Supposed to be a “stand-alone” plot. It’s not.

I gather that ‘Panic Attack’ is the sixth in the Dr Rinaldi series. It is a stand-alone plot, but there were references from previous books, which were confusing if you haven’t read them.

The opening chapter grabbed my attention, leading to a shooting at an American football game. All the hype was suddenly shattered and panic set in. Who was the sniper and what was the motive?

After this episode there followed even more shootings. Dr Rinaldi, a psychologist involved himself in the investigations, and consulted with the Police, sometimes when he was not required.

I tried to persevere with the plot, but sadly I lost interest. It just didn’t hold my attention. I’m sure that many readers will enjoy ‘Panic Attack,’ but it didn’t work for me.

Galadriel.

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.

Panic Attack by Dennis Palumbo is the sixth entry in the Daniel Rinaldi series. I found the frequent references to the previous novels in the series to be unnecessary as they did not enhance this story. The Pittsburgh mystery opens with the shooting death of a team mascot on the playing field in front of many in attendance. Daniel Rinaldi, a psychologist specializing in the treatment of trauma, is in the audience. Because he is also a consultant for the Pittsburgh police department, he becomes involved in the case, which soon escalates. Before long, he turns up at other crime scenes, making him unpopular with the police. The action moves at an adequate pace. The characters are diverse but sometimes one-dimensional: the FBI, the police, the victims, the families of the victims, the criminals and, of course, the psychologist, who shows up in odd places. I enjoyed Panic Attack because the story touches on subjects that are very pertinent and relevant in today’s world. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*On a bitterly cold afternoon in late October, I was one of twenty thousand witnesses to a murder.*
That’s protagonist/narrator Dr. Daniel Rinaldi, clinical psychologist and occasional consultant to the Pittsburgh Police Department, in the opening sentence/paragraph of *Panic Attack*, the sixth title in the stellar series of mystery thrillers by Dennis Palumbo.
Rinaldi has acquired something of a “brand” as a result of his involvement in a number of police investigations; from his role in the most recent case (see *Head Wounds*) involving Sebastian Maddox, the assailant who, years before, killed his wife and left him wounded and emotionally scarred; and from the subsequent development of his reputation for helping traumatized victims of violence, both official and civilian. Thus, the night before the event described above, he delivered the commencement address at Teasdale College, located in the small town of Lockhart less than twenty miles from Pittsburgh. Teasdale’s dean, Martin Hobbs, has invited him to join him at the game wherein Teasdale will face off with its division rival.
Shortly before the opening kickoff, Teasdale’s mascot, a student in a tiger costume, takes the field to perform. Shortly after, the tiger’s encouraging crowd noise is overridden by a gunshot which leaves the mascot lying motionless on the field. Rinaldi becomes immediately but indirectly embroiled in both the local investigation and one that expands considerably when a serial sniper begins picking off other ostensibly unrelated victims and creates a panicked atmosphere in the greater Pittsburgh area.
Although initially, it would seem Rinaldi’s role in the Steel City Sniper case, as the media has come to label it, is strictly as an unfortunate witness to the death of the first victim, he is gradually drawn into it by a number of circumstances and individuals. Among the latter are sophomore Jason Graham; Teasdale College’s assistant dean, Dr. Indra Bishara and her troubled daughter; Lockhart’s Sheriff Roy Gibson; Pittsburgh PD Sergeant Harry Polk, a Rinaldi “frenemy” from bygone investigations and one with serious personal issues apart from this one; and politically ambitious Pittsburgh District Attorney Leland Sinclair. Rinaldi is also one of many witnesses to the sniper’s execution of a city councilman.
To cite a variation on an old expression with regard to *Panic Attack*, “you can’t tell the corpses without a scorecard” because more murders follow, and Rinaldi becomes unavoidably caught up in their cases, not least because attempts are made on his life.
He must also contend with various traumatized clients, his current intimate relationship with FBI agent Gloria Reese, and with prior involvements with and attractions to women he met after his wife’s death.
Forgive some of this reviewer’s vagueness about story details. In mystery/thrillers of this sort I hate to reveal anything that might be regarded as a spoiler lest I detract from readers’ excitement and enjoyment. This definitely applies to the novel under consideration, which should keep most readers turning its pages because they are laden with twists and surprises.
But it’s important to add that besides being a thriller, *Panic Attack* is also a novel of character. Dennis Palumbo, like Rinaldi, is a practicing clinical psychologist, so the story’s primary figures are not cardboard cutouts. As a native Pittsburghian, he also delivers a strong sense of place. What also struck yours truly about one of the plotline’s major revelations is its timeliness.
As anyone who has read this far has undoubtedly surmised, I’m as enthusiastic a fan of this novel as I am of the others in the Daniel Rinaldi series, and can strongly recommend it to all but those readers who cannot contend with raw language and a modicum of on-screen sexuality.

I seem to remember reading an earlier Danny Rinaldi book but not recently enough to show up in my database. Nevertheless, the pattern is the same – first person detective fiction set in Pittsburgh. Rinaldi is a clinical psychologist who works with the police. I don't think first person stories are very exciting, unless perhaps written by Raymond Chandler, and now, in reading "Panic Attack", I know why I haven't searched out more of this series.

There is nothing wrong with "Panic Attack" but choose your setting carefully. A hammock, or a long airplane ride maybe, somewhere you can drop off to sleep between words. There is nothing here to keep you awake.

“Panic Attack” is book six in the “Daniel Rinaldi” Series, but new readers will be able to easily follow along. There are references to past books both professional and personal, but any information critical to current events is included as part of the narrative. Dr. Daniel Rinaldi is a clinical psychologist; he keeps secrets for a living. He has a contract with the Pittsburgh Police Department to provide necessary services to traumatized crime victims, but as a “civilian,” procedural protocols and strict rules of evidence gathering do not apply to him. He also drives a fully restored green ’65 Mustang.

The story is told in Rinaldi’s detailed and comprehensive first-person narrative. He documents his day, almost minute by minute: his patients, his calls, his food and drink, the intense, the casual, and the ordinary. It is a daily diary of what people say, what he says, and what he thinks about everything that is going on. Sometimes the tone is casual and friendly, but at other times, in some situations, it is clinical and specialized.

Events evolve quickly into something much more complex than first indicated. Fear and paranoia develop in the small western Pennsylvania town; in essence, the community is having a panic attack. Old secrets do not stay secret, and Rinaldi begins to wonder if he is fated to be followed by sudden, violent death for the rest of his days. He shares this ever-increasingly complex case with Pittsburgh Police Sergeant Harry Polk whom he describes as brash, abrupt, and capable with a strong sense of professional duty.
“Panic Attack” is concisely written with a compelling and increasingly complex plot. I received a review copy of “Panic Attack” from Dennis Palumbo, Poisoned Pen Press, and Sourcebooks. It is sensational, well organized, and full of surprises.

When things seem to be finished, they have only just begun.

This was a good book. Psychologist Daniel Rinaldi is no stranger to trauma. A survivor of not one, but two attempts on his life by a deranged killer, the therapist also counsels trauma patients in his private practice, and contracts with the Pittsburgh Police to help victims of violent crime cope with their experience. When a sports mascot is gunned down mid-field by a sniper at a college football game he attends, Rinaldi becomes an accidental yet integral part of the investigation. To begin with, the victim in the costume is not the person who was supposed to be wearing it.

When the actual Teasdale Tiger hears the news, he suffers a crippling panic attack and calls on Rinaldi to talk him through it. From there, Rinaldi seems to be in all the wrong places at all the wrong times, as the sniper continues his killing spree. Meeting with resistance from members of the Pittsburgh Police force and taking dangerous risks in pursuit of the killer, Rinaldi puts his career and his life in harm's way as he races to find a connection between the victims before the shooter strikes again.

This is the sixth book in the series, and unfortunately I haven't read the previous books in the series. It does read nicely enough as a standalone, and I enjoyed it until the end. Recommended.

A rare pass from me. I couldn't get past the opening, when every single maxim of what to do when there's a shooting in a public space is ignored. I might be the wrong audience for this one in part because it brought up terrible memories of the DC Sniper and the fear that gripped the region. So while others might enjoy it, I DNF. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I love thrillers and the better written and circuitously plotted, the faster I consume the story. Suspending disbelief, sometimes I don't even attempt to solve the mystery. I'm just along for the ride and what a ride this book is! I actually tossed aside a literary novel that I've been reading for weeks and finished "Panic Attack" in a couple of days. At 1 o'clock in the morning.

FIRST SENTENCE: "On a bitterly cold afternoon in late October, I was one of twenty thousand witnesses to a murder."

THE STORY: In front of a football stadium filled with students and parents, the college mascot, dancing on the field, is struck down by a sniper. Pandemonium breaks out. While the authorities scramble to calm the public and find the shooter over the next few days, more deaths occur. Although the victims seem randomly chosen, Dr. Rinaldi suspects there is something that links them all together. Can he find the key to stop these dreadful attacks before it's too late?

WHAT I THOUGHT: This is the sixth entry in the Dr. Daniel Rinaldi series and I have read and reviewed them all. Author Dennis Palumbo hooked me by setting the stories in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I lived for many years. His narrator, a psychologist who consults with the Police on difficult cases, is surrounded by interesting characters, who don't always behave normally, Dr. Rinaldi ends up in all kinds of trouble.With great dialogue, well-drawn characters, and sense of place, you won't have any trouble seeing this as a television series or movie.

For an earlier entry in the series I wrote that although there is the requisite violence and sex, Palumbo knows when to back off and let the reader's imagination take over. I'll have to change that to say violence and sex has been ratcheted up a bit. As a matter of fact the body count in "Panic Attack" is pretty high.

Luckily there are five other Dr. Rinaldi titles and, although you can read them as stand alones, reading them in order is much more fun. In order "Mirror Image"; "Fever Dream"; "Night Terrors"; "Phantom Limb"; "Head Wounds"; and "Panic Attack". Find them. Read them.

BOTTOM LINE: A solid entry in the series. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

DISCLAIMER: Thank you to NetGalley / Poison Pen Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Panic Attack stars psychologist Daniel Rinaldi solving a series of sniper shootings. I enjoyed his insights into both the killer and the victims, and the plot was twisty. I didn't see the end coming. The author is a therapist in real life, which is no doubt one reason why the character felt authentic. This is the second book in the series that I've read, and I enjoyed them both.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley on Kindle for review…it is full of those themes I-enjoy…mystery and intrigue…murder and mayhem….friendship…work friends…let’s not forget the murder of a college mascot…I have never read that before…red herrings has abound…the craft of this author is amazing…cohesive and fast moving…what will happen next I asked myself? Panic attack…even the title intrigues…I couldn’t wait to turn the page…that being said, there were a few times I was shaking my head…really? That being said,there is some language and a few topics I don’t like… Try this book though …it won’t disappoint…

The Daniel Rinaldi Thriller series is one I had always wanted to read, so I was excited to get #7, Panic Attack.
Because I hadn't read previous books in the series, there were lots of references to prior cases and people that made no sense to me, so I focused on the current case in this book. I wouldn't recommend as a standalone.
Dr. Daniel Rinaldi is a psychologist and there were descriptive clinical terms, but it wasn't overly complicated. Along with his private practice, he consults with the Pittsburgh Police Department, set in a small farming community called Lockhart.
A sniper is randomly targeting victims. The first shot kills a small private college mascot (detailed vividly). Then more victims, with seemingly no connection to each other. Panic follows.
A multitude of politicians, the DA, police detectives, FBI special agents, a Sheriff, police commissioner and mayor all get involved. Lots of interdepartment & interagency bickering, resentment & politics ensue. The news media is in a frenzy. The citizens are scared to leave their homes. More Panic.
Dr. Rinaldi was a witness, as he attended the college game, and he becomes involved with the investigation to catch the shooter. His tenuous relationship with the police is escalated. He takes liberties that tend to land him in harms way and doesn't follow rules much. Basically he goes rogue. I wondered how realistic his actions as a psychological consultant would be in a real life police case.
I felt his private practice suffered as he cancels three days of his patients appointments (by my count) throughout the week. His priorities were scattered. There were references to his private patient treatment sessions woven inbetween the sniper attacks, but he became obsessed with the sniper case. I'm ready to panic by now.
I enjoyed many of the supporting characters, good development and believable. I especially liked Special Agent Gloria Reese, his sometimes lover, and Sergeant Harry Polk. While there are a few scattered derogatory words, they were used in context.
The latter part of the book was the best, the action really took off as the pieces come together. There were lots of possibilities for who I thought the sniper was, but I could not have predicted the plot, motives or killer the author revealed. Full of surprise, unexpected twists, and a very unique concept. My panic has finally subsided.
Thanks to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and
Dennis Palumbo for the advance digital copy. These opinions and the thoughts expressed are mine alone given voluntarily.

I always liked thrillers, where the main character is something other, than a cop, PI or a journalist. Here we have a psychologist, dealing with a sniper on a killing spree. So we a have a gripping plot, but also can delve into human psyche. Win-win.

I found the promise of the book quite interesting, a sniper on the loose seemingly killing people at random. However the story soon became a bit of an over winded mess. Too much unnecessary page fillers in my opinion. Shame his editor didn’t tighten things up a bit, but as it’s not the authors first novel I guess he does have an audience for his books.

#netgalley #panicattack

3 chapters in and I just had to give up. Ugh.

1) A psychologist is NOT a first responder, I don't care if he does "work with police" on a 9-5 basis. If you're at a football game, on your leisure time, and someone starts shooting, you do not run out onto the field. You do not ask a gawker to "help" you shield the body from the view of other gawkers.

2) Your college dean colleague does not tell all the spectators at that football game to go back up into the stands and take a seat. No. Firstly, there is no way in hell anyone is going to follow those instructions. Are you really telling them that the football game will just be delayed for a few minutes??. In no way is that believable..

3) Mostly, you do not mess with the body of the murder victim. You do not take his shirt off, his mask off, his freaking skull cap off. Revealing his brain and your idiocy. You just don't. Even the cops don't do that. They have to wait for the coroners office. They cant even pry a piece of paper out of a dead victim's hand without a go ahead from the ME.

Do some homework, Mr Palumbo.

This latest in this series is timely and scary. Without giving away anything, I can assure you that Dennis Palumbo is still writing some of the best thrillers on the market these days. Rinaldi is in the middle of all the excitement once again...just where I prefer him to be. Another great book!!!

I went back and forth with this one! Although it was a interesting story it just didn't get me like omg that was awesome! I did like it enough and would recommend it as it had intrigue, suspense, action, and a goid storyline, it just wasn't my all time favorite! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Psychologist, Dr Rinaldi has gotten himself right in the middle of a sniper attack at a local college football game. This story keeps unfolding when more victims are killed throughout the area. There appears to be no relationship among them yet why are these people being targeted?

Dr Rinaldi works with the sheriff department and local law enforcement until he's suddenly asked to step aside, another why?

More shootings and more questions continue to mount as a thread may finally be unraveled. Who is the sniper and what is his/her motive? How many people must die before the sniper is stopped?

This story is very fast paced and full of action from the beginning. It keeps you guesses until the end. Even when the snipers identity is revealed, YOU. WILL. BE. BLOWN. AWAY.

You definitely want to read this.

This additive thriller grabbed me from.the first page and I devoured it!
The main character, Daniel Rinaldi, is a psychologist, and he has been through it!
He has a private practice helping PPD in helping victims of violent crime cope with their experience.
When a mascot is gunned down mid-field by a sniper at a college football game he attends, Rinaldi becomes in the mix of the investigation.
And oddly enough the person wearing the mascot.wasn't the actual mascot someone else was supposed to be wearing the tiger uniform.
Daniel is in a race against time. The sniper keeps killing and Daniel needs to find a connection fast!

This book.had my heart racing! I.just loved Daniel and his bad self!
The pacing was great and I found myself wanting g to reach the end to see what the heck happens!
You won't want to miss this wild chase!

Thank you NetGalley Poisoned Pen Press and Author for this amazing ebook!

This book really wasn't for me.... I found it quite boring read the first half quite quick the second I lost interest and when I went back to reading I had forgot who people were and the story