Undercover detective from the LAPD Kara Quinn is visiting her grandmother in a suburb of Spokane when she comes across the body of a nurse on her morning jog. She gets involved in the investigation because she's a friend of the local detective and has more experience.

Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt Costa has been tasked to form the Mobile Response Team which is the FBI's answer to getting more specialized law enforcement to areas that are underserved. He's just forming his team when he's sent to that small Spokane suburb because the killing is likely the same serial killer who has killed six other people. Each time the killer kills three people starting on March 3 and ending six days later. Then he disappears and doesn't reappear until three years later.

Quinn, Costa, and Costa's team have six days to find the killer.

The story was packed with action and suspense. The characters were complex and compelling. The criminal organized, methodical, and insane.

This is the first of a series. ( )

Murder

This book felt like starting in the middle of a series. I was wondering if any of them were pulled over from other series by the author. They’ve got a lot going on that is being tossed at the reader in fast, shallow pieces like it’s a recap of things we should already know. I didn’t find this very engaging and I think it kept me disconnected from the main characters. The writing was also somewhat repetitive and leaned on some very overdone cliches. ( )

I don't know if this is worse than her other books or if my memory of her other books is wrong. I was looking forward to this book and new series but it fell short for me.

I know that the first book setting up a series might be a little awkward as the series finds its feet, but this felt sloppy and lazy in its storytelling. Lots of repetition so the reader doesn't miss the 'super important details' and I didn't actually feel any chemistry between the MCs. The hesitation and wariness in the beginning felt real to me (and for the record I really liked both MCs as characters) but when that suddenly flipped to lust without warning, it didn't feel natural.

I don't know if I'll read the rest. ( )

My first Allison Brennan novel. Whether labeled crime fiction, police procedural or serial killer does not matter here. This is a very good read with quick character development. If you find yourself questionable about serial killer stories this is not overly in depth psychotic. I find myself intrigued with the "pattern study" learned in the pursuit of these considered psychopaths. Well done creating this pattern in The Third To Die. This is the 1st of a 4 book Quinn & Costa Thriller Series. I'm interested. ( )