I absolutely loved Cut to the Bone! This was an amazing police procedural that had me speed reading to find out what was going to happen! This is one of the best police procedurals I have read in a while.

Cut to the Bone is a very suspenseful mystery thriller. This is the third book in the series but I read it as a standalone and had no issues.
This book is a taut thrilling read that keeps you on the edge of your seat with fantastic character development. As the MC tries to find twenty-three missing students. This book has a fantastic plot and stort arc that is action packed with plenty of suspense And twists and turns to keep you guessing. I highly recommend this book.

July has been full of good books, and here is another one!
FBI Senior Agent Sayer Altair is working through the sorrow of losing her fiance Jake, who was killed during a highly classified undercover operation. She still doesn't know what really happened to him.
A neuroscientist who studies the brains of serial killers, she is called to the scene of a double murder. A DC police officer shot when he stumbled upon a serial killer posing the body of a teenage girl, surrounded by ritualistic elements.
The case ramps up quickly when it is connected to a bus full of missing teenagers from STEM, an annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Math competition.
A task force is assembled, headed by her indispensable assistant Ezra, an FBI data analyst who is a double amputee, injured in the line of duty.
Sayer also must contend with Subject 037, an unknown psychopath who had taken part in her brain studies. He calls to "chat" with her about her cases, and has surprising inside knowledge.
As the bodies continue to pile up, their research links the clues to a suspect with ties to ancient Egypt and funerary spells, with text from an Egyptian book, the Amduat, similar to the Book of the Dead.
This police procedural/mystery/thriller kept a fast pace full of suspense. A great cast of diverse,, fascinating characters surrounding Sayer, who is a whip-smart and tenacious investigator.
The ending was amazing, and left me open mouthed in surprise!
Thank you St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.

A captivating edge of your seat thriller, this is my first read by this author and I will definitely be going back to read the others in the series.

Agent Sayer Altair is the star character in an outstanding series of thrillers that give the word thrill an unusual twist or two. This is the third book featuring Agent Altair but easily stands alone as a great read. Ellison Cooper gives us many story threads that keep the tension high and the story moving quickly. Woven throughout are the personal and professional differences of an FBI unit tasked with saving a bus load of kidnaped youths. Their individual strengths are tested by influences both inside and outside the FBI, but there are some really unusual side stories here. Ellison Cooper is definitely an author to be watched.

In Ellison Cooper's third installment of the Agent Sayer Altair series, Sayer is finally reconnecting with family. When she finds that her newest case is the work of a serial killer, Sayer must put her research on psychopaths to the test.
This was my very first Ellison Cooper and if you love Criminal Minds you will love this book. First off, I love the main character of Agent Sayer. She's an amazing female lead. She follows her gut and fights the stereotype of FBI agents being men. She's is also an accomplished researcher, who studies the brains of psychopaths. Past Sayer, there really is an amazing cast of characters with this book.
The plot of this book at first seemed a little outlandish but as the story went on, it really came together. I honestly felt that I was watching a crime TV episode. Cooper had me guessing almost the entire time through the book and while this is technically a stand alone book, it really ties into the rest of the series well.
I really also enjoyed the tie in to the Egyptian culture. I don't want to go too deep into that, but I really feel that Cooper does a great of incorporating actual facts and interesting tidbits into her writing.
Overall, I loved this book. It was an easy five start read for me. I can't wait for the 4th book in this series!


I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on Cut to the Bone. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books. Huge thank you Minotaur Books for my copy!

4.5 rounded up!!

This is my first book by the author and I cannot wait to read the first two! Highly recommend!

I love me a good book with a serial killer in it and this one was EXTRA cool because it had some really neat aspects to that I'd share, but I don't want to ruin the surprise! Do you like the TV show Bones (or the books that show was based off of)? Then you MUST read this book. It checked a lot of boxes for me. 1) Strong female lead 2) Events that were believeable 3) Lots of red herrings 4) Fun characters and did I mention a serial killer? **The one thing that always makes me a little cautious about a serial killer book is how graphic it will be. I want to be scared, but I don't want to be so scared I can't sleep. This book plays it just right.

Lastly, I think one of the most important aspects with any book, but particularly a thriller/mystery book is the ending. If 3/4 of the book is amazing and the ending blows - well, why did I waste my time? It's really rare for me to guess the ending (and I did with this one), but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book at all. I also thought the cliffhanger at the end was great and will absolutely have me hoping for July 2021 to get here quick, quick, quick, so I can read the next book!

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for the print copy, Netgalley and Ellison Cooper for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.

Review Date: 07/29/2020
Publication Date: 07/14/2020

FBI Senior Special Agent Sayer Altair, who is also a renowned neuroscientist, is heading home for a party to celebrate her adopted daughter Adi when she gets the call. There are two dead in Washington, DC, and the situation looks suspicious. A young girl is dead in what looks like a ritualistic killing: her body left inside a circle of animal figurines, with a message written in blood. Sayer and her trusty FBI data analyst and computer wizard, Ezra Coen, quickly realize that the girl is one of twenty-four missing high school students who are supposed to be at STEM conference states away. Sayer and Ezra are pulled rapidly into the case, where they find that nothing is as it seems. A series of fake leads derails them and soon Sayer begins to wonder if the murder has ties to her own past. She knows only one thing: this case is deadly.

"It wasn't her job to accept the improbable, it was her job to unravel the mystery until it made perfect sense."

I absolutely love the Sayer Altair series and book three didn't disappoint one bit. What is not to love about an incredibly intelligent kickass black FBI agent who takes no prisoners? While Sayer lost her FBI agent fiancé, Jake, several years ago--something she's still reeling from--she's now surrounded herself by her own makeshift family: Adi; her neighbor, Tino; and Ezra. And, of course, there's her witty and tough grandmother, Nana, who raised Sayer. Coming back to this crew as a reader feels like returning to family. Cooper excels at capturing each character's unique voice, and I'm so fond of them all. We even get an appearance from Sayer's former boss, Holt, who has been kicked out of the FBI in a scandal covered in the previous books.

The mystery plot here is a really wild but totally engaging case. There are lots of references to Egypt and plenty to keep you on your toes. It is a tense and suspenseful tale and Cooper throws in plenty of well-timed twists and turns. The story turns personal for Sayer, and I was certainly riveted. Cooper writes in a quick, fast-paced style that makes it easy to keep flipping the pages.

All the books in this series are dark, and this one is no exception. They are not especially for the faint of heart. A lot of death and gruesome descriptions. It is easy to see that Cooper, who has a Ph.D. in anthropology and worked as a murder investigator, knows her stuff. For me, the authenticity just makes the story pop off the pages even more.

This book ends with a total boom for Sayer, and I cannot wait for the next installment. As I said, I love this series and adore Sayer and her little family. If you haven't read the entire series, I recommend starting with book one, but this one will standalone, especially if you love a twisty and engaging thriller. 4+ stars.

Great read, I haven't read the others in the series but I definitely will now. The writing style pulled me right in and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you Minotaur books and Netgalley for a copy of Cut To The Bone by Ellison Cooper.

Cut To The Bone is the third book in one of my absolute favourite series. Agent Sayer Altair is such a smart, badass lady and she always fights hard at great personal cost usually. The third book sees a whole bus full of high school students go missing and you know once you read that, you are in for a high stakes binge read!

Content warnings for violence and fire

Thank you Netgalley, Minotaur/St-Martin’s Press for this great read.
This is my first novel of this series and absolutely loved it.
Suspenseful mystery which when I reached the very end I could not wait to pick up the next book in this series.
Overall a great read and highly recommend.
4 stars

Cut To The Bone by Ellison Cooper is the third in the FBI Special Agent Sayer Altair series.

First, let me thank both Edelweiss and NetGalley, the publisher Minotaur Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
FBI Special Agent Sayer Altair is a neuroscientist, who, when not investigating murders, is researching the brains of psychopaths to determine if she can find a common link. She hopes to find something that may indicate that the same problem exists in all of them, and if found early enough, their predilections to murder may be averted.  One of her anonymous subjects is showing a special interest in Sayer.  She has also discovered that the FBI is hiding something that has to do with the death of her fiance, but can find no answers.  She is walking a fine line right now, as her last boss has been fired, and Sayer herself was discredited, but unexpected publicity showed her in a better light.


My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

A girl's body is found at the base of  the Einstein Memorial in Washington DC.  She is surrounded by nine carved baboons.  Sayer is assigned to the case, but without any real back-up.  It seems that her new boss is still out to get her.  She puts together her own team consisting of Ezra, an Egyptology expert, Max and his canine buddy Kona, as well as Tino, and eventually her old boss.

When the investigation leads Sayer to the kidnapping of a busload of students, and dead bodies, she knows this is going downhill fast.  She only has so much time to find the rest of the students, and it seems she is being diverted at every turn.  It feels like someone is deliberately giving her false clues and sending her on wild goose chases.

Sayer knows she is hanging onto her job by the skin of her teeth, and this case is almost designed to make her fail.

Then, the past comes back to bite her.


My Opinions:

This is a great installment to the series.  Sayer Altair is a dedicated, determined, and intelligent character, who is also likable.  As well, the characters that surround her are the same.  I really recommend that these books are read in order, as there is some background information which is needed.

Cooper's writing is smooth, and the bit about Egyptian mythology was very interesting, and not confusing.  It was another fast-paced book, and just a bit creepy.  I love the idea of one of her psychopaths helping her out.

I loved the ending!  Can't wait for the next one....

Slow build and excellent police procedural. It is part of a series but it is easily read as a stand alone . Jacket cover gives an adequate book description so I'll not repeat storyline here. Characters are interesting and it will keep you guessing the who and why right up to the end. Enjoy!
I was provided an Advanced reader copy of the book and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

RATING: 4 STARS
2020; Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press

Cut to the Bone, the third novel in the Agent Sayer Altair series, is my favourite of the series. It was so well written and exciting. I would read this series in order as this book brings one of the story arcs to sort of conclusion. AND, it also furthers another arc towards the end. There is a lot happening in this novel, with different characters telling the story. I like that you kind of get more of a wider view of the action. I am loving the characters, and the family that Altair is creating. I cannot wait till the next novel!! If you like Karin Slaughter, try this series.

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

Another solid Sayer Altair novel. I will continue on with these series - Sayer and her assembled family and coworkers are great characters and the pace is always hustling.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Ellison Cooper delivers with her third Agent Sayer Altair mystery. I love how there is always a good bit of history mixed in to the mystery and that by working with a fantastic team of characters Altair is able to figure out a complex situation. The blend of Washington DC history mixed with Egyptian mythology added to a bus full of missing kids and you have a unique mystery that is fast paced and hard to put down. I also appreciated that the ongoing mystery of what happened to her fiancé was wrapped up and in a way that was satisfying. I also appreciated the very end leaving us wanting more and eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

A police officer is murdered while on the phone to a police dispatcher as he reported spotting someone painting graffiti on the Einstein memorial in DC. FBI agent Sayer Altair is called into investigate when the body of a young girl is discovered surrounded by nine baboon figurines near the officer. And if this bizarre discovery isn’t terrible enough, it is soon discovered that she was part of a student group heading to Georgia Tech for a science and technology conference and the bus has disappeared along with the rest of the students, the driver, and chaperone.

Cut to the Bone is the third entry in the Agent Sayer Altair series by author Ellison Cooper but the first one I have read. There are several references to the previous books and, although,, for the most part, these references weren’t hugely relevant to the story, this did disrupt the flow of the story a bit. Still, the story moves at a fairly fast pace and I quite enjoyed it despite this.

The story also requires a rather hefty suspension of disbelief but Sayer is a strong enough protagonist and the plot compelling enough that it was easy to put this aside and just go with The storyline is rapped up here with no apparent loose ends but there is a hint at the end that there will be at least one more book in the series. Overall, a fun fast read.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

If you’re looking for an action-packed police procedural with a female lead detective, look no further! Dr/Agent Sayer is a quintessential badass. She gets her ribs bruised, takes bullets, has her house burned down...all in the name of saving a bus full of kids. This book is part of a series but really enjoyed it as a stand-alone and I’d really like to read the earlier books in the series to learn more about the obviously rich relationships and history between Sayer and her cadre of friends!

I am so thankful that I had the chance to review this book. Living not to far from DC I found myself really liking reading about areas I am familiar with. This book was a great psychological thriller that is actually a third book but the author gives enough of the back story I felt that you did not need to read the first two to understand this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes strong female characters and enough twists and turns that Keeps you reading until the very end.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this advanced copy of this book.

"Life and death. Sorrow and joy. Loneliness and love. Those are the endless cycles..."

While SSA Sayer Altair, a neuroscientist, is working on her research into the brains of psychopaths and rebuilding her life, she's called back to field duty for the FBI when a bus carrying 24 high school students, the driver, and a chaperone, disappears on the way to a STEM competition. In addition, police have discovered what looks like the ritual murder of a young girl at the foot of the Einstein statue by the National Academy of Sciences. This looks like the work of a serial killer but seems to have some very unusual elements including a connection to the Egyptian underworld and a specific ancient monograph, the "Amduat." Nonstop action, a compelling plot and fascinating characters bring this third book in the series to another heart-stopping conclusion that has me already crying for the next installment. NO SPOILERS.

I am crazy about this series. Just when you think you know where it's going -- FULL STOP shock. There are so many twists and turns along the way that it will make your head spin. I find these impossible to put down, evidenced by me reading the first three books in a matter of as many days. It certainly doesn't help that this one also ends in a cliffhanger! Now, I have to wait a long time before book #4 in what I hope will be a long-running series. I like so many things about the setting, the relationships between the characters, and the intricate narrative. The details the author gives about ancient civilizations are appropriate to the story and quite interesting. Definitely for any fan of the crime thriller. More, please. Now.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.