Without Hope

Dakota Steele FBI Suspense Thrillers #5

by Ava Strong

MMA champ-turned-FBI Special Agent and BAU specialist Dakota Steele is as tough as they come—with brilliance to match, able to crack serial killer cases no one else can. But when Dakota pursues her next case into the world of medieval re-enactment enthusiasts, she is up against a myriad of traps and suspects—and everything is deadlier than it seems.

In this world of theater, a killer is picking off innocent lives one by one, using the backdrop as his own stage. Dakota must enter this insular subculture, and in a world of kings and queens, of rogues and knights, she will have to hold her own.

But not all weapons are pretend. And Dakota just may discover an ambush where she least expected it.

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: Audiobook, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2023

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

[Nikki Houghton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The crimes are becoming silly and the writing has an air of exhaustion about it; yet the relationship between Dakota and Marcus is still enthralling if probably against all FBI rules.
I do wish this series would finish - it’s becoming really boring and cliched - every single book Dakota gets nowhere nearer to finding out what happened to her sister and now I’m beginning not to care enough to invest in book 6….conclude asap

[Sue Torlucci]

I’m about half way through, but this book (reading on my kindle) has so many mistakes. Please hire me to edit. I just finished the previous in the series, and didn’t notice any mistakes. I’m regretting paying for this book. Rushed? I don’t know. It’s irritating.

[Lisa Uliano Nuzzi · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite of the series so far. Hated the ending. The book felt unfinished and ended abruptly

[Amanda Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series but this one felt incomplete. It’s not even a good cliff hanger at the end.

[Krystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I struggled to get through this book. I love this series but the story line of this one just wasn't it.

[Mark Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Read

WITHOUT HOPE is a fun read that is filled with danger and quite a few plot twists. Most of the scenes take place at a renaissance fair incorporating the inherent weirdness of the fair into the story. That alone creates a gothic atmosphere with many offbeat characters and dangerous employees.

Ava and Marcus are threatened at every turn and often attacked as they investigate the fair while searching for a serial killer that seems to always be just out of reach.

[Nell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story. Terrible, terrible proofreading. Very distracting.

[KDRBCK · Rating 4 out of 5]

new author, new to me series, slow burn, flawed heroine, books are best read in order, bingeread while on vacation