Deadly Reckoning (Kate Reid FBI Thrillers Book 8)

Lately, I noticed that I’ve been reading books featuring females as protagonists. This was not by design. In fact it’s ironic, given my reading history. In retrospect the pattern was set in early childhood by my mom. She bought the books. With books by Louisa May Alcott, I got “Little Men”; my sister got “Little Women”. The trend was transparent. I got the male dominated novels; my sister the female. So my books were “Robinson Crusoe”(Daniel Defoe), “Treasure Island”(R. L. Stevenson); my sister read books by the Bronte sisters:”Wuthering Heights” (Emily Bronte), “Jane Eyre” (Charlotte Bronte). Later, as an adult, instinctively I avoided books written by women. First I looked at the title, next I looked for the author. For unknown reasons I eliminated books written by females. I can look back now with amusement at this irrational practice. My reading habit embraces both genders. I have come to accept that females do present action, mystery and suspense in their novels to capture and sustain my interest. So now I count among my favorite authors Lisa Scottoline, Teresa Burrell, Pam Jenoff and Marion Kummerow. A new addition to this list is Robin Mahle. Robin Mahle stands out among my favorite authors because of the way she presents her female characters, especially the protagonists. In “Deadly Reckoning”, Special Agent Kate Reid is placed in a complicated situation. She gets a promotion on merit, but the decision of transferring her to a team of profilers casts doubts on the merits of both promotion and transfer. She wants to excel, she wants to earn the respect of her colleagues, and most of all she wants to experience their comradeship. Under normal circumstances, Kate Reid has attributes that would motivate her new teammates to warmly welcome her. They know that she is a quick learner, highly qualified for the job and she has a rare sixth sense that was instrumental in solving difficult cases. The problem is her boyfriend is her supervisor and her roommate. She is in a stew with a perfect recipe for envy and suspicion. Mahle wastes no time in getting into the story. At the very beginning we are introduced to the first in a series of suspicious deaths in a small town. The law enforcement there are baffled and so call in the FBI for help. This is when Agent Reid gets baptized as the newest member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit(BAU) at Quantico. At this point Mahle has already treated us to two emerging narratives. Each narrative is highly interesting. She has us going back and forth between the two until a bridge is deftly inserted for a crossover. The personal navigating of Kate Reid to establish professional relationships with her new teammates is interrupted by a call for help from a small town baffled by a series of deaths related to an out of control opioid epidemic. The two narratives converge and Reid has her moment to shine and cement her presence in a unit of top-notched professionals. It is amazing how Mahle manages her two narratives and maintain a high level of interest for both. I was transposed into a small town and eased into its socio-economic milieu with feelings of empathy and sadness for the gigantic drug problem normally associated with cities of much larger population. Mahle’s writing has that magnetic effect. Her descriptions are detailed but down to earth. They draw you into the situation or into the mind of her characters. You become a spectator or a participant. You are actually there, commiserating with people terrified by the mysterious disappearances and deaths of their young ones. It is into this situation we follow Agent Reid and her team of profilers. We get into her head tracking her thoughts and behavior as she and another female work side by side with their male counterparts. The wonderful thing about the persona of Reid is her conscious unassertiveness in collaborating with her colleagues. Given her domestic arrangement, she takes a realistic approach. She establishes her boundaries, drawing a well defined line between her personal and professional life. She is acutely aware of how messy it can become if the two merges. So she does not overplay her hand in offering her famous sixth sense about their cases in the small town to avoid arousing the envy of her colleagues. This was a way of forestalling talks about her personal life. It was also a remarkable balancing of her personal and professional life. This is what I love about Mahle’s portrayal of female characters. They are strong self-possessed personalities. Mind you, they have their flaws but are able to keep their interactions with their colleagues on a professional level. This novel demonstrates the possibility of females and males working together in a non-threatening and unpretentious environment. It skips the female stereotypes without glossing over imperfections. This is why I enjoyed reading this novel. It gave me a healthy perspective on the female professional. ..

This was an intense, complex, and suspenseful story that will keep you guessing until the very end. There were many unexpected twists, some you won't see coming. I would recommend this book, series, and author.

I love this book and all the earlier books! I am ready to read the next great book! Deadly Reckoning was awesome! 😊😊😊

I'm hooked, totally addicted to these books (poor word choices in light of the central conflicts). I have read and re-read all of tge eight preceding Kate Reid books. I will probably read this one again after a few recovery days. You see, Robin, through Kate and her colleagues, takes me through different emotions and places, I'm usually a bit drained by the end. I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys mysteries/crime dramas/detective stories with a strong central female character that continues to develop throughout the books. Robin Mahle has become one of favorite contemporary authors. Begin at the beginning. You won't be disappointed!

If an author writes a book with a good plot and keeps the reader interested with good writing skills, then the book is a hit. The main character being a woman of courage and intelligence is also a win for the reader.

The story is fairly good , but .... tithe author’s writing and grammar are abysmal. The opening chapters are particularly bad. The gist of the story is is good although it soon becomes apparent who at least two of the main suspects will be. Although this writer has a number of books, I strongly suggest she gets a good proof writer!

These are well written, but follows a formula. Attractive, talented, young woman, but flawed by her past, becomes an FBI profiler and solves the case when all the men are stumbling over each other. She also puts her personal safety second to getting the bad guy. The story was compelling, a town torn apart by the influx of Oxycontin and other controlled substances. The town is on a downward spiral when the mines shut down, and jobs left. However, mostly good people, and a police chief who really cares, but bodies turning up is way beyond his skill set.

Another great book. This series is fantastic. Easy reading, the characters and the story lines are great. Keeps you glued to your seat.

First time reading this author and I must say it was a great read. I enjoyed every part of this book especially all the twists and turns . She kept me glued to the story for which was difficult to put down.

What a lovely book. Right from the start I felt that I was there with them. Story ran through so well. I have given this a well earned 5 stars

I recently discovered the Kate Reid series and fell in love them immediately. The characters are realistic and have flaws and the story lines are interesting and well written. I’ve been lucky enough to read the whole series back to back and can’t wait for the next one.

Robin Mahle write books that are hard to put down. Kate Reid is a strong female main character who is hard not to like. She’s gutsy, sure of herself and kicks ass. Enjoy.

Could not put this down once I started reading. Very well put together story line. Drug dealing, poverty stricken, ex-mining community. Multiple murders, brutal violence, overdoses. Kate Reid profiler extraordinaire. Very highly recommended.