Driven: A Thrilling Novel of Suspense

Rebecca Zanetti

Jan 2021 · Deep Ops Book 4 · Zebra Books

About this ebook

A gripping, unpredictable new serial killer thriller by acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti, perfect for fans of the chilling novels of Kat Martin, Laura Griffin, and Jayne Ann Krentz.
 
“Zanetti is a master.”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
Unswerving: Angus Force is determined to hunt down the serial killer he’d once shot dead—or so he thought. But an anonymous source reports that Lassiter is alive. Force hasn't slept since, knowing it’s only a matter of time before “the Surgeon” strikes again. And soon, a body is found, bearing Lassiter’s same maniacal MO. It’s just the beginning of a murderous trail blazing through DC and Virginia, right to Force’s backyard . . .
 
Unstoppable: Nari Zhang is the shrink for the ragtag Deep Ops Unit, though she isn’t Force’s
shrink—which is a very good thing. Because once they’re thrown together on the case, their attraction is explosive and irresistible. They’ll just have to fight that much harder to keep the heat between them from flaming out of control. But things are about to become far more challenging, and deadly, than they could have imagined . . .
 
Unhinged: Once the killer catches a glimpse of Nari, she becomes his new obsession. She is now the focus point—for both Force and Lassiter—in a dangerous dance for survival . . .

“Action-packed…Zanetti still makes time to dig into her characters’ psyches in the midst of the action, adding nuance to the exciting plot.”
—Publishers Weekly

 

Ratings and reviews

DRIVEN is the fourth full length instalment in Rebecca Zanetti’s contemporary, adult DEEP OPS romantic suspense series focusing on the members of the Requisition Force, Deep Ops Team, a division of the Homeland Defense Department ( HDD) of the FBI. This is disgruntled and disgraced FBI and HDD agent Angus Force, and FBI psychologist Nari Zhang’s story. DRIVEN can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and history, as the hunt for a serial killer, once thought dead and buried, has been developing throughout the series. Told from dual third person perspectives (Nari and Angus) DRIVEN brings into focus Angus Force’s obsession with proving, the serial killer nicknamed “the Surgeon”, is alive and well, taunting our hero at every opportunity. Years earlier, Angus was credited with taking down and killing serial killer Henry Wayne Lassiter but a series of murders, with similarities to the murders of Henry Wayne Lassiter, have piqued the obsession of our story line hero. As the murders take on a familiar pattern, and the victims bear a striking resemblance to the members of the Deep Ops Team, Nari and Angus become targets of a pathological mind, pulling Angus into an investigation where he becomes the number one suspect. The relationship between Nari and Angus is one of immediate attraction but an attraction predicated upon close proximity, and a thinly veiled line between hate and lust. When the Requisition Force Team is disbanded, our couple remain working together, pushing them closer to love and their own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. Once, again, there is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including former police detective and undercover operative Malcolm West, and Pippa Smith, (Hidden #1), Special agent Raider Tanaka, and computer hacker Brigid Banaghan (Fallen 2) , US Navy SEAL Clarence Wolfe, and reporter Dana Mulberry (Broken 3); Angus’s quirky alcohol guzzling, lipstick eating German shepherd Roscoe, and Wolfe’s pocket sized kitten Kat: FBI administrator Opal Clemonte; Nari’s biological father Quan Zhang; former MI6 Agent Dr. Jethro Hanson; Special Agents Tom Rutherford, and Kurt Fields. DRIVEN is a story of obsession, betrayal, treason and vengeance; family, friendships and relationships; power, infatuation, and murder. The premise is intriguing and enthralling; the romance is passionate; the characters are dynamic, compelling and tireless. DRIVEN is a wonderfully exciting addition to the Deep Ops series.

Driven by Rebecca Zanetti Deep Ops #? I was looking forward to reading about Angus Force and Nari Zhang since they run so hot and cold through the first books and though the two do belong together, sizzle when together, and seem to be good for one another…this story took me longer to read and I am not sure why. It could have been any one of a number of things: the obsession that Angus had over the serial killer that did his sister in or Nari’s obsession with wanting the approval of her biological father or the two of them doing the push-pull & you deserve better/are better thing or perhaps the way outside forces were trying to manipulate clues in a way that was truly unbelievable to me so why would it be believable to those who should have been in the know OR it could be that this story wasn’t as much for me as the previous ones were…who knows. I did enjoy it and look forward to reading more in this series/by this author. So, thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review. 3-4 Stars

This whole series has been amazing and while each book has been fulfilling in itself, they’ve also built up my desire for Angus’ story. And with Driven, I finally have it. The fact that I’ve had numerous opportunities to see Angus and Nari interact in the previous books, added more depth to their story. But now I got to really see them in action and they did not disappoint. While Angus is definitely a protective hero, he was never over the top with it. I liked that he was able to allow Nari to do her thing, even if he would have preferred to keep her hidden away. Nari actually took me by surprise. She was nothing as I expected making her the perfect match for Angus. This is filled with so much action, drama, suspense and danger. All of it was sprinkled with a bit of humor and a healthy dose of sizzling chemistry. I was a bit disappointed that Roscoe’s character was not given the chance to shine as much as he has in some of the previous books. He’s still my favorite from the whole series. While this is part of a series and would be better read in order, it doesn’t have to be. I highly recommend this book and any of the previous books!

About the author

Rebecca Zanetti is the award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty romantic suspense, dark paranormal, and contemporary romances, many of which have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple bestseller lists and sold millions of copies worldwide. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and New York Times Book Review and received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, and Kirkus. Previously an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner, Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body—all in the name of research. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and can be found online at RebeccaZanetti.com