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Bruce Bockman

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The Influencer (Reed & Billie Mysteries #14)

by Dustin Stevens (Goodreads Author)

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Bruce Bockman said: " A new fantastic tale (tail?) from the mind of the prolific genius Dustin Stevens.

Reed and his faithful K-9 partner and fellow detective Billie are once again thrust into a headlong chase of unknown criminals who have perpetrated a heinous and seeming A new fantastic tale (tail?) from the mind of the prolific genius Dustin Stevens.

Reed and his faithful K-9 partner and fellow detective Billie are once again thrust into a headlong chase of unknown criminals who have perpetrated a heinous and seemingly random mass shooting.
As is usual with these high-profile cases, Reed and Billie are under extreme pressure to solve this quickly, not only to protect the public and apprehend the guilty, but also the attendant political pressure applied by, in this case, both the governor AND the city mayor.

Can the dynamic duo solve this case before the politicians hold yet another press conference and undermine the progress already achieved? Or worse, clue the unsubs into the direction of the investigation sending them underground, perhaps never to be found?

As with all Reed & Billie novels, their relationship takes center stage. Not only do they rely upon each other while in the field, they also lean on each other (figuratively and literally) to support each other through the fatigue and emotional stress of the relentless, non-stop drive to solve this difficult crime. Their emotional bond is very satisfying and comforting, and one of the great appeals of this series.
The vicious offenders are, as is par for the Reed & Billie course, an interesting and unexpected part of the criminal element. This makes the case exponentially more difficult to solve (no rounding up of the usual suspects here). With a little bit of current, social commentary thrown in to make it even more compelling.

The narrative is basically first person and in real time, so the call out from his superior is like a starter’s pistol, the signal for Reed & Billie to sprint into action, charging unabated full-force until the gripping conclusion.

I strongly recommend this non-stop, intriguing, and heart-felt action/procedural thriller. A can’t-put-it-down adrenaline rush, with an interesting puzzle to solve, with the warm and beautiful relationship between Reed & Billie at its core.

If you are already a fan, this is a no-brainer. If you are unfamiliar with this series, this will work as a stand-alone, but as always, knowing the characters history and the subtleties of the relationships enriches the story. So, start at the beginning and read them all, you will not regret it. ...more "

Feb 17, 2025 11:53AM · see review