A fast-paced cop procedural/thriller. If you enjoy the Eve Dallas books from J.D. Robb, you'll like this as well. I had one spot about 40 pages (???) in where I bogged down in the description of inter-agency tension; however, most of the book was very well paced. I finished it in one day!

A solid start to a detective series. I thoroughly enjoyed figuring out the serial killer's unique pattern as the story unfolded, and there was action aplenty in the latter half of the book when the FBI and "vacationing" LAPD detective are closing in. The mobile crime unit added a new element to a pretty tried and true plot, and I liked how the author spent a decent amount of detail on the lead FBI guy figuring out logistics and how best to integrate with local police forces. Sounds dry, but it added tension to the standard ticking clock before the killer strikes again plot. Nothing overly groundbreaking, but it's a fast-paced read that will satisfy most fans of contemporary mystery/suspense novels. Great introduction to a variety of characters with only hints into their backstories, making you want to read future installments to learn more about them.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first in a new series from Allison Brennan and I knew going into this book that I was already a fan of the author, so I had high expectations and this book met them!

Detective Kara Quinn is on vacation, but even on vacation she gets herself mixed up into a little bit of drama when she jogs across a dead body! In comes in a mobile FBI team and things got interesting real quick! Special Agent Mathias Costa is the new lead on this mobile FBI team and they are meant to go a place where the local police may need some extra help when a large case happens in their area. I loved watching the interaction between the FBI team and the local police and how much it takes for them to successfully work together.

The case contained in this book was so intriguing. This may sound weird, but I love a book when you get a few chapters that are told from the killer's perspective. It seems weird to like it, but it just seems so interesting to see their thought process behind what they are doing. This one seemed extra and to get inside his mind was so fascinating. I do tend to roll my eyes when the author alludes to a hard childhood that makes the killer a killer and such was the case in this book, but I was able to gloss over it for a good story.

I can't wait for book two in this series to come. I am ready to see where this one goes.

The Third to Die
(Mobile Response Team #1)
by Allison Brennan

ebook, 400 pages
Expected publication: February 4th 2020 by MIRA (first published January 4th 2020)



Goodreads synopsis:
“The first in Brennan’s amazing new thriller series. Dive in and enjoy this nail-biter.”—Catherine Coulter, NYT bestselling author of LABYRINTH

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…

***

5 Stars

This is the first book in the Mobile Response Team series by Allison Brennan.

What a fantastic beginning to a series. This was an intense one! I really enjoyed the main characters Matt, Kara and the beginnings of the Mobile Response Team. Plus, they already have a great foil in the guise of a good guy, Thornton as the book moves into series mode.

As you read along you can almost tell who is going to be the red shirt in this novel. (Red Shirt is a Star Trek reference as to those people who end up dying at some point in the show. They would always wear a red shirt and thus condemning them to death.) I felt bad for that particular character because I could see it coming. I was disappointed a bit at who was and was not moving on into book two. I had grown quite fond of a few of them and their possibilities for further story growth.

Kara was quite an edgy steamroller. Loved her contribution to the storyline. And Mathias had similar qualities to Kara which made the time they had together so explosive and fun to watch.

Basic premise: A person of unknown origin is killing people in threes starting on March 3rd, then 6th, then 9th. The first is a nurse, then someone in a position of power at a school and then a police officer. This serial killer is killing in this way and has done so for many years. It is only now that the pattern is being noticed and understood. Mathias and his Mobile Response Team is called in to deal with the deaths, current ones and possible ones to come.

You get the perspective of the killer in this as well as a glimpse into the workings of the Mobile Response Team. The guy is crafty and hidden in plain sight which makes this all a pretty intense and scary read. Once you get to know all the characters, you really don’t want any of them to die at the killer’s hand. Brennan has a great way of endearing us to her book people and making us invested from the very beginning.

Loved this book. It’s a five star read from me!

If you love a good suspense mystery thriller, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Kara is on leave from the LAPD when she almost literally stumbles over a dead body while jogging. Turns out there's a serial killer in the area which brings in FBI Special Agent Mathias. Mathias is working with his new Mobile Response Team and he's suspicious of Kara from the start. Why is she on leave? But as Kara and Mathias get to know each other they realize they're a good team in the line of duty and in real life. Great romantic suspense!

If you love edge of your seat thriller rides, how can you possibly go wrong with Allison Brennan. I was so excited to discover this is the first in a new series, Mobile Response Team, because at the end all I wanted was more. Thankfully Brennan will be providing just that!

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

I was excited to read this series debut from Allison Brennan. I understand she’s written several crime novels, but this is the first I’ve read. It is also the first police procedural I’ve read in awhile, but I was craving a suspenseful read, so it seemed perfect. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me in a couple ways.

Plot recap: The FBI has created a new group, the Mobile Response Team, which travels to areas with understaffed law enforcement to help solve major crimes. A dormant serial killer has just resurfaced in Washington state, and the MRT is dispatched to assist the investigation. An LAPD detective vacationing in Washington is also drawn into the case. The MRT knows the killer’s timeline and pattern and is racing the clock to find him before he kills again.

Here’s what I enjoyed:
- The last 20% of the novel really picked up the pace. There was even one event that took me by surprise.

- The killer’s plan was quite intricate. Lots of moving parts, and everything had a meaning. It wasn’t exactly unique, but it was interesting.

Here’s what didn’t work for me:
- I understand that a procedural will, by nature, contain lots of details, some of them mundane. And I do think the author did research to make it as true-to-life (and un-Hollywoodish) as possible. The trick to making a procedural readable is to write it tightly, and that’s where the novel didn’t hold up for me. Writing tightly means you don’t give excess information or explain what should be obvious to the reader. And make sure that you tie up your loose ends. If your team spends pages speculating and investigating a lead, make sure you tie it off. Since approximately 70% of this novel is procedural, I had a hard time slogging through the loose, repetitive, and sometimes sloppy story-telling, only to be confused when a major lead suddenly becomes assumed fact.

- I never really connected to the characters. There wasn’t a whole lot of differentiation between the narrators’ voices (except for the overly-childish killer and the Spanish peppered into Agent Costa’s dialogues). While I recognize that the two main characters were supposed to be emotionally-unavailable even to themselves, they’re robotic workaholism left me feeling disconnected.

Overall, this would have been a two-star read for me, but the last 20% earned it another star. Would I recommend it to others? Only to those who have a high tolerance for repetitive and detail-saturated procedurals. Will I read the next in the series? Probably not, given my backlog of to-be-read books.

Another well written novel by Allison Brennan featuring characters that come alive and a realistic, interesting plot line. Ms. Brennan never fails to appeal. Highly recommended.

I have heard about this author for quite some time but have never read any of her books. With this being the first in a new series, I was happy that I could read this title. It was so good, so well-written, with believable characters and a gritty story line, that I had a hard time putting it down. Now I have to go back and start reading all her other books! If you enjoy mystery/thriller/with a touch of romance, you have to read this book. I'm looking forward to reading the next in this series. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review. Thank You NetGalley!

Brennan’s third series is a winner. New characters and new settings, but this has every good trait in the writing as the others. Interesting storyline excellently rendered. Looking forward to book 2.

Intricate detail, loaded with action and suspense. Very long story!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are some books that just grip you right from the very beginning and never let up! This story is one of those.

This is the first time I have read this author and even though this is part of a series, I didn’t feel overly lost with the story. There were some references to other people, places, and things, however, it did not distract or detract from the story itself.

I just fell in love with Kara. She’s a bit of a bad ass but knows her job very well. She was simply born to be a cop. I love her interactions with Matt. They are a wonderful team and the author has mastered the delicate balance between the two of them.

The story is very complex with the way that Brennan wrote this work. She gives hints of the suspect along the way. Dropping clues here and there for us to pick up.

This book is a race against time and the suspense factor ramps up as the clock ticks down. It will have you holding your breath as you feel your pulse increase with each page turn.

What a wild ride!!! Love this one and you will too if you enjoy a true crime murder mystery involving a serial killer. Not for the weak-hearted for sure, but sooo good! Intricate detail, loaded with action and suspense. Be prepared – It’s a very long story!

This is the first book that I have read by this author, again I just couldn’t get into this book. I think that I’m in a reading funk and that’s why. one of the things that I did like about this book was a serial killer aspect of the story. The pacing of it was also good. I just couldn’t find the characters relatable.

*Only not buying because I have limited money in my high school library.*

Well, that was cool. I just downloaded the ARC to read in between other books about which I was more serious, if I’m being honest. But, I couldn’t wait to see if and how they’d get the bad guy! It was well-plotted and I liked the characters...especially those that are clearly going to be continuing in this series. I also applaud the author for not giving everything away up front...I was glad to have suspense and reasons to keep reading. Nicely done.

I have been reading Brennan's work since the beginning! Just when you think that she may be out of fresh ideas, she comes up with more that completely hold the readers attention.

Loved the premise of this novel and the storytelling was spot on. There were a few spots where the pace lagged and the conclusion may leave some readers feeling frustration. However, none of this is enough to dilute the overall interpretation of the book. The characters were wonderfully developed with room to expound upon in future novels. The storyline was captivating and eerie as it set pace with the investigation of a serial killer. Brennan offers a small amount of romantic intercession between all the crime tension, making this an overall a decent read. 4 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC of #TheThirdtoDie. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
@way_readers #wayward_reader #tarrahmarie

A multi-level and multi jurisdictional police/Sheriff/FBI investigation involving a serial killer and their efforts to find a stop him. Recently a murder of a young nurse has triggered the MO of a series of murders. The murders all happen in a series of three beginning with the first murder on March 3, then one on March 6, and a third on March 9. Other than the dates they can find no relating factors, the victims have nothing in common but the way they were killed.The book is a minute by minute thrill ride as the group try to identify and stop the killer.
The author is well known for her psychological thrillers and this is another great addition to her works.

Thanks to netgalley for the review copy of another thrilling read by a talented author!
I was hooked from the start of a new series that will thrill readers of Ms Brennan for ages to come. Highly recommended!

Introducing two interesting characters whose relationship sizzles from their first encounter. Both characters have experienced dark times in their lives and are not looking for more than a passing sexual relationship- which is good since a serial killer who has killed for years is what has brought them together.

Also introduced as part of a new FBI team are multiple characters with their own unique backgrounds and talents.

Fast moving, gruesome killings, hot sex, stalkings, psychological profiling - it has it all!

Rating 5

Would I recommend it? yes

Would I read more of this series? yes

Would I read more of this author? yes

This isn't the first time I've read anything by her in fact I've read two other books by her in her Maxine Revere series and after reading them I was hooked , loved how her books always seem to have strong female characters that no matter what is shaved at them ,their not afraid to stand up for what is right , and this story is one of those .Other thing I loved about it was how the author played with the number 3 and how it worked in the story , and how the killer used it, and how it kept you pulled into the story as well as keeping you guessing on why the killer was doing this .

That Ending!! It may not have been a cliffhanger but it definitely left me wanting more, now.... immediately. How soon can she write the next in this series!?!

Brennan is well known for her psychological thrillers so when I was offered an ARC for her newest book I jumped at the opportunity. The Third to Die is the first book in a new series by Brennan revolving around the FBI's Mobile Response Team. This newly formed segment of the FBI consists of highly specialized agents who are top in their field, whether it is forensics, crime scene specialists or investigators. They are mobilized primarily in rural areas where the local force most likely is lacking in either experience or equipment. This is their first case in the field and it is a nightmare. A serial killer has re-emerged after years of silence. His method is killing someone on March 3rd, 6th or 9th. This story is made more interesting by the addition of a SFPD officer who is on "vacation" in the area and ends up helping the FBI solve their case. This detective, Kara Quinn, is one of the most interesting characters I've run across in a thriller in a long while. The chemistry between her and FBI agent Matias Costa is electric - and fun! The story is engaging, interesting and, yes, thrilling! So much so that I'm reading past written books by Brennan and cannot wait for her next in this series - and this one is not out yet!! But it will be soon and should be bookmarked on your to-read list.