Cut to the Bone

Loved it, loved it!! Such a good book. There was a point where I had figured out something about Sayer's deceased boyfriend before the writer revealed it, but then I was unsure if I was right, and boom, I was wrong once more. I really enjoyed all the locations in Washington DC. I even went and looked one of them up online to find out more, but I don't want to give any of the book away. The characters are all enjoyable and fleshed out. All the Egyptian information was very fascinating. Highly recommend!!

So good. This is exactly the kind of mystery/thriller I've been looking for. I didn't realize when I requested an ARC that it was the third book in a series, but the author gave enough back story during the book that it was never an issue. I now want to read the first books, though I know a little bit of how it all turns out.

10 second synopsis -- a busload of STEM high school kids is kidnapped and the perpetrator is seriously off the rails (with good psychology as to why, it turns out). An FBI agent who is an expert on brains and psychopathy leads a task force to try to save them.

The main characters are all likeable, smart and interesting. The diversity is off the charts for all kinds of things (race, LGBTQ, one character has lost his legs...) but never in a tokenism way and they're all people I'd want to hang out with. They're just cool, well rounded characters. The story is suspenseful and deals with death and violence realistically but not in the cringe-worthy detail that some authors use. The star character is a smart woman who feels like a real person, and one I'd like to hang out with. It was nice that she was not either trope of gorgeous and perfect or so flawed it's a wonder she can get out of bed, which I've read too much of in recent years.

It's also kind of cool that two different work dogs are main characters in a way (a therapy dog and a search and rescue dog), along with their handlers.

Loved it, and I'm a new fan of this series and this author.

I read a digital review copy of of this book for the purpose of review.

One of my favorite series/authors!
The character development continued to grow in the installment. I loved the twist and turns this book took...especially at the very end. I highly recommend you start this series from the beginning.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Cut To The Bone", the third installment in #EllisonCooper's Sayer Altair series.

I absolutely loved the first two books in this series "Caged" and "Buried" and looked forward with great anticipation to "Cut To The Bone". I was not disappointed.

Agent Sayer Altair is dealing with the new realities of life - both personal and professional. Her adopted daughter is looking at colleges, having the opportunity to take advantage of scholarships. and her Nana is off helping with a measles outbreak; at the FBI, her mentor, Assistant Director Holt has been pushed out, and Director Anderson (who tried to have Sayer fired) isn't making anything easy for her and her team.

When the body of a woman is found at a Washington landmark, and a DCPD cop is murdered by the perpetrator, Sayer is assigned to the case, which soon escalates when it is discovered that the girl was one of 24 students and their chaperone and bus driver who have disappeared off the radar,

Sayer must locate and rescue them, with no backup other than her team: Ezra, Max and Kona, as well as neighbor Tonio and Vesper, and their support. Things do not go well from the outset, as some of the missing students are located immediately.

In the course of this case we are introduced to an UNSUB (unknown subject) who has a particular obsession with Egyptology and - in particular - the Egyptian Book of The Dead and the Afterlife.

This story cruised along at breakneck speed, with the main plot supplemented by Sayer being followed by someone, and 'assisted' by her old friend (?) 037, the psychopath who was part of her study and now seems to think he/she is her guardian angel. And it appears as if Sayer is in need of this help as her life is endangered more than once!

Just when we think that we know what's going on, there are sub-plots galore and surprise upon surprise.

This is a worthy entry in the series, and highly recommended. I cannot wait to see what #EllisonCooper has in store for these characters in the future. My only regret is that now I'll have to wait for the next book. Oh, well.

Interesting in every way. Taunt and sometimes creepy it all comes together eventually. Surprising and frightening. The kids are strong yet terrified. The police chasing clues intelligently. The worse kind of bad guy
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

If you have concerns about the integrity of government officials and the power they wield this book may keep you awake at night. Sayer has such an interesting role, she is in the FBI, but also is a NeuroScientist with a unique understanding of the brain. This can yield significant advantages to her in her work, but also adds a level of suspicion from some of her co-workers.

There are layers upon layers of complexity in this plot, it was hard to stop reading once I started. Sayer is overtly human in her desires, drive and impulsiveness. You will quickly become a fan of this series, and any Ellison Cooper book.

Rarely do I jump into the middle of a series without having read the first books. It's hard to properly invest in characters when there are usually allusions to back story you're not privy to. Sometimes, it pays off. I found Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series this way, and with the glowing reviews and Minotaur's stellar track record, this premise caught my eye. I decided to give Sayer Altair's world a go.


So glad I did.

Sayer grieves her fiance but finds solace in her family and work. When she receives a call that an officer was killed over a young girl's ritualistic murder, Sayer is thrust into a twisting investigation involving a bus load of missing students, ancient Egyptology, and a deep-seated government conspiracy.

Cut to the Bone was like reading the Da Vinci Code meets 24, but with a badass FBI agent who knows how to fight taking the lead. Everything about this book worked, from the expertly-paced plot, to the high-stakes case, to the complex world of Egyptian belief systems and their entanglement with DC architecture and history. It feels like a lot to lay out, and really, there is a lot going on in this book, but in the best possible way. Sayer is a wonderful MC with lots of relate-ability. Nuanced, developed, and conflicted, she's a beacon of morality for her team (which is equally nuanced and well-developed) and there wasn't a point where I rooted against her or expected her to fail. That's not to say this is predictable. While there were some familiar military/political tropes, this felt like a fresh take. Even when I put the pieces together, I enjoyed reading how the events unfolded, and I wanted more.

One of my favorite aspects was her relationship with an anonymous nonviolent psychopath, a mysterious high-powered DC man with a fixation/obsession on Sayer. He's dangerous, but not lethal. He's definitely a psychopath, and he watches out for her not out of caring--something Sayer stresses he's not capable of, as psychopaths don't experience feelings in the same way--but out of the thrill of the game, the fascination of how she'll react to his prompts. While their interactions were sparse, this brought an extra edge to the narrative that I found deliciously enticing.

I also appreciated the few chapters with the brilliant high school STEM students. Using their knowledge, they weren't simply bland, flat side characters waiting to be rescued. They were intelligent individuals, capable of taking action and caring for each other. I enjoyed this dynamic greatly, as too often the kidnapped become characterized as helpless. Yes, they were in danger, but they accepted this fate and decided to fight. Not something you see too often when the detective is the primary focus, but no character felt flat or unimportant. Cooper's writing is accessible, clean, and flows well, making it easy to pick this book up and lose track of hours.

Thrilling, fast-paced, and dynamic, Cut to the Bone is a successful series entry, but also so well executed that you can pick this up as a standalone without being lost in translation. 10/10 recommend, and I look forward to reading the earlier books.

Big thanks to Minotaur/St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

An ARC of this novel was sent to me by NetGalley for reviewing purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was amazing! I'm still trying to process the entire novel, and I finished reading it yesterday afternoon. For reference, I have not read the previous books in the series, but I think it's okay to read on its own. The plot is captivating, and the characters are extremely well developed.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC, Cut To The Bone, in exchange for my honest opinion. Wow! I’m still trying to process all the twists and turns in this book. This book had so many surprises that I totally did not see coming and as for the ending all I can say is I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I loved this book and definitely recommend you read it.

It was interesting book because it was alot more than serial killer fiction novel. .the ending was mindblowing . And it leaves room for a sequel.

Oh my.

I can't believe it's already over. I feel like everything happened so fast, but was so well put together.

Cut to the Bone is the third novel in the Agent Sayer Altair series. It's about a bus full of 24 high school students going missing on a trip to Atlanta for a science contest. A serial killer that no one seems to see. And FBI Agent Altair's frenzy to hunt down these missing children and this serial killer. It's a story that's so convoluted and twisting that it's hard to keep up. Fake identities, new twists and turns that lead to dead ends, misinformation... the whole kit and kaboodle. Ellison Cooper throws you on a the most well-written and intricate loop you may have been in for a while.

I normally have a great disdain for reading a book that's part of a series without starting from the beginning, however when I requested this novel from Netgalley, I seem to have missed that fact. REGARDLESS, it didn't matter. It reads like a standalone. There was not even a split second where I felt like I was missing out on something that was key to a previous instalment. Cooper's writing keeps you on track and in the moment.

This novel was right up the alley of book genre that I ADORE. So what's different about this one, compared to any others I've read recently? Well, conspiracy for one. There's always this allusion to something bigger than the current case, but it's always just hinting in the background, never at the forefront.

Second, ties to mythology and architecture. There's a nice focus on the history of Washington D.C. and how it's architectural specialites came to be with ties to Ancient Egypt. I really enjoyed these aspects of the novel, regardless of whether they are actually true or not. I also enjoyed the ties to Egyptian myths and such that really added to the mystery.

Third, I liked the focus on the FBI Agent's neuroscientist background. Being in health care, I do have quite the interest in this type of information. I liked how research on the minds of psychopaths tied into the story, as well as how it aided in the investigation to a certain extent.

I'm not one for fact checking while reading a novel, while others may be. I'm simply here for a good time, so while not everything may be entirely accurate I enjoyed myself...and I think that's what matters most in a novel.

This is the first piece I've read of Cooper's... but I can't say it will be the last. I really enjoy her way of writing, her plots and characters are all well-written, and very relevant to the story!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review!</i>

This book is SO GOOD. Ellison Cooper is SO GOOD. Sayer Altair is one smart, tough and kick butt character and I think I want to be her in my next life.

Cut to the Bone is the third book in the Sayer Altair series and my favourite one so far. Sayer is a special agent with the FBI and uses her work in neurology to help identify and track down serial killers. This time around bus load of high school students has been kidnapped and the girls are starting to show up dead around Washington DC.

As Sayer and her team search for the girls and the abductor/murderer the are faced with obstacle after obstacle. It's almost like someone is purposely trying to stop them from finding the killer.

And um, the last paragraph.....are you kidding me?!! When is book 4 coming out? Seriously.

If you like smart thrillers and you haven't read this series, you need to get your hands on them. 5 Stars

A huge Thank You to #Netgalley and @StMartinsPress @MinotaurBooks for an advanced copy of #CuttotheBone

I loved this book!!! The ending left me with goosebumps and yearning for more in the best way possible. When I requested this book on NetGalley, I didn’t realize it was part of series but I’m so glad it is because I want to keep following the characters’ stories. At the beginning of this story, a bus load of high school students goes missing. When bodies begin to appear in a ritualized manner, FBI agent Sayer Altair takes charge of the case and is assisted by a variety of characters, including an anonymous psychopath from one of her research studies. Multiple mysteries unfold throughout the book and come together in an incredibly satisfying way. This book has everything I love in a mystery/thriller: excellent character development, multiple story lines, interesting plot points, behavior analysis, mythology, and plenty of twists and turns. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

What a fascinating story. I have always been a fan of Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan series, and Ellison Cooper's series about Sayer Altair seems to be very similar (however it does more with neuroscience and FBI investigations rather than decomposed corpses and FBI investigations - which I have to say I much prefer).

I had a hard time getting into the book initially, because I actually did not know it was part of a series (facepalm) and felt like I was missing some backstory. Once I got past that, though, and the story picked up, I was hooked and finished the book within the course of a few hours.

I loved the DC setting, and the killer's backstory, and even the ties to ancient Egypt (though I had never studied it before). I 100% recommend this book and look forward to reading all of Ellison Cooper's other books!

Sayer Altair is back in another heart pounding, pulse racing thriller to find a missing bus full of teenagers. The story is fast paced and keeps you guessing. Many of our old favorite characters, Ezra, Holt, Tito and Vesper, Max and Kona, Adi, are back to further enrich the story. The subject of Jake, Sayer's dead fiance, is also always at the forefront. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

I received an ARC courtesy of netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book (and more coming) in the Sayer Altair series and it's another absolutely thrilling book in this series! I don't know how this author does it each book has so much suspense and mystery that you can't help but not be captivated. Sayer, Ezra, Holt ,Max and Tino are back and this time with a very different mystery to solve as well as a ghost comes back from the past. I can't say enough good thinks about this series and Cut to the Bone . As a reader of thrillers and mysteries this book has everything I love about thrillers. The heart pounding suspense, great characters and a great mystery to solve. Who stole the bus of teenagers and why? This is not clear cut and simple there are so many layers to this book. I would give 10 stars if I could. Read today you will NOT be disappointed.

Another great offering from Ellison Cooper. This author should be a first purchase for collections where thrillers are popular.

Cut to the Bone is my first read from Ellison Cooper! The story is gripping and thrilling throughout.. i kinda could guess some parts, but overall it was worth it! Wonderful “dark secrets revealed” book. I can definitely see myself re-reading this one. This book is 3rd in a series, I dint know it while reading, I could follow the characters and the story flow. But definitely gonna check out other books in the series and other books from Ellison Cooper. I loved her story telling and the language.
Thank you NetGalley, Ellison Cooper and St.Martin’s Press for reader’s copy of this book. The review is my own and is not influenced in any way.

What do you get if you cross "Silence of the Lambs", "The Blacklist" and "The A-team"? Perhaps this book. And this is not meant as a criticism at all. The reason why such movies and TV programmes are so popular is because they work. Yes, there is a predictability about certain elements - but so what? So long as there are some interesting characters, a solid base story, drama, and the occasional twist, it works. And it works in this book. Although it pushed the limits of believability a few times (time appears to be a very variable construct, for example), I couldn't put it down and wanted to get to the end as soon as possible to see how it all would pan out. I was not disappointed. And although it has set it itself up for a possible series, in some ways I think the ending is so strong it deserves to be left as a stand alone book. Perhaps the ending speaks to the title, but otherwise, I'd say the title is the weakest part of the book as it doesn't really speak to the overall strengths of the book's story.

I love this series and have enjoyed ever book I have read in this year . Great character and plot
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

This was a very interesting book. The plot moved along well and the storyline was good. I was a little lost on a lot of the character's backstory. Some of it was filled in, but not enough for everything to be clear. It was really hard to tell where the plot was going at different points, though the reveal of the bad guy was somewhat predictable. I think it would have had a little more impact if I was more familiar with the previous books.

When I began reading the storyline gripped my attention from the first page and never released me. It impressed me that I was able to come into this series at book three and not once felt as though I was missing any pieces to the plot. The entire story was well written and allows the book to stand on its own.

FBI Senior Special Agent Sayer Altair is not the type of neuroscientist with a focus on psychopathy you expect to meet. She is a smart and critically thinking person but also very relatable with her sarcasm, wit, fierce loyalty to her friends and family. As well as her ambition and no-nonsense attitude towards her job. I greatly enjoyed spending my day living in the life of Sayer Altair.

Director Anderson assigns Agent Altair to a potentially high profile case due to the holidays with zero support from the agency. Just another day at the office for someone like Sayer whose boss has been out to get her since day one. What starts as a simple double homicide with ritualistic elements hinting at a serial killer emerging quickly turns out to something vastly disingenuous. In identifying the dead teenager they discover an entire busload of STEM students from various high schools were hijacked en route to a competition. The deeper they dig into the meaning of the murders and kidnappings the more perplexing, and lethal, the investigation becomes.

With changes on the horizon in her home life, a mysterious stalker following her, one of her prior research subjects tinkering into her investigation, a few near-death experiences that are all just part of the job, and more than a few twists to keep you dazed and panting for more. This is by far a great read and my new favorite author.

This third book in the series is a thrill ride from the very beginning. I'm a big fan of these books. Sayer is a strong, independent, and determined agent and woman. The character has really grown since the first book. This case of missing teenagers is intense and an emotional rollercoaster. All of our favorite characters are back and several are involved in helping Sayer.

There is a lot going on here and the missing kids case is just the beginning and full of action and suspense. Plenty of surprises will keep you guessing. There are also some answers for things that have been building throughout the series. And that shocking ending had me gasping aloud! I can't wait for more.

An excellent and very thrilling edition to this series!

Fans of the TV show Criminal Minds and Meg Gardiner's Unsub series will devour these books.

The 3rd book in the series with Agent Sayer Altair is just as interesting as the first two. This time the actual murders are less gruesome, but there's an added element of conspiracy that made this fascinating reading.

I love how much background information the author adds into each crime and character to truly bring the story to life.

I cannot wait to read the 4th book! The only thing I disliked is the cliff hanger ending.

Let me just start my review by saying, wow! This was the best Agent Altair book so far and I am so hoping that their is going to be a fourth one. I just hope I don't have to wait until next year for the fourth one if it is coming.

There are a lot of familiar characters that have been in all three of the Agent Altair books: Holt, Tino, Vesper, Nana, and Adi. There is also the return of Max and his FBI dog, who we were all introduced to in the second Agent Altar book, Buried. I was really happy to see Max and his dog return. There is also Jake, who is Agent Altair's husband who passed away four years ago. Agent Altair has been looking into his death since the previous book, Buried, where she learned new information about it.

Cut to to the Bone mentions the first book, Caged, on several occasions. If you have not read Caged or Buried though, I still think you will be able to follow the story fairly easy. But it might not hurt to at least read Caged so you have a better understanding of when they reference the Caged killer, especially since that is the story of Adi. Cut to the Bone also continues with the same patterns that were found in the previous two books, which is, there is usually a death or serious injury to a law enforcement agent and the serial killer in the book is usually using an MO that is tied to an ancient mythology. This time the ancient mythology is Egyptian.

Agent Altair is an FBI field agent but she is also a "neuroscientist who studied the brains of serial killers for the FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime" (Ellison Cooper). In the previous books, Agent Altair was looking at MRI scans of serial killers and psychopaths and in Buried, she interviewed some of them, which is also when we were introduced to Subject 037. Subject 037 scared a perfect score on the Psychopathy Checklist and has managed to creepily intervene in Agent Altair's life in numerous ways, especially at the end of Buried. In Cut to the Bun, Subject 037 continues to involve himself in Agent Altair's life and we learn some surprising things about him. I am hoping that we will continue to learn about Subject 037 in the 4th book, which I am hoping there will be a 4th one.

The story was extremely well written and kept me at the edge of my seat. I read this book within only a few days. I found that I did not want to put it down. There are a ton of twists and turns in this book and some huge surprises that I just did not see coming that blew me away. However, I did figure out who the unsub (unknown subject) was when I was about 60% through the book and the story itself doesn't reveal who the unsub is until about 75% in.

Rating: I am giving this book a 5 out of 5. I would even consider giving it a 6 out of 5 if I could because that is just how good it was. This was seriously the best Agent Altair book so far, and was better than the previous two. I am dying to know what happens next with Agent Altair, Subject 037, Tino, Vesper, Max, Holt, and Adi. I sure hope that I don't have to wait another year because that will be sooo difficult.

Thank you Minotaur books for letting me read and review this book early. Release date: July 14, 2020.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book because Ellison Cooper had flown under the radar for me before this. I w3as totally blown away! This book started out good and got better and better as it went on. It didn't even matter that it's the third book in a series. If you want a well-written book that is full of excitement this is the book for you. If you want great characters this is the book for you. If you want surprises this is the book for you. I bought the first two books as soon as I finished this one. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I found a new favorite author.

CUT TO THE BONE (AGENT SAYER ALTAIR, #3)

When I requested this high octane, action packed novel, I did so because the premise sounded fascinating. I didn't realize until after reading it that this is book three in a series that I have not been aware of which is why I felt like I had to pay close attention. I absolutely loved Dr. Sayer Altair's character development. She has quite the background as a neuroscience expert on studying the behaviors of psychopath's. Throughout this multilayered mystery subject 037 who is a psychopath that kept in touch with her added intrigue but I felt there was some backstory that I wasn't always sure that I had all of their uncanny relationship details. He seemed harmless although I guessed wrongly that he could have been the mysterious background character that helped intervene in aiding her by saving her life both from a gun shot and fire which was purposefully set. The true behind the scenes helper was mind blowing and quite a twist to her personal life.

This was most definitely a standalone But now I am pleased to know that I can deliciously devour books one and two in this series and get more finely attuned with her personal life. FBI Special Agent Sayer Altair is so interesting because of her background with understanding the brain functions of the amygdala and pre-frontal Lobe functions which interest me and this author gets it right. Sayer is such a noble, non corrupt, clever and caring strong female lead in this race to save a busload of High school students who have been kidnapped by a deranged and deluded serial killer.

From the first page the action starts when a Washington DC policeman is shot while one of the girls is found dead on Albert Einstein's Monument and she is surrounded by baboons. This ritualized murder is when Sayer is assigned to investigate and solve this case which is convoluted but fabulously plotted with Egyptian symbolism and the famous monuments in Washington DC. She assembles her team and it is a race against the clock before another murder is committed. I never guessed who was the serial killer nor whom was her guardian Angel but it was a roller coaster of a five star reading experience that left me wanting more.

I also loved that the High school girls rallied to overcome their sadistic kidnapper by fighting and injuring him while Kate tried to sprint to escape. Kate's ingenious splicing together the colored wires to create the electric circuit on an outdated rotary phone helped Special Agent Sayer and her team to locate the survivors by her description of the cryptic hideout. This book was like peeling back layer by layer of an onion to unravel the plot. Everything about this novel kept me invested and I am excited to go and read book's one and two because of the complex lovable Special Agent Sayer Altair of the FBI as the admirable and riveting strong female sleuth at the helm. Easily now my favorite series for both mystery and thriller genres.

Thank you to Net Galley, Ellison Cooper and St. Martin's/Minotaur Books for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinion's are my own,

Publication Date: July 14, 2020

#CutToTheBone #EllisonCooper #StMartin's&MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

Cut to the Bone (Ellison Cooper) is the third story of a series (Caged and Buried  #1 and #2). All are stand alone because Ms Cooper gives just enough back story as the stories unfolds. But the reader is going to enjoy the books so much more by starting with Caged as I did. My only complaint is I wish Ms Cooper wrote a little faster as I can't wait to read the next in this series that often keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. I want to thank Net Galley and St. Martins Press for an early copy to review.

This is a strange book for me to rate. Typically I don’t give 5 stars unless the book has shook me to the core, and although this book has no done that, it would be unfair to give it anything less than 5.

Cooper checks off everything needed for a great book. I absolutely loved the incorporation of Egyptian history & afterlife in the case, it took the whole story up to a whole other notch.

The characters were diverse, well rounded, and like able. Sayer had a fine crew of side characters to help her along. She was level headed and smart, and her intuition was fascinating to follow.

The story contains plot twists, corruption, and surprises at every chapter. I would recommend you pick it up!

Best in the series to Date!!
This is the third book in the Agent Sayer. Altair series. A ritualistic murder and a bus load of Washington DC teens missing. FBI Agent Sayer Altair is head of the task force. She is being stonewalled at every turn.
This story has so much action, crazy twists and shocking turns it’s hard to put down. I wish every crime fiction suspense was as good as this book. This author us fast becoming one of my favorite authors.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the Advanced Copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ellison Cooper and St. Martin’s Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Guys, this remains my VERY FAVORITE series of all time! I couldn’t put this one down; I literally ignored being an adult for the day and just read instead! This is an action packed, fast-paced, shocking thriller that you DEFINITELY need to read! Every single shock was unexpected and I loved it! I adore how Cooper always seems to create a criminal that is just so unique and just impossible to guess the entire way through! This has been my favorite book of the series so far and I needed to talk about this one with someone right away because the ending was so shocking! I cannot wait for the next one!

Out July 14th!

This series will be one I will read again and again. Warning You need to start with book 1 to completely understand what is happening in book 3.

Ellison Cooper is able to weave a story that will have reader engaged in the sub plot lines as well as the major story line. Ellison weaves a story of betrayal, curiosity, friendships and family with so much ease authors and readers alike will find themselves needing more from this author to see where her writing will take her.

The author background in Anthropology is very much obvious as she tells her story with a scientific background



The story creates a world with a woman who grieves for those she lost as well as those she might lose. Sayer wants to understand how the mind works in psychopaths to better understand what turns a person to kill vs being successful. Awhile saving the world and the FBI she loves!

The cast of characters are amazing, flawed, relatable and very human. Sayer is able to bring the misfits of the work into her working and home life where everyone is able to fall in love with the banter, communication and the overwhelming love the author put into each and everyone of these characters.



This a can't miss series!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Ellison Cooper Cut to the Bone

I'm very excited to have a new series to read! This is actually the third book in the series, but you're able to follow along, though as always, reading the first two would be beneficial. There has been a deluge of books like this, criminal procedurals and police dramas, and many of them just don't really hold your attention, but this one was really surprising and just plain GOOD.

I read CUT TO THE BONE by Ellison Cooper in three days and I loved it! Cooper’s Agent Sayer Altair series is a must read! The books just get better and better. I loved the intricate crime Cooper created and the details added throughout to make readers think. I was on the edge of my seat throughout. The incorporation of Egyptian culture added a whole layer to the story that enhanced this mystery. This aspect was well done. The twists thrown in there, as well, kept me on my toes and guessing what would happen until the very end! Looking forward to more from this author!

First time I,
Ive read Ellison Cooper but it won’t be my last time! Page turning psychological thriller with strong female characters. A race against time to save the lost bus full of aspiring, intelligent teens. Couldn’t put the book down!

FBI neuroscientist Sayer Altair is one of the most fascinating characters and watching her development and story through the first two novels, I will look forward to any future novels from Ellison Cooper. I happened on the first novel, bought the second novel and thank the publishers for allowing me to enjoy the third.

Altair's focus may be on studying the brains of psychopaths but she has a skill set for solving cases that can't be ignored. Her latest to which she is assigned, with only the help of a few agents, is to find a busload of kidnapped high school STEM students. When one turns up as what seems a sacrifice with an Egyptology theme the race is on to figure out where the rest of the students are. At the same time you are further introduced to Sayer's family, past, loves and losses and supporters. You root through the suspense and mystery that the case will get solved and the students saved. The suspense and chills will keep you in their grip right to the last surprising pages. Highly recommended.

Sayer is on the case of a group of missing kids. Her work on psychopaths makes her essential on this new case where a police officer and a young girl are found dead. There are signs of Egyptian symbols around the body which leaves the task force with lots of questions. Bringing in her neighbor and his dog at certain points, and her old boss who was pushed out of her job recently.

This had a lot of action, and highly intense with some ties into Sayer's past that come back to the surface. The ending left me speechless and can't wait for the next book in this series.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

How long am I going to have to wait for the next one!? This series just keeps getting better and better. I love the character development, the story lines keep me riveted. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I really enjoy that the chapters are short, it keeps everything moving quickly. Since I first started this series, I’ve been hooked. I really enjoy the way Ellison Cooper weaves history and thriller together. I will eagerly be waiting for the next book in this series!

Thank you to Ellison Cooper and Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book!

Senior special agent Sayer is investigating the disappearance of a school bus with 24 high school students on it.
This book was written very well. Sayer is a strong, independent and intelligent character. I felt invested in the outcome of the story as it continued. There were other interesting parts of the story including the use of neurology, Egyptian mythology, and conspiracy theories. The author did a great job of immediately grabbing my attention within the first few pages and developing characters.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

I absolutely love this series and Cut to the Bone is my favourite so far.

I have really been liking these thriller/mystery/suspense novels where it’s less focused on a whodunnit and more focused on the why and how these crimes are committed. For me, when the killer in a book is revealed, it can make or break a book. When books are less focused on keeping the reader guessing on who is responsible, and instead focuses on the protagonists and them trying to get into the mind of the suspect, it makes it a more enjoyable read for me.

Not only was this books mystery and crime really interesting to follow, it made some great advances on the previous book’s storyline. Sayer was conducting her own study looking at the brains of psychopaths, and subject 037 takes a keen interest in her and ‘checks in on her’ and follows her handling of this case. I love a series spanning story line, and this book ended with a jaw dropping cliffhanger! I usually don’t appreciate cliffhangers (I am impatient!), but this one was really well done and am so excited that it means there will be a next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced e-reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

On a quiet night in Washington, D.C. a police officer walking his beat sees a strange man seemingly up to no good. When the officer confronts the man the man turns and shoots the officer. However the officer turns out to not be only the only victim. There is a young girl who is lying there dead and her body has been left in a ritualistic way.
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FBI Agent Sayer Altair’s is called to investigate the scene as she has a background in dealing with psychopaths. During the investigation she learns that the dead girl was part of a field trip with other young boys and girls and their bus is missing and nobody knows where they are.
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Agent Altair is put in charge of the case to find the missing kids and what she discovers is things are not what they seem. (I don’t what to say too much more so I don’t spoil anything)
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First off I want to thank @minotaur books for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This book hooked me in from page 1 and I struggled to put this one down. The story and characters are simply fantastic and I love Agent Altair. She is portrayed as the bad ass who can take on anything or anyone. The twists and turns are amazing and unexpected. I also learned a few things about Washington which is one of my favourites cities I have been to in the USA. I can’t say enough good things about this one and highly recommend it to everyone. It comes out

Cut to the Bone is the kind of mystery/suspense book I love the most. Not only there is a fast-paced plot with lots of twists and turns, but also the characters are diverse and with very interesting backstories. I read this book in only two sittings, and I loved every minute of it. Edge of my seat suspense, Egyptian history, police/FBI procedural, and some very disturbing mind games make this book a 5 stars read for me and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves this genre. Also, this is a third book in the series, and I highly encourage to read the first two books before this one in order to get the main character’s backstory.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion

I love Sayer!! She is brilliant!! This is the third book in the series, but you can definitely read as a stand-alone. I think this Author does a fantastic job in describing the characters so you don't feel left out. If you love a good police procedural, then this series is for you. The books leave you on edge and will blow you away.