I just don't think you can go wrong with Allison Brennan. I love the Quinn and Costa series it is a great FBI serieis

Allison Brennan's "The Missing Witness" is the fifth installment in her Quinn & Costa series, delivering a complex and gripping thriller that delves deep into police corruption and political intrigue. Set in Los Angeles, the novel follows Detective Kara Quinn as she returns to testify in a human trafficking case, only to find herself embroiled in a dangerous web of deception and murder.
Brennan's strength lies in her ability to craft intricate plots with multiple layers of mystery. The story unfolds through various perspectives, keeping readers on edge as they piece together the puzzle alongside the characters. The author's vivid descriptions and fast-paced narrative make for an engaging read that's hard to put down.
The novel excels in its exploration of trust and betrayal within law enforcement agencies. Quinn's struggle with uncovering corruption in her own department adds a personal dimension to the larger investigation, creating a compelling emotional arc for the protagonist.
While some readers found the complexity of the plot challenging to follow at times, many praised Brennan's skill in weaving together multiple storylines and maintaining suspense throughout.. The book also touches on timely issues such as homelessness in California, adding depth to the narrative.
"The Missing Witness" stands out for its strong character development, particularly in the evolving relationship between Quinn and FBI agent Matt Costa. Their partnership, both professional and romantic, adds an extra layer of tension and interest to the story.
Critics and fans alike have noted that while this installment can be read as a standalone, it benefits from the reader's familiarity with the series' previous books58. The novel sets up intriguing possibilities for future installments, with Brennan already contracted for additional books in the series.
In conclusion, "The Missing Witness" is a solid addition to the Quinn & Costa series, offering a thrilling blend of police procedural and conspiracy thriller. Despite its occasionally overwhelming complexity, the novel delivers a satisfying read for fans of suspenseful crime fiction

This is an entertaining, well-written, fast paced, romantic suspense novel. It has a strong and capable female protagonist, murder, mystery, intrigue, suspense, corruption, secrets, twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion.

It’s finally time for Detective Kara Quinn to return to her home in Los Angeles, testifying against David Chen, a despicable human trafficker and the man responsible for her former partner’s death. His issued death threat for Kara forced her to leave town and work for the Mobile Response Team headed by Matt Costa. But only minutes before she was scheduled to testify, Chen is shot down by a masked man in front of bystanders. There was one witness, however, who recognized the shooter and she’s now missing. And, she just happens to be the whistleblower connecting Chen to deeper corruption within city government.

the heart of the story…
It may have started with human trafficking but the corruption was far more insidious, involving city government officials, members of law enforcement (city and federal) and funding for the homeless. Kara also has a target on her back as her nemesis, FBI Agent Bryce Thornton, is fixated on her and determined to bring her down. When the DDA she was working with was murdered right before her eyes, things got dicey as it was clear this case was far reaching. Who can you trust?

the narration…
I enjoy Suzanne T. Fortin’s storytelling skills and she’s my voice for Kara. However, she chose to use the same voice for the whistleblower and it got confusing as there were no transition indicators when there was a shift in points of view.

the bottom line…
It’s a complicated network of lies, subterfuge and corruption but I was able to keep up with the grift. What I wasn’t prepared for was the duplicity of those Kara should have been able to trust within her own department. That was a great twist I never saw coming. This was the showdown I waited for and it delivered. 4.5 stars

Really enjoyed this book! It was very well-written and fast paced to keep me interested the whole time.

This was a fun, fast, enjoyable suspense story with a great protagonist. The mystery was paced in a way that did not feel like it was trying to confuse the readers and actually had a reveal that was enjoyable. I read it in a few hours.

The mystery was okay. I have not read any other books in this mystery series so maybe that had some bearing on my opinion. I don't know the characters back story. The story was developed well and came to a logical conclusion. I just didn't really get into it and it was a struggle for me. I had trouble staying interested in the story. It felt like there were a couple stories going on. The issue with the missing witness but then the problems she had with her mom.

The Missing Witness is a gripping legal thriller that keeps you hooked from the first page. The plot revolves around a complex murder trial where the truth seems elusive, and the suspense builds steadily as more layers of the mystery unfold. The author does a fantastic job weaving in twists and turns that keep you guessing right up to the end.

The protagonist, a sharp and determined lawyer, is well-developed, and the courtroom scenes are particularly engaging, offering a realistic glimpse into legal battles. While some secondary characters could have used a bit more depth, the story itself is fast-paced and thrilling, with a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy legal dramas with high stakes and moral dilemmas, this one is a must-read. Just short of perfect, but a very enjoyable ride!

I didn't realize that this was book 5 of a series, and maybe I would've caught on to who was who sooner in the story. In spite of that, I really enjoyed the story. Cara returns to her local police department to testify against someone that she arrested in the past. Her partner was murdered, and now there is a b bounty out on her. Unfortunately, the man she is about to testify against is killed before they go into the courthouse.
There is a lot going on, including the FBI and police trying to find out who is squandering money set aside for the homeless. They believe that there is a mole somewhere. Cara wants to get involved, but there is a big secret that even Cara wasn't told.

I loved the author's writing and I'm looking forward to reading more from her, including books 1-4 in this series. The writing and storyline kept me reading, and not wanting to put the book down. This is a hit in my opinion.

I should have done my research to know that this was the 5th installment of this series. Therefore, my opinion is a bit skewed because I didn't have the necessary background of some of the key characters.

The book felt like a written version of a detective TV show, and I was HERE for it. I thought the story was very well detailed and it kept my interest throughout.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had a hard time getting into this one. I thought there was perhaps too much stuff tossed together at once, making the book overloaded too early on.
It eased up but I couldn’t shake that initial feeling.
I did like the developments between Quinn and Costa.

I am an Allison Brennan fan and enjoyed reading book 5 in the Quinn and Costa series. I'm not sure if people should read the previous books to enjoy this one, lots of past references. Kara is in LA to testify in her previous case of human trafficking. The defendant is shot outside the court room and it's chaos. The best witness has disappeared and now the DA is dead. Someone is trying to frame Kara for the murder. A good who done it with great characters.

I didn't realize this was part of a series so I had to go read the earlier ones first. Now I'm hooked! Great plot development and not an easy to predict resolution.

"The Missing Witness" is an entertaining and action-packed romantic suspense/police procedural novel. Although it is the fifth book in the "Quinn & Costa" series, it works well as a standalone. Even without having read the rest of the series, I was able to quickly delve into the world of Los Angeles Detective Kara Quinn and FBI Special Agent Matt Costa. I really enjoyed the mystery and how the author addressed the real-life issues many cities are facing, including corruption in government and law enforcement. The characters were well-developed, and I loved that Detective Quinn was such a strong and capable protagonist. After reading this book, I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story. The romance between Agent Costa and Detective Quinn, the lies, and deceit woven throughout the book. The character development was one of my favorites, especially seeing how Detective Quinn has evolved from previous books. The twists near the end were blindsiding and I loved them!

One of my favorite things about Allison Brennan is the amount of research she puts in to make her books as accurate as possible. The story of First Contact, the homeless, addiction, and corruption are some tough subjects. I've worked with the homeless in one of my previous jobs and to hear their stories and where they came from can be hard. There definitely needs to be more focus on how to really help the homeless, prevent homelessness, and make true affordable housing.

Absolutely love Quinn & Costa! I love everyone on their team.
The character build up in this series was great and makes the reader really like them.
I love the relationship between Kara and Michael and how they work together yet can be silly with each other.
This is definitely a series that will stay at the top of my list of best series I’ve read.

I found this piece to be exceptionally well-crafted, and I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to delve into more works by this author. Given its potential popularity among our library patrons, we're certainly looking forward to adding it to our collection

In Allison Brennan's latest Quinn and Costa book, Detective Quinn is back in Los Angeles to testify against a human trafficker. But when the accused is shot in broad daylight, the chaotic scene turns up few bystanders. The one witness who proabbly saw it all has disappeared.

When another person close to the case is killed, it is evident that anyone who knows too much is in danger. Quinn and Costa must tracki down the witness. But as information comes to light, Kara questions everything she thought she knew about the case, her colleagues and the life she left behind months ago.

Costa and Quinn must race to find the missing witness and get to the bottom of the what is going on with the LAPD before it's too late. I love the Quinn and Costa series. Aliison Brennan is one of my new favorite writers.

For the past four books, Detective Kara Quinn has been working for the FBI. Called back to California to testify against David Chen, a sweatshop owner and trafficker, someone leaks that Kara is back. A bounty is put on her head. Soon, Chen is found dead and Kara is the prime suspect. Her only hope is to find the missing witness who saw it all. Meanwhile, an FBI agent who got her former partner killed is gunning to prove that Kara is a dirty agent, someone in the FBI is corrupt and wanting her dead, and there’s a lot more going on then the case against Chen. Can Kara and her partner, Costa, figure out what’s really going on? Can they clear Kara’s name?

The plot is well-developed, engaging, and full of twists and turns. The characters are a little under developed, but draw the reader into the story. The world building is intriguing and well done. Fans of the series, mysteries, and thrillers will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections

Please Note: A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. No other compensation was received.

3 stars

This is the next in a series that I haven't read yet however it can be read as a standalone so when I started it I didn't feel like I was missing anything really. The story was fast paced and there were good twists and turns. Though to me it felt like the main character Kate while she was there she seemed like an afterthought in this book despite being the subject of the investigation for a period of time. I will probably read more from this author.

Thanks Mira and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.