It amazes me that this is the 21st novel in the FBI thriller books by Catherine Coulter. I have been a fan since I read her first book back in the early 90's and I am pleased to say she continues to write fantastic, thrilling, edge of your seat mystery stories. I love seeing the same characters emerge in the stories and the issues they face are changing with the times. This one was just as good as the rest and you can never go wrong with Savich and Sherlock!

Returning to the world of Savich and Sherlock is like sitting down to a delightful dinner party with old friends. I've been reading the FBI Thriller series from the beginning and never leave disappointed.

FBI Agent Dillon Savich swoops in to save a pregnant Kara Moody from a hostage taker; little does he know that he'll be embroiled in a mystery mixing science, a dash of mysticism, and the ways in which people become connected to others. When Kara's baby is kidnapped, Savich and his wife Sherlock race against time to find the baby and save the life of the mysterious hostage taker they now see as a victim.

Meanwhile, his agents Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot are on the hunt for an escaped convict tied to the Russian Mob. As they pursue the convict through the Daniel Boone National Forest, they discover connections to DC's political elite.

Served up at a break-neck speed that demands reading long past bedtime, Enigma delivers on both the thriller part - and the ways in which Coulter invites readers into the lives of her characters they can't help but love.

(Note: I received a copy of A Deadly Eclair from the Publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own)

Book review: 'Enigma' will satisfy thriller fans
By SANDY MAHAFFEY FOR THE FREE LANCE–STAR

Twenty-one books. Catherine Coulter has just published her 21st book featuring the FBI husband and wife team Savich and Sherlock. That’s quite an accomplishment in the world of mysteries, and even more impressive when one realizes just how popular they are. “Enigma” won’t fail to satisfy those fans—its plot is intricate, compelling and current. I’ve read a few of the previous books in the series, but this is easily a standalone read if it’s your first.

Savich and Sherlock take the lead in the solving of two rather perplexing mysteries. They are concentrating on finding a newborn kidnapped from the hospital. Kara Moody, the child’s mother, has no idea how she became pregnant at a party, nor does she know why an apparent psycho broke into her apartment declaring he was there to save her because “they” were coming to get her, before collapsing and going into a coma.

When a dangerous and ruthless prisoner escapes from prison, much of the action involves two younger agents, Cam Whittier and Jack Cabot, who track him through Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky.

It took me some time to get the separate cases straight in my mind, waiting patiently to find a common thread that would link them, but I never lost interest in the intriguing plot and constant action revolving around them. So many riddles pop up along the way.


Coulter knows how to create great villains. This novel includes political intrigue with a nasty Russian, an unscrupulous lawyer, the president’s chief of staff and a diabolical monster in charge of a pharmaceutical company, as well as all the nasty henchmen.

As usual, Catherine Coulter displays her gift for creating suspense, non-stop action and memorable characters and telling a great story.

Sandy Mahaffey is a former Books editor with The Free Lance–Star.
More Information

ENIGMA
By Catherine Coulter
(Gallery Books, $27.99, 496 pp.)
Publication: Sept. 12

Enigma is the latest in Coulter's FBI thriller series. Taking place just weeks after the previous book left off, Coulter tackles two separate mysteries at the same time. She juggles both stories deftly, creating worlds of suspense in each. Both take place at the same time, over just a few days. Dillon and Sherlock tackle a problem in DC that involves scientific madness, and experimentation, while newcomers Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot go after a devious criminal whose actions lead to unexpected places and people, which keeps the plot moving along. Both stories come to appropriate conclusions, and unlike some of Coulter's other FBI thrillers, romance took a back seat for much of the book. I found the book easy to read and though better to read in order, it could stand alone.

Thanks to Netgalley for this title. I have not read this author in a few years. This was a complex, well crafted mystery. It opens with a man breaking into a single pregnant woman's house. He claims to be helping protect her. He ends up in a coma, but the doctors are puzzled as to why. It opens with a few baffling mysteries which all come to a satisfying end. A thought provoking work considering medical ethics. I will be looking back to others on this series. A thoroughly satisfying read. I highly recommend it!

I've been reading this series since the first book. I love the main characters of Dillon and Sherlock, FBI agents who married to each other. The books are always a mix of their married, a mystery that or one or both of them are working on, and a secondary mystery that usually introduces another couple, one of whom is usually not an FBI agent. There's action, romance, humor, and an intriguing mystery or two. The two story lines usually come together. In "Enigma" we get all that in a story that also blends medicine, science, an unethical scientist, family, a kidnapped baby, theft, blackmail, and death.

"Enigma" is a quick read even though it's more than 400 pages long. The story is fast-paced with a lot of action. I wouldn't call it thrilling as I never once believed any of the main characters or the the FBI agents were in serious danger. Coulter may have them get shot or injured but there's never any serious harm and of course, they don't die. This despite the fact that the agents are quick to rush into dangerous situations, well, most of the time. The FBI is a government bureaucracy, you know there's red tape and procedures! Yet,we see little of that and little in the way of repercussions for their behavior. I have doubts that the FBI really works the way that Coulter's FBI does.

I enjoyed the character interactions and trying to guess how the different plots would come together. Some of my guesses were right and some weren't. I wish the medical plot had more depth to it and more detail. Frankly, that could have made for a compelling story all on its own. The escaped con story did keep my guessing and there was a twist at the end that I did not see coming.

Overall, not a particularly thrilling story but one that kept me reading and kept my interest. And though it's book 21 in the series, it works fine as a stand alone.

I couldn't finish this book and can't comment on the entire story. However, I reached the 38 percent mark on my Kindle and found the pace dragging. By that point, there should be a sense of urgency about the fact that someone has been kidnapped and a criminal is on the loose. I found myself not able to muster up much feeling about either.

This may be book 21, but Catherine Coulter still pulls me in with every page. Each book just gets better and better. I can't recommend her books highly enough, MUST READ them. I'm always on pins and needles waiting on the next installment .

This book is really a love story, a strange one but surprise twists add new meaning to the concept of love and the many ways to love and be loved.

Fascinating, exciting and fast paced thriller.
Excellent writing.

I really enjoyed really enjoyed reading this new mystery from Catherine Coulter. As her books traditionally do, she wraps a mystery around each of the characters and then weaves them all together by the end. This book takes a few unexpected twists and turns, all believable and enjoyable. This book will be enjoyed by fans of Catherine Coulter Bishop Crime series, as well as fans of Nora Roberts and like authors.

Once again Catherine Coulter delivers for all her FBI Thriller readers. Both those that have read every book, to the newbies that start with this book. The principal characters in this storyline are FBI Agents Savich and his wife Agent Sherlock. Savich and Sherlock work with Agent Cam Wittier and former Special Forces agent Jack Cabot.

The book takes on two storylines that inevitably intertwine to become one. A crazed man that appears to a strange woman to declare he wants to protect her. He collapses in an altercation with Agent Savich. Although there appears nothing wrong with the man, he remains unconscious for many days. In the meantime, Savich and Sherlock try to solve why he chose this woman and what her connection is to him. As the interrogation begins, Whittier and Cabot are drawn in to help process the many characters brought into the story.

Coulter does an excellent job of character development for all involved. The plot twists and turns in all directions. The reader may be tempted to read late into the night as I did because they have to know what comes next. Mystery lovers will devour this book.

Enigma is Catherine Coulter's newest (21st book) in her FBI series and an incredible and curious read. I received a free ARC from Net Galley for a honest review. Enigma truly emcompasses what a thriller, mystery, and a bit of humor is. The first few pages, I was kept on the edge of my seat and kept me reading to figure out why did this man break in to this young woman's house. Who is this "crazy" young man they start to call John Doe? What promoted him to do this? Where did this start? Who is behind it? Another is how is Manta Ray mixed in? Manta Ray an escaped bank robber holds the key for someone's freedom and someone else wants to keep for themselves. To which, they will stop at nothing to get it back. F.B.I agents Sherlock and Savich who work with Special Agents Cam Wittier and Jack Cabot start to discover the situation behind John Joe, Kara Moody, what Manta Ray. As the discovers unravel, some peoples lives will no longer be the same, some for the better, some for what they deserve.

Exciting storyline. Fast-paced. At the end, I floundered, searching for information regarding integral plot lines that remained unexplained. An unexpected mystery, as it were.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.

This is the 21st book in this series! The characters seemed vaguely familiar but if I have read any, it was years ago. Despite my lack of background, the book read pretty much as a standalone. I regretted not learning more about the characters since I rather liked them. This is definitely an action driven novel and the pace is fast. There are two stories and the author deftly moves between the two without creating confusion. The plot definitely kept me interested though at about 3/4 point, I began wishing it would just reach conclusions in both story lines. Maybe too many characters and too many twists and turns. Not hard to keep track of....just reached the point where I had enough.
3.5 stars

Excited to read another Savich and Sherlock novel! Dual story lines kept me intrigued and wanting more. While some may miss the "romantic" part of this "romantic suspense" series, I'm fine with a good crime story, the twists in the mystery, and the return to core characters and crime stories.

The Enigma is an imaginative story told very well. The characters are all realistic and human, based on the well-done descriptions. A level of suspense and foreboding is maintained throughout the story as the reader follows the clues the same as the detectives. A little side issue concerning an ongoing feud between The FBI and one of the police detectives adds some interest to the story and is key to one of the plot elements. This is a bonus book because there are actually two separate story arcs, each quite exciting. Most of the plot elements are foreshadowed, but play out very well. The basic premise of a DNA-based toxin to stop aging is described so well it could be true. Even when the book is finished, the reader will want to think about the issues of ending the aging process and what that really means.

My first Catherine Coulter, but I'm sure I'll be meeting up with another of her books! I like the way the suspense is kept high by flipping back and forth between the characters in their separate locations.

Thanks to the author, her publisher and Netgalley.com for the opportunity to read and offer an honest review of this book.

Coulter always delivers in her FBI series featuring Lacie Sherlock and Dillon Savich. The characters have a sense of humor as well as purpose regardless of the task at hand. Ancillary characters are deftly introduced to new story lines, and this lends plausibility to each novel. The medical and scientific issues raised in Enigma are carefully explained in a down-to-earth manner which allows the reader to understand the premise of the novel without burdening her with an overwhelming amount of tech-speak.

When i began reading Enigma by Catherine Coulter I felt that i was visiting old friends. Savich & Sherlock. This time the crime they were trying to solve involved a missing child. The plot seemed like a science fiction story and was quite interesting because it was different from many of their other cases. Read it and enjoy.