THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR APPROVING MY REQUEST!

I read the first book back in October through Netgalley as well and I was dying to get my hand on the next book right away I finished that book. Who thought romantic suspense is my jam? Yeah, it is and I am still mad that I haven't picked up Amanda McKinney's other books.

Just for one day, I want to live inside Amanda's head. Like for real. I just n to know how she comes up with the crime scenes, all the plot and twists and emotions and actions because I just can't get it. She is the reason I was up 4AM to read one more chapter because I was so invested.

Beckett is one of my favorite grumpy man alive, and I loved reading about his mind, and how it works when he was at the crime scenes, how he described all the tracks he found. I love watching crime shows but seems like I love reading about them even more. And I loved his obsession with Jo. (I'm still laughing whenever I think about the moment he found out that the love of his life smokes. It was so funny the way it was written.)

Jo suffered enough in her life and again I loved how the author described her addiction and her development was absolutely outstanding. I was so happy to see how she has grown herself out and become a better person for herself. And again here comes Beckett and his supportive boyfriend side, I just love this man.

There were two things that I couldn't get my head around. 1 - Aria was obviously knew everything and she desperately tried to get Beckett's attention and maybe tell him who is the murderer, but Beckett never once go to her to ask that simple question. Like why not? Jo did good with the therapy but it was clear that Beckett needed to talk to Aris. 2 - When the murderer first attacked Jo and Becket got there in time, there was a huge chance to catch the guy, but Beckett just stood in front of Jo instead of stepping to and put chain to the killer who laying on the floor. But no, Beckett let him go. Again why?

Nevermind. Overall I loved it and I am sure sooner or later gonna purchase the physical copies of this series and hopefully Amanda McKenney's other books. 4.5 stars.

Trail of Deception by Amanda McKinney is the second book in the On the Edge series. It can be read as a standalone with sufficient detail to understand the protagonists and supporting characters further. Leave it to the author to create a fast-paced, fleshed-out plot with beautiful characters. Jo, the main protagonist, is a mix of fiery, passionate, and complex and is plagued by scattered childhood memories. This character was well-developed, and her evolution was realistic, and I couldn't help but cheer for her. Beckett is book boyfriend material; he is strong, driven, ambitious and doesn't play games. Amanda's ability to create memorable banter, sizzling chemistry, and beautiful yet poignant memories of trust and vulnerability made this one of my top romantic suspense reads. The element of suspense and a tense atmosphere lingers throughout the pages, and I devoured this book in one sitting. I loved the theme of the ending that focussed on a new beginning and empowerment. I can't wait to read more of the author's work.

Thank you, NetGalley & Montlake, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

Sorry, I hadn't realised this was book 2 in a series that I hadn't really liked die to the female kead in book.1. Thank you for allowing me to try it, though.

Great banter, chemistry between characters, oh and a gritty murder that is dark but it was also well written. Amanda Mckinney's story was perfect.

The chemistry was perfect between the two characters even though I did feel the relationship moved a little fast. I did enjoy the mystery and the murder aspect of the book.

I want to thank Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Great second book in this series. It’s a fast paced hard to put down mystery, thriller romance book. I enjoyed getting to know more characters in depth from this series and I liked that it dealt with many different aspects of trauma and the different coping mechanisms that are each person applies. Some are harmless and others well you need to read the book to find out. This book falls under the type of book I love to read.

I voluntarily received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

I would recommend this book to my friends , family and book clubs

I usually love Amanda McKinney‘s books and I mean love them a lot but this one I found hard to get into and even though I wasn’t familiar with the Siri‘s this isn’t the first serious I jumped right into the middle of with Amanda McKinley‘s books but unlike the others I just couldn’t get into it. I found the romance very weak the murders were gritty and I didn’t mind that it was just the rest of the story I found hard to become attached to I didn’t route for any of the characters and maybe I will come back to this book out another day and feel differently but as for today I really didn’t like it that much but they finished it and I’m sure a lot of people will love this book because Amanda McKinney is an awesome writer and I usually as I said love her books but this one not so much. I received this book from NetGalley in the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

There was a lot to like in this book. The mystery at its core is solid; it’s very dark, very nasty, but it’s well-plotted with some good red herrings and some interesting ideas. It didn’t fool me – I worked it out pretty early on – but I enjoyed seeing the craft in the book as it was all laid out towards the end. There’s also some creepy, sinister, effective writing. Some parts made me feel nervy and jumpy, which I don’t usually get reading a murder mystery like this.

The romance had its highlights, too. The chemistry between Beckett and Jo was good, especially early on; their flirty banter was easy, fun, and I was intrigued to see where it would go. I liked Beckett’s protectiveness and concern for her. However, I did feel the pace of their relationship was a bit fast and there wasn’t a lot of build up to it being a proper romance - it sort of skipped from the flirtatiousness to being very serious, which I didn’t find entirely believable. I also found Jo’s character a bit difficult to pin down. Sometimes I quite liked her, and others I found her actions confusing and hard to follow.

That said, I really did enjoy reading this book. It was an easy read: the writing is engaging and surprisingly light, given the subject matter, the story flows well, and the mystery/suspense aspect is very well-done. I barely noticed how long it was taking me to read it, to be honest. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a well-written, well-plotted romantic suspense novel, but I would caution readers to check content warnings before reading. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Murder, gore, violence, torture, blood, vomiting, harassment, intimidation, references to animal abuse, drugs, drug addiction (in past), stalking (in past), intimate partner violence, scenes of injury, PTSD, references to suicide, references to drug overdoses / near accidental drug overdose (in past), on-page sex,, unprotected sex, divorce (parents, in past), infidelity / cheating (not between MCs.). Please note that the novel opens with an incredibly graphic description of a serial killer murdering/torturing a woman.

Trail of Deception by Amanda McKinney
On the Edge #2

Dark, deadly and difficult to contemplate tale of a serial killer who has no remorse and is a heinous person I wished to be caught…as soon as possible.

What I liked:
* Jo: psychiatrist, partner in Dragonfly Clinic, complex, intelligent, caring, scattered, interested in patterns, has secrets, attracted to Beckett, wealthy, complicated childhood
* Beckett: ex-military, tracker, has studied criminal behavior, enjoys patterns and uses this information to in his job, ‘sees’ Jo and is drawn to her, partner in LYNX tracking & training business
* The way the relationship grows between Jo and Beckett and how it moves forward by the end
* Getting to see how Mia and Easton from book one are doing
* The look into the serial killer’s thinking
* The procedural aspects used, and clues found that gradually built up to reveal who the serial killer was
* The insight Jo and her mother gained about themselves and their relationship
* Wondering who will have their story told next as I eagerly await book three in the series.
* The plot, pacing, setting, character development, and writing

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how twisted some people are and what makes them the way they are.

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

TRAIL OF DECEPTION starts in the thoughts of a madman and from there we’re taken on a journey that may haunt your dreams. This is an intense story that takes you into the psyche of not only a killer but the psychiatrist he’s targeted. Jo (the psychiatrist) has a lot of secrets she finds hard to hide from Beckett when they’re both thrown into the middle of the hunt for a serial killer. Beckett’s a bit of a misanthrope, but with a not-too-hidden savior complex, and Jo’s neuroses are enough to require her own therapy sessions. But the complexity of their characters will quickly capture your interest and your heart. And trying to figure out who the killer is just makes this a more captivating read. Adding in the dimension of keeping Jo safe from the killer’s threats while discovering who s/he is makes for a compelling tale that you will find hard to resist.

Read and fall in love with these characters! I loved the chemistry and connection between Beckett and Jo. The suspense is high. I was surprised by the reveal. I absolutely didn't see it coming. While this is absolutely a romantic suspense read it is full of heart and is also a story about healing. I loved it!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Substance Abuse, Trauma

Jo is a local psychiatrist who knows that her past trauma has caused her to hide in this sleepy town. But when women start getting murdered, Jo will need to draw on all of her expertise to figure out who is hunting in her town.

Beckett is a self-proclaimed no lover person. He loves his town and knows that when someone is hunting women and killing them, he has to find out who and protect the people of his town. With Beckett as a self-proclaimed bachelor, it was quite difficult for me to switch over to him falling head over heels for Jo.

Aria is a bit of a mystery in this story. She's an autistic teen who happens upon a body from the murderer. Questions arise about whether or not Aria is capable of committing such a heinous crime or if she is a victim herself.

The story is semi-fast-paced, until it isn't. The author kind of puts the breaks on and tries to create a romance within the suspense. I didn't really like how Jo and Beckett's relationship "developed." It didn't feel very organic. Jo doesn't notice Beckett until she does, Beckett falls in love fairly quickly and somehow, they figure out the mystery of the town.

Overall, while the beginning was much more fast-paced, I felt that the whole romance detracted from the suspense and mystery. It was just an okay read for me.

Another wonderful book by Amanda McKinney! This book has complicated, intriguing, damaged, strong and some vile characters. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the end. The book summary gives the gist of the storyline so I won’t repeat it here but below the suspense and mystery is a beautiful story of the struggle of acceptance of oneself and coming to terms with one’s worthiness. Great lessons for us all. Highly recommend!

A good mystery that unwound at a good pace. While this is a part of a series, it can be read and enjoyed on it's own. Jo is a complicated person. She's so strong but has so little confidence in herself. Beckett is a strong alpha hero. But he has an insight into Jo that is uncanny. The story had a number of suspects and revealed the culprit at a good pace. I liked the suspense and the romance. I liked that the ending came to a very satisfactory conclusion. I look forward to more in this series. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is only my second Amanda McKinney book, but I can honestly say that there’s just something so addictive about her stories! It’s messy and scary and keeps you at the edge of your seat the whole way through and every now and then, that’s exactly what I need in my life. This one had all of the twists and turns, all the chaos and fear that I wasn’t expecting. I sank my teeth into this one and didn’t let go.

Beckett and Jo were the perfect match, balancing each other out and solving this insane crime like the badasses that they are. I loved how McKinney was able to give us the right amount of romance and suspense, especially with everything that’s happening to and around Jo. I was so invested in their relationship, but equally interested to find out just how they were going to solve this string of murders!

Definitely ready for more from this group of security experts and the town of Skull Hollow!

Trail of Deception by Amanda McKinney is the second book in the On the Edge  Series.  Once again we are brought back to Texas where the prior book is set.  This book does share mutual characters, however I believe the book could be read as a stand alone.

A woman is missing and there is noise that there may be a killer on the loose.  Beckett Stole is part of an elite group of  men and is considered a specialist in the areas of search and rescue.  He goes off on his own having a feeling where the missing woman may be.  He is correct but not the way he had hoped.  He also found Aria, a young girl who is a most nonverbal person with Autism.  Now he knows he is looking for a serial killer. 

Jo Bellerose is a psychiatrist who is helping Aria find her voice using paint therapy.  Aria is painting quite disturbing pictures and is considered a person of interest.  However, Jo is positive she is not.  To top it off, Jo’s mother is visiting her and driving her crazy.  The most interesting aspect is she is sneaking out of the house at odd hours of the night.  While Jo is trying to figure out what is going on, she inadvertently sees someone out by where the body was found.

Now Jo and Beckett are working together to help solve the murder and someone is stalking Jo.  Someone who knows the area and where Jo is.  Someone who is willing to face the ice storm to get to Jo. 

This book kept me on the edge of my seat.  I was sure I knew who the murderer was, but I was wrong!  The twists and turns had me reading faster in hope of finding out who was doing what.  Trail of Deception by Amanda McKinney was a great read.

I previously read and reviewed Buried Deception and enjoyed the twists and turns that were accompanied by a romance plot. I was excited for Trail of Deception, but also sceptical as it is hard to imagine two violent murderers loose in a small town that happens to have a specialist military company that works in search and rescue.
I enjoyed Jo as a character. She had an inner conflict for so long while trying to be this outwardly perfect psychiatrist.
Beckett is a headstrong ex-soldier that does what he wants. He is an excellent tracker and works closely with the hero of the previous book, Easton. He is a protector for sure and is attracted to Jo before their first interaction.
Their romance and personal stories progress alongside the intense journey of a brutal serial killer that is getting closer and closer to Jo after she sees their silhouette in the woods one night.
I found it difficult to enjoy this book. Jo was a hard character to like and was very closed off. Beckett was a sweetheart but came across a bit cocky at points. The killer's P.O.V was brutal and hard to read to the point I skimmed through it.
The whole thing was fairly dramatic and I don't know specifically why, but I did not enjoy it that much.

A gritty and twisted trail of murder and deception. Women are being murdered; their bodies covered in blood. Psychiatrist Jo Bellerose, along with her partners at the Dragonfly Clinic, agree to counsel the young autistic woman, Aria, who found the latest victim. Jo is offering painting therapy to her patients and Aria, since she rarely speaks, is able to express her feelings through this medium. Jo has attracted the attention of Beckett Stolle who is the COO of the Lynx Group. Beckett, along with his team at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center is training soldiers in tactical tracking. Jo is a strong and highly competent psychiatrist, while he sees her as a strong, yet insecure woman. The attraction between them slowly leads to a physical relationship. What happens when the killer believes that Jo may have seen him; will she become his next target? The overdue healing between Jo and her mother adds a poignant touch to the story. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation, from NetGalley and the author, for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Beckett and Jo. I recommend reading the first book in the series however not necessary. It’s great for more details on the character’s jobs. Beckett and Jo are both working and gathering details, in their own ways, to try to find who is behind the threats in their town. Jo finds herself in danger and Beckett takes on a protective stance. As they spend more time together, the chemistry becomes undeniable between them. Very good story with lots of twists and suspense.


I received this book via NetGalley and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Thank you #NetGalley #AmandaMcKinney #Montlake

Skull Hollow is again under threat from a nefarious person lurking in the shadows and leaving death in their wake.

"Trail of Deception" comes out of the gate with a thrilling start as we are taken straight into the mind of the killer. Throughout the story we move through three different points of view: our mysterious murderer, Beckett (trained in search and rescue), and Jo (a local psychiatrist). I am a reader who enjoys multiple perspectives and how they bring different angles to the same story, so this set up was perfect for my tastes.

As far as the pacing of the story, the beginning and end had that element of suspense that drives me to want to find out more. The middle of the story was a bit slow, but I have to say that I really enjoyed Jo's characterization, and I think this is where she shone the most in her quest to seek out patterns using Rorschach test cards and a client's paintings. I also really enjoyed Jo as a whole. She had a nice balance of light and dark and she was smart, yet imperfect.

If you are a romance reader and looking forward to the romance in this suspense-filled story, just know that the romance comes out as a bit undercooked. There was a zero to sixty element to the pacing of the relationship that was ineffective in convincing me that these two really had a deeper connection.

While this is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novel. Although, I highly recommend reading "Buried Deception" because I thought it was incredibly thrilling and intense in all the right ways!

3.5 ✨'s

I read and reviewed an advanced eARC of this book thanks to Montlake via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Releases: 04/04/23

4.25⭐

The guys of LYNX are back and this time search and rescue expert Beckett takes centre stage.

When a young girl with autism disappears just as a dangerous ice storm rolls through Skulls Hollow.

But Beckett is determined to find her. What he doesn't expect is to find her alive next to a corpse. A corpse painted in blood.

But is this the work of a notorious serial killer?

Or Aria herself?

That's what the local police start to believe.

Only Beckett isn't convinced and is determined to prove them wrong. So he enlists the help of Aria's psychiatrist Jo.

Which leads the pair to team up and hunt for a serial killer nicknamed the Pollock Butcher. Only the killer is closer than either of them could've ever imagined.

And with a great mix of suspense, danger and heat. Likable characters and an engaging storyline. Trail of Deception was an enjoyable read. That I would happily recommend to others.