A fast paced tale of corruption and abuse of the vulnerable homeless population. Detective Kara Quinn and FBI Special Agent Matt Costa work together in this latest installment of the series to find a whistleblower who has information on the LAPD, among other things. It helps tremendously to have read the earlier books because this builds on all of them. That said, the characters are dynamic enough to keep you going as is the subject matter. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A page turner.

All Too Real. Despite what some may claim about the problems of the Homeless Industrial Complex not existing in the real world, When We Walk By by Kevin Adler and Donald Burnes - released just 10 weeks or so before the publication of this book and so far as I can see, never read by Brennan as she was doing her research for this book - shows all too well just how much these kinds of things actually do exist.

Now, as with all *fictional* tales, Brennan has clearly taken a *few* liberties - no one is making any claims about the "real" world LA here, ultimately this is truly a fictional tale set in an alternate world very similar yet not completely identical to our own. Though the corruption in this particular version of LA and the multiple murders being investigated through the course of this book tied to that corruption... eh, I'm sure the citizens of that LA were wishing they had a particular dude styling himself after a small flying rodent whipping around their town.

Instead, they get Kara Quinn. And let's face it, with her "irregular" investigative methods and keen detective abilities... Kara Quinn may at minimum prove she could be a reliable partner for that other dude. Here, her skills are both throttled at times and allowed to bloom into their full wonder at other times, all while the other members of the team she works with - Matt Costa's FBI unit - each prove to be equally capable supporting members in their own ways.

Ultimately this is truly a fictional crime thriller, and Brennan as usual shows just how great she is at weaving tales that are clearly fictional, yet all too real. Does she get a touch preachy at times? Perhaps for some, though it was never truly heavy handed enough for me to deduct a star over or truly even mention here other than this very "your mileage may vary" kind of statement. The rest of the action is well paced, the mystery is complex with quite a few moving parts, and just when you think you may have everything figured out... well, it turns out you probably don't know quite *everything*.

It will be interesting to see where Brennan takes this series next, assuming she does, given how this particular tale ends - and I very much look forward to finding out what may be next. Very much recommended.

I am a brand new reader to Allison Brennan & now I’m a HUGE FAN! This story was a page turner. As soon as I started it I couldn’t put it down!! If you love crime fiction, psychological thrillers this is for you!!!

Each characters storyline and how they layer together to tell the whole story is one of my favorite aspects of her writing. It allows for deep character building. Which in turn allows you to understand more of the story, which deepens the plot & conclusion.

The depth of which this stories crime spilled felt true to life, as if it all was currently happening, while still being entertaining. Less like a news story & more like a full investigation being shared in a podcast! I truly loved this!

Additionally, I loved reading the acknowledgments where the discussion of depth of research, true stories that some of the fiction is derived from as well as the friends/family/support sources she uses. It truly shows in this book.

I’m officially a fan and already can’t wait to read another! This series would be fun to listen on audiobook too!

Huge thank you to Harlequin Trade & NetGalley for this copy in return for my honest review!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing & Allison Brennan for the ARC of The Missing Witness.

This book was seriously so hard to put down. It had a great storyline and everything seemed to be very realistic. I love how Allison wrote in the Acknowledgments that she researches before writing her books so she can be as authentic as possible.

Kara Quinn & Matt Costa are great characters who have each others backs 100%. They never had to question each other, only the people Kara previously worked with. As you read this book, you’re constantly questioning everyone throughout it trying to figure out who did what & why they did it.

There are a lot of characters in this book and in the beginning it’s hard to keep track of who is who. I found myself having to go back to look at a few of them to figure out who they were & where they fit in.

This is a good mystery/thriller novel and I would recommend it!

I was invited to the Book Tour for this Title. The Excerpt has been shared on my blog.

https://wendyreadsandwrites.blogspot.com/2024/01/blog-tour-missing-witness-queen-costa.html

A terrific book! There are lots of subplots and with lots of twists and turns that make it hard to put down. I enjoyed Kara Quinn and look forward to more of her stories

A great book to tie up the series by Allison Brennan. The Missing Witness is the 5 book in the series and has Detective Quinn testifying in a human trafficking case.

The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan is a complex procedural which leads readers through an intricate labyrinth of information to a very satisfying final denouement. It is very highly recommended and the fifth book featuring Kara Quinn.

Detective Kara Quinn and FBI agent Matt Costa have returned to Los Angeles where Kara is going to testify against human trafficker David Chen. Then Chen is shot on his way to court and a witness to the crime disappears. The witness also happens to be an important whistleblower to an even bigger case of corruption involving city leaders, the police and the FBI that is also tied to the case against Chen. There are many hidden secrets and knowledge about the corruption and who is involved is dangerous.

The pace is fast, there are numerous details to recall, and there are also a large number of characters to follow which all work together in this complex intricate labyrinth of a novel. An important aspect of the story involves the homeless population and secrets, schemes and corruption involving solutions to the issue. While the tension is high, it's essential to keep track of all the clues and details to appreciate the complicated puzzle the case presents and follow everything to the conclusion.

As I have been following this series, it was easy to recognize known characters and pick up where we left off. Readers may benefit from following the series in order, but you can also jump into it with The Missing Witness. Kara Quinn is a wonderful character. She is intelligent, determined, and fearless. Matt Costa is equally intelligent, tenacious, and compliments her character nicely. There are a whole lot of characters that are also written as realistic individuals.

This is a must read for anyone following the series, as well as those who enjoy procedurals and novels of suspense. I was actually going to rate the novel down a star until late in the novel where Brennan pulled out all the stops. At this point the action was incredible intense and there were several shocking surprises and twists. The order of the series is The Third to Die, Tell No Lies, The Wrong Victim, Seven Girls Gone, and The Missing Witness. Disclosure: My advanced reading copy (ARC) was courtesy of MIRA Books via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, X, and Amazon.

Allison Brennan does it again! I have never been disappointed in any of her books. You cannot go wrong with a Quinn and Costa book. This story is a fast paced, sometimes on the edge of your seat book! A must read!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ //5

The Missing Witness

I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book had me full speed ahead from page one! I was so excited to crack open this book on a snowed in weekend. The Quinn & Costa series is great and this was just as amazing. Every single one that our author writes gets better and better and hooks you and pulls you in deeper wanting more! The twists and turns are so great and this book is so fast paced and swift moving. The characters just like the other book are very well developed and the story is so well written that you feel like you are in the story yourself. Snag this book, put it on your tbr and be ready for some twisty turns full of conspiracies and corruption and you’ll be wishing the book never ended by the last page. I cannot wait for Allison to come out with more—NEED MORE!

Fast moving, very interesting mystery. Definitely keeps you reading to see what happens next!

Did not realize there were 4 more before this - jumped in and caught up easily.

Will definitely have to go back to the beginning!

Allison Brennan does in again, in her newest installment of the Costa and Quinn series. This book is well written and makes you want to keep reading to figure out who did it. There were so many twist and turns that kept you guessing.
Kara is called back to LA to testify in a past case she was working on. Matt and some of his team travel with them. While in LA multiple things pop up that have Kara questioning what she knows. As the team works to figure things out and keep people safe more dirt is uncovered.
Highly recommend to all Allison Brennan fans.

I enjoyed this latest installment in the Quinn and Costa series by Allison Brennan. It ties up the loose ends regarding Quinn's status with the LAPD and the reason how she ended up with Costa's Mobile Response Team. This book also delves into the Homeless Industrial Complex and how the homeless are exploited by the government. I would recommend reading the previous books in the series to know the characters and to understand what's going on. Overall, a great read.

The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan is the fifth in the Quinn and Costa series. As are most of Allison Brennan's books, this was a fast moving mystery that certainly kept me reading. There were several unexpected twists that is always a plus for me when reading a mystery. I liked that this book tied up a few of the ends that have been discussed earlier in the series. I am interested to see where some of the characters go next and hope there are additional books in the series!

This was one book I had been excited for as I am normally a big fan of Allison Brennan's books, however this one was very close to doing my head in. Yes, overall it was a great thriller but it just felt like there was way tooo much happening for my little brain to process. I also didn't like the way Kara Quinn was portrayed and acted in this book, we know that she often does things her way and despite being out of the box and outside the lines of the law - she does get results and her cases get solved. In this book, we start with the David Chen case - the Chinese trafficking ring and Kara has been in hiding as she is testifying in the case. However, this ends up having a pin put in it as David is shot. Violet Halliday is the missing witness, she works as an IT geek for City Hall and we learn she has been helping with another case that involves pilfering homeless grants and funding. She has been a whistleblower helping to form a case, but when the DA Craig is killed and Violet is now being hunted. Who can she turn to for help? Especially not this police force or the FBI as I have to say - for realsies I have never read or seen so much freaking corruption. Were there no clean police or agents in this novel? I did like Violet's storyline with her mother and wished that had been fleshed out a bit more. The other thing that slightly annoyed me with this book and I have to admit if I didn't live in New Zealand it wouldn't have bothered me - but there is a sentence that Conrad wants to bring Marie here as he has a house just outside of Queensland. Queensland is a state in Australia and not a city in New Zealand - we have Queenstown here. The Missing Witness was a good thriller in the fact it was very action-packed, but for me sadly it was just too busy of a storyline which made it in places hard to follow in who were the good guys and which ones were the baddies. Who can't we trust again? My feeling though for this book hasn't clouded my judgment of Allison Brennan and I look forward to reading more of her thrillers in the future.

The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan is a captivating and intricate thriller that seamlessly weaves together a standalone case with the ongoing plotlines of the series. Through her astute characters and their engaging dialogues, Brennan skillfully examines the failures within our real-life systems. This latest installment is sure to please devoted followers of Quinn and Costa, while also intriguing those interested in the dynamic interplay between public policy, law enforcement, and politics. With its non-stop action and relentless pace, this fifth adventure will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Fans of the series will undoubtedly be left feeling thoroughly satisfied.

This would be a great book for people who like world building, tough cops, and lots of twists and turns.
It's not my cup of tea, but there were a lot of interesting characters and dynamics

There is entire business that will end when we solve the homeless crisis. It has become to political. Everyone arguing about the cause-drugs, mental illness, lack of housing, any number of things. Political because there is no accountability. Fraud and waste are built into the system, which is a scam it and of itself.

First of all before I get into this informative thriller, this is not a political in that it is about red vs blue, or blue vs red. It deals with the problems. Homelessness has gone up considerably over several years and California having the a third of the nations homelessness. The Missing Witness is a whistle blower of the corruption in politics, the police and FBI. How money and power reign in serious matters. Kara Quinn has come back to her own force to find the whistle blower and to determine what he/she knows. The body count is adding up.

I have read the whole series so I have come to appreciate Kara. She is vulnerable but keeps a wall around her heart for good reason. She is a walking contradiction which makes her relatable because in all honesty we all are. Kara comes to a cross roads with who and what she has been running away from in this case which it gives it another layer for me.

Regarding the whistle blower, he/she knows the pain of homelessness and the prison that it is. They attempt to reveal what the real cause of homelessness is greed. Knowing the billions of dollars thrown to solve the crisis and it keeps getting worse, you know that it is not about the people but about true oppressions.

Good job to Allison Brennan!

A special thank you to Harlequin Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This story could have been pulled from the headlines, and I could very well see it happening if it hasn't already!
Money that we think is going to help the homeless, and then there are the corrupt that live life of luxury, and its not illegal, um, think there needs to be some changes here!
This is the story of Kara Quinn, among others, but there is someone that hates her so much, and it leads to conspiracy, and questions of her integrity.
This is a story of non-stop action, and murder, and you wonder whom will be next, they seem to come out of no where, and yes, it is all connected to greed.
Will there be closure here, keep page turning for answers, and yes, they do come!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA.

The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan is the 5th book in her fantastic Quinn and Costa series. I am a big fan of Allison Brennan, who always gives us sensational mystery thrillers; and The Missing Witness was another fabulous addition to this series.

Detective Kara Quinn helped with bringing a major criminal (human trafficker) while at her LAPD job, but her life was put in danger, and she was assigned to become part of the FBI’s mobile response team unit. She is back in Los Angeles to testify against the criminal she helped prosecute, but before she can take the stand, the accused is killed in broad daylight, and one witness, who saw the murder, runs away and disappears.

With corrupt city politics running rampant, as well as homeless people suffering, and Kara is being blamed for the criminal’s death, for which she is innocent. LAPD and FBI work together to find those responsible for the corruption and murders. Kara meets with her bosses at LAPD: and she suspects that those she trusted are keeping secrets from her, and she is determined to find out the truths. Matt and the whole FBI team are there to support and protect Kara, as they help to discover the dark twists within the city; especially when prosecuting attorney is stabbed to death, it’s becoming clear that everyone who knows anything is in danger.

Kara isn’t sure she wants to stay with the mobile team, or go back to being a Los Angeles Detective, but the secrets she suspects from her superiors, may make her decision easier closer to the end. I really love Matt, who is always there to support Kara, not to mention he is falling in love with her; Kara has strong feelings for Matt too, but she fears having permanent relationships. I also like Agent Sloane who was great in finding information and Violet was also a terrific character.

What follows is an intense, pulse pounding thriller, with so many twists and turns throughout.. Who was truly behind the corruption and murders? As we got closer to the tense climax, the danger escalated in this heart stopping thriller, with so many people involved. I could not put the book down, as the suspense was amazing.

The Missing Witness was a suspenseful tense story line, with danger at every turn. The story revolves on many issues, such as the homeless/slave labor/drugs, human trafficking, corrupted officials in government and law enforcements. The Missing Witness was so very well written by Allison Brennan, that I fully recommend you read this fantastic exciting edge of your seat thriller.