Moonglotexas“Norman Webber offered his wife a tight smile as he dealt with yet another one of her awful presents.”
Opening line of “Dead End” by Nancy Mehl
Dead End, by Nancy Mehl, is the third in the Kaely Quinn Profiler series and it answers many of the questions raised in the first two books. Once again, we join Kaely and Noah in their fight to identify and catch a serial killer. This time, though, it is directly linked to Kaely’s murderous father and happening in her former hometown. This psychological thriller is fascinating and enjoyable!
Kaely struggles throughout to deal with her past trauma as she comes face to face with her father for the first time since his arrest. Noah can see the strain she is under but feels helpless to ease her distress. The killer is smart and well-informed challenging them to get ahead of him. Nancy keeps the reader guessing, right to the end, which I love in a mystery novel. The conclusion is satisfying!
Noah and Kaely cling to their faith as they work through the complex situation they find themselves in. Each wrestles with tough topics such forgiveness, the will of God, and evil in the world. These discussions are well-written and thought-provoking.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale and highly recommended.
From the back cover:
When a body is discovered in a field in Iowa, the police uncover fourteen additional corpses ranging from 20 years old to recent. The remains point to a serial killer with an MO the authorities have seen before–Ed Oliphant, a man who has been in prison for over 20 years . . . and is Special Agent Kaely Quinn’s father. After several failed interview attempts to discover if Ed has been training someone to be a copycat killer, the police turn to Kaely in St. Louis.
Kaely promised herself she would never step foot in her hometown or set eyes on her father again. She’s always refused to confront her past, but if she wants to prevent any more deaths, she must come face-to-face with the man she’s hated for years.
As more bodies are discovered, Kaely races against time and her own personal turmoil to uncover the killer. Will this most personal case yet cost Kaely her identity and perhaps even her life?
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
