This is not your typical FBI thriller. Newly graduated FSI Special Agent Vera Taggert led the efforts to determine whether a dormant doomsday cult is reemerging and planning another mass casualty event. She became obsessed with a psychiatrist claiming that he could help patients tap into their past lives, and she volunteered to be hypnotized herself. The rest of the book explored reality vs imagination as the plot progressed. A mysterious capstone appeared throughout the story and was captivating. While the premise was fascinating and the plot was delightfully twisty, the execution failed to deliver the punch.

There’s too much exposition. Each vision session went on far too long and in such minute detail that the overall plot became lost. I skimmed over many of the visions because of the length and repetition.

I struggled to follow some plot holes. The author would bring up a previous conversation between two characters, but it sounded new to me. He suggested that Tag was in closer contact with her FBI team, but those interactions weren’t more prominent in the plot.

I also had problems with some of the characterizations of the male FBI agents on the case. Their dialogue was over the top and full of cliches. They’re reduced to crude pigs with their traces of competence hidden behind crass words and actions. I get it - they’re jerks - but they spend so much time dumping crass references to genitalia that I ignored the characters.

One strength was the resolution of the capstone. It had been referenced throughout the novel as a great treasure, and that could have led to a big letdown once its nature was revealed. It ended up being a well-defined solution that explained why it had been so valuable to so many people.

Another strength was that it kept me guessing until the last page. What was real? What was contrived? Was justice served? These questions were answered in a way that kept me thinking through them well after I had finished the novel. I had been tempted to put it aside, but the end was a satisfying reader payoff.

I wish the novel had been tighter, with shorter vision sequences and better characterizations. While I enjoyed the resolution, I questioned whether it had been worth it to stick around to the end.


Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a review copy.

Hmm - I am having a hard time reviewing this book, because I don't really know what I think about it.

Genre-wise it is some kind of mix of thriller, a little fantasy and something...
The plot was okay - but perhaps just not for me.

An interesting read. 8m not sure what genre to put this book into. It's part dark fantasy, fiction, mystery and thriller all rolled into one.
The story involves a cult which call themselves 'The Son's of Elijah' and they believe that by killing in mass numbers their bodies will be reincarnated.
When FBI Special Agent Vera Taggart gets assigned to investigate the cult and its members she comes across psychiatrist Dr. Seth Jacobson who specialises in helping people remember their past and is working with two cult members that believe they have been reincarnated.
But when Dr. Jacobson suggests that Taggart should also undergo treatment, well that's where to story takes you to a different level.

An espionage thriller, Don't Get Close by Matt Miksa is his second such book. Its prologue sees a young woman exploding a bomb under a Ferris wheel on New Year’s eve 1994. The narrative then advances twenty-eight years to present day Chicago and a young man’s session with his psychiatrist. The FBI is listening in as they are investigating a historic terrorist cult responsible for numerous bombings and casualties. Recently recruited from college, FBI Special Agent, Vera Taggart has a unique ability to read crime scenes but she pushes boundaries to advance her finding the truth of the cult’s current activities. A not so typical thriller due to an unusual plot line which detracted from the overall enjoyment of this initially promising espionage thriller. So, overall a touch disappointing and so only an average three-star read rating. With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given, with honesty.

This book have several elements like science, mystery, reincarnation and history which surprisingly make a good combination for making a fascinating story to read.

I really like the concept of the plot, where the main character, Taggart is an FBI agent investigating a cult of suicide bombers who believe they've been reborn hundreds of times-reincarnated for centuries guarding some sort of secret. She started the investigation by undergoing a hypnosis session from a well known psychiatrist that claim to be able to help people remember their past lives and he was also suspected for giving helps to the past suicide bombers.

This story is pretty well written with several POVs from different character in the story which is a nice touch so the readers can gain insight from various characters in the story like the psychiatrist, the bomber and the police.
The story will keep you guessing throughout the story, who's lying to who, who's right and what is real.

Although I have to admit, the pacing was a bit slow at first but it pick up after halfway into the story which makes it hard to put down.
There is a lot of characters to remember in here like the characters from Vera's past life and from the bombers past lives which can get slightly confusing to follow.

Overall, this book makes a very interesting read! It was enjoyable, intense and entertaining all at the same time.
I thought this book was a standalone, but judging by how it ends there could be a possibility for a sequel.
Anyways, I'm looking forward to read more books from this author!

If you're looking for an unusual mix of sci-fi and thriller then I recommend you try this one!

Thank you to Netgalley, Matt Miksa and Crooked Lane Books for granting me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was an extremely well thought out book and was very well written. However, it just didn’t do it for me. It is a little bit thriller, fantasy, historical fiction, and sci-fi, all in one. The idea of reincarnation and revealing the soul through hypnosis was very interesting, however, I got lost with all the details from past lives. The interconnection of so many characters made it more difficult to follow than I would have liked. I feel that this would be an excellent book for a science fiction lover, of which I am not. I'm giving this book a 3.5 star, which rounds up to 4, simply because I wasn't totally into the story, but it wasn't a bad story.

It is hard to describe this book as it was so intense and complex. It was a heavier thriller than I was expecting. I liked it but some parts were over the top. Overall, I enjoyed some aspects of the plot but it was not one of my favorites.

This was a struggle for me, which surprised me, as I thought I'd love it, based on the blurb. The pace was way too slow, and the story line felt so disjointed that I just couldn't connect and stay engaged. I found myself skimming parts, hoping it'd improve. Things were a bit better in the second half, but it was too little, too late.

The blurb was intriguing and mysterious but I couldn't finish it, as I had hard time reading and understanding it. The pace was slow and honestly I didn't know what was going on. The chapters seemed disconnected. So gave up after a point. I don't usually write a review if I don't finish but I just wanted to tell you that it's not for you if you are an impatient reader (like me), as several reviews say that the pace of the story picks up in the second half. So maybe it gets interesting in the second half. If you are a patient reader, if you like twisted plots, you may like it.

Thank you for the ARC.

3 stars...

Started a bit slow for me. Unfortunately, I think this was a little too much "action/adventure" than "suspenseful thriller" like I am used to. I don't necessarily think anything was wrong with this book, only that I was not the right reader.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley!

An unusual protagonist and an evil cult intent on destruction make this a tense and propulsive read. FBI SA trainee Vera Taggart finds herself exploring reincarnate and past lives while working a cold case come back to lie. The Sons of Elijah believe they have been reincarnated multiple times and they favor suicide bombings, Dr. Seth Jackson, a psychiatrist, has worked with members of the group and he now works with Vera as well. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Some of this is implausible but it's fast paced and entertaining- would make a good movie.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Matt Miksa, and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

When handed this novel by Matt Miksa, I was not sure what to expect. Having never read the author, I entered this experience blind and ready for most anything. Miksa pens a decent novel with gripping storylines, sure to impress some readers as they learn a little more. When a ruthless cult re-emerges on the scene after a bombing, a new FBI agent is forced to piece things together, both about the case that the group as a whole. All the while, she hopes not to get sucked in as she discovers more about those responsible for significant harm. Miksa does well with this piece, proving he can weave a great tale for all those who are interested.

After leaving her lifelong dream of being an artist, FBI Special Agent Vera Taggart is beginning to wonder if she made the right choice. She has an unusual knack when it comes to working crime scenes, but this has not enamoured her to many within the Bureau. Taggart’s given the major assignment of investigating a set of bombings from years ago, hoping that a fresh look will provide new leads. Taggart combs through the evidence as it related to the Sons of Elijah, a cult with a penchant for suicide bombings. The Sons believe that they have special powers, having been reborn numerous times over the centuries. However, there’s something about them that has Special Agent Taggart curious and wanting to know more.

After a bomb destroys a Chicago restaurant, Special Agent Taggart knows the Sons of Elijah are back, ready to cause new pain to anyone around them. It’s then that Dr. Seth Jacobson becomes a key to the investigation. Dr. Jscobson is a renowned psychiatrist whose work with hypnotherapy has helped people tap into their past lives. Having had two of the Sons as patients before they began their bloody rampages, Taggart hopes that she can use Dr. Jacobson’s knowledge as a key to the investigation and open up new avenues to assist her. This sooon drifts into sessions of her own, where new truths emerge that rock Taggart to the core, while forcing her to question how well she knows herself after all. Mitka spins quite the tale here and leaves the reader much to contemplate.

It’s always tough to discover new authors, unsure if they will mesh with your style of reading or sense of adventure. Matt Miksa did well, showing that he has a great deal of promise with this novel. The premise of the book was strong and he used some interesting angles to prove his points, though there were times that I was not entirely sold on the final product. I enjoyed the book, but was not as enthralled as I might have hoped, based on the premise. Still, there is surely something in here for many, particularly those who enjoy thrillers that push a psychological angle at various points.

Special Agent Vera Taggart does well as a protagonist in the piece, offering up some of her backstory and developing well as the story moves along. She shows a penchant for wanting to impress, while also fighting against the current throughout the novel, something that is addressed in the early stages. As she becomes enthralled with her investigation, pieces of her past and present emerge and keep the reader curious until the final pages, when much is revealed. There is something about her that leaves the reader to want to know more, though this is surely something Miksa will have to decide in his upcoming writing projects.

A story that mixes past with present, crime fiction with psychological exploration, and a peppering of self-discovery is sure to have a great deal of success, which Matt Miksa hopes to have created here. He’s done well and keeps the reader curious as the story progresses. A decent narrative flows well and allows the reader to enjoy the journey. Chapters speed along, some swift and teasers, while others delve deeper into the story. I usually enjoy cults and how they work, as well as a good crime thriller. This piece had both, but seemed to have missed something to pull me into the middle of the story and not get enough. Perhaps it was me, but i will leave it to other readers to see how they felt, rather than pass sole judgment on the final product.

Kudos, Mr. Miksa, for piquing my interest. I am eager to see what you have planned next!

I don't know what I expected when I started this, but it wasn't this interesting story. At a basic level, this is about the FBI chasing a cult that likes to blow things up. However, when you add in history, religion, reincarnation and science, you get this weird mix that shouldn't work, but it does! It took me a couple of chapters.to get into it, but once I was in I didn't want to put it down. I thought the cult was really interesting, and I enjoyed seeing the different lives the cult members had. I loved not knowing who to trust, who was right and who was wrong right down to the end - even with Vera. This was a really unique story, and I reccomend it if you are after a thriller with a difference.

Tumultuous Roller Coaster…
A tumultuous roller coaster ride in this tense, edgy suspense with well drawn characters and an immersive narrative. Cults, the FBI, high technology and horrific murders all play a part and with a feisty protagonist in Special Agent Vera Taggart. Dark and disturbing, fast paced and frantic.

Thank you to Mart Miksa, crooked Lane books publishers and netgallery for the free digital advance of don't get close. Publication date 8th Marxg 2022

This was one of those books that writing a review is going to be really hard because it sounds crazy if I'm completely honest but it's a really good book.
Vera Taggart works for the FBI she's new to the team and has been assigned a cold case that involved a cult called sons of Elijah. They believe they have psst lives and will be reborn over and over again claiming to have lived for hundreds of years. Vera us on the case and knows one person who is key Dr ,Jacobson he is a renowned psychiatrist who specialises in past lives. Vera isn't prepared for the twists and turns her life is about to go through.

Honestly I think im still recovering from reading this book I loved it. Now if you are going to read this one read it with ab open mind because it is unrealistic, unless like me you're easily swayed! I found Vera's character fascinating she's obsessed with the case doesn't seem to question why she was made lead agent in charge when she's only just out the academe took me a while to question that also. Her obsession to help others is a response to her best friend being killed in college. But she's in way too deep

I loved the concept of past lives and found it a pleasure to read espically in Dr Jackson's office. He is another character that is written really well i feltblike I knew his character as well as Vera's. Everyone added something to the story and eachvside story let me wanting more .

Honestly like I said the best way to understand why this book is so good you will need to read it there are a few repetitive descriptions but honestly this doesn’t because it's a great easy read. If i say more I'll spoil it. 3stars

DON'T GET CLOSE was an intriguing and twisty thriller. Rookie FBI Agent Vera Taggart finds herself assigned to the Sons of Elijah case. Twenty-eight years earlier, there were a series of suicide bombings that killed hundreds of people. Now, it seems, the Sons of Elijah are making a return.

One clue is that two of the bombers were both patients of psychiatrist Dr. Seth Jacobson. He has made a very successful career because of them. Best-selling books, speaking engagements, and television appearances have kept his name front and center. His treatment was controversial; he used hypnotic regression on them. He learned that they lived many previous lives protecting a secret that is still secret to this day.

The newest bomber - who didn't commit suicide after his bombing - was also a patient of Dr. Jacobson. Tag determines that she needs to undergo this hypnotic regression herself if she is going to understand the bomber and stop him before he carries out a mass murder.

The story includes a lot of these past lives since it turns out that Tag herself is a part of the bigger picture of the Sons of Elijah than she had ever imagined. The weaving of the past lives and the aims of the FBI into the story gives an interesting picture of what is really happening. What is the ultimate goal of the Sons of Elijah? Is Jacobson really their leader? Are the past lives Tag sees real or induced by the therapist?

This story deals with reincarnation and the ideas that souls are separate from bodies and are indestructible. The story also includes a lot about physics and the things physicists study. One of the characters is a physicist who is studying consciousness through physics. Tag meets her when her lab becomes a target of the newest bomber since destroying it could destroy a big part of the Mid-west.

The twisty plot kept me engaged and intrigued. Tag was an intriguing character - an artist who becomes an FBI agent who also happens to be a lesbian and who just might be a victim of a complex plot herself.

Excellent, Unique and Spellbinding........................................


Don't Get Close by Matt Miksa turns out to be an excellent and visionary book. I was expecting a book to be a simple thriller, but, rather, it took me on a roller coaster ride of mysteries and revelations. The characters are the bloodline of the plot. Each and every chapter unfolds a secret which will, definitely, going to blow your mind. The book, surely, succeeds itself to be on my bookshelf. I would not say too much, as I do not want to reveal more about it. You have to enjoy it yourself.

I would, obviously, like to give the book 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.

This is a review for the book, Don't get close by Matt Miska. The genre is psychological thriller, horror, historical fiction and has LGBTQ representation. This is a big whopper of a book at 700 pages. It starts slow in the beginning and it builds up to a great speed. Once you hit the 200-page mark, it gets fast. There are stories from back in time, reincarnation, and time travel. A psychiatrist uses hypnotherapy and makes breakthroughs or so he claims.

Tag as the protagonist comes out strong and as a female FBI officer. But she's constantly trying to prove her worth among a crowd of deceptive officers and colleagues and even friends. Finally, she meets her match with a brilliant scientist but the enemy eludes her till the very end.

I loved this book. It was very well written and constructed. The writing was lyrical at most places. Some beautiful sentences:
PG 13: She squirmed through the right gaps between men with pot bellies and women with sharp elbows.
PG 14: If he caught up with her here, in this hardening tumor of bodies metastasizing at the base of the Ferris wheel...

There are chapters with interviews and diary entries. There are no dull moments. There are some explicit sex scenes and explicit language used. So it's an adults-only read.

However, I was blown away. The ending is a cliffhanger and I want Part 2 of this book!

This book sucks you in, chews you up, and spits you out. A definite page turning that will keep you guessing.

Don’t Get Close was a gripping, suspenseful story I really enjoyed! The set up was nice and thoughtful, yet everything was a little too obvious.
This is well written thriller but it won’t keep you at the edge of your seat.