Name: The Third to Die
ISBN: 9780778309444

Allison Brennan

"The first in Brennan's amazing new thriller series. Dive in and enjoy this nail-biter."--Catherine Coulter, NYT bestselling author of LABYRINTH An edgy female police detective...An ambitious FBI special agent. Together they are at the heart of the ticking-clock investigation for a psychopathic serial killer. The bond they forge in this crucible sets the stage for high-stakes suspense. Detective Kara Quinn, on leave from the LAPD, is on an early morning jog in her hometown of Liberty Lake when she comes upon the body of a young nurse. The manner of death shows a pattern of highly controlled rage. Meanwhile in DC, FBI special agent Mathias Costa is staffing his newly minted Mobile Response Team. Word reaches Matt that the Liberty Lake murder fits the profile of the compulsive Triple Killer. It will be the first case for the MRT. This time they have a chance to stop this zealous if elusive killer before he strikes again. But only if they can figure out who he is and where he is hiding before he disappears for another three years. The stakes are higher than ever before, because if they fail, one of their own will be next...

The Third to Die

Nadine 

Serial murder and the team that catch him in a race against time.

“The first in Brennan’s amazing new thriller series. Dive in and enjoy this nail-biter.”—Catherine Coulter, NYT bestselling author of LABYRINTH An edgy female police detective…An ambitious FBI special agent. Together they are at the heart of the ticking-clock investigation for a psychopathic serial killer. The bond they forge in this crucible sets the stage for high-stakes suspense. Detective Kara Quinn, on leave from the LAPD, is on an early morning jog in her hometown of Liberty Lake when she comes upon the body of a young nurse. The manner of death shows a pattern of highly controlled rage. Meanwhile in DC, FBI special agent Mathias Costa is staffing his newly minted Mobile Response Team. Word reaches Matt that the Liberty Lake murder fits the profile of the compulsive Triple Killer. It will be the first case for the MRT. This time they have a chance to stop this zealous if elusive killer before he strikes again. But only if they can figure out who he is and where he is hiding before he disappears for another three years. The stakes are higher than ever before, because if they fail, one of their own will be next…

A Novel

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Third to Die

Author: Allison Brennan

Book Series: Mobile Response Team Book 1

Rating: 4.5/5

Publication Date: February 4, 2020

Publisher: MIRA

Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, some adult moments)

Synopsis: An edgy female police detective…An ambitious FBI special agent. Together they are at the heart of the ticking-clock investigation for a psychopathic serial killer. The bond they forge in this crucible sets the stage for high-stakes suspense.

Detective Kara Quinn, on leave from the LAPD, is on an early morning jog in her hometown of Liberty Lake when she comes upon the body of a young nurse. The manner of death shows a pattern of highly controlled rage. Meanwhile in DC, FBI special agent Mathias Costa is staffing his newly minted Mobile Response Team. Word reaches Matt that the Liberty Lake murder fits the profile of the compulsive Triple Killer. It will be the first case for the MRT. This time they have a chance to stop this zealous if elusive killer before he strikes again. But only if they can figure out who he is and where he is hiding before he disappears for another three years. The stakes are higher than ever before, because if they fail, one of their own will be next…

Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was full of action and the writing was well done. The plot kept me entertained from start to finish and the characters were very well developed.

However, I did feel like the book was very fast paced and the book didn't wrap up everything, which is a little annoying for me but leaves room for another book.

Verdict: Overall, a well done suspense novel!

Totally Addicted to Reading

The Third to Die, the first book in The Mobile Response series, is a chilling tale about a smart, meticulous and twisted killer determined to get revenge against the people he believed wronged him. He would match wits with the members of the FBI’s newly formed Mobile Response Team and local law enforcement, who would find themselves in a race against time to capture him before he could execute his next target.

A riveting read which proved difficult to put down. The story started slow and took its time building up to a thrilling end. The story gave nothing away. I followed the evidence along with the team and got my answers the same time they did.

I thought the characters were well developed, and I had a great time getting to know them. I found Kara’s character intriguing. As an undercover cop, she proved an asset to the Mobile Response Team. Her working with the team was due to her discovery of a murder scene while jogging. A discovery that placed her in the middle of the hunt for a serial killer. She has an interesting past, which played a role in molding her strong, intelligent and maverick personality.

At the time of Kara’s discovery, Mathias Costas was selected to head the Mobile Response Team. At this point, he and Kara’s paths will cross. Mathias proved to be a great leader but did not have the patience for inter-agency politics. He and Kara worked well together

I feel that this book is a spinoff of another series. I came to this conclusion based on the limited background information provided regarding Mathias and his behavioral analyst Catherine. There is history there, which was not fully explored in this book.

I loved how the author blended the personal lives of the characters with the solving the case. I mourned and celebrated with them as a result.

Conclusion / Recommendation
The Third to Die highlighted how easy it was for the criminal mind to unravel when plans go awry. This was an enjoyable read and a great start to the series. Fans of mysteries and police procedurals would enjoy this latest offering from Allison Brennan.

Becca Futrell

Thank you to MIRA for providing me with an e-ARC of The Third to Die by Allison Brennan in exchange for an honest review (& for allowing me on the blog tour)! 

Multiple Perspectives: The Third to Die gives us insight through multiple perspectives. From Detective Kara Quinn to Special Agent Matt Costa to our Triple Killer. This gives us more of a jist at what's happening in the plot all-around and helps us truly get to know the major playing characters.

There are a lot of characters that come and go throughout The Third to Die, so I strongly believe that Allison Brennan made the right choice by choosing to dive into the minds of multiple characters; shining light on each personality and the relationships that they are involved in.

One thing that really causes this book to stand out is getting into the mind of the Triple Killer. Throughout the book, we get to learn more about him through his own thoughts and what the team discovers throughout their investigation. 

Detective Kara Quinn: Detective Kara Quinn is probably my favorite character in The Third to Die. Growing up, she had con-artist parents who were in and out of jail and attempted to use her multiple times in their shenanigans. This obviously adds rough-around-the-edges to her character; one thing I absolutely love. Her sub-plot was also fairly interesting, and it was very easy to root for her.

Special Agent Matt Costa: Special Agent Matt Costa is in charge of the Mobile Response Team, and honestly, there really wasn't much of anything to him that makes him stand out. 

Romance: There's a romance/lust aspect to The Third to Die, and I believe that as the series continues it'll get even better. At the point of this read, it's just more of a sexy -- kind of forbidden -- relationship. Which I'm always here for sexy & forbidden.

The Triple Killer: As mentioned above, what really adds umph to The Third to Die is the Triple Killer's insight and point-of-view. He's very methodical and proves to be a challenge for the team. It's fun watching what makes him tick, and what happens when his plan gets thrown off course. 

Plot & Execution: Unfortunately, this is where the story kinda fails for me. Plot & execution are clearly important when it comes to a book; as this is what really holds the reader in.

There is a lot of repetition in terms of what’s going on, and the character’s thoughts continuously being repeated. A lot of the internal dialogue and scenes could have been removed, and the story still would have made its point. It was a fairly long & dragging read for me. Excluding getting a glimpse into the Triple Killer’s head, there’s nothing that makes The Third to Die stick out from the other thrillers & mysteries.