The latest thriller in the Ellie Matthews series from USA Today bestselling author Caroline Fardig.
Criminalist Ellie Matthews has turned over a new leaf. For the first time in her life, she’s working on herself and putting the past behind her with the encouragement of the new man she’s seeing, FBI Agent Vic Manetti.
Her first attempt at competitive running is cut short when a woman is found dead along the trail. At first, the case seems to be open and shut. But when a gruesome photo of the victim goes viral, tagged with a chilling caption threatening more violence, Ellie must delve into the mind of a deranged killer to get to the truth.
Though Ellie’s relationship with Detective Nick Baxter has been strained to its breaking point, the two find themselves teaming up once again in a race to bring down the killer before he takes another life.
My Thoughts
I was so excited to discover that Ellie Matthews was back in action! Caroline Fardig has created a character that is relatable and one that I have enjoyed reading. Her childhood, as well as what she's been living the past few years, have shaped her into a woman we can all aspire to become!
Ellie has tried to shift her life to a new direction after experiencing a harrowing experience of nearly losing her sister. She's been sober and is getting in shape physically with her new FBI boyfriend Vic. Things are going well until a runner from Vic's group is found murdered. He, along with other members of the group, are suspect and their "perfect" selves are fractured.
I was happy to see that Ellie and Nick hadn't lost their connection. In fact, it's strengthened and it made my heart happy that they were finally aligned. This isn't a focus of the book, but a nice touch. Their banter is really what makes it fun -- especially during an undercover operation!
The pacing is strong, twisting you at precisely the right moments, and creating doubt in what you've learned about people in Ellie's life. Such another great installment to the series. I can't wait until the next one! I highly recommend reading the first two books in the series. It puts a lot of things into perspective for this one!
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About the Author
CAROLINE FARDIG is the USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR of over a dozen mystery novels. Fardig's BAD MEDICINE was named one of the "Best Books of 2015" by Suspense Magazine. She worked as a schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom before she realized that she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Born and raised in a small town in Indiana, Fardig still lives in that same town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat.
Other Books in the Series:
Book#1: Bitter Past
From USA Today bestselling author Caroline Fardig comes a gripping new forensic mystery series.
Three years ago, criminalist Ellie Matthews was blindsided when a grisly homicide case suddenly became personal. She abandoned the danger and stress of crime scene investigation for a professorship at a posh private college and never looked back.
Now, Ellie’s pleasant world is shattered when she finds the dead body of a female student. The campus is in chaos, reporters are circling like vultures, and Ellie is trying her best to distance herself from the situation. Not an easy task when her closest colleague becomes the prime suspect.
After the college community is rocked by another suspicious death, Ellie’s mentor, Sheriff Jayne Walsh, convinces her to consult on the case. Partnered with quick-witted Detective Nick Baxter, Ellie reluctantly bottles up her personal demons and dives back into the world she left behind, racing to make sense of the evidence before the killer strikes again.
Book #2: An Eye for An Eye
A dark thriller in the Ellie Matthews series from USA Today bestselling author Caroline Fardig.
Ellie Matthews is tired of her fifteen minutes of fame. After consulting on a high-profile murder case a few months ago, she wants nothing more than to fade back into obscurity and resume her life as a mild-mannered college professor. But when a family friend goes missing, Ellie finds herself thrust back into the grisly world of crime scene investigation.
It isn’t long before Ellie’s young friend is found murdered and her death is tied to a previously unsolved case. Based on the cryptic poems left on the victims, the department soon realizes that the killer’s vendetta is against them.
It takes all Ellie has to push her personal feelings aside and partner with Detective Nick Baxter one more time. The duo must stop at nothing to catch a vengeful serial killer before it’s too late.