DNF around 31% in. After picking this up multiple times on my kindle and not being able to get into the story, I tried it on audio…that didn’t help. There were so many characters that I felt like I couldn’t keep up and it just never captured my attention.

I did read that this was part of a series so that could be a part of why I never got into this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early reviewer copy in exchange for my honest review.

Like a few other readers, I didn’t realize that this book is part of a series when making the ARC request. I found myself confused trying to understand the storyline and I felt like this series definitely has to be started from book one. This is one story I'd like to revisit in the nearby future.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Missing Witness is the fifth book in the Quinn & Costa book series by Allison Brennan. While this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the books in order. This would help the reader gain a better understanding of the multiple characters involved in the story.

Unfortunately, I was not aware that this book was part of a series when I began reading it, which is personally irritated me going into this story, as I very much prefer to read a series in order. Although it's not impossible to understand this book without reading the previous four in the series, I think I would have appreciated it more had I read them. There are many characters involved in this story, each with unique background stories, and it's difficult to remember who is who.

However, this book would appeal to any fans of police/detective stories as this book reads like an investigative TV show. Readers who are invested in this story will enjoy unpuzzling the many intricacies in the murder/corruption investigations in the book. Unfortunately, there were too many layers to the plot and I was quickly lost. I prefer thrillers with short chapters and fairly straightforward plots rather than interrelated, complex twists and turns.

Read if you like:
👮‍♂️ Police and detective stories
🔎 Complex investigative plots
📚 Series with some badass characters
👀 Untrustworthy side characters
💵 A fair bit of corruption

🙏 Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Matt Acosta and Kara Quinn are at it again. This time around Quinn is back in LA to stand trial and government testimony about Chan who trafficked women. Chan is part of something bigger than trafficking and it has to do with the funneling money that was meant for the homeless population in California. There are many players and after the DA is stabbed in front of Kara she is thrown into an undercover operation that has been months in the making and she finds out that she has been lied to by people that she trusted. As the DA is dying he tells Kara to find Violet and protect her and to trust Will who is the head of a group that helps the homeless. Violet is a whistleblower who works in the mayors office and realizes that when they arrested Chan files were erased from a server about the homeless people’s fund that is meant to help get people out of the streets. Violet’s mother is an addict that ends up dying and she trust Will and the DA until Kara finds her at her ex partners home. Kara finds out her partner that she believed was dead was actually alive and deep undercover. Turns out FBI Agent Rebecca is one of the people involved in the stealing of funds as well as a lawyer and a nonprofit organization head of board woman. There’s so much corruption but at least the bad guys get what’s coming to them in the end. Kara ends up being on permanent loan to the FBI and Matt and her finally say I love you.

A one wild ride right from the beginning to the last page. I am really hoping the author continues this series as it really is quite different from other FBI series I have read, and the characters continue to grow and learn with each book. The characters are what make this series such a wonderful entertaining read. They are flawed, complex people and the reader can't help but find yourself rooting for them. I really enjoy Kara's relationship with the FBI team as each book in the series kept it growing between them and the reader is shown how Kara is and why she is the way she was. If you are looking for an action-packed ride with compelling characters and a fast-paced storyline, then I highly recommend this series as a whole. I recommend reading from the beginning as each book builds upon the end and we get to see the growth of the main characters with each book.

The Missing Witness is the fifth book in Allison Brennan’s Quinn and Costa Series. This is another great police procedural addition to a fantastic series. A well written story that takes you on a fast paced, wild ride from the very start. The characters, as always, are well developed and continue to mature with each book. There are some hard topics for some readers to deal with…..homelessness, human trafficking, addiction and corruption are just a few but Ms. Brennan is such a talented author she handles it with such great care. The twist and turns are many and you will not see them coming. A book, like the others, can be read as a standalone but I recommend you start at the beginning to get the full effect!!

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Mira and Allison Brennan for another fantastic addition to this series. I am hoping for a sixth book! As always, the opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#netgalley #harlequintradepublishing #mira #htpinfluencer #allisonbrennan. #themissingwitness #quinnandcosta5

The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan is the latest installment in the series and does not disappoint. I really like this series, which can be read as stand alones or part of the series. Great suspense and characters.

This book reminds me of the Bosch/Lincoln Lawyer books! I of course read the last book first but they don’t need to be read in order since each book has its own story line. I was entertained the whole time and I felt like the plot was realistic especially in todays time which really draws the reader. I can’t wait to go back and read the other books and more from this author.

If you are a fan of Allison Brennan and this series, you will like this book. You will particularly like the development of the character Detective Kara. If you have not read the previous books, you may feel a little lost through the first half of the book because you will not know the background of the characters or of the story. I also did no like the way the flashbacks were woven into the story. I received an arc from NetGalley, and was not pressured for a positive review,

Kara Quinn is a cop who was forced to leave her job to stay alive. Matt Costa is an FBI agent whom she has been working with. They head back to LA to clear her name in an ongoing investigation and people are dying. Quinn and Costa find themselves trying to figure out who they can trust and join forces with a small group of people to try to solve the case.

I enjoyed the book, in the beginning it was difficult to keep track of all the characters and how they fit together. In the end I really enjoyed the mystery and unexpected surprises along the way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Receiving an advanced copy was a delightful surprise. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.

I tried but I couldn't get into this book. The opening was way too soggy and it just wasn't for me. The writer focused on way too many small details and it slowed the pacing down too much. I get that she was developing a world but it just made things too slow.

The Missing Witness
Written By Allison Brennan
Published By Harlequin Trade Publishing
Release Date January 23, 2024


“When a key witness goes missing, Quinn & Costa must find her before a killer silences her for good”

There are many mystery writers out there but in my opinion, Brennan is one of the best authors. With an ability to keep the reader engaged and focused, she writes amazing books with characters that are developed and resourceful. This is book 5 in the Quinn and Costa thriller series yet it can be read as a stand-alone novel. This is a gripping mystery that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat wanting more and waiting for something that will possibly give away who the murderer is. Brennan leaves no bread crumbs here and without the predictability that some are accustomed to when reading a mystery/thriller, they find themselves reading well into the night or day in order to figure out whodunnit. This is yet another roller coaster of emotions that you will certainly not want to miss.

This one is full of action that will keep you breathless. No secrets here though…….. you need to run out and get your copy today.

5 huge stars


Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

I didn’t realize that this book is part of a series when I picked this book up. I enjoyed the book and now need to go start from book one. I thought the writing was smart and interesting.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this advanced readers copy.

Here is another wonderful Quinn & Costa adventure. I love this series. Brennan's characters are rich and her writing tight. The background of this story is a societal problem that appears to have no solution - how to help the homeless. This book was a pleasure with plenty of action and a kick-ass female lead. I like the romantic tension between Quinn & Costa. Readers who like Karen Rose or Karen White will love this thrilling novel.

I so enjoyed this series but this one I struggled to finish. I started and stopped many times. Too much on the corruption dragged the story down for me.

This is hands down my favorite ever Allison Brennan series and that's saying a lot b/c I'm already a huge fan of all her books. Just when I thought the series couldn't get any bette r- this book does it. Can't wait for book #6.

This was another great one from Allison Brennan. Well told and well written. I love how it was unpredictable and kept you guessing. Excellent book

Allison Brennan has been one of my favorite authors.. And of course this book did not disappoint!!! I loved this series and I was absolutely unable to put this book down!!!

Thank you NetGalley!!

I love @abwrites’ Quinn & Costa crime thriller book series. The fifth book in this series is The Missing Witness. In this book, Detective Kara Quinn finds herself back in LA after being called in to testify against the human trafficker that put out a hit on her. Unfortunately, once in LA there is a cascade of events that put Kara in danger and her current FBI team investigating widespread corruption. I enjoyed the themes surrounding government corruption and the pandemic of homelessness especially in California.

I love this entire series and this book which is full of action, a great plot twist, and was hard to put down once I started reading it. If you love police procedurals, then I highly recommend reading this book and series!

Thank you @_mira_books_ for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)