Superstitions

Agent Sayer Altair #3

by Ellison Cooper, Cindy Colin-Kapen (Translator)

Pour identifier ce qui la lie au tueur, elle devra faire face à son passé. Lorsque le corps d'une adolescente est retrouvé dans une mise en scène laissant penser à un meurtre rituel, le FBI fait appel à Sayer Altair, experte en religions anciennes. Celle-ci constate que le tueur s'est inspiré pour sa cérémonie macabre d'anciens textes funéraires égyptiens, semblables à ceux recueillis dans Le Livre des morts. Elle en est persuadée, d'autres meurtres vont suivre. Et elle a raison. S'engage alors une course contre la montre – et contre la mort – pour essayer de comprendre et d'anticiper les mouvements d'un assassin particulièrement retors.

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

448 pages, Pocket Book

First published July 14, 2020

About the author

Ellison Cooper has a Ph.D. in anthropology from UCLA, with a background in archaeology, cultural neuroscience, ancient religion, colonialism, and human rights. She has conducted fieldwork in Central America, West Africa, Micronesia, and Western Europe. She has worked as a murder investigator in Washington DC, and is a certified K9 Search and Rescue Federal Disaster Worker. She now lives in the Bay Area with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
Do you have an obsession with serial killers? 🔪 Well, you know what I mean!?🤣💁🏻‍♀️
If yes ✅. This is a must read for you!

Sayer is a neuroscientist working with the FBI. She’s struggling to move past the one-two punch of the death of her fiancé, and the ousting of her former boss, Holt. And just to heap more on this hot mess, Sayer clearly isn’t appreciated by the new boss, Director Anderson. Certainly no love lost between these two. Case in point…she’s just been handed a new case without the luxury of a partner to assist. Gee, thanks chief!

A local policeman and a teenage girl are both found dead. The girl appears to have been murdered with ritualistic symbols placed around her body. In the process of identifying the teen, Sayer realizes this victim was part of a group of 24 teens heading to Atlanta by bus for a STEM conference. Now that entire bus filled with high school students is missing! Can sayer work her magic and identify the killer before more kids are found murdered?

This is book three of a series. Normally I hate to jump into a series, but this book easily stands on its own. I would have loved to have learned and experienced Sayers’ background, but thankfully the author provided enough insight so you never felt like you were missing a thing.

Sayer was a strong protagonist and I loved her balance of work life with that of her family and friends. Her Nana is quite the character!

I will definitely be reading the next in this series! This is one of the best serial killer themed books I’ve read in a very long time.

A buddy read with Susanne that we devoured in just a few sittings!

Thank you to Minotaur Books

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Crazy, Suspenseful, Pulse Pounding Thriller!

When Senior Special Agent Sayer Altair gets the call, she rushes to the scene of a violent crime. The body of a teenage girl is found at the Einstein Memorial, along with the body of the Police Officer who interrupted the crime in progress.

A short time later, it is discovered that a school bus full of high school students were abducted while on a class trip and that the murdered teenage girl was the first victim.

It’s up to Agent Altair and her team at the FBI to connect the dots and race against the clock to save the teens from a vicious killer. Time however, is not on anyone’s side.

“Cut to the Bone” is brilliantly plotted and frightening, with excellent characterizations. It is the 3rd novel in the Agent Sayer Altair series (and is my first read). An edge of your seat thriller, it kept me intrigued throughout. Kudos to Ellison Cooper for writing such a fabulous FBI thriller highlighting Egyptian history. I can’t wait to go back and read the other books in this series!

This was a great buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Ellison Cooper for the arc.

Published on Goodreads on 9.6.20.

[JEN A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 14 July 2020

This is a very timely psychological thriller. Growing up in the DC area, I found myself drawn to the setting of this book. Corruption in government is always on the back burner of everybody’s mind and this book had a unique way of addressing it. The premise of the book is poignant and I love that the multiple heroines in this novel are very strong women and girls. I would highly recommend this for anyone who loves a good psychological thriller.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up!!

This is my first book by the author and I cannot wait to read the first two! Highly recommend!

I love me a good book with a serial killer in it and this one was EXTRA cool because it had some really neat aspects to that I'd share, but I don't want to ruin the surprise! Do you like the TV show Bones (or the books that show was based off of)? Then you MUST read this book. It checked a lot of boxes for me. 1) Strong female lead 2) Events that were believeable 3) Lots of red herrings 4) Fun characters and did I mention a serial killer? **The one thing that always makes me a little cautious about a serial killer book is how graphic it will be. I want to be scared, but I don't want to be so scared I can't sleep. This book plays it just right.

Lastly, I think one of the most important aspects with any book, but particularly a thriller/mystery book is the ending. If 3/4 of the book is amazing and the ending blows - well, why did I waste my time? It's really rare for me to guess the ending (and I did with this one), but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book at all. I also thought the cliffhanger at the end was great and will absolutely have me hoping for July 2021 to get here quick, quick, quick, so I can read the next book!

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for the print copy, Netgalley and Ellison Cooper for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.

Review Date: 07/29/2020
Publication Date: 07/14/2020

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

FBI Agent Sayer Altair is finally moving forward after the death of her fiance, navigating office politics while rebuilding her career one day at a time. As a member of the Critical Incidence Response Group, she gets the call when a teenage girl's body is found at the base of the Einstein Memorial with an ax in her hand and a circle of nine baboon figurines surrounding her. A police officer that interrupted the ritualistic killer is dead. As the investigation kicks into gear, Agent Altair discovers that twenty-four STEM high school students are missing along with their bus driver & adult chaperone. Is this girl one of the missing? The race for answers and to find the students before more are killed becomes top priority.

Cut To The Bone is a twisted suspense thriller, the third book in the Agent Sayer Altair series. The author's skillful inclusion of backstory allows readers to jump into the series at this point without major missing pieces. Having said that, there's no doubt readers will benefit from the character development in the first two books. The story unfolds at a steady pace through a tangled web of conspiracy, dead-ends, and red herrings. Someone seems to be throwing up roadblocks to impede the investigation frustrating investigators. Altair is a smart, tenacious fully fleshed character with a high sense of morality. When shades of her past arise intertwining into the already complicated case, it becomes personal. I enjoyed the ancient Egyptian mythology incorporated into the story as its as intriguing as the diverse cast of characters. Series readers will recognize and enjoy some past characters that step up in this book. A fast-paced plot that twists and turns, unique characters, and engaging writing means an intriguing read for fans of police procedurals and suspense thrillers. Highly Recommended!

*A special thank you to Minotaur Books for an arc of this book via Netgalley. Thank you Senior Marketing Mgr. Joseph Brosnan for a heads up on this book!
**Reviewed at: Cross My Heart Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Cooper’s 3rd offering in the FBI Agent Sayer Altair series and it is the best yet. Altair is fierce! She studies the brains of psychopaths, rides a motorcycle—even in Winter, and hunts down serial killers. Sayer heads up a high-profile investigation when a bus carrying 24 high schoolers that were attending a STEM fair is hijacked and one of the students is found dead in a highly ritualized setting that points to a killer obsessed with ancient Egyptian culture.

The plot is fast-moving involving plenty of twists. The POV switches between Altair and the hostages which ratchets up the tension. There are false witnesses, misinformation, and false identities that Altair needs to sort through. Fortunately, she also seems to have a guardian angel protecting her back. Recommend.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark, riveting thriller featuring a great protagonist

FBI Senior Special Agent Sayer Altair, who is also a renowned neuroscientist, is heading home for a party to celebrate her adopted daughter Adi when she gets the call. There are two dead in Washington, DC, and the situation looks suspicious. A young girl is dead in what looks like a ritualistic killing: her body left inside a circle of animal figurines, with a message written in blood. Sayer and her trusty FBI data analyst and computer wizard, Ezra Coen, quickly realize that the girl is one of twenty-four missing high school students who are supposed to be at STEM conference states away. Sayer and Ezra are pulled rapidly into the case, where they find that nothing is as it seems. A series of fake leads derails them and soon Sayer begins to wonder if the murder has ties to her own past. She knows only one thing: this case is deadly.

"It wasn't her job to accept the improbable, it was her job to unravel the mystery until it made perfect sense."

I absolutely love the Sayer Altair series and book three didn't disappoint one bit. What is not to love about an incredibly intelligent kickass black FBI agent who takes no prisoners? While Sayer lost her FBI agent fiancé, Jake, several years ago--something she's still reeling from--she's now surrounded herself by her own makeshift family: Adi; her neighbor, Tino; and Ezra. And, of course, there's her witty and tough grandmother, Nana, who raised Sayer. Coming back to this crew as a reader feels like returning to family. Cooper excels at capturing each character's unique voice, and I'm so fond of them all. We even get an appearance from Sayer's former boss, Holt, who has been kicked out of the FBI in a scandal covered in the previous books.

The mystery plot here is a really wild but totally engaging case. There are lots of references to Egypt and plenty to keep you on your toes. It is a tense and suspenseful tale and Cooper throws in plenty of well-timed twists and turns. The story turns personal for Sayer, and I was certainly riveted. Cooper writes in a quick, fast-paced style that makes it easy to keep flipping the pages.

All the books in this series are dark, and this one is no exception. They are not especially for the faint of heart. A lot of death and gruesome descriptions. It is easy to see that Cooper, who has a Ph.D. in anthropology and worked as a murder investigator, knows her stuff. For me, the authenticity just makes the story pop off the pages even more.

This book ends with a total boom for Sayer, and I cannot wait for the next installment. As I said, I love this series and adore Sayer and her little family. If you haven't read the entire series, I recommend starting with book one, but this one will standalone, especially if you love a twisty and engaging thriller. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books in return for an unbiased review.

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[Krystin | TheF*ckingTwist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Blog | Bookstagram

Not that it matters in the long run, but I wish this had a single-word title. The first novel is Caged, the second is Buried. And the third one, Cut to the Bone, is fucking up the title flow for me. But whatever, I’m weird so shit like this bothers me. I’ll talk to my therapist about it.

Then again, sticking too closely to a title gimmick can become fucking stupid. Just look at literally any series by James Patterson. At this point, most of his titles don’t even make sense to the plot. But enough about my arch-nemesis…



What really matters here is that Ellison Cooper is getting better and better at producing quality thriller stories with each new novel. Cut to the Bone is non-stop action from the very first chapter, and while some moments got a little too extra for me – things I won’t mention because of spoilers – overall this was an intelligent and intricately plotted novel that should be on every thriller fan’s TBR. I would, however, definitely suggest reading the whole series from the beginning because I feel Cooper’s strongest attribute as a writer is character arcs that evolve with each new novel. She really knows how to keep a long-game plot rolling.

That said, Agent Altair has had a hell of a life, with so much thrown at her over the first three novels. Her fiancé is dead. She’s nearly been fired. She’s been wrapped up in Washington politics. She’s adopted a dog and a teenager. She has a psychopath stalker – Subject 37 fan club president, right here! – and she’s solved some really intense, fucked up cases.

In Cut to the Bone, a school bus full of teens headed to a STEM conference has disappeared and then one is found dead and displayed at the Einstein Memorial (irony!) in Washington, D.C., surrounded by ritualistic patterns and a bloody message.

Sayer’s new boss is out to get her, so despite the fact that this case clearly requires real resources – hello, missing kids, you petty, tiny little man! – the bitch baby running Sayer’s department at the Bureau refuses to give her any support except for trusty sidekick Ezra and an Egyptology expert.

Similar to the second novel, Sayer eventually pulls together a ragtag group of misfits to help her, but a series of false leads and dead ends see Sayer in dire and political straits, on the verge of losing her job as she works against time to find that bus full of kidnapped smarty-pantses. Or is it just smarty-pants? What is the plural when referring to people and not the pants themselves? Fucking English. This is why I was never a STEM kid.



There are added elements of government conspiracy and special ops/military vibes, which gave the plot a different layer to the typical linear murder case, but I’m also not a fan of military/conspiracy storylines in crime novels, so this is reflected in my rating. I found these plot additions to be too over-the-top, messing up the pure murder thriller tone of the first two-thirds of the novel. I much prefer dark realism over thrillers that throw in sensational twists for the drama. Maybe I’ll talk about that in therapy, too.

As always, I found Sayer to be pretty cardboard. I think she’s getting better? It’s hard to tell. She just doesn’t jump off the page, which is a shame because there’s so much good to work with. I wish the author could find a way to inject Sayer with a tangible personality that felt natural, instead of forced or borderline corny, which is how it mostly comes across to me. Her sense of humour is basically non-existent and when she tries, it’s like an alien trying to imitate human behaviour as best it can.



So, despite the weird addition of government conspiracy bullshit which had a negative effect on the last few chapters of the novel, the majority of the novel was a fast-paced thriller and the cliffhanger ending was a perfect choice. If we could just knock Sayer up a notch (as a character, not pregnancy) my rating might be higher.

PS. We demand more Subject 37!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4 stars


Book source: The publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of the Agent Sayer Altair series and Ellison Cooper sure started Cut to the Bone out with a bang! This is the third installment to the series, and I swear they just get better with every book she writes. Sayer does irritate me at times which is why I can't bring myself to rate this a full 5/5 stars, but they are all solid mysteries that surprise me which is exactly what happened with this one.

I started out reading Cut to the Bone, and even though it starts out with plenty of action that continues throughout the entire novel, I decided to switch to the audio. Danielle Deadwyler is the narrator and I while I didn't LOVE her narration, she still does a good job with it. I also noticed she narrates all the books in the series so if you wanted to listen to all of them that might be a good way to do it, but I will probably just stick to reading them from now on. She tried to do different voices for each character and I just felt like she would lose herself and carry that tone into a different character which made for a weird listening experience.

Cut to the Bone is perfect if you are looking for a fast-paced, chilling mystery and as always I loved the police procedural feel. This book felt like a mix of the TV shows Criminal Minds and Castle which I believe I have used to describe books one and two as well. I absolutely love that about them, and it makes for a very enjoyable reading experience. The chapters are all super short and quick, and that combined with the fast pace make this easily readable in one sitting. I had no idea what was going to happen and was completely surprised by the ending.

While it is disturbing and chilling, Cut to the Bone isn't super gory so if you aren't into, say Karin Slaughter type gore, this would be a great series to check out. I wouldn't recommend reading them out of order because of the way they progress, so I would recommend starting with book one and binging them because that is what this series is perfect for. Overall this was definitely another win for me in the series and I will be over here looking forward to book four. The end gave me CHILLS, and I can't wait to see where Cooper takes the series next.

Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. This is exactly the kind of mystery/thriller I've been looking for. I didn't realize when I requested an ARC that it was the third book in a series, but the author gave enough back story during the book that it was never an issue. I now want to read the first books, though I know a little bit of how it all turns out.

10 second synopsis -- a busload of STEM high school kids is kidnapped and the perpetrator is seriously off the rails (with good psychology as to why, it turns out). An FBI agent who is an expert on brains and psychopathy leads a task force to try to save them.

The main characters are all likeable, smart and interesting. The diversity is off the charts for all kinds of things (race, LGBTQ, one character has lost his legs...) but never in a tokenism way and they're all people I'd want to hang out with. They're just cool, well rounded characters. The story is suspenseful and deals with death and violence realistically but not in the cringe-worthy detail that some authors use. The star character is a smart woman who feels like a real person, and one I'd like to hang out with. It was nice that she was not either trope of gorgeous and perfect or so flawed it's a wonder she can get out of bed, which I've read too much of in recent years.

It's also kind of cool that two different work dogs are main characters in a way (a therapy dog and a search and rescue dog), along with their handlers.

Loved it, and I'm a new fan of this series and this author.

I read a digital review copy of of this book for the purpose of review.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cut To The Bone by Ellison Cooper is the third in the FBI Special Agent Sayer Altair series.

First, let me thank both Edelweiss and NetGalley, the publisher Minotaur Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
FBI Special Agent Sayer Altair is a neuroscientist, who, when not investigating murders, is researching the brains of psychopaths to determine if she can find a common link. She hopes to find something that may indicate that the same problem exists in all of them, and if found early enough, their predilections to murder may be averted.  One of her anonymous subjects is showing a special interest in Sayer.  She has also discovered that the FBI is hiding something that has to do with the death of her fiance, but can find no answers.  She is walking a fine line right now, as her last boss has been fired, and Sayer herself was discredited, but unexpected publicity showed her in a better light.


My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

A girl's body is found at the base of  the Einstein Memorial in Washington DC.  She is surrounded by nine carved baboons.  Sayer is assigned to the case, but without any real back-up.  It seems that her new boss is still out to get her.  She puts together her own team consisting of Ezra, an Egyptology expert, Max and his canine buddy Kona, as well as Tino, and eventually her old boss.

When the investigation leads Sayer to the kidnapping of a busload of students, and more dead bodies, she knows this is going downhill fast.  She only has so much time to find the rest of the students, and it seems she is being diverted at every turn.  It feels like someone is deliberately giving her false clues and sending her on wild goose chases.

Sayer knows she is hanging onto her job by the skin of her teeth, and this case is almost designed to make her fail.

Then, the past comes back to bite her.


My Opinions:

This is a great installment to the series.  Sayer Altair is a dedicated, determined, and intelligent character, who is also likable.  As well, the characters that surround her are the same.  I really recommend that these books are read in order, as there is some background information which is needed.

Cooper's writing is smooth, and the bit about Egyptian mythology was very interesting, and not confusing.  It was another fast-paced book, and just a bit creepy.  I love the idea of one of her psychopaths helping her out.

I loved the ending!  Can't wait for the next one....


For my complete review of this book and others (as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Iona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a strange book for me to rate. Typically I don’t give 5 stars unless the book has shook me to the core, and although this book has not done that, it would be unfair to give it anything less than 5.

Cooper checks off everything needed for a great book. I absolutely loved the incorporation of Egyptian history & afterlife in the case, it took the whole story up to a whole other notch.

The characters were diverse, well rounded, and like able. Sayer had a fine crew of side characters to help her along. Agent Altair was level headed and smart, and her intuition was fascinating to follow.

The story contains plot twists, corruption, and surprises at every chapter. I would recommend you pick it up!

[Aga Durka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cut to the Bone is the kind of mystery/suspense book I love the most. Not only there is a fast-paced plot with lots of twists and turns, but also the characters are diverse and with very interesting backstories. I read this book in only two sittings, and I loved every minute of it. Edge of my seat suspense, Egyptian history, police/FBI procedural, and some very disturbing mind games make this book a 5 stars read for me and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves this genre. Also, this is a third book in the series, and I highly encourage to read the first two books before this one in order to get the main character’s backstory.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent addition to this series! Non stop action and an ending that will leave you blinking slowly, asking what is gonna happen next??

Thanks to Minotaur publishing for this early copy for review!

[Sonica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Minotaur Books for my copy of Cut to the Bone by Ellison Cooper in exchange for my honest review.  This title releases July 14, 2020.

This is Book 3 in the Agent Sayer Altair police procedural series and my favourite so far (an I REALLY liked the first two - Book #1: Caged, Book #2: Buried).  

The story follows FBI Special Agent Sayer Altair on her next quest to solve a deadly case when a bus load of high school kids gets highjacked and disappears but not before a group of this student are left for dead.

Still grieving the loss of her fiancé, Sayer is trying to maintain her focus to solve this case but is growing tired at every wall she hits as all leads start taking different directions, leaving Sayer and her team frustrated but determined to reach the finish line with a suspect in tow.

This book gave me chills yet I could not put down, no matter how twisted and creepy it got. Like the rest of this series, this 3rd instalment, the story played like a movie reel in my head while reading - think the movie SEVEN with Brad Pitt.  Cooper has mastered the craft of writing incredible police procedural thrillers and I am here to stay as a reader!

Cooper's series is just the right amount of intensity for me for police procedural and I love how you feel like you are a part of the investigation with the characters.  The story was easy to follow, unlike some other police procedurals I have tried reading.  One character continues to make an appearance - full of mystery - Subject 37 and I almost fell off my chair while reading at the ending when Subject 37 makes his true debut.  The cliffhanging ending has me confident that there will be another instalment in this series and I CANNOT WAIT.

I highly recommend adding this one to your reading list this summer if you enjoy crime fiction peppered with police drama and a dash of disturbing content (and if you haven't yet already - grab her first two books - they're just as good.

[Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cop and a teenage girl are dead, the girl found lying inside a circle of animal figurines below a cryptic message written in blood. She is one of twenty-four missing high school students, all science proteges who are now gone. Agent Sayer Altair is called in to investigate and soon she discovers a dark, twisted tie to her own past. It is now a race against time to save the remaining the students.

When I was first offered Cut to the Bone, I never had heard of the author, Ellison Cooper. After reading this book, the third in the series, I immediately went back and purchased the first two to read. Yes, the series is that good! Let me first tell you about the author. Ellison Cooper has a Ph.D. in anthropology from UCLA, with a background in archaeology, cultural neuroscience, ancient religion, colonialism, and human rights. She has conducted fieldwork in Central America, West Africa, Micronesia, and Western Europe. She has worked as a murder investigator in Washington DC, and is a certified K9 Search and Rescue Federal Disaster Worker. I tell you this because she brings every bit of that extensive knowledge into her writing. I was fact checking various things she had written left and right and finally quit because it was pointless. She’s brilliant. Her writing is brilliant. While the story line is fiction, the knowledge is real and it is fascinating! However, it isn’t just the intelligent writing that I loved – her characters are fantastic. They are real. They are quirky. They are full-bodied, not ever what you expect and ever evolving, growing and changing with every book, just as you would expect your friends to be in real life. I loved – and hated – them all!

I read this series completely out of order as I could get the books but if you want to fully enjoy them I would suggest reading them order but I truly do encourage you to read this series. It’s fantastic!

Thank you to @ecooperauthor #MinotaurBooks and #Edelweiss for my copy of this amazing book!

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4 STARS
2020; Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press

Cut to the Bone, the third novel in the Agent Sayer Altair series, is my favourite of the series. It was so well written and exciting. I would read this series in order as this book brings one of the story arcs to sort of conclusion. AND, it also furthers another arc towards the end. There is a lot happening in this novel, with different characters telling the story. I like that you kind of get more of a wider view of the action. I am loving the characters, and the family that Altair is creating. I cannot wait till the next novel!! If you like Karin Slaughter, try this series.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Octavia (ReadsWithDogs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and very thrilling edition to this series!

Fans of the TV show Criminal Minds and Meg Gardiner's Unsub series will devour these books.

The 3rd book in the series with Agent Sayer Altair is just as interesting as the first two. This time the actual murders are less gruesome, but there's an added element of conspiracy that made this fascinating reading.

I love how much background information the author adds into each crime and character to truly bring the story to life.

I cannot wait to read the 4th book! The only thing I disliked is the cliff hanger ending.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

hatte schon kein bock mehr nachdem ich die darstellung von afrika als land gelesen hatte..
wenn ich die identität des täters und den plottwist aufdecken konnte und fbi agent*innen mit jahrelanger erfahrung für das wirklich offensichtliche stunden bis tage brauchen, habe ich entweder meine profession verfehlt oder die sind einfach doof.

da man also ab einem zu frühen punkt bereits wusste und stark erahnen konnte, wer der übeltäter ist und welcher intrigant sich in den eigenen reihen befindet , zog sich alles ein bisschen und wurde dann auch melodramatisch aufgefächert, sodass ich viele parts gegen ende nur überflogen habe.

der cliffhangar am ende war das beste, was die autorin für das buch zu bieten hatte und prophezeite zugleich zwangsweise komplexeren plot für band 4.
hab auch direkt geguckt, ob denn auch ein vierter band folgte, aber das war natürlich nicht der fall. überstieg wahrscheinlich vorstellungskraft sowie kreativität

[Amanda McHugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do I jump into the middle of a series without having read the first books. It's hard to properly invest in characters when there are usually allusions to back story you're not privy to. Sometimes, it pays off. I found Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series this way, and with the glowing reviews and Minotaur's stellar track record, this premise caught my eye. I decided to give Sayer Altair's world a go.


So glad I did.

Sayer grieves her fiance but finds solace in her family and work. When she receives a call that an officer was killed over a young girl's ritualistic murder, Sayer is thrust into a twisting investigation involving a bus load of missing students, ancient Egyptology, and a deep-seated government conspiracy.

Cut to the Bone was like reading the Da Vinci Code meets 24, but with a badass FBI agent who knows how to fight taking the lead. Everything about this book worked, from the expertly-paced plot, to the high-stakes case, to the complex world of Egyptian belief systems and their entanglement with DC architecture and history. It feels like a lot to lay out, and really, there is a lot going on in this book, but in the best possible way. Sayer is a wonderful MC with lots of relate-ability. Nuanced, developed, and conflicted, she's a beacon of morality for her team (which is equally nuanced and well-developed) and there wasn't a point where I rooted against her or expected her to fail. That's not to say this is predictable. While there were some familiar military/political tropes, this felt like a fresh take. Even when I put the pieces together, I enjoyed reading how the events unfolded, and I wanted more.

One of my favorite aspects was her relationship with an anonymous nonviolent psychopath, a mysterious high-powered DC man with a fixation/obsession on Sayer. He's dangerous, but not lethal. He's definitely a psychopath, and he watches out for her not out of caring--something Sayer stresses he's not capable of, as psychopaths don't experience feelings in the same way--but out of the thrill of the game, the fascination of how she'll react to his prompts. While their interactions were sparse, this brought an extra edge to the narrative that I found deliciously enticing.

I also appreciated the few chapters with the brilliant high school STEM students. Using their knowledge, they weren't simply bland, flat side characters waiting to be rescued. They were intelligent individuals, capable of taking action and caring for each other. I enjoyed this dynamic greatly, as too often the kidnapped become characterized as helpless. Yes, they were in danger, but they accepted this fate and decided to fight. Not something you see too often when the detective is the primary focus, but no character felt flat or unimportant. Cooper's writing is accessible, clean, and flows well, making it easy to pick this book up and lose track of hours.

Thrilling, fast-paced, and dynamic, Cut to the Bone is a successful series entry, but also so well executed that you can pick this up as a standalone without being lost in translation. 10/10 recommend, and I look forward to reading the earlier books.

Big thanks to Minotaur/St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

[3 no 7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never kidnap kids on the way to a science competition.

“Cut to the Bone” opens with the death of a police officer in Washington, DC; this will be a high-stakes case, one of those cases without a good outcome. When a second victim is found and the murders show some ritualistic nuances, FBI Senior Special Agent Sayer Altair, a neuroscientist for the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, is called. In a shocking turn of events, an entire busload of children traveling to a science competition is reported missing, kidnapped. The atmosphere is tense and frantic as the search for the children turns up only misdirection and false leads.

The story unfolds in alternating points of view. Readers have an inside view of the elite FBI squad action strategy, sources, procedures, and readers also learn the FBI does not know. The children themselves take things into their own hands. They are observant, resourceful, and determined, far from timid. The action is conversation driven; both casual and friendly, but deadly serious when the situation dictates. The narrative sometimes goes back in time slightly to show just how people got to a particular event.

“Cut to the Bone” is hard driving, fast paced, and intense. Help and answers come from an unexpected place, and those answers are shocking. However, there is a nice dog that can be counted on when things get bad physically and emotionally. I received a review copy of “Cut to the Bone” from Ellison Cooper, St Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books. The pace is frantic, and the plot is powerful. Just when readers think things are over, there is a startling revelation that hints of what is to come next. I can hardly wait.

[ᒪᗴᗩᕼ · Rating 5 out of 5]

❐ Overall Rating 5⭐ | Narration 😁 = Very Good
❐ Narrated by Danielle Deadwyler
❐ Listening Length: 9H 2M
❐ (FBI) Agent Sayer Altair #3
❐ Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
❐ A missing bus full of kids
❐ Creepy, ritualistic killings

My favorite of this series so far. This one really showcases the Author’s talents and this series really just keeps getting better and better with each book. Sayer could be called standoffish at times...but, for me, the intricacies involved in the cases she solves more than make up for any issues I might have with her personality.

While you could read this book first if you wanted, the experience wouldn’t be the same without prior knowledge of what is going on in Sayer’s life. From her adoption to the death of her fiancé to the ongoing research that she is conducting involving the minds of serial killers. Plus...you would also miss out on her questionable relationship with, and backstory of, Subject 37. I, for one, really want to see where that is headed and I believe we’re going to see more of him in the next book.


🅒🅐🅦🅟🅘🅛🅔 9.90/❿
🅒haracters ￫ 9.3
🅐tmosphere ￫ 10
🅦riting ￫ 10
🅟lot ￫ 10
🅘ntrigue ￫ 10
🅛ogic ￫ 10
🅔njoyment ￫ 10

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Minotaur books and Netgalley for a copy of Cut To The Bone by Ellison Cooper.

Cut To The Bone is the third book in one of my absolute favourite series. Agent Sayer Altair is such a smart, badass lady and she always fights hard at great personal cost usually. The third book sees a whole bus full of high school students go missing and you know once you read that, you are in for a high stakes binge read!

Content warnings for violence and fire

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cut to The Bone by Ellison Cooper
Loved this book! I could not turn the pages fast enough, did not want to put down. This book had characters that I cared for and so much action it definitely held my attention! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this and leave my thoughts!

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I still very much enjoyed Cut to the Bone, this was my least favorite of the Sayer Altair series. Now when I say least favorite, it means that instead of being a full five stars it was a full four stars, so no side eyes over here.

Just like with the previous two books, Cut to the Bone starts off with a bang. A dead girl has been discovered in a ritualistic type killing and she’s one of the 24 kidnapped high schoolers. This sends FBI agent Sayer Altair into high alert, and she is determined to find these kids before the body count starts racking up.

I love that Ellison Cooper writes these incredibly immersive, high stakes thrillers that leave you hanging off of every page. Additionally, the science is just so spot on. I can’t stand when authors use fake scientific terms or uses terms inappropriately.

Sayer and her team become even closer in this book. And it is clear that they operate better as a single unit versus separate entities. I used to be mainly team Sayer, but I couldn’t imagine a situation where Ezra, Max, and Holt weren’t also involved.

I enjoyed the Egyptology storyline. It brought something I wasn’t expecting from the aspect of the serial killer.

What kept this book from being a full five stars from me was the unexpected conspiracy turn that we took. I didn’t hate it per se, but the serial killer storyline took a backseat, which wasn’t really for me.

This book ends on one hell of a cliff hanger, so there better be a book four. I need more Sayer Altair in my life.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

[Tonstant Weader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cut to the Bone is the third book in the Sayer Altair series, but the first for me. It begins with a double murder, that of a cop who stumbled on the killer while he laid his first victim out at the Einstein memorial with an ax in her hand and nine baboons around her. Sayer is assigned to the case and quickly realizes this may be a serial killer. Before long, they discover the victim is a high school student who was on a school trip with several other kids and the entire busload of kids are missing.

To add to the suspense, someone is following Sayer and there is a mole leaking information from the investigation. That’s a lot to handle, but it seems she has some unseen allies.



I liked Cut to the Bone and it kept me up to the wee hours. The mystery is fair and we figure things out as Sayer does, though the great aha! about the identity of the killer was one I figured out a couple chapters before Sayer and I did feel some impatience, but then, I am on the outside, not feeling the pressure to produce.

This makes me want to read the first two and since it ends with a revelation unrelated to this particular mystery, I am eager to read the next. The soonest possible.

Cut to the Bone will be released on July 14th. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.

Cut to the Bone at Minotaur Books | St. Martin’s Press | Macmillan
Ellison Cooper author site

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...

[Ash P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO GOOD. Ellison Cooper is SO GOOD. Sayer Altair is one smart, tough and kick butt character and I think I want to be her in my next life.

Cut to the Bone is the third book in the Sayer Altair series and my favourite one so far. Sayer is a special agent with the FBI and uses her work in neurology to help identify and track down serial killers. This time around bus load of high school students has been kidnapped and the girls are starting to show up dead around Washington DC.

As Sayer and her team search for the girls and the abductor/murderer the are faced with obstacle after obstacle. It's almost like someone is purposely trying to stop them from finding the killer.

And um, the last paragraph.....are you kidding me?!! When is book 4 coming out? Seriously.

If you like smart thrillers and you haven't read this series, you need to get your hands on them. 5 Stars

A huge Thank You to #Netgalley and @StMartinsPress @MinotaurBooks for an advanced copy of #CuttotheBone

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chilling, suspenseful, and fast-paced!

In this riveting third installment in the Agent Sayer Altair series, Cut to the Bone, Cooper has written an unpredictable, sharp, sinuous thriller that takes you on a hunt for a dangerous, mass kidnapper and deranged serial killer who seems to have a fascination with Ancient Egypt, the afterlife, and Washington architecture.

The prose is crisp and precise. The characters are bold, intelligent, and driven. And the plot is an absorbing, tortuous tale full of twists, turns, intrigue, surprises, misinformation, cosmogony, symbolic references, red herrings, violence, and murder.

Overall, Cut to the Bone is a sharp, engrossing, intricate tale that keeps you guessing from the very first page and leaves you unsettled, entertained, and highly satisfied.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is quickly becoming a favorite! Each one ends with a bigger surprise than the last!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put this book down. Kept me guessing the whole time. Looking forward to the next book in this series, and now that I know it's a series I have to go back and start at the beginning!