This is a good summer read book. The plot is consistent with the other Sherlock and Savich books. The threat to their family. Knowing who the killer is and the chase is on. I did figure out the twist right away. But I always enjoy the characters. And I can't wait to see what happens with Gunny. I hope she's getting a story of her own. This was a fast, enjoyable, read. I can't wait until the next one.

This next installment in the extremely successful FBI series by Catherine Coulter starts off with a bang as FBI agents Sherlock and Savich wake as they realize that someone is in their house. As it turns out, the assailant is in their five-year-old son's bedroom, but manages to get away as Sherlock saves young Sean. Savich quickly realizes that not only is Sean still in danger, but a case from their past has come staring them right in the face.

Meanwhile, Chief Ty Christie of Willicott Maryland is on her porch one dawn and witness a murder on a boat out on the lake. She rushes to try and secure the scene, and has the lake dragged so that the body can be located. Not only is the body found, but an even more gruesome discovery is made, that of dozens of bones among the reeds, as well as a curious belt buckle, which later plays major significance. A missing FBI agent is thought to be involved, thus bringing in Sherlock and Savich. Before long, a connection is made between the murder and the psychopath they are now chasing. What ensues is a lot of speculation, as well as creepy scenes as the main suspect is a dangerous mix of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

As I prepare this review, I must state that I have read this entire series to-date, and I am not only quite familiar with Savich and Sherlock, but I am also quite enamored with them. The teamwork they display is unrivaled, especially as they work with others with regard to the solving of these crimes. The heat displayed between these two primary characters in the beginning of this series has indeed died down, but the romance is as strong as ever. Sean is a delight as he is as sharp as his dad, Savich, whose intuition is right on target in this story.

I was absolutely riveted to this story! I literally could not put the book down and devoured it in two sittings. Only sleep prevented me from reading it straight through. Catherine Coulter pens such likable characters and excellent scenes so the pages practically turn themselves. This is an engaging read, quite fast-paced and, most assuredly, truly thrilling. The twists and turns were at breakneck speeds, although admittedly not completely unexpected. Still, great fun and the conclusion was outstanding! As eager as I was for this book - and it as well worth the wait - I am just as eagerly awaiting Book #23.

Note: This is the 22nd book in the series, and does serve well as a standalone, but for an extra sense of continuity, Paradox brings back two villains from a previous book, Knockout, Victor Nesser and Lissy!

Many thanks to Gallery Books and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It's always a risk to pick up a series with recurring characters for the first time, especially over 20 entries in, but Coulter does a great job catching readers up in a way that wouldn't feel redundant for the readers who have read the full canon. This is a solid mystery/police procedural, but parts of it stretch credulity and can sometimes come off as overly sentimental--but considering I haven't spent time with the characters, it may work for the series as a whole.

I cannot get enough of Catherine Coilter’s FBI team of Sherlock and Savitch! This is the 23rd book in this series, and I have read and loved them all! The story brings back two notorious names from a previous case the husband and wife team handled.....Victor Nester and Lissy! Victor escapes the mental hospital where he had been committed and he resurrects his girlfriend/partner to help him seek revenge. Woven into this story are additional stories and characters that all seem unrelated... but are they really? Ms. Coulter brings her characters to life and the reader will understand the conflicts and care for the outcomes as we become acquainted with them. If you enjoy this book as much as I did...I suggest reading all the books to get to really learn about the main characters! I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and publishers in return for an honest review, which this was.

Paradox is the first book I've read in Catherine Coulter's FBI Thriller series, but that put me at no disadvantage at all. She does a nice job of giving background information to bring new readers up-to-speed, which allows this book to stand on its own.

There are multiple story lines involved. Married FBI agents Savich and Sherlock are awakened in their Georgetown home when they are alerted that their home security system has been breached. Sherlock races into their young son's bedroom to find a man standing over him with a knife. She is able to scare him off, but the family is badly shaken. Meanwhile, in Willicott, MD, Police Chief Ty Christie is enjoying her morning coffee on the deck of her lakehouse, when she looks across the lake and sees two people in a row boat in the distance. She can't quite make them out, but she can tell from their body movements that they are arguing. One of them then stands up, hits the other on the head with the oar, and dumps the body overboard. She immediately calls it in and asks that divers come to the scene to find the body, while she gets in her motor boat and rushes to the scene.

When the divers have no luck retrieving the body, Chief Christie calls someone to drag the lake. The body of Octavia Ryan (a former criminal defense attorney who became a federal prosecutor six months ago) is recovered along with dozens of human bones and a unique gold belt buckle. Realizing she probably has a serial killer on her hands, Christie calls in the FBI and agents Savich and Sherlock are assigned to the case. Before they get to Maryland, another attempt is made to kidnap their young son.

The boat is recognized as a rental, rented by FBI agent Sala Porto, who went on vacation with his girlfriend, Octavia Ryan, and is now missing. It is soon determined that the two story lines come together in an escaped psychopath with an axe to grind.

Can they stop the psychopath before he continues down his grudge list? What is the story behind the gold belt buckle. For a small town, there are a lot of mysteries to be solved!

I loved the interaction between Savich and Sherlock. I liked the character Gunny, and the budding relationship between Christie and (the now found) Sala Porto. Otherwise, the characterizations were rather flat. It's hard to believe everyone in town is good-looking!

A simplistic, yet satisfying read. If you're up for a light read, this will fit the bill.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this book which will be published July 31st in exchange for an unbiased review.

Another great read in this series. The stories just keep getting better. Awesome characters that you feel like you know personally. Lots of twist that keep you turning the pages right up till the end.

Paradox – Catherine Coulter
I was fortunate to receive this novel from Netgalley.com as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.
Savich and Sherlock are back again, as they investigate the murder of one of their own.
In the wee hours of the morning, Sherlock awakens, feeling that something is not right. As she checks on her young son Sean, she finds someone standing over his bed with a knife. Gun in hand, she protects her son, but the would-be kidnapper dives out the window and escapes.
Meanwhile in Maryland, a police chief is sipping her morning coffee, and witnesses a murder out on the lake in front of her. She hollers, but by the time she is able to summon help, there is no trace of the killer. The body is retrieved and identified as a criminal defense lawyer who was well known to FBI team members – but other skeletal remains are also found on the lake bottom.
Savich and Sherlock are summoned to assist with the investigation, and in a timely fashion, their suspect is identified – a young man whom the murder victim had defended, who has recently escaped from prison. As Savich and Sherlock attempt to protect their son and to catch a killer, other small mysteries are revealed. Who killed Mr. Henry years ago, and what was the significance of his belt buckle? Who would want to hurt Gunny, and what could she possibly know?
This book races to a stunning conclusion as all these questions and more are answered with twists and turns you may not see coming! A must read for Coulter fans, and a great book overall!!

Catherine Coulter has written another great Sherlock and Savich suspense story. I've liked all of her prior books with these two characters and this one didn't fail to live up to the standards previously set. The story opens with a man threatening their son in the middle of the night. Now they need to discover who he is and why he is after them. As in most of her FBI Thriller books there are two other characters that play a major role with a second story line. In this case it's Ty and Sala. Ty, a police chief, witnesses a murder across the lake from her house. When they search for the body that Ty saw thrown into the lake, they not only find the body of Octavia Ryan, a Federal Prosecutor, but also a lot of old bones. When the FBI is called in to help, the suspense intensifies as they investigate and find a man tied up in the closet of a spooky old mansion where multiple people have been killed. The man in the closet is an FBI agent that Savich knows and the plot unfolds from there as Sherlock and Savich discover who is threatening them and why Sala was tied up in the closet. After dragging the lake for more bones, a gold Star of David is discovered and the second story line takes off in pursuit of an apparent serial killer. There are several very interesting secondary characters introduced in this sub-plot that round out the story nicely. Paradox is an entertaining easy-to-read thriller. If you are a fan of Catherine Coulter, it stays true to her typical voice and story telling. I found it enjoyable and complete with the twists and turns I expect from Coulter.

Paradox was an enjoyable read. Coulter sets up a mystery that has two distinct levels. First there is a chilling murder of a woman who is on a rowboat out on a lake that is observed from afar by Chief Ty Christie. Ty is incredulous as she sees the woman hit over the head with an oar and dumped in the water while the assailant fist pumps into the air in triumph. Hence, at one level is the question of who is the victim and why was she murdered? While dredging the water to find the unknown woman's body, the skeletal remains are found of an alarming number of other people which indicates that there is a serial killer on the loose. Enter Sherlock and Savich who are already on high alert after the almost abduction of their young son Sean from their home. The various stories tie beautifully together and the secondary characters are well fleshed out. The villain is complex in that one can't help but feel that he is a lost sole who life beat down. Without giving away any spoilers, I thought the ultimate "surprise" concerning the villain was apparent early on. I'm not certain if Coulter expected the reader to by surprised by the later twists. All in all, this was a read that kept me turning the pages as each layer of the story was pealed away. There isn't a strong new romance developed as much as the potential for a new romance. It almost goes without saying that it is still lots of fun to re-visit the love and banter between Savich and Sherlock.

This is the 22nd book in Coulter's Sherlock & Savich FBI series, but my first. I didn't feel it made a negative impact on my overall understanding or enjoyment of the book that I hadn't read of the previous installments in the series. Coulter did a thorough job of explaining any important back stories or relationships so that I was able to delve in seamlessly on this particular case.

Paradox starts out BIG! I was gripped from page 1 as we are instantly thrown in to an adrenaline pumping situation as Agents Savich & Sherlock are faced with an intruder who has broken into their home and is attempting to kidnap their seven year old son. Talk about getting your reader heart pumping wildly and that was just the prologue!

Things didn't seem to slow down with chapter 1 as we were transported to a seemingly tranquil lake scene only to find Police Chief Ty Christie of Willicott, Maryland witness a brutal murder while sipping her coffee as she looked out over Lake Massey. She calls in her people to dive into the lake in the hopes of uncovering the body without success. Knowing she saw a body thrown overboard, she opts to drag the lake. No one expected what came next - including me! Her team uncovered the body of Octavia Ryan, a Federal Prosecutor along with dozens of human bones they knew to be from more than a dozen different bodies based on what was recovered. Knowing she needed more services than her small community could provide, Christie calls in the FBI for assistance.

The first 5 chapters were a complete thrill ride for me. Then things began to slow down - a lot. I felt there were so many scenes where the dialogue was unnecessarily wordy and the repetitive descriptions of people's looks were rampant. I can appreciate descriptive language as much as the next person but it just didn't fit with the book. I want my thrillers dark, twisty and fast paced. I don't really care about the "wide-oak planked porch and double front door that was once beautifully carved but now creaked and looked ready to fall off its hinges." Open the door and go search for the bad guy!

As for the twists & turns - I had them ALL figured out. There wasn't anything that surprised me in the end reveal. I was hoping I'd be wrong or may have missed something, but I didn't. I called this one completely. Maybe its just me. I might read too many thrillers and watch too many crime shows. Now, it takes a bit more to stump me. Paradox was easy to figure out. I felt like Coulture fed me a trail of breadcrumbs, in plain sight, throughout.

Overall, Paradox was an entertaining, if slightly too long and simple mystery/thriller. The beginning was amazing - I just wish that adrenaline pumping feeling had lasted for more than just the first five chapters.

Never having read a Catherine Coulter novel, I was surprised to discover a mystery-romance hybrid. The suspense was there, sure, but there was a lot of emphasis on characters' appearance and not much exploration of deeper connections.

That may not hold true for readers who have followed along with Coulter's entire FBI series, but as a standalone, this fell flat. There were many spots where a single sentence, even a phrase, would have brought a new reader up to speed.

Also, a lot of repetitive expressions. I lost count of how many times various characters cracked their knuckles to indicate readiness for whatever faced them.

All in all, a disappointment. (Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.)

Another winner from Catherine Coulter. This is #22 in the series and it did not disappoint me. Some authors give you a story that may take several days or a week to consume. Some authors give you a story that sucks you in and, before you know it, you have missed a meal or two, it has gotten dark enough to require turning on the lights and you have no idea what time it is. I always look forward to that with her books.
There are three mysteries woven through the book - one just occurred, one about 15 years ago and then there is the fact that a placid little lake in Maryland turns out to be the dumping ground of a serial killer. All three cases go along very nicely, never confusing themselves with the other two stories but you just know there is going to be a satisfying wrap up at the conclusion.
It all starts out with high tension when Sherlock and Savich's son, Sean is nearly kidnapped from his bed in the middle of the night. That leads to a new murder, new friends and all of them working together to solve all three crimes and hope that there are some happy endings. There isn't anyone in the mix of law enforcement people who thinks or acts like they are better, smarter, etc. than the others. They work as a team and listen to each other to reach conclusions. It's one of the things I enjoy about Savich and Sherlock, they are a well matched team, both as husband and wife and as FBI agents.
I guess if I had to pick one word to describe much of this mystery/thriller, it would be it's based on love. Love of family is strong in each of the story threads. How twisted it can become, how good it can be and how it grows - this has it all. Bottom line, the bad people got what they deserved, justice was served and there are some nice endings. What more could a reader want? Now I'm looking forward to #23.

I found that Catherine Coulter’s latest thriller, “Paradox,” was not on a par with most of her other books. It seemed somewhat contrived and the dialogue was unauthentic. It was an okay read but usually I find most of her work better written and more stirring.

The FBI pair of Sherlock and Savage almost have their small son kidnapped by an insane escaped criminal. About the same time local sheriff Ty Chase witnesses a murder on Lake Massey near Willicott, Maryland. The two incidents get entwined, along with what appears to be serial murders, when divers find multiple bones of many humans in the lake. Then a race ensues to find the fiend before more killings occur.

Coulter attempts to depict the killer as obsessed by a former whacked out girlfriend. The mind worm’s constant whining and badgering become somewhat tedious and not convincing. A unique belt buckle, found with the bones, becomes a clue that puzzles everyone as the story advances.

The plot is thin. The characters are not convincing. The action is never chill- inducing. Coulter has written so many books along the same theme that perhaps she needs to change her focus to get back her mojo. Or maybe I’m becoming jaded and need to change my genre interests.

Kidnappings, murders and escaped psychopaths! Oh my!

This is my first time reading a Sherlock/Savich FBI story by Catherine Coulter, and I was not disappointed! Drawn in from the beginning with the attempted kidnapping of their child and a murder witnessed by the local sheriff, the pages flew by as I was drawn into secrets that refuse to stay buried and escalating into a twist of an ending! Paradox is a well written story mystery fans will devour!

Highly recommend this book to fans of mystery/suspense novels, and look forward to going back and reading more from this author!

**I received an ARC from Netgalley for which I voluntarily provided an honest review. *

Another fabulous book by Catherine Coulter.! She never disappoints. My only complaint is I finished the book in one sitting and now have to wait for her next book. Her characters are riveting and her storylines are not something you feel like you’ve read a hundred times. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

Catherine Coulter fans will love this book, especially if they are already fans of FBI agents Savich and Sherlock. I gave it five stars because it was tightly and wonderfully plotted. There are actually three mysteries to be solved. One I tumbled to very quickly, one I began to suspect, and one totally took me by surprise.
The characters in this book are very likable, especially the three main special agents and the small town police chief. Some of the action strained my credulity just a bit, but overall it moved quickly and kept me interested from beginning to end.
If I had any one piece of advice for this author, it would be around her similes, which tend toward trite (as in “he was skinny as a beanpole.”). And perhaps a few things may have been overdescribed. All of that, however, was easy to overlook in light of the excellent plot.

If you enjoy Coulter's Savitch & Sherlock series, you'll enjoy this latest book as well. The plot is intriguing, and the main characters stay true to their roles and adventures. New characters are brought in that you'll enjoy getting to know.

A complex story line that ends, as we have come to expect, satisfyingly. A fun read.

wow this is a great story, if you like suspense you have to read the book, someone was using a lake as a dumping grounds for bodies, the FBI is called in to help a sheriff figurer out what is going on. there are about 3 different situations going on but are they connected.? this is well written I could not put the book down. till I finished it. it is very realistic I was given the book by net galley but this is an honest review.

Catherine Coulter, Author of “Paradox” has written an intriguing, intense, captivating and suspenseful novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Mystery, Thriller and Suspense. This is the 22nd in a series by Catherine Coulter, and can be read as a stand-alone.

The author describes her characters as complex, complicated and motivated. The author has written about several storylines that merge into one. Chief Ty Christie, of Maryland witnesses a murder from the deck of her cottage on Lake Massey. Law enforcement looking for the body, finds a tremendous number of bones, and a star shaped gold medal. The FBI has been called in.

Agents Sherlock and Savitz have just stopped someone attempting to kidnap their son in their alarmed home. Someone seems to be intent on revenge on the married agents and son. After another attempt in a public place, they realize this is a deadly and dangerous problem.

Sherlock and Savitz join forces with Chief Ty Christie. Chief Christie tries to identify the killer. The suspect seems to be a dangerous escaped mental patient. The murder victim is identified as the mental patient’s attorney. The suspect has two different personalities, like a “Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.

There are edgy twists and turns, very deep dark secrets, that make this a page turning riveting novel. There are dead bodies, more attempted murders. There seems to be at least one psychotic killer who wants revenge. In this suspenseful novel, there are some red herrings, and some unexpected turn of events. I recommend this novel for those readers that appreciate a chilling thriller. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

This is the first time I have read a book by Catherine Coulter. The book pulls you in at the beginning with an attempted kidnapping of the child of two main characters, Sherlock and Savich. The story progresses from there to a man who broke out of a psychiatric facility for the criminally insane.
There is a lovely character named Gunny/Leigh that is very sweet, caring and adds alot to the story. She has alot of strength and wisdom. She was my favorite.
If you like mysteries that will keep you guessing until the end..this book is for you.