John W. Mefford

At Once

Totally Addicted to Reading

I have been a fan of John W Mefford ever since I read his Booker series. I have enjoyed most his books and was thrilled when I heard about the Alex Troutt series. This is the third book in the series and can be read as a standalone. I did not enjoy this installment as much as I did the previous book in the series, however, I still found it to be an interesting read.

 In this installment it would appear that someone as a vendetta against the men of the cloth. This was evident by the recent bombings, which have been aimed at them. However, things are not always what they seem. The bombings have been extended to include what appears to be unrelated personnel. These events have stumped the FBI has they are not able to make a connection. Added to this Alex has been ordered by the assistant director of the FBI to investigate her boss as he suspected to have terrorist ties. Is there a connection with her current investigation or is this totally unrelated?


The story started out on a high, however, as the investigation progressed it began to move a bit on the slow side. It is my belief that a good mystery is one where the reader is unable to figure out the perpetrator and his/her motive with ease. Well At Once falls into that category. It had me guessing at every page turn.

The characters get more interesting with each installment. Alex is a kick ass heroine who is not afraid to take on a challenge. She conducts her investigations without fear, and she is not afraid to speak her mind. I enjoyed her interaction with her children and colleagues. She is the type of mother who is there for her children in spite of the demands of her job. She is loyal and has the backs of those whom she works with.


Verdict: This is a great addition to the series. I can’t wait to read more of Alex’s adventures. If you love mysteries that will keep you on your toes as you try to figure what is coming next, then you will love this book.

At Once

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