Viper Spaulding
I couldn't put this book down! The action starts off strong and never lets up in this romantic thriller. Nicholas and Aubrey first met three years prior working a serial killer case, and now an apparent copycat killer has claimed Aubrey's sister as a way of drawing her out. Nicholas is an FBI agent who specializes in getting into the minds of the killers, while Aubrey is the city's medical examiner whose careful attention to detail helped identify the killer on their first case together. Now, she's driven to work this case for her sister, but as a potential victim Nicholas is trying to keep her safe. I really enjoyed the easy working relationship these two had, and how they challenged each other to move beyond their emotional comfort zones. This was instrumental in laying the foundation for their romance, which grew quickly due to the intensity of the danger they faced during the investigation. There are plenty of details of the killings and attempted killings, so this is not a book for the squeamish. It's not overdone, though - just enough to really understand the inner strength required for them each to survive to see justice done. The HEA focused more on that justice and less on the romance, as did the entire book, but there's no doubt about either Nicholas's or Aubrey's feelings by the end. This was an exciting, non-stop read for me. I loved getting into the hearts and minds of the main characters, and I was completely drawn into the details of the case. I'm looking forward to reading more in this thrilling series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Connie Toler
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I purchased a copy as I loved it so much. This book is one that just grabs you right from the beginning and doesn't let go until the end. I really could have gladly kept on reading more of this couple. This is a wonderful beginning for a new series. Dr. Aubrey Flood finds a map taped to the door to her apartment. Unfortunately it leads to her sister's, Kara, deceased body. Three years prior Dr. Flood worked on a serial murder case with BAU profiler Nicholas James. Aubrey has complete trust that the profiler will be able to bring Kara's murderer to justice and request that he lead the investigation. What these two people go through at the hands of the killer really test their grit, strength and determination. I adored the dual POV format as it allowed me to see into the characters' thoughts. This helped me to fully understand them so much better and become more immersed into the story. The plot flowed nicely and I really felt that I was right now in the middle of everything. There was just some kissing between the two characters so it shouldn't offend anyone.