One that I could not put down. Something is always going on with each turn of the page. Don't miss it.
February 11, 2024
True thriller
Sam or Samantha is full of sass yet very quick and totally competent as her outward appearance didn't give off the same vibe. Late to meet her prospective partner, dressed as plain Jane but deadly with a Glock. Checkmate is written skillfully using the game of chess. Agent Blackstone needed a guard, and Sam was who he ended up with. The wit and expertise jumped off the page from the start. Now it's the next reader who get to find out the rest of the story.
Sam or Samantha is full of sass yet very quick and totally competent as her outward appearance didn't give off the same vibe. Late to meet her prospective partner, dressed as plain Jane but deadly with a Glock. Checkmate is written skillfully using the game of chess. Agent Blackstone needed a guard, and Sam was who he ended up with. The wit and expertise jumped off the page from the start. Now it's the next reader who get to find out the rest of the story.
June 15, 2023
Wow, this book was reccommended by another author friend and I absolutly loved this book. It was fast paced , easy to read and unputdownable. I cannot wait to read more from the lead characters and this author.
February 6, 2022
I have missed Ms. Prather's
books. It had been awhile since she has written.This new series is exciting. I honestly cant wait for the second book to come out.
books. It had been awhile since she has written.This new series is exciting. I honestly cant wait for the second book to come out.
April 29, 2024
Not a bad story at all
Not my normal genre but it turned out good. The story, for me, was like a parade of typical cliches, although it entertained.
Not my normal genre but it turned out good. The story, for me, was like a parade of typical cliches, although it entertained.
February 21, 2022
FBI agent, Samantha Prescott is assigned to look after Adam Blackstone - who happens to be a psychopath who helps the police!
I found this to be an interesting concept and I liked how the two characters worked together even with all sorts of issues that the pair have! I’m saying no more than that as you really need to read it for yourself.
This is a well written story and I found it to be a gripping read. It was full of action and at times, extremely tense. I would recommend this book.
I found this to be an interesting concept and I liked how the two characters worked together even with all sorts of issues that the pair have! I’m saying no more than that as you really need to read it for yourself.
This is a well written story and I found it to be a gripping read. It was full of action and at times, extremely tense. I would recommend this book.
January 27, 2022
Many know I am a huge fan of paranormal books and this author has my favourite paranormal thrillers in the Catherine Mann's series.
To start I wasn't sure I was enjoying the make protagonist. He felt cold and unfeeling which is part of the disorder he was diagnosed with. That isn't an excuse for not showing common human kindness but it does explain why some people are more warm and others colder.
Samantha I loved her from when I met her. She is so confident and really speaks her mind. It makes a big difference and reminds me of a former boss.
Adam in some ways drives me nuts as he seems to have no regard for money and throws it around so much. He also fails to follow standard rules or guidelines and it does make him feel unlikeable. I would love to see him taken down a couple pegs.
I love the inclusive nature of this authors writing. It makes me feel so good to see how many different characters is brought in. It is amazing to see and it doesn't feel placed there just for show.
The book is very charged with emotion for me. It has me wanting to smack people at times and other times I am so happy or sad. It is the mark of a great book that you feel emotions for each situation and character.
The story was very interesting and by the end I actually was warming up to Adam. This looks like it's going to be an amazing series and am looking forward to the next book. This book certainly was a checkmate.
To start I wasn't sure I was enjoying the make protagonist. He felt cold and unfeeling which is part of the disorder he was diagnosed with. That isn't an excuse for not showing common human kindness but it does explain why some people are more warm and others colder.
Samantha I loved her from when I met her. She is so confident and really speaks her mind. It makes a big difference and reminds me of a former boss.
Adam in some ways drives me nuts as he seems to have no regard for money and throws it around so much. He also fails to follow standard rules or guidelines and it does make him feel unlikeable. I would love to see him taken down a couple pegs.
I love the inclusive nature of this authors writing. It makes me feel so good to see how many different characters is brought in. It is amazing to see and it doesn't feel placed there just for show.
The book is very charged with emotion for me. It has me wanting to smack people at times and other times I am so happy or sad. It is the mark of a great book that you feel emotions for each situation and character.
The story was very interesting and by the end I actually was warming up to Adam. This looks like it's going to be an amazing series and am looking forward to the next book. This book certainly was a checkmate.
January 27, 2022
Absolutely fantastic. Loved everything about this book
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews