Thank you, Harlequin for my gifted review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is definitely my type of book! What a start to a series. Fans of Criminal Minds and CSI will likely est this up. It's fast-paced, addicting & so good! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Thank you for the opportunity to be an early reader.

3.5 Stars

A Gripping & Suspenseful Read!

Detective Kara Quinn is taking a break from the LAPD and is resting up in her hometown of Liberty Lake. Sounds like the perfect place to relax, that is until she literally stumbles upon a dead body. FBI Special Agent Mathias Costa has been investigating the Triple Killer when the call comes in that another body has been found that fits his profile.

With the stakes as high as they could possibly get, Special Agent Costa knows that he must find this vicious killer before it's too late. Working with Detective Quinn, SA Costa just might stand a chance to catch the deadliest killer out there.

Action packed and completely entertaining, "The Third to Die" will be sure to entertain. While I quite enjoyed it, I found several storylines that didn't quite get tied up. On the whole however, this one is a winner.

This was my first Allison Brennan and I hope she continues to write more on these characters. The mystery of the murders was gripping and a psychological thriller. I didn’t like the romance thrown into the story, not sure it’s needed for these characters as they continue working on the team. Definitely a title for our thriller section.

Thank you Net Galley for a chance to read this book. I absolutely loved this book and it kept me guessing until the end. I am excited that this book is the beginning of a series and I can't wait to read the next two.

While on a jog, Detective Kara Quinn, on leave from the LAPD, discovers the body of a young woman brutally murdered. Word reaches the FBI that the murder fits the profile of the compulsive and elusive Triple Killer. The killer only strikes over 5 days every 3 years so their window to stop him is critical before he disappears again.

I loved getting involved in this book! It kept me hooked, and I just had to keep going. I'm glad this is going to be a series!

This book will have you riveted and page turning quickly, and when the last page is turned you will be wanting more, and it looks like you might get your wish!
Hard to imagine being on vacation, mandatory, and then being dragged rather willingly into a serial murder case. That is exactly what happens to LAPD Detective Kara Quinn, she finds a body and the rest is what you need to find out as you look for answers. We also meet FBI Special Agent Matt Costa, as he tries to save lives as the next murder of what he expects will be three happens.
You never know what will set someone off, and the perpetrator here has lost touch with reality, but will he be stopped, and when you see the length of what he is prepared for, well, be safe!
A book that will linger with you long after the last page is turned!
I received this book though Net Galley and the Publisher Mira, and was not required to give a positive review.

So good, so creepy and i was here for it all. What a geat story, I have never read this authorbefore but i enjoyed it. I think I will be looking at reading more from this author.

Violence might seem senseless to someone who had a good soul, but she understood it. She knew why the people she went after hurt and killed people.

How is a good thriller written? Do they start with the main characters? Do they work backwards? Well this one had it all for me. The characters, the plot, and how you felt that you were part of the process of solving the case. "The Killer" is a serial killer that kills in 3's. On March 3rd and with a rage, someone was going to die. One for his mother, one for his dad, and one for himself. A personal killing.

Detective Kara Quinn is on leave in LA visiting her grandmother outside of Spokane Washington. She goes on a run only to discover a body. FBI special agent Mathias Costa is handling the case. The first set of murders has his team baffled. His team is includes several people but the one that stuck out for me is the profiler Catherine. Catherine is more than a co-worker, but a friend. A friend that has reached her limit as a profiler. She does her job well but is hard on herself when she fails. Her part in the plot brings the "killer" into light as what makes him tick and anticipating his next move. Together, Catherine, Kara and Costa make a great team. They are contractions, they are vulnerable, they get the job done.

The character development drove the plot in a smooth way that you could not stop reading. How the characters interacted. There was chemistry between Kara and Costa was part of the character development. Trying to figure out the balance of their feelings and fears. Costa and Catherine their friendship is supportive and encouraging. Just a good ol mix!

A Special Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F FBI Thriller

This book has you on the edge of your seat from the beginning. We get to see Kara Quinn who is an amazing detective who is on mandatory leave. She's very unhappy about that, but also knows that it's a good time to visit her aunt. But when she's out running, trying to wait out her leave, she stumbles on a body dump site. What Kara doesn't know is that she has found one of the bodies that the Triple Killer leaves behind every few years.

Mathias Costa is trying very hard to choose people for a new mobile response team. But even though his boss has given him veto power, Costa realizes that he needs to start making some decisions. When he's called out to see the newest Triple Killer site, he knows that he's on the clock and racing against time.

With Kara on leave, she knows that she can help with the investigation. She's also a local, so that will help with the people who need to be questioned. Finally, with Costa needing all of the help he can get, he'll use Kara for her expertise, as well as for her doggedness to find the answers.

With time against them, it will take everyone's skills to figure out who the Triple Killer is and take them down. Kara is also having to contend with a trial back home and her boss keeping her in the dark on matters back at her station.

This was a great start to a new series. I can't wait to see what happens next and hope that it will be filled with as much action and mystery as this first story was. There are definitely some questions that are lingering, but it's in no way a cliffhanger story.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This gory suspense is properly frightening. Matt Costas leads an FBI team tracking a serial killer who will kill again within days. LAPD detective Kara Quinn might be on holiday, but when she finds the first body, she is determined to help Matt’s team find the killer.

The time pressure in this story adds to the suspense. The investigators know when the killer will strike, they have a good idea of who the next victims will be – and no idea who the killer is. The story is a mix of interdepartmental politics and careful investigating. The body count is substantial, and this is a pretty gory read.

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to Matt and Kara’s continued partnership in future books. Anyone wanting a well plotted suspense with some great characters will enjoy this series.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
If, like me, you are a fan of shows like Criminal Minds, The Third to Die will be right up your alley. FBI agent Matt Costa is heading up a new unit called the Mobile Response Team. Before the team is even fully formed, they are sent to the small down to Liberty Lake where LA Detective Kara Quinn has discovered a dead body while on vacation. Matt and his team are sent to investigate and the chase for the serial killer begins. Short on resources, Matt takes Kara’s help with the case. But it doesn’t take long for their relationship to become more than a professional one.

This is the first book in a new series and early on time is taken to give us some background to the characters. But not all of them and not their life story, but enough information to make us interested in them and keep turning the pages. The story is told from the point of view of various characters, including the killer – which I liked.

This is the story that starts out slowly, but the tension builds. I felt like the further I got in the faster I was turning the pages. The story takes us to a heart-pounding, action-packed climax. It is enthralling. I have to say this book would make a great movie, it was easy to see it playing out in my mind. In the aftermath, I was left wanting stories from the Mobile Response Team. I’ll be on the lookout for the next book in this series and I hope there are many more stories to come.

The first in a great new series features the strong, confident detective Kara teaming up with the FBI in a new task force to catch a sneaky, violent psychopath. Lots of great characters including Matt heading up the task force. A superb police procedural combined with a psychological thriller with a handful of romance thrown in for good measure. Will read the next one as soon as it comes out!

RATING: 4.5 STARS
2020; Mira/Harlequin

The Third to Die is the first book in a new series by Allison Brennan. Even though I have not read all of Brennan's novels, I collect them as they come out to read when I need a guaranteed great read. I have fallen behind in the series so I was happy to see a new series come out that wasn't a spin-off from an already published book (or, at least I hope so). I am a fan of the romantic suspense genre as long the mystery is not secondary to the story. One thing like about Brennan (and are similar to Karen Rose, Mary Burton, Mariah Stewart, to name a few) is that the characters are strong and well written. The chemistry between the hero and heroine, extends to all the characters. For me a good series is when characters have a good base with one another. Brennan always has a great mystery, with suspense. Even if you can figure out the murderer you are still in it to see how it ends. This novel doesn't disappoint. Again, Brennan writes a creepy villain that makes your skin crawl and rooting for the good guys to get him quick. I highly recommend this one, and it has whet my curiosity to start back up with her novels.

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

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Third to Die by Allison Brennan.

When Kara, a cop on forced leave, finds a body while out jogging, she knows that her "vacation" is over. While Kara's sleepy hometown isn't used to murders like this, Kara, an LAPD officer, is chomping at the bit to help investigate. But the FBI has some disturbing news about the killer. He always kills a cop in his string of three kills every three years. Who will the killer target this time, and how will the FBI protect the town?

You know, as far as cop dramas go, this was pretty middle of the road. It was perfectly fine. The gritty female cop, the rugged male cop with recovering anger issues. A deeply disturbed villain. I've read it, a lot. And while this is still fun, I struggled to find anything that set it apart.

My first by Allison Brennan and most definitely not my last. From start to finish, The Third to Die was an engrossing, page-turner. I'm such a sucker for female detectives, and Detective Quinn was incredible! I am so excited to see how her story continues in the future.

The Third to Die (Mobile Response Team Book #1) by Allison Brennan is the action packed first book of a new FBI thriller/romantic suspense series. This book grabs you from page one and does not let up. LAPD Detective Kara Quinn is an undercover cop, but there were some problems with her last case and she is put on leave for two weeks. While she is off, she visits her grandmother who lives in Liberty Lake. While jogging, she discovers a murdered young nurse. FBI Special Agent in Charge Mathias “Matt” Costa is sent to Liberty Lake with his incomplete Mobile Response Team. It is immediately noticed that the murder in Liberty Lake fits an alert that is set for the Triple Killer.
The Triple Killer returns every three years beginning on March third and kills three times. This time, Matt and his team are out to stop him before he can kill again. Kara volunteers to help Matt and his short-handed team and he accepts. The team is working against the clock to find The Triple Killer before he disappears again.

This book gripped me from the first page and had me on the edge of my seat throughout. The two lead characters, Kara and Matt were outstanding. Kara was a strong, smart woman who had some issues and baggage. Matt is another smart character who has a hard dealing with the local cops who want to be in control. He is an alpha male, who is quickly attracted to Kara, so you know there will be some romance there. The secondary characters play an important role in the book and are quite well developed, it was easy to get attached to them, especially the small-town cops. And the killer.... He was very intelligent, yet scary and psychotic. He had his reasons for the murders, even though they were skewed. He also had a bit of humanity that shows after on specific incident. This crew did some exceptional investigating and problem solving to find this serial killer and I was quite impressed. This was a well-developed story, with great characters and suspense. I am looking forward to the next in this series.

Loved this book so much!! Anything Allison Brennan writes instantly becomes my favorite. She gives me a "Book Hangover" every time!

The publisher and Netgalley provided me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Kara is off-duty, taking an essential, if mandatory, vacation away from the stress of her job as an undercover detective. Her vacation is interrupted by the discovery of a corpse during her morning run, Soon, Kate becomes embroiled in an insidious game of cat and mouse.

Kara and a team of FBI agents must struggle to stay one step ahead of a vicious killer. Identifying the pattern of the killings, and predicting when the next strike will occur is a harrowing race against time. The plot twists were unpredictable and I was gripping the edge of my seat the last 30% of the novel.

This is the first in a series, and is a gritty, procedural crime story that fans of Patricia Cornwell and Karin Slaughter will enjoy.

I love when you start a book and from the first chapter you already can't stop reading ! I was very excited to see this is a first book in a series because I didn't want the book to end. Kara and Matt are such great characters and the story was so different ! Not the typical serial killer thriller. I can't say enough good things about this book. Perfect suspense, mystery, characters and story! I will be watching for the sequel. LOVED this book and highly recommend reading it.

Sometimes, I really love being a book blogger. Sometimes, I get these books that are the perfect for me and I don't even realize it's happening. Then I read them and can't contain my excitement.

The Third to Die is that type of book for me.

First of all, let me talk for a moment about my love of female detectives. There is something about a woman in law enforcement that really takes a story to another level for me. I get to experience an investigation while feeling a particular empathy with the character that I can't feel when the detective is a man.

I especially loved Detective Quinn because of her attitude. Not only was she a crazy good under cover detective, but she had more confidence in her pinky finger than I have had most of my life. I have been wanting a female lead who is good, knows she's good, and doesn't feel the constant need to doubt herself.

It's almost as if writers (and women in general) feel like females need to be self-doubting or humble in order to be likable. It makes me wonder if we, as women, can't be confident in ourselves and also liked by others?

Detective Quinn is entirely sure of herself and her abilities. She has a clear sense of right and wrong and follows it without compunction. She is good at her job and isn't scared to let others know it. At times she could probably learn to listen to others more, but I was amazed that I never felt that she was cocky. I really just loved her, in case you couldn't tell.

The serial killer storyline was new and a little twisted, making it a great book. It's perfectly paced and I couldn't put it down. I didn't know and couldn't guess what was going to happen next, mostly because Allison Brennan made it clear early in the novel that anything could happen.

If you haven't grabbed The Third to Die, and you are a fan of suspense, go get it now.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Third to Die

Author: Allison Brennan

Book Series: Mobile Response Team Book 1

Rating: 4.5/5

Publication Date: February 4, 2020

Publisher: MIRA

Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, some adult moments)

Synopsis: An edgy female police detective…An ambitious FBI special agent. Together they are at the heart of the ticking-clock investigation for a psychopathic serial killer. The bond they forge in this crucible sets the stage for high-stakes suspense.

Detective Kara Quinn, on leave from the LAPD, is on an early morning jog in her hometown of Liberty Lake when she comes upon the body of a young nurse. The manner of death shows a pattern of highly controlled rage. Meanwhile in DC, FBI special agent Mathias Costa is staffing his newly minted Mobile Response Team. Word reaches Matt that the Liberty Lake murder fits the profile of the compulsive Triple Killer. It will be the first case for the MRT. This time they have a chance to stop this zealous if elusive killer before he strikes again. But only if they can figure out who he is and where he is hiding before he disappears for another three years. The stakes are higher than ever before, because if they fail, one of their own will be next…

Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was full of action and the writing was well done. The plot kept me entertained from start to finish and the characters were very well developed.

However, I did feel like the book was very fast paced and the book didn’t wrap up everything, which is a little annoying for me but leaves room for another book.

Verdict: Overall, a well done suspense novel!