Never Look Back is a twisty thriller full of mystery and terror that will have you on the edge of your seat! Melina Shepard is an agent with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. After she learns that two prostitutes have disappeared without a trace, she take it upon herself to go undercover to try to find them. Problem is, her disguise is almost too good and she nearly finds out how good the killer really is firsthand...

Agent Ramsey of the FBI is brought in to assist the investigation and then is called in with Melina on a separate mystery when a woman hits a tree and abandons the car, leaving a child and a gruesome discovery in the trunk. For Melina the story is all too similar with her own past, and for some reason the woman seems familiar.

So many twists and turns in Never Look Back, plus an ending you won’t expect. I went right in and jumped in to book #3, but plan to follow up by reading some of the earlier books in the series next. I really enjoyed this one!

A special thanks to the publisher for providing this ARC.

A novel featuring Agent Shepard, an agent for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, who nearly gets nabbed by a serial killer while she's working undercover and off the book. A second serial killer case is discovered with the discovery of a car accident and an abandoned child. As the novel progresses you see how the two cases are completely different, but begin to twine together. It's honestly a really captivating novel and kept me interested the whole way through.

The characters have great chemistry. I love the history that you uncover on the main character, Agent Shepard, as the story plods along. I didn't realize that this novel is the third in a series until I came to log it into my Goodreads shelves, so it was nice that I was able to read this novel like a stand alone. The plot is intricate and intriguing. I feel to a certain extent, that the novel is written in an open fashion, so you sort of know what's happening on both sides of the case (cops vs bad guys), and you know who each is, but you get to see what each doesn't know about the other if that makes sense. I really enjoyed Burton's writing style to say the least.

Burton's novel is one I could have easily given 5 stars to, but there was one thing that threw me off and, in my opinion, detracted from the novel. That being the dialogue. A lot of the dialogue, especially the exchanges between Agent Shepard and Agent Ramsey felt scripted... it just felt weird. There were many instances where I just sat reading, thinking to myself "people don't really talk like that". There were some scenes between the two characters that just felt like they got slapped together to incorporate it into the story without really leading up to these events. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but it felt quick, hasty and almost as an afterthought.

All in all, a great read!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review!</i>

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

mary burton has done it again.....

a little girl found abandoned by the side of the road

years later another girl is found after a car crashes, the driver abandons her and the car...the car is found to contain a jar with the ring fingers of murdered victims..some have been identified some remain a mystery

wow some strong characters in this book and one i couldnt put down...some surprising answers when all is revealed...

4.5 Stars
The third book in Criminal Profiler, Never Look Back is an edge of your seat thriller. Serial killers, yes plural, both with Agent Melina Shephard in their sights. I am loving this series and Mary Burton has quickly become a must read for me. Her exceptional stories and dynamic characters are captivating, and I recommend you read this book and series.

Loved this book. Maintained my interest throughout and I wanted to keep reading.
After the first chapter I was dreading that the book may turn out to be full of graphic details about a sadistic serial killer but fortunately for me this was not the case.
Probably rare in books of this type now but there was not much flashback and chapters progressed through the current time with just a hint of what went before.
There are a couple of stories intermixed and the author cleverly brings together the story lines at the end.
It is very difficult for me to give 5 stars to a police/serial killer book as it is so hard to provide the reader with the'wow - really didn't expect that' moment. Similarly it must be equally hard to provide a conclusion to a book of this type without what I always call a 'Hollywood type ending'.
Nevertheless I really enjoyed the book and I thoroughly recommend it to any prospective reader

So, first: I didn't realize this was #3 in a series, but turns out they're all about different characters so it's fine. It did seem throughout the book that there were some references to characters that I didn't get, but it didn't change the story and seemed fine so!

Overall, this book was fine, but not great or terrible. I think that sometimes there's too much going on with a plot and things feel shoved in, and that's what this felt like for me. When Bonnie first reveals that she knows Melina, as a reader, I was like OF. COURSE. But not in a good way. It just wasn't necessary! There was a ton happening, and it was fine, but wasn't making me feel like OMG, must text my friends to read this so we can discuss.

Never Look Back is a thrilling, suspenseful story that has lots of twist and turns. It keeps your attention and has you on the edge of your seat. When Agent Melina Shepard of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has a close call with a vicious serial killer, it leads to her joining forces with seasoned FBI agent Jerrod Ramsey, who has been after the killer for years. A twist of fate reveals that another serial killer is also at work in the same area and when ties to Melina's past begin to surface, things get even more complex. This is a great story, with plenty of intrigue, mystery, action and some romance too. I loved how the author wove all the story threads together, keeping the suspense and slowly revealing all the links. Melina’s sharp intelligence compliments Ramsey’s cool, collected reasoning well and you easily become invested in their lives. I also loved seeing Melina's relationship with her adoptive parents, it was heartwarming. This is an enjoyable unpredictable story with appealing characters, great investigative work and a nice touch of romance. I received an early copy of this book from Montlake Romance via NetGalley with no obligation to review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This is one of a series of crime thriller books but easily stands alone without leaving the reader at a disadvantage. Melina Shepherd is a detective in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and while working undercover in an effort to uncover why prostitutes are disappearing she has a near miss with the the serial killer responsible. Leaving him injured in her struggle to get away, he now is fixated on Melina becoming his next victim. Running alongside this case is the story of Melina's childhood and how she came to be adopted by the police officer and his wife after he found her abandoned. Her memory of what happened is vague but when a young girl is found abandoned in a car after an accident similarities begin to emerge. Add to this a second serial.killer and the story really begins to move. Fast paced and gripping with a smattering of romance - what more do you want. The ending was a little rushed and not quite as dynamic as I would have liked but well.worth a read.

This criminal profiler series book was full of surprises and I loved it. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) Agent Melina Shepard works with FBI Agent Jerrod Ramsey, whose base is in Quantico, in trying to capture a serial killer who has connections to previous cases Jerrod has worked on. In the process, gruesome evidence unexpectedly shows up that has nothing to do with this case. This powerful suspense thriller is fantastic. The killers’ thoughts and points of view reveal their pathological and twisted minds. The methods the agents and detectives use in working together to solve the identities of these criminals and the intricate plans of capture are brilliant. The added undiscovered family connections add to the tension. As a child is also involved, the importance of working quickly and secretly couldn’t be more crucial. This was written with a lot of thought and care and without any flaws or missed steps. I highly recommend it. [I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through NetGalley and my opinion is my own.]

Yep. ANOTHER great book from Mary!! I am a huge fan and have read all of her books so I was more than thrilled for this ARC! Melina and Jerrod were great characters. The story involves 2 serial killers and was very fast-paced and had a lot of twists and turns. Mary writes Romantic/Suspense stories that are heavier on the suspense, rather than the romance. Her heroines and heroes are usually in their 30's and 40's too. These are good qualities for me. While this can be a standalone, I do recommend reading the previous 2 criminal Profiler books because a) the previous one has some backstory for Jerrod and b) they are both good also. Keep 'em coming, Mary!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake Romance and Mary Burton for this ARC!!

Always enjoy a Mary Burton book and this one was an enjoyable read. Nice mix of suspense, who done it and who is really who, along with just enough romance that it was a part of the story rather than the story itself. Good interesting characters, well written, although there is one part with the main characters speaking and there is a bit too much basic he said, she said, rather than varying the descriptive dialogue, which is why only the 4 stars, otherwise really enjoyed.

4.5⭐

Never Look Back was a very readable and thrilling story. That was packed full of suspense, twists, and turns. As solitary FBI Agent Jerrod Ramsey and impulsive TBI Agent Melina Shepard team up to investigate two serial killers, who both have very different MO's. But do have one thing in common Melina. Yet, they have very different reasons to focus on her and as the story developed those reasons became more intriguing and Melina's hunt for answers more personal and gripping. And I was completely hooked throughout.

Would definitely recommend.

On the streets of Nashville, Agent Melina Shepard of the TBI has gone undercover without authorization to try and find 2 missing sex workers. She is working with her friend, an ordained minister who runs the halfway house the Mission and it is her girls that are missing. Melina is investigating when she is approached by a man in a white van who attempts to drug and kidnap her, but she fights back and is able to stab him and get away. Once the DNA on the knife is run, the TBI discovers the perp is a serial killer the FBI is investigating which brings Jerrod Ramsey to town to follow the trail of the so-called Key Killer.

Shortly after they start working together on that case, Melina is called to the scene of a car accident where a young girl was left abandoned in eerily similar circumstances to her own past. Adding to that shock, there is a jar of human fingers in the trunk of the car and suddenly Melina and Jerrod find themselves on the trails of two different murderers. They have to work together to piece together the clues and find the killers before there are more victims-including Melina herself.

Overall I enjoyed the read, and would recommend it to fans of mystery/thrillers; while there is a small bit of romance included, it is only a small portion of the storyline. However if you don’t mind some bloodshed especially in these trying times, this is the book for you!

Thank you to Montlake Romance and Netgalley for the chance to read this early!

I liked this book, it was an enjoyable read. There is enough going on to keep you interested in what happens next.

Not one but two lone serial killers…

This is the third book in the Criminal Profiler series that can be read as a stand-alone.

Narrowly avoiding being taken as a hostage by a serial killer while working undercover as a prostitute, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent Melina Shephard, unfortunately, captured a killer’s attention. He won’t forget the one who escaped him. That she’s law enforcement is something he doesn’t know, yet. Will that knowledge stop him when he learns it? Probably not, it’ll be a challenge he can’t resist.

Learning of an incident in Tennessee that is reminiscent of a serial killer he’s been tracking across the country for seven years, FBI Agent Jerrod Ramsey, the head of a profiling group out of Quantico, Virginia takes to the field and joins forces with Melina in Nashville.

A car accident leaves a six-year-old child abandoned and the grotesque trophies found in the trunk point to another serial killer in the area with a different modus operandi. This case becomes personal for Melina, an adopted child, it’s as if her past is repeating itself, a past she’s never truly faced. The possibility that she is connected to this particular case soon cannot be dismissed.

Two serial killers are targeting the same woman but for two very different reasons and one means her definite harm. Melina will have to delve into her history to solve at least one of the cases. What happens when these two serial killers meet? Will they join forces or try to eliminate each other?

The author has woven two separate intriguing plots perfectly, this reader’s attention was captured and kept as the cases developed and slowly merged into one conclusion. The characters had much depth, the main protagonists were likable, their issues understandable. Melina and Jerrod are intelligent, complex individuals who made a great investigative team with the resources of two bureaus.

The character of Jerrod was introduced earlier in this series but it is here that we really get to know his motivations and the toll the years of doing his job have taken. The revelations and twists in this story serve to confound the reader as do the killers, one was diabolical, the other the result of childhood trauma and you could empathize without excusing his actions. A nicely done well-written, well-paced mystery/suspense thriller with lots of action and a dash of romance thrown in.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

Never look back by Mary Burton was a fast paced and engaging mystery. Great storyline with Melina and Jerrod as the two main characters who investigate a potential serial killer. Their personalities and work ethos complement each other well. Interesting plot connections and twists are well done and, I’m sure, will most certainly lead on to sequels. I certainly hope so! This was a very enjoyable 5 star read

When several women go missing in Nashville, TBI Agent Melina Shepard heads undercover and almost becomes a victim of a sadistic killer.

Career FBI Agent Jerrod Ramsey is on a fast track to DC and the latest serial killer case he’s assigned could be his ticket, but too many things about the investigation don’t add up- and an attraction to his temporary partner, the beautiful Melina Shepard, doesn’t help.

Soon, the two find themselves up against not one, but two vicious predators. What is the connection, and what does it have to do with Melina’s past?


This story had so many converging plotlines, it was hard to keep track. I’d hate to be the investigator chasing after either one of these creeps!

While well-written, I had a hard time connecting with Melina. It starts out with her going undercover as a prostitute to gain the other girls’ trust and hopefully find out information on two missing women. Within moments, a john appears in a white van and propositions our heroine, but she senses something and refuses- good thing, too, as he tries to grab her and she gets an eyeful of an elaborate torture chamber in the back of the van.

Furious, and injured, he drives away vowing revenge and you’d think that would be the premise for the story, right? Wrong. From then on, van guy barely makes an appearance until the last few pages of the book.

Instead, we focus on Melina’s past and how it affects another killer on the loose in her fair city.

I think the author would have done better to turn this into two novels in order to do justice to the individual storylines. The way it is, details are left out and the ending is rushed and dissatisfying.

On that note, I thought the plot was suspenseful and unique enough to keep my interest. I would read more from this author.

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

A truly great story with twists I didn't see coming until they were happening. The main characters are well written and you buy into the story and all that happens.

A Mary Burton book with not one but TWO serial killers! When the investigation of several murders does not provide any workable clues, our heroine decides to put herself in the killer's crosshairs. Little does she know she is investigating the work of two killers and both are stalking her. Mary Burton's books are always a thrilling read. She builds a community of dedicated law enforcement personnel and then gives them some of the toughest criminals to catch. The stories are unique with tension ramped up as the killers get closer and the clues so well disguised, you'll go back to see where you missed them. I always enjoy Mary Burton's books and never question if her books are worth my reading time. I share them with my mystery/thriller friends and everyone agrees she is one of our favorites!

I didn't realize this was part of a series, but it seems that each book is about a different law enforcement agent so it's also a standalone. When Tennessee Bureau of Investigations agent Melina Shepard is almost abducted while undercover, she teams up with Agent Ramsey of the FBI to find a serial killer he's been searching for. At the same time, a jar of human fingers is discovered at a car accident scene, pointing to another serial killer who also has ties to Melina. The whole thing sounds kind of out there, like it shouldn't work because there's too much coincidence, but I still really enjoyed this. I will definitely look for more in this series, and I'm actually sorry that there won't be more books about Melina and Ramsey because they make a great team and I liked them both a lot. 4.5 stars rounded to 4.