Killer Encore

Stella Knox #7

by Mary Stone

𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡’𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞.

Moments after FBI Special Agent Stella Knox briefs the Nashville Violent Crime Unit on her father’s murder, the teams’ supportive camaraderie is replaced with horror when a stranger calls to tell Agent Martin Lin he’ll never see his sister again.

A trip to Martin’s apartment confirms the situation is real. Jane, who was visiting her brother, has disappeared without a trace.

As Stella and the rest of the team try to connect the dots between video footage showing Jane leaving a local liquor store before vanishing, their only clue is a bloody piano tuner. On the heels of their last murder case involving The Pianist, it seems like a bizarre coincidence.

But when Jane’s body is found decapitated, accompanied by a grisly message for the FBI, it’s clear this crime is personal. There’s just one question...

Who's next?

Suddenly hurled into every FBI agent’s worst nightmare, the entire team is soon embroiled in a deadly game of cat and mouse, where one misstep could mean the difference between life and death for the one they love.

𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐱 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐎’𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐞. 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Genres: Thriller

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2023

About the author

To download my FREE BOOK, click here: https://authormarystone.com/free-book...

Nestled in the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee, Mary Stone has transformed her peaceful home, once bustling with her sons, into a creative haven. As her family grew, so did her writing career, evolving from childhood fears to a deep understanding of real-life villains. Her stories, centered around strong, unconventional heroines, weave themes of courage and intrigue.

Mary's journey from a solitary writer to establishing her own publishing house marks a significant evolution, showcasing her commitment to the literary world. Through her writing and publishing endeavors, she continues to captivate and inspire, honoring her lifelong fascination with the mysterious and the courageous.

Reviews

[The Humble Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

So disappointing 😞

After Stella tells the team about her father and how her uncle is in witsec, how she plans to visit her uncle, Martin Lin gets a call from a mysterious person who tells him, she has his sister. Pushing aside Stella's confession about her father, the team works the case in trying to find Martins sister before it's too late

This book was so disappointing 😞. The k*ller was obvious. If you read the previous book then you'll realize THAT book carries over to this one. I figured out the k*ller within 29% which took away the mystery. I also absolutely disliked Stella and Hagan in this one. Hagan went off the rails- he's compromised and a liability and even though Stella is fully aware, she doesn't say anything especially to SSA Slade. Law enforcement officers like Hagan are what makes officers of the law look bad!!. Stella instead of doing the right thing, she too becomes a liability and makes her a crappy female lead. I absolutely had issues with this. This book went off the rails, wasn't as good as the others. I'm so disappointed. I think at this point, the series should have ended even on a bad note but her there's more...

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Killer Encore is book seven in Mary Stone's Stella Knox series. FBI Special Agent Stella Knox was meeting with the Nashville Violent Crime Unit when Agent Martin Lin received a call saying he would never see his sister again. FBI Special Agent Stella Know and her team started following the clues to find what happened to Agent Martin Lin's sister Jane. Unfortunately, she was murdered, and the team raced to find the killer. The readers of Killer Encore will continue to follow FBI Special Agent Stella Knox's investigation to discover what happened.

Killer Encore is the first book I have read by Mary Stone. Although I had trouble engaging with the characters and the plot, this book was well-written and researched, and the settings complement the plot. Mary Stone did a good job portraying the characters of Killer Encore.

I will not read any more books by Mary Stone, but I recommend this book to other readers.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kinda a continuation of Book 6. The FBI characters have just added a new agent while one is on maternity leave, but the music part is the same. I thought this was a much better book though. Action from the beginning with a slightly different ending.

[Pamela DeMine · Rating 3 out of 5]

no end.in xight?o

eellI.need s.brrxk. Do I'm gonna try Mods Roberts. Then come be k. not that the nook.I'd bad just yoo!u h.sustained terror.

[Judy Churchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a little more plot to this book. The crime was horrendous but the FBI was on the spot.

[Twobchelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge continues from one generation to the next…. Horrendous crimes!

[bonnie kirchner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killer Encore

This book did not thrill me like the other books in this series. It was a little boring. It had just enough mystery to keep me reading but no excitement. It was ok.

[Kendra Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing

It was all just too predictable from the very start. Loved the series but book 7 was a let down.

[Angela Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still love the team but the poor folks need a break! Also the case regarding Stella and Hagan’s dads needs to pick up the pace!

[Mary Kay Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very predictable from the killer to Hagan’s reaction. Definitely my least favorite book in the series thus far.

[DianaRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

ENCORE is the seventh installment in the Stella Knox FBI Mystery Series by Mary Stone and Stacy O’Hare. Revenge is throughout this story. How much anger does it take for a person to be driven to violent thoughts of revenge? The question, can they manage to resist that need for revenge? Get ready for another chilling thriller with a twisted and gruesome plot.

Stella is still recovering from her last case when someone takes the sister of one of their own. The team is scrambling to find the sister in time, when another member's family gets attacked.

Full of action and tense suspense. It will be easy to figure out who perp is, but really that's the least of the intrigue in this story. Stella gets a call telling her that her father shouldn't have died. The caller also says she still has a stalker and to watch out - and watch out for her partner, too.

The ending was unexpected and will make readers impatient for the next book in Stella's series. If you enjoy a good thriller, I highly recommend this series. You will find it hard to say no to a book from Mary and Stacy.

I did receive an advance readers copy of this book from the author and this is my honest and freely given review. I also can hardly wait for the next installment.

[D.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge Kills

FBI Agent Stella Knox, still recovering from the last case, has finally told her fellow FBI agents about her dad’s murder. They are interrupted when Agent Martin Lin receives a call from an unknown person saying he will never see his sister again. Agent Lin’s sister, Jane, who had come for a visit has disappeared. Stella and the rest of the team immediately begin to search her Jane. Who has Jane? Why did this person kill Jane in such a horrific way?

Along with Jane’s body, a message was left for the agents. What does it mean? The killer now appears to have the other agent’s families in sight. Who will be taken next? Will they survive? How will the agents handle having their families in the crosshairs of a killer?

Stella believes this killer may be related to the previous case. There are a couple of suspects in the murder of Jane Lin. Will Stella and the team figure it out in time to save the person taken?

Stella and Hagen are both being followed by Sis. She has planted bugs in their homes. Who if the Officer? Will Stella and Hagen find out who killed their fathers? It appears another body has been found so get ready for the next book.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer’s Encore is the 7th book in the Stella Knox series and is a terrific book. Stella decides to let her FBI team know about her father’s murder and that she has found “his best friend”. This friend/uncle was also supposedly killed but seems very much alive and living under another name. The team commits to help her navigate the situation but before they can begin, Stella co-worker, Agent Lin, receives a call. The call is about his sister being in trouble and that he’ll never see her again. The team scatters to find her and her kidnapper, while Agent Lin goes to his apartment to see if she is there. As the story unfolds, other family members of the team are threatened. The psychological impact on everyone is overwhelming and affects the teams focus and effectiveness. Love the dynamics of the team and the personalities of the various characters. A fast-moving tale that takes you places you never knew you would go.

[Anna Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

And another one bites the dust...

Are all musicians this maniacal? Another case of vengeance. The main story is vengeance but there are several back stories. Stella is still looking for answers around her fathers murder. Several little tidbits of information get filtered in. Hagen is still looking for his own vengeance of his Dads murder on the courthouse steps. He also is sidetracked with warning and and protecting his sisters. He shows what a hothead he can be in stressful situations, which concerns his peers around his loyalty to the law that he signed on to uphold.
With Dani out on maternity leave and half the team injured, someone new joins the team. Stacy goes undercover immediately since noone knows who she is yet.

There are several stressful scenarios happening at one time. It keeps you guessing what's around the corner, even though you're pretty certain of the killer.

Overall, enjoyable....ready to read the next one!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 Stars

Killer Encore is the seventh book in the ‘Stella Knox’ Series by Mary Stone. I enjoyed binging this fast-paced blend of crime, mystery, and intrigue that hooked me from the get-go. We follow rookie cop-turned-FBI hopeful Stella Knox, and as I embarked, I discovered plenty of high-stakes investigations with a deeper personal quest - that of solving her father’s murder.
The author cleverly weaves sharp procedural detail, intriguing mystery, dramatic developments, and emotional factors. Each installment delivers a fresh case with clever twists, while the overarching mystery keeps us invested across the series.
Stella isn’t just chasing criminals; she’s navigating grief, trust issues, and the relentless pressure of proving herself in a male-dominated field.
If you enjoy strong, determined heroines, layered & intriguing mysteries, and edge-of-your-seat pacing, this is a binge-worthy series that will entice you to devour them all.
Happy Reading…

[Ludmila Husek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew it. Mary and Stacy nailed this tense thriller! I read nonstop with holding my breath( I love my family, and if someone’s else family member get hurt, it pains me too). The psychopath killer is brutal. It did not help I guessed, who it is, as you cannot do anything , just watch. Mary is a genius., perfect at torturing readers lol. I finished the book in one read with my blood pressure and heart beat going through the roof. I took a deep breath and said wow what a ride and here goes a big cliff hanger concerning both Stella and Hagen’s search for killers of their fathers. Bravo. Can you write faster, maybe skip a sleep? Lol I need another book. Thank you Mary and Stacy. This will be another number 1 on Amazon.
Lida

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The seventh book in the series opens with Stella sharing information about her father's murder with her team. Before they can begin to plan, one of the team's sister goes missing. Things do not end well for her and the team must work together to solve this before someone else's family is targeted. Agent Hagen Yates has been helping Stella with her investigation into her father's murder. His father was also murdered and he believes it is connected. Hayden tells Stella things that make her wonder if she can trust him. In the background someone is watching Stella and wants her eliminated. This story within the story is handled well. The book is fast-paced and interesting. If you have read the other books in the series, I would recommend this one.

[Jacquetta Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put the book down, reading late into the night to early morning. Wen you receive a book that won't let you put it down, what do you do?
The Author's Mary Stone and Stacy O'Hare series about Stella Knox FBI agent. While Stella is looking for the killer raining hell down on anyone and everyone involved. Leaving bodies torn and broken with little clues to point Stella and her coworkers in the right direction. But when family starts disappearing the search for this killer ramps up. Fear hanging over all their heads, this killer has to be found.

I received this book as an ARC from the Author for an honest review.

[P J Van Benthusen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This can't be happening, or can it? Can the suspect actually be the daughter of the last serial killer that the bureau investigated? Well, read and find out who the killer is and why they are targeting the family of the BAU. No one is safe and while the team may have some idea of who the killer is, there is absolutely no evidence so they can pursue. Hagen is at the breaking point, and he is out for blood. Stella has to solve this murder quickly, recover Hagen's sister, and keep him in check while all the other things are going on. It's a thriller and a page turner. Great characters and great story. It's well worth the read.

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an ARC read and another great Stella Knox FBI thriller. The FBI Unit are trying to recoup from their last case involving the serial killer Boris Kerne. Stella has decided to let the rest of her team know about what she and Hagen were doing in solving the death of her father. While she is filling them in Michael Lin's sister, Jane, has gone out to get some wine. Things dont go well for her, and she is found dead. Now the team is trying to solve the murder, when Hagens sister goes missing. Can the team find her before she dies also. Also there is a new source of information on Stella's fathers murder. This is a great story and well worth the read

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotions and doubts all over the place. Picking up immediately from the last book a team members family member is missing and all hands on deck. Along with solving this emergent case. Stella gets a mystery caller regarding her dads murder. The group watching her and Hagen are more present than ever and Hagen takes some hard hits in this book. Trust and loyalty are questioned and more cliffhangers given. The new team member makes an impressive start, but also might be causing a division based on consequences of a report and arrest. Justice and closure are big topics. Great read that I didn’t want to put down!

[Bonita Barbick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer Encore continues where Killer Note left off…
FBI Special Agent Stella Knox and other members of the Violent Crimes Unit are gathered in her Nashville apartment when SA Martin Lin receives a terrifying phone call. The voice on the phone says he will never see his sister again. Thus begins a story that Mary Stone and Stacy O’Hare have crafted that absolutely scared the “pants off me”. The Stella Knox series just gets better and better. Their villains are the best especially this one. To sum up, scary, riveting, intense, cannot put down and laundry can wait! Kudos Mary and Stacy!!

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when Stella thinks she can get on with her own case finding her father's killer, a call comes in. Jane Lin is missing and is the sister of Martin Lin an FBI agent. Special Agent Stacy Lark is filling in for Danielle Jameson while she is on maternity leave. It appears Jane went into an alley outside of the liquor store. Why would she do that? Where did she go after that? Then one of their own is taken. Who is doing this and why is the FBI being targeted? I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Teresa Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer Encore(Stella Knox FBI Mystery Series Book 7)

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved this book, it was exciting and scary at the same time. It's sad that the daughter of the last killer turned into a killer as well. But it is not surprising, her father left her on her own, to often and wasn't there to help her when she was getting bullied at school. So the saying is true nurturing is very important, a child learns from the parent. If the parent is not involved the child will not be healthy.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another case for Stella & her team that involved one of their own. This case seems to be tormenting the team & as the investigation proceeds appears to be related to their last case. Family members are at risk of being murdered as the team rushes to find the killer. At the same time, Stella & Hagan are being hunted by unknown assailants that are involved with both of those fathers murders. A page turner that you can’t put down & the mystery is just beginning.

[Terri Voth(TV) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't mess with family!

A very good book!! Really enjoyed this story! Someone is targeting the FBI's family and they're not handling it very well. A family member is killed and someone is after the FBI. There aren't A lot of clues, but they keep on digging. The second storyline is not progressing as well, but remains a vital part of this whole series. Can't wait for the next book. I think this author is one of the best. Highly recommend!!

[Lesli M · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Poor Martin. I never saw that coming. This book was one surprise after another. I love the intensity and nonstop action. Stella and Hagen are still after the individuals who killed their fathers and it looks like Hagen is feeling the pressure. His facade of professionalism slipped a bit during this case, but who could blame him? I am ready for the next book.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great thriller from Mary Stone and Stacy O'Hare. Had me hooked at the first chapter and could not stop reading until I reached the end. Real page turner with lots of twists. This is one of my favorite new series and I know the new books will never disappoint. This one definitely did not. Looking forward to Book 8. I am an ARC member and this is my honest review.

[Sandy Gotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer’s Encore is the 7th book in the Stella Knox series!!! The Person that the FBI is up against is full of Vengeance!! Their Father was killed by the FBI, when he held people hostage in a store. It doesn't matter what he did, the person wants revenge! So, they take a sister of one of the FBI agents. Then the plot thickened as they say!!!! Excellent book and series !!

[VICTORIA RILEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer Encore was an excellent read! It literally kept me on the edge of my seat. I have so many questions that can only be answered as the next books come out. Mary has outdone herself once again. I can hardly wait for the next!! Mary's style of writing hooks you in and you just can't stop until you've read everything she's written!!