This is a well done procedural with strong characters and a good setting. Perfect for fans of the serial killer genre, this one will keep you guessing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This novel was authentic and filled with convincing characters. It was the first book that I have read in the series but I feel that it worked as a stand alone. I would like to go back and start reading at the beginning of the series though.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

An intriguing crime story, The Fiercest Enemy sees Jack and Liddell head to rural Indiana, where a series of murders have taken place over the last seven years. The local cops are protective of their turf, and honestly seem unable to process a crime scene properly, and let emotions get in the way. As Jack and Liddell start to work the case they find more than they bargained for, and soon find themselves in the killer's crosshairs.

At first this book a bit slow to get into, but soon found myself invested in the story. Jack and Liddell were good characters, but the local cops flabbergasted me, which is probably intentional on the author's part. I hadn't read any of this series before, but it's fine as a standalone, and I will probably read the earlier books at some stage. A fine read for a rainy day.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I like the characters Jack Murphy and Liddell Blanchard, the "stars" of this series by former cop Rick Reed. It's very much a "buddy cop" series, with the two detectives from Evansville, Indiana, displaying their well-honed team skills and mutual affection in a steady stream of sarcastic patter. Murphy also frequently shares nuggets of cop wisdom as another (and yet another) Murphy's Law (there are a lot of them).

The two detectives are also part of a federal task force working on unsolved crimes, and a computer algorithm spots a pattern emerging in their neck of the woods: At least six deaths over a decade, formerly ruled accidental, now appear suspicious. This means Jack and Liddell will be working with familiar team members, along with a new cast of local folks.

While the dialog between the the two partners seems effortless, it wasn't as strong with the other characters. Reed is good at plotting, but the narrative prose (the glue that holds the plot together) seemed loose and wordy, and could've been tightened up A LOT. The author also frequently talked down to the reader with unnecessary explanations.

Another strong point was the treatment of rural Indiana and the coal mines that permeate the region. Good job with creating a sense of place.

So -- quite a few strengths, but the weaknesses were pronounced enough to more than offset them. My internal rating is 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for the online scoreboard.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance readers copy.

The Fiercest Enemy by Rick Reed
Jack Murphy Thriller #9

Jack Murphy and Liddell Blanchard are once again called from the jobs as detectives to work as FBI agents and are sent to try to figure out why men are going missing across state lines. Is a serial murderer on the loose and if so...who is it and how will the murderer be caught? What do mines and water have to do with anything and how will they find then follow the clues to capture the killer?

What I liked:
* The case is intriguing
* Following the clues was interesting
* The reason behind the murders was believable
* The dynamics between Jack and Liddell showed their long friendship and ability to work well together
* Angelina was a savvy IT guru that added assistance when needed
* Watching the police interact with Jack and Liddell once they took over the case
* The procedural aspects of the story
* That Jack and Liddell prevailed and found the answers to their questions

What I didn’t like:
* Well...I probably should NOT have read the end first...it kind of made the surprise not so much of a surprise. That said...did enjoy the story
* Realizing once again that evil begets evil

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington – Lyrical Underground for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Detectives Jack Murphy and Liddell Blanchard are loaned out to the FBI and head out to a rural town to help the local investigate a series of murders, all of which have occurred in March, and all with the same general circumstances.

Possible spoilers here on out.

This is the ninth book in the Jack Murphy series by Rick Reed, himself former law enforcement, but only the first that I have read. I had no issues reading this as a standalone, as there were instances where a bit of information was passed along regarding events in previous books. The author's knowledge about how police departments work is, of course, good, but I think this book tries far too hard at the buddy cop stuff between Murphy and the much, much larger, former football player turned detective Blanchard, whom Murphy calls Bigfoot. There is a lot of banter between Murphy and Blanchard that is supposed to be humorous but which got old fast, squabbling between the two Chiefs (one male, one female - obviously their fighting means they're secretly in love with one another) in the neighboring counties Murphy and Blanchard are sent to, and a handful of times where the author seems to think readers won't understand something, like "G-man" referring to Federal agents.

"Rosie said, "Follow me G-men." [sic]
Jack smiled at her use of the old moniker for an FBI Agent. 'G-man' was underworld slang for anyone working for the government. It meant government man.

There is a passage where one law enforcement characters tells another that they must "have some tall" to get a piece of information, and the author informs the reader that "tall" means pull or influence - why not just say "pull", then?

At the beginning, we're told via a couple pages long expositional speech by Angelina Garcia, the computer whiz who can apparently hack into anything, that the murders all occurred in March, as noted above. As an aside here, I can deduce that the writer may be a fan of the TV show Criminal Minds. The computer guru on the show is called Garcia by the agents of the BAU. Her full name is Penelope Garcia. The IT whiz in the book covers the last name, and the female Chief's daughter is named Penelope.

Another annoyance I have with some writers is when they will have a piece of information be given to the reader in some way (such as in a summary given by the IT whiz), then repeated, and then given again, spelled out for both another character and the reader.

"Five murders in seven years," Jack mused. "One seven years ago, two more at five years, one at three years, and one that just happened. All in March."
"March is important to the killer," Liddell said.
"Something got this guy started killing. Whatever it was must have happened at least seven years ago in March. Most of the serial killers we've dealt with needed symbolism. Sometimes they were sending us a message, sometimes they were sending it to other possible victims."

Writers, don't treat your readers like they're stupid.

The plot revolves around two very small PDs and the two on loan agents figuring out the common connection between the victims of what they correctly believe is a serial killing, following the more than ample clues, and nabbing the bad guy(s) in the end. There is a secondary, personal lives story running through, because Murphy and his ex-wife are getting remarried, and Blanchard and his wife are expecting a child.

The number one villain is not really a surprise, although I have to credit the author for not introducing the villain three pages before the end, as I have the misfortune of seeing in some other books. There is one villain that is introduced but whose identity as it relates to the main villains and the deaths does come in just before the end, which is a bit of cheating, as there's no hint at all that the person is anything or anyone other than how they are introduced earlier.

Overall, it's a serviceable serial killer novel, with the action taking place in a rural area filled with closed out coal mines.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the advance copy.

The Fiercest Enemy is the ninth novel in the Jack Murphy series by author Rick Reed. It was also my first foray into this series, which means I now have to read the first eight books.

No previous knowledge of the series is required to enjoy this story. Rick Reed does a good job at giving us enough information about Jack Murphy and his partner, Liddell Blanchard, their current occupation (detectives on loan to a FBI task force against unsolved serial and organized crime), and the state of their personal lives. Along the pages, some previous cases are even referenced so we know what these two have been up to so far (and are even more coerced into buying the previous entries).

Angelina Garcia, computer whiz consulting for the task force, has developed a new algorithm to detect serial patterns. Testing it randomly on unsolved murders and missing persons in Indiana, she uncovered several seemingly connected deaths, some ruled accidental at the time of investigation. This brings Murphy and Blanchard to two little mining towns sharing juridictions over a lake from which several bodies have been recovered, including a new one on the very day of their arrival.

All victims have in common the fact they were quite unsavory characters but, as Harry Bosch often states in his own series : « Everybody counts or nobody counts »

Soon enough, a shadowy vagrant character appears to be the main suspect. However, Jack Murphy has doubts about his involvement in the serial deaths, and so does the reader, thanks to events witnessed in the opening chapter.

The book is well crafted, and gives that vibe of authenticity that comes from authors who have been cops themselves, or have done extensive field research (Author Rick Reed is a former detective). Murder is always serious business but humor is omnipresent in the book, mainly stemming from the interactions between Murphy and his partner who constantly act as an old couple. All characters are well defined, each with a personality of their own, and the same can be said about the locales described, helping to immerse the reader in the story.

As we follow the detectives and the local police gather clues about the aforementioned vagrant, and about the victims, we can play the guessing game. And, if we pay enough attention, we can figure out what really happened a few paragraphs before the author let us know Jack Murphy has figured it out himself. This reinforce the feeling of authenticity. No miracle clue, happy coincidence, or godsent informer in this story. All cards are on the table.

Most thrillers would end there with an explosive confrontation, but Jack Murphy is a detective who leaves no stone unturned when it comes to building an airtight case. Do not worry, though. There is an explosive final confrontation, but not before all plot points have been neatly resolved, and a few side twists have been thrown our way.

If you have read my review that far, it must appear obvious I have greatly enjoyed that book. I’m flabbergasted at having never heard of this series before, and I certainly won’t miss future installments.

Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

A unique and gripping premise, this book takes you on a wild ride inside the mind of a diabolical killer...one who ends up hitting a bit too close to home. Eye-opening twists keep you engrossed in the story for hours on end, and culminates with a satisfying conclusion. Recommended.

**My sincere thanks to the author and publisher for providing a copy free of charge through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

It's always fun to send time with Jack and Liddell! And this time they have more than their usual set of challenges....investigating whether or not 5 suspicious deaths are suicide or something else. The fact that the author has real world experience as a former investigator allows for a plot line that always rings true and has more depth. Lots of twists in this outing and an end that was a surprise which I always appreciate. This is a series that just gets better and better. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy for review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of The Fiercest Enemy, the nine novel to feature Indiana detectives Jack Murphy and Liddell “Bigfoot” Blanchard.

A new computer program suggests that five deaths in rural Indiana written off as suicide or misadventure may actually be murders. As part of an FBI task force Jack and Bigfoot are sent to investigate, treading on the toes of local law enforcement and causing things to heat up.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Fiercest Enemy which is an absorbing read with likeable protagonists and an easy humour in their dialogue. I always enjoy spending time with these two and this is another entertaining addition to the series. The novel is told from the investigative point of view so the reader knows what they know. I like this approach best as it allows me to speculate and get involved in the novel. I wouldn’t say that the plot is the most original ever conceived but Mr Reed puts him own spin on it and manages to include several unexpected twists, well, they caught me unawares.

The plot, however, is not my main reason for reading this series. I really like the tone of the novels. There is a bit of everything with action, investigation, humour, cynicism and even domestic issues. It has the ring of authenticity and experience that is difficult for many authors to replicate. I particularly like the glee with which the police detectives flourish their FBI credentials and the disparagement that accompanies it.

Jack and Bigfoot are best buddies as well as being crime fighting partners. They have an easy relationship full of dark humour and childish insults. It leads their adversaries to underestimate them as they are dedicated, if unorthodox, investigators. Jack is perhaps wilder in temperament but his responses in danger are carefully calibrated. It makes for an exhilarating read.

The Fiercest Enemy is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.