4.5 Stars: Targeted is the 4th Callahan and McLane story and the best so far in the series IMO. In this outing someone is killing policemen. The first was made to look like a suicide, but it is quickly apparent that it was the first killing. There have been 3 killed and both the FBI and Oregon police are involved in the team to find this killer. Mason is a witness in one of the murders, so he isn't officially on the case, but is allowed to observe questioning and tag along during the investigation. When someone comes in to confess to the crimes, it turns their attention to the Police Buddy program. Will they be able to figure it out before another police officer is killed. Of course, Jane can't not cause issues for Ava and once again, she is worried about her sister leaving the rehab facility. Can they find her before something happens, like her last overdoes?

It seems that each book in this series gets a bit better. This was an interesting crime thriller, with twists, and far too many suspects. I hate when police officers are killed anytime, but for no apparent reason, it is worse. Ava and Zander are working together on this one, but eventually, Mason is told he can no longer be involved. Unfortunately, he goes off on his own. When they finally nail it down to people involved in a certain program, they are working against the clock trying to sift through information. This time, it is Mason who ends up in danger. I didn't know who the culprit was until just before the reveal was made. I liked that we heard his/her story in flashbacks throughout, so we could see their motivation, even if it was a bit sick. As Ava and Mason are now living together, there really is no romance, but they do have each other's back. I definitely recommend this book. The audiobook was narrated by Amy McFadden and Alexander Cendese. I'm not sure why they changed the male narrator, but fortunately, it didn't ruin the story for me.

After reading a few bullymances in a row, I decided it was time to read a mystery book and as I was undecided what to read, I picked up a Kendra Elliot as she never fails me as I find she is one of my favorite female mystery authors. Targeted is set during Halloween and brings out the love of Horror movies into this book. We are also reunited with the characters, Mason Callahan and Ava McLane. The story starts with Mason and three of his law enforcement buddies out camping when he wakes up the next morning and finds his captain Denny dead wearing a Pinhead mask. The book then jumps to Ava and her partner Zander (FBI) being called as the MO of the Halloween mask matches one of their previous agent’s murder as he was wearing a Freddy Krueger mask. As the book goes on, we have a couple of storylines from the main one of someone murdering law enforcement officers and if they don't catch them in time, Mason Callahan could be next on the list of targets. We have Ava's storyline with her twin sister Jayne and a potential father figure comes to light and then of course the underlying theme in the series of the upcoming wedding bells and planning for Ava and Mason as maybe Book #4 is the book where they will finally choose at least a venue or is Ava getting cold feet as her heart doesn't seem to be in the wedding planning mood? Find out in Targeted, book #4 of the Callahan and McLane mystery series by Kendra Elliot.
PS - I also enjoyed this one as we got reunited with other Kendra series characters like Dr. Trask, Dr. Rutledge, Mercy Kilpatrick, and Michael Brody/Chris Brody.

Targeted is the fourth book to Kendra Elliot’s Callahan & McLane series. I’ve loved every book in this series. I look forward to returning to some of the characters in this book in another series that Kendra has written. I need to find out if Ava and Mason will get some time to themselves. They deserve it after everything they have gone through.

Storyline: Detective Mason Callahan is having a quiet fishing trip with the guys until he finds his boss’s body near their remote cabin. Now, he has to be a witness to the investigation. His boss is not the only one killed recently that now has grabbed the FBI’s attention. There are have been other murders or supposedly suicides of police officers/FBI agents. It’s up to Ava, Zander, Nora (in charge of the investigation), and Mason (as a witness only) to investigate how the murders are tied together. This case is not going to be an easy one for any of them.

My Thoughts: First off, Kendra tends to write books that make you want to crawl into an underground cave, so you can get away from the crazy villains she comes up with within her stories. This book is no different. This time though, I’m worried about the main characters and the secondary characters in this book. The killer in this story is targeting cops. Seriously, Kendra, haven’t Ava and Mason been through enough in the previous books. It’s bad enough that Ava now has other drama in this book that was a shock for me. I need a mental vacation after reading this series. I felt for every character in this book after finding out they have a serial killer on their hands targeting their own. Kendra manages to make me cringe, also with reading the villain’s POV. Readers have to figure out the character(s) who are behind it all.
Be prepared for a shocker. I did not expect where this story was going until Kendra finally unveiled it. I enjoyed every bit of this book. The only thing that bothered me was Jayne, Ava’s twin, who I can’t sympathize with this series. Some readers may find it means, but she did something unforgivable in this book. Poor Ava. I know she has to be there for her twin, but it’s time to live her life, and I think she starts to realize it in this book. I’m thankful for the relationship she has with Mason. Throughout the series, Mason has helped her get through everything thrown at her. Ava and Mason are meant to be together. No more on my thoughts, though, because I don’t want to spoil this book.

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Callahan & McLane series, and I would recommend reading in order. You’ll miss out on how Ava and Mason met in the first book and where they end up in the fourth book.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. I give this book 4.5-stars and recommend it to Romantic Suspense/Mystery readers out there. Eventually, Kendra’s books end up having a HEA, but the main characters go through the darkest and twistest cases. Kendra doesn’t disappoint, though, with her books filled with suspense, action, murder, and some happiness (at the end).

I’m catching up on all the books I’ve missed out on that Kendra Elliot has released that I haven’t read yet. I’m determined to finish catching up. Kendra is one author that I look forward to her books because they take me away from reality for a while. (I need it right now since it’s an Election year – 2020, and this year has not been that great.)

As always books of Kendra Elliot's are fantastic, this one is no exception Great plot, and characters. A must read author.

Another thrilling installment in the Callahan & McLane series. This one has Callahan stumbling across the dead body of his boss and McLane sent in to lead the investigation. As always, plenty of suspense, thrills, and great interaction between the two main characters!

I loved this series . It was the best one yet . I hope she continues this series someday.