Joelle's Bibliofile

Allison Brennan begins a new series on fairly strong footing with The Third to Die, a thriller with some interesting and complex characters that remain unique but occasionally dip into some tired tropes of the genre.  The book begins from the point of view of a serial killer whose meticulous nature and disturbing psychology are immediately apparent as he is described cleaning up after his latest crime.  Liberty Lake is a small Washington town, unused to such violence and the local law enforcement is ill-equipped to handle such a complex case.  Luckily, the body happens to be discovered by Kara Quinn, an LAPD undercover detective who is on a mandatory vacation for reasons that will be discovered as the story evolves.  Because of its similarity to other cases known to be committed by the “Triple Killer,” the FBI sends a newly formed unit called the Mobile Response Unit to aid in the investigation.  Matt Costa barely has time to form his team and coax his best friend and expert profiler out of retirement before the killer is due to strike again.  Targeting nurses, teachers and police, the “Triple Killer” has evaded capture due to his long waiting periods and victim profiles that defy easy classification.  Of course, small town politics and jurisdictional issues arise to complicate matters further.  Kara Quinn is enormously perceptive, and due to her inability to relax while visiting her grandmother, she is an eager and welcomed help to Costa and the MRT. Still, her complicated past and cavalier approach to excessive force may make her a liability as well.  Of course, Costa and Quinn find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other and quickly tumble into a sexual liaison of the “I’m damaged, so won’t let anyone get too close” variety.  The action in The Third to Die is fast-paced and compelling, if also a bit predictable.  Brennan is at her best when she is inside the mind of the killer and weakest in her portrayal of the formulaic carnal passages.  The cast of characters are obviously crafted to continue past this book and are drawn convincingly enough to attract a following.  This new release will appeal mostly to those who like their thrillers traditional and comfortably familiar. Hopefully, Brennan’s follow up will go deeper into the development of the MRT team and avoid veering again into unnecessary romance.

Thanks to the author, MIRA/Harlequin Books and Edelweiss for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.