★ ★ ★ ★ ★ //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.

Apologies in advance, this is going to be a long one. And if you'd like to skip over my personal commentary on assistance and funding for homelessness and Affordable Housing, please skip down to Off My Soapbox.

And thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for a copy of the book. Commentary and review are all my own opinion.

My Soapbox
Funding for the homeless and Affordable Housing are a central part of this story. I worry that someone reading this book might leave it thinking the whole thing is a big ol' scam. That isn't the case. The discussion, especially regarding actual housing, leaves out major issues that aren't fraud, graft, or theft. Time and additional regulatory hurdles, the cobbling together of multiple financing sources (each with their own set of attorneys and required hurdle/conditions), prevailing wage and the fact that the developer also has to pay someone to monitor for the prevailing wage, etc, etc, etc. These are all issues that market rate developments don't have and increase the costs associated with providing Affordable Housing.

An article: https:/www.sacbee.com/news/local/homeless/article278499379.html

Honest advocates for the unhoused and anyone paying a bit of attention would disagree with a statement made in the book regarding the situation. There is no "entire business that will end when we solve the homeless crisis." Los Angeles County alone saw a 9% increase in homelessness between 2022 and 2023. (10% for the City).

An article: https://www.lahsa.org/news?article=927-lahsa-releases-results-of-2023-greater-los-angeles-homeless-count

No one is excited about an increase in unhoused people and thinking about how good this is for their business. People aren't involved in Affordable Housing or helping the homeless for personal financial gain. And I really hope that readers don't come away from this book with a negative view of those who are trying to help. There are enough hurdles thrown up by regulations, NIMBYism, increased costs, etc. They don't need more obstacles.

Off My Soapbox.
Despite my bristling at how providing assistance for the homeless and building Affordable Housing was portrayed in this book, I did really like the continuing saga of Kara Quinn and her coming home to close out the case that started it all. There were some great twists along the way and I enjoyed the very detailed plot. Though, at some points I felt like there were too many moving parts and characters to keep up with. It was hard to know whether someone/something was important or just filler. I finally felt that Kara had some solid personal growth in this book and was glad with how this installment in the series ended and look forward to the next book.

This is my first read in the Quinn-Costa series by Allison Brennan. It was a fast paced, multi-layered story involving graft, corruption and murder. I enjoyed reading it, with one caveat: sometimes the author referred to a character by his/her last name and at other times, by first names. With so many characters to keep track of, this caused confusion for me. I look forward to reading the next book by this author. The research involved is noteworthy. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Information leaked, probably from the LA FBI office. Files wiped from the city’s databases and millions in grant monies spent for homeless housing with nothing to show for it. The head of a trafficking and sweatshop operation killed. The DDA quietly investigating corruption in allotting housing grants murdered. His whistleblower on the run. When Quinn returns from working at the FBI mobile unit, she senses something is off at the LAPD. Can Quinn and Costa work through the liars, traitors and corrupt to find the truth before more die?

Brennan uses a nonlinear timeline to reveal pieces of information to the readers, unleashing surprises and twists I didn’t see coming. Even though the tension was high through out and the puzzle satisfyingly intricate, it’s the portrayal of the homeless issue that is the standout element for me. The relationship between Violet and her homeless mom put a memorable face and feelings on the problem and Brennan included eye-opening details of issues facing those who work with the homeless. Though this is the fifth Quinn and Costa thriller it can easily stand alone, and in my opinion is the best yet. Highly Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the first Kara Quinn novel that I have read and not knowing the characters' backgrounds, I found it a bit confusing. So many different agencies are introduced each with their own hierarchy that it was hard to follow who was the "bad cops" and who were the good cops." The plot is interesting as it deals with government corruption in the processing of grants to house homeless people. The missing witness works not only at city hall in an IT position but also as a volunteer with a homeless volunteer group. That is when she is pointed in the direction of where to look for missing files and money thus becoming a target for an assassin who is hired to keep the status quo of grant funds and money laundering alive.
An interesting love triangle is in play, but not having read the previous titles in the series, I had a hard time buying into it.
Overall, I'd recommend for fans of the series, but not as a stand alone novel.

Brennan is great at mysterious thrillers and crime books. The Missing Witness was a quick story for me. I don't think it was too different from other books in this genre, but I still enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The plight of the homeless and a gigantic Los Angeles city hall fraud combine to create a suspenseful and tense novel. There are multiple agencies involved in uncovering the extent of the fraud, all vying for total control. Within departments are bad cops and FBI agents and it is a matrix of connections that confounds everyone. A definite thriller!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So complex and layered but getting through the web is worth it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brennan developed this plot fresh from the California headlines in this much anticipated new release.

In the latest case of Quinn and Costa, we become embroiled with the corrupt city politics and the fight to bring those responsible for heinous crimes to justice.

This story becomes an addictive read with the complex layers and depth of the plot. The main characters fear trusting anyone with their complex case due to the deception and corruption, even within their departments.

Knowing who to trust in the tangled web becomes harder and harder with each turn of the page. But getting through and starting to see some clarity makes it all worth it in the end.

This book is not only a detailed suspense and thriller but it also is somewhat of a whistleblower case with the California homelessness issues open for the world to see. A shocking and saddening truth bomb that needs to be brought to light.

The Missing Witness is an amazing addition to the series. Quinn and Costa are two strong characters that I thoroughly enjoy reading and following. Brennan shows her fantastic writing skills with the intricate plot, complex characters, and highly detailed corruption that sounds more true than fiction.

Intense in spots with an ending that is everything we have been waiting for! I wanted to cheer!

I want more from this awesome team of characters!

The Missing Witness, book 5, in the Quinn & Costa series by Allison Brennan has to be my favorite so far! Wraps up the loose ends in LA and gives more details into why Quinn came to work with the Mobile Response Team. Looking forward to more in the series!

The Missing Witness is a face paced, multi layered read that is full of lies, corruption and so many secrets.

The book keeps you guessing as to who was involved with the corruption.

Detective Kara Quinn has returned to LA to testify against David Chen the notorious human trafficker.

Chen is shot down in cold blood and the only witness is missing.

Quinn and Costa are racing against the clock and the tension mounts with every page.

Red herrings and twist and turns kept the lights on as I devoured every page.

Clear your schedule and settle in for a nail biting read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harelquin Trade Publishing , MIRA for an outstanding read.