🚓 ⚖️ “Critical Threat” (Extreme Measures #3) (2023) ⚖️ 🚓 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Publisher: Revell (January 3, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN: 0800737342
ISBN-13: 978-0800737344
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“FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley tracks serial killers, using her skills as a psychiatrist and behavioral analyst to get dangerous people off the street and safely behind bars. But prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe knows that just because a killer is incarcerated doesn't mean they're not a threat. His own father, Peter, is a serial killer--in prison but certainly not out of Sam's life, as much as he wishes he was.
When bodies start showing up with Peter's MO, Sam and Grace are both called in to consult. They've met before--and though Grace thought they'd made a real connection, Sam ghosted her. They'll have to get past the awkwardness and mistrust to solve this case--especially because it's about to get personal.
USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason doesn't give you time to catch your breath in this breakneck race to stop a serial killer.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing an advanced review copy through the author’s launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
Lynette Eason has become a “must-read” author as soon as I see one of her books being announced – either with a blurb or a cover reveal.
I’ve read books #2-#3 of her Danger Never Sleeps series (I do have the first book which is on my TBR list). I’ve read Protecting Tanner Hallow, and I’ve read the first book of this series – Life Flight. I do have the second book Crossfire, which I didn’t have time to read before this one.
While they don’t have to be read together, since this one can functions as a standalone, I honestly prefer and recommend that books in a series such as this are read in order. Penny from the first book and Julianna from the second book will be mentioned and/or make an appearance. Also, Daria from On the Run included in the TARGETED novella is mentioned, so readers might want to read that story/book as well.
Eason has got a robust round of characters for this book:
🚓 Grace (FBI psychologist and behavioral analyst)
🥼 Sam (took his wife’s name due to his father’s killing spree)
🚓 Jerry (FBI agent)
🚓 Mark (FBI agent)
👧🏻 Eleni (Sam’s daughter)
👦🏻 Xander (Sam’s son)
👵🏻 Vanessa “Nessie” (Sam’s former mother-in-law, has a good relationship with her, lives with Sam and the kids)
👨🏻 Brett (Claire’s current husband)
👩🏻 Claire (Sam’s ex-wife)
👨🏻🦳 Peter (Sam’s dad, serial killer)
There will be some content that might be upsetting to certain readers: mention of drug use, overdose, serial killer, killing of teens, and infidelity. The author does not go into graphic or gory details.
There is a LOT going on in this story:
📱 Family dynamics over a cell phone (I was with the kid on this one)
🚓 Finding a serial killer
💊 A sibling with a dangerous drug addiction
Eason starts right off with the suspense – the mystery guy (killer) watching Grace on the TV. And, there are some killings that the team is wondering what connects the victims.
Having seen this on shows like Profiler (1996-2000), the connection of the victims often paves the way to I.D the killer.
Sam and Grace are set to have dinner when there’s an incident at the prison – one of his patients has taken a guard hostage. The inmate is adamant his sister is in danger, and he also has information about the new killings. No one knows what has set him off. He’s stabbed, in self-defense, by the guard before he can say something. There’s also another inmate there of interest – Sam’s dad who was transferred from a Super Max in Colorado.
It's clear Grace is being watched by the killer – and there were few clues for me to figure it out until the end. He even gets into her house, but gets away. Grace decides to offer herself as bait – not a great idea.
She and Sam head to a bar after finding out about her brother Bobby, who ends up OD’ing there. It is here that Eason gives Grace’s troubled and problematic past. An interesting one for Grace’s career.
Sam is also dealing with a request from his father. This is one of those “are you kidding me, you can’t be real” type of requests. And, I have to wonder what Peter’s REAL goal was. He knows there is something connecting his father to the murders. He isn’t sure what.
Eason didn’t ease up on the action or surprises, even close to the end of the book. I was on edge from the first page to the last page. The reveal about Peter’s mom wasn’t a huge surprise as I figured it out from the moment something came up about it. Still, that was an interesting touch on Eason’s part though and to reveal it AT THE VERY END – spectacular!
I almost didn’t want to put this down, and I ended up staying up past my bedtime to read it. The entire “suspense” of who the killer was and how he was connected to Peter was interesting and Eason had me reading until the last page on that one.
I had to laugh at Jerry – 6’ 3”, 220, and always eating. Reminds me of a few guys I like.
One thing that annoyed me was the issue over Eleni having a cell phone. As a slight spoiler – I was really ticked at Claire and Brett leaving her home alone with no phone – not even a landline. That was, given her father’s job as well as her grandfather’s past (even if she didn’t know), extremely dangerous.
Were an emergency to break out or her needing medical attention – that would be negligent of Claire and Brett. Honestly, my kid would have SOME type of phone at home, though I’d prefer an adult (only in case of medical issues – choking, fall, collapse) and a phone. A cell phone can be locked and/or parental controls engaged.
I adored the idea of Sam’s former mother-in-law living with him and the kids. While she loves her daughter – she isn’t putting up with her shenanigans (go Nessie!). It was a unique and fresh spin on the M-I-L dynamic. I loved it when she said Sam was a better dad to the kids than her own daughter (Claire) was a mom.
Sam, in trying hard to prove he wasn’t the type of man his father was, he ended up being the worst husband and father – or feels he was. Worst he isn’t, but it showed a wonderful balance and how he accepted the responsibility for his choices – good and bad. It definitely shows the stresses of any job.
There was a suspenseful moment regarding Grace who was handcuffed in a van as it went into the water. Trust me, I was REALLY reading that fast as those types of “scenes” are frightening for me.
And, there was an honestly endearing moment when Grace tells a grieving family member that sorry was inadequate and provided little comfort, but reiterated the FBI wanted to find the killer. This is a moment more shows and books need – that raw honesty. Kudos to Eason for highlighting that.
Sorry is, to me, nothing more than a “feel good” word. Perhaps it is because of what I’ve been through over the last few months that it has no real meaning. One can be sorry for something, depending on what it is, being sorry takes real action to either make sure the wrong doesn’t occur again, make restitution, or in this case – commitment to making sure the guilty party is caught. So, I completely appreciated Grace’s honesty.
Fans of Eason won’t want to miss this non-stop, fast-paced, exciting, and thrilling read that keeps readers on the edge, if not pushing them over, and watching as they hang on for dear life.
I am eagerly awaiting the fourth book in the series, and am HOPING I can read the second book before its release.
As it is distributed by a primarily Christian publisher and written by a Christian author – there will be themes of Christian faith espoused by the characters. This is also a clean read, so there is no bad language. There are also no depictions of intimate acts either.
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
Series: Extreme Measures (Book #1)
Paperback: 336 Pages
Publisher: Revell (January 4, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800737334
ISBN-13: 978-0800737337
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“EMS helicopter pilot Penny Carlton is used to high stress situations, but being forced to land on a mountain in a raging storm with a critical patient--and a serial killer on the loose--tests her skills and her nerve to the limit. She survives with FBI Special Agent Holt Satterfield's help. But she's not out of the woods yet.
In the ensuing days, Penny finds herself under attack. And when news reaches Holt that he may not have gotten his man after all, it will take all he and Penny have to catch a killer--before he catches one of them.”
Series: Extreme Measures (Book #2)
Paperback: 336 Pages
Publisher: Revell (August 2, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800737350
ISBN-13: 978-0800737351
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“FBI special agent Julianna Jameson is a top-notch negotiator who has never lost a hostage. Surely she can manage to take care of her much younger sister, Dottie, who showed up unannounced to live with Julianna while she finished her senior year of high school.
A former sniper with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Clay Fox left the army after a tragic incident that he can't get past. Now he's working as a high school resource officer until he can figure out what to do with the rest of his life.
Their paths cross when Julianna is called in to negotiate a courtroom hostage situation involving Clay's sister. Impressed and a bit intimidated by the calm, capable woman with the dark hair and blue eyes, Clay invites her to speak at his school. Dottie's school.
But as the anniversary of a school shooting from Julianna's past approaches, it becomes clear that her perfect record is about to be tested and that Dottie is at risk. If Julianna and Clay can't figure out who's behind the attacks, more innocent people will die--and Dottie is next in line.
This intense story of revenge and redemption from bestselling author and master of suspense Lynette Eason will have you up all night as you race toward the explosive finish.”
ALSO CONNECTED TO THE SERIES:
Language: English
ISBN: 0800740289
ISBN-13: 978-0800740283
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“Three women. Three men. Three unsuspecting targets.
Get ready for triple the thrills with three heart-stopping stories from your favorite romantic suspense authors!
In On the Run, IT Specialist Daria Nevsky is a highly skilled FBI agent with the ability to hack any computer. She must go on the run to find out who wants her dead--and Dr. Ryker Donahue refuses to let her do it alone.
In Deadly Objective, physical therapist Emily Dixon and Secret Service Agent Liam Harper are committed to keeping their relationship professional. But when the vice president's son enters the crosshairs of a killer, some lines will have to be crossed in order to keep him safe.
In Caught in the Crosshairs, there is no love lost between former Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman and CIA officer Claudia Gallegos after Claudia is implicated in the murder of a Saudi prince. But to prevent a coup that would put America at risk, they'll have to learn to trust each other--before it's too late.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynette Eason is the USA Today bestselling author of Life Flight, Crossfire, and Critical Threat, as well as the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband. They have two adult children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.
You can follow her on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lynette.eason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynetteeason/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lynetteeason
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