*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - I would recommend it!

I had a hard time getting into this book. The previous book, ‘Red Flags’ was published more than a year ago, and the reader could have benefited from a paragraph or two refresher at the beginning instead of a couple of chapters in.

Read the first third, skimmed the middle, and read the final third. This series is dependent on what you came for. Very high in the science parts, low on the mystery, and the conclusion gathered the bits and parts along the way.

The who in ‘What Harms You’ was obvious from the beginning. The ‘why’ was the basic serial killer stuff.

This is book 2 in the Locard Institute series but I read it as a standalone and enjoyed it. I loved the setting, who wouldn’t be fascinated by a school that teaches CSI tips and tricks to all types of law enforcement. Definitely I would be interested in more from this series. Ellie has left the FBI and joined the Locard institute but she realizes she didn’t know what she got into when a series of murders in her first week at the institute occur and seem almost baffling. The characters were interesting and the mysteries were also pretty intriguing. They were all wrapped up in the last 10 pages or so, but I really found this one to be a pretty entertaining book that definitely kept my interest the whole time. I did guess who the killer was, but I found the science and the slow pace to work for the story.

This story was like watching a creepy, smart movie. Hard to put dowm.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another well written novel by a very talented author. I haven't read much by Ms Black before, but when I do, I really enjoy it. Recommended for anyone who loves a good read.

How do you catch a killer when your suspects are employees and students at the renowned Locard Institute? The setting was a bit creepy and the details well researched but I found that the amount of technical information took away from the story and bogged it down. I loved the premise and I like the writing style, therefore I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington for this ARC.

What Harms You by Lisa Black
Locard Institute #2

Who would murder someone at an institute that is focused on forensic science and why would they be motivated to kill not once but multiple times in a few days? Everyone working, researching, bodyguarding, and taking continuing education courses at the institute will be a suspect…but how will the killer be found and who will figure out who the killer is?

What I liked:
* Dr. Ellie Carr: resigned from FBI as a crime scene analyst to take a job at the Locard Institute, first day on the job a murder occurs, purchased a new house with hopes for the future and perhaps neighbors that will play parts in future books, has a difficult backstory, divorced, takes in a rescue a dog I want to see again, potentially a good friend of Rachael’s
* Dr. Rachael Davies: assistant director of Locard Institute, single parent to deceased sister’s toddler, counts on her mother for childcare, left job as medical examiner to work at Locard Institute, divorced
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Returning to the series and finding out how Ellie and Rachael are doing
* The puzzle to be solved in order to find the serial killer
* The twists and turns and how it all came together
* Thinking about DNA and the part it now plays in so many things
* The forensic information I learned and how it tied into this case
* FBI agents Michael Tyler and Luis Alvarez who might show up in future books – would like to know more about them
* Getting to meet more people working at the institute and thinking about the parts they might play
* That I was drawn in and felt part of the story – did have a suspicion about who the killer might at first appearance…and finding out I was right was rather nice

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the impact of murder on all the people that know the person who dies
* Having to wait for the next book in the series

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

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

5 Stars

"What Harms You" by Lisa Black is a riveting thriller that had me intrigued from the very start. The Locard Institute, with its mysterious allure, becomes a focal point of the story, capturing the imagination much like it did for Ellie. However, the promising beginning takes an unexpected turn as the tranquility of Ellie's first day is shattered by a death, followed by a disappearance the next day.
The web of events and characters kept me engrossed, and I couldn't help but be captivated by the quest to uncover the connections between the seemingly unrelated occurrences. The narrative successfully keeps you on your toes until the very end.
That said, there is a minor caveat to this otherwise engaging experience. The inclusion of extensive explanations regarding blood analysis, while informative, at times disrupted the flow of the story. This extra emphasis on technical details occasionally required rereading certain passages for clarity, which detracted from the seamless reading experience.

"What Harms You" by Lisa Black is a compelling crime thriller that delves into the chilling world of forensics and murder investigations. The story follows a skilled protagonist as she uncovers the truth behind a series of disturbing crimes. Black's writing is atmospheric and filled with forensic detail, immersing readers in a world of investigative intrigue. With its well-researched plot and engaging characters, "What Harms You" is a satisfying read for fans of crime fiction.

Dr Ellie Carr has taken a leap of faith, quitting her job with the FBI following her divorce, and going to work for the prestigious Locard Institute instead. She’s also somewhat precipitously bought a house close to the institute, an hour’s drive away from her former home in Washington DC. While she’s still a little anxious about her new home, she’s greatly excited to be able to work for her recently made but already fast friend Dr Rachael Davies.

Her first day begins less than auspiciously, when the key card that’s supposed to allow her access into the building doesn’t work. She can’t get into her office either, as it’s kept securely locked by the woman she’ll be replacing, controversial crime analyst Dr Barbara Wright. Another new colleague, Hector Azores, offers her his office as a temporary place to store her stuff while she goes in search of the lecture halls she’ll be teaching in later that day. While the Locard Institute specializes in speedy forensic analysis for wealthy, influential clients, it also offers Crime Scene Investigation certifications for members of law enforcement looking to continue their professional educations. Ellie, like most of the other investigators employed by Locard, is expected to help conduct both.

Ellie discovers that Hector’s less than flattering description of Barbara is surprisingly accurate, as Ellie sneaks in to catch the end of the other woman’s lecture. Barbara’s specialty is in developing resources to identify medications present in DNA samples. She believes that this will help law enforcement narrow down their suspect pool, though Ellie isn’t sure that this use isn’t somehow a violation of the patient’s privacy rights enshrined in HIPAA. Barbara seems pretty certain of her own bright future however, as she plans to leave Locard for more profitable ventures in a matter of days.

So it’s a shock to Ellie when she discovers Barbara dead in a supply closet shortly after the lecture. The other woman seems to have suffered from a heart attack before knocking over and landing in a jar of hydrochloric acid. It’s an unusual death, but not one entirely out of the realm of possibility. While Ellie and Rachael have their concerns, they don’t actually suspect foul play… until one of their latest batch of students is found strangled to death on the grounds of the institute itself. Neither woman believes in coincidences, but finding evidence at the second crime scene that could only have come from Barbara’s confirms a grisly connection.

The FBI, including Ellie’s ex, is called in. He can’t resist needling her:

QUOTE
“Let me get this straight. You start working here, and two people die.”

“It sounds bad when you say it like that.” She tried to keep the grin on her face, and knew she failed. It did disturb her. Of course the two dead women had nothing to do with Ellie–she didn’t believe in curses–but she had always responded to the victims’ crime scenes. They weren’t supposed to come to <i>her</i>. “And the one yesterday was an accident.”

“Maybe not.”

She felt her eyes narrow. “What does that mean?”

“Ask your new boss.”
END QUOTE

Her new boss Rachael has already begun running forensics on the scene of Barbara’s death, even before it was linked to the student’s homicide. Having the Locard Institute’s incredible resources at her disposal means she can do everything herself – or at worst with the help of her co-workers – instead of waiting for overburdened, underfunded state resources to finally get back to her. What she learns leads her to believe that there may be a serial killer in their midst. Can she and Ellie figure out who it is, and more importantly prevent more deaths?

The second procedural in the Locard Institute series is smart and sensitive, delving into the thoughts of both of our heroines as they struggle to make sense of the murders. Solving the cases becomes a huge priority, not only because anyone could be next but because the entire reputation of the institute is now on the line. Ellie worries about the loss of her safety net after taking such an enormous leap of faith, but Rachael has a bigger picture in mind, as she confers with the Institute’s director:

QUOTE
All the events of the day caught up with her in one moment, and she sat on the counter along the windows–a cozy spot during cold weeks, with the radiator humming below it. Today it didn’t warm her. The private clients, the ones with deep pockets and delicate problems and an abhorrence of publicity in all forms, would not find a campus murder titillating. She tried to think of something comforting to say and came up short. [The director] was right. They could all be out of their jobs soon, and the Locard–this amazing, beautiful experiment–could be abandoned to decay alone in the forest.
END QUOTE

I really appreciated Lisa Black’s balanced consideration not only of law enforcement and medical ethics but also of life in modern-day Saudi Arabia, which is an important plot point in this meticulously scripted novel. What Harms You is a terrific CSI procedural that takes a thoughtful, even-handed view of life and crime-fighting in the 21st century, balancing hot button topics with common sense approaches. The hint as to greater mysteries in Ellie’s past was also tantalizing. I’m really looking forward to reading more of this intriguing series.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Locard Institute series by Lisa Black. I have not read the first, and this can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Ellie Carr arrives for her first day at the prestigious Locard Institute, and a scientist working on a new forensic procedure turns up dead.

If you are enjoy books with lots of forensic science (such as books by Patricia Cornwell), you will enjoy this mystery.

What Harms You by Lisa Black is a very highly recommended mystery/thriller and the second book in the Locard Institute series.

The first thing that happens when Dr. Ellie Carr arrives for her first day as an instructor at the Locard Institute, a forensic research center which holds classes for law enforcement experts, is that her key card didn't work. The second event was that Dr. Barbara Wright, the instructor she is replacing, is found dead on the floor of a supply closet. The death appears to be an accident, but Ellie and her supervisor Dr. Rachael Davies are suspicious. When another death occurs, the two team up to try and find the connection between the two murders. Two different classes are being held and it seems the guilty party must be one of the attendees.

With What Harms You Lisa Black has written another excellent forensic mystery/thriller. The real-life scientific details she provides as an crime scene analyst and investigator add depth and realism. Completing the exceptional narrative is the carefully crafted intricate plot. Add in the complex, fully-realized characters and the result is a compelling mystery that will hold your complete attention to the tense, exciting denouement.

Even though this is part of a series, beginning with Red Flags, What Harms You works well as a stand alone. Anyone who appreciates novels with details about the forensics and scientific details involved in an investigation along with strong, competent female characters will enjoy What Harms You immensely. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Kensington Books via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

What Harms You by Lisa Black is essentially a police thriller but it primarily involves investigator from the Locard, a training facility for forensics investigators, a well known one. Ellie Carr was here for her first day, recently from the FBI, only to discover that the woman she was replacing, Dr. Barbara Wright, was on campus for two more days, so Ellie didn’t even have an office. Wright was off to pursue her discovery that DNA could provide more information to the authorities, such as what medications a criminal was taking. If there was a consistency, she could then develop a list of the persons in the area who suffered from whatever disease was treated by the medication. Successful only if it was not a common medication like insulin, and if the police could access protected databases. Any interesting idea, until Wright was found dead on a store room floor, a broken jar of hydrochloric acid under and around her. The post mortem pointed toward a heart attack, although what might have caused it remained unknown. This would not have been curious if a student, Farida, from Saudi Arabia had not gone missing soon after and her body discovered by accident on Locard’s body farm, buried under a goat. Two deaths seemed more than coincidental. Ellie and Rachel, Ellie’s boss started to investigate informally. They had been instructed to let the authorities handle it, but it was all too odd.

Barbara Wright had been unpleasant. No one had much good to sat about her, in fact, Hector, who had the office across the hall, openly accused her of stealing his research as a data base for her own. Farida, on the other hand, was quiet and inoffensive. Ellie was worried that these deaths would prove fatal to the Locard and the resignation from the FBI and her new mortgage would prove to be a colossal mistake. Rachel was the adopted mother to her niece and loved the Locard with her whole heart. Excellent characters all. The investigation hit dead ends, until it didn’t, in a very drastic way. I enjoyed this book. I love police procedurals and this put a different spin on it. It was an interesting mystery and solution. I didn’t see it coming. I recommend this book to those of you who haven’t already discovered Lisa Black’s novels.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of What Harms You by Kensington, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Kensington #LisaBlack #WhatHarmsYou

The setting makes this book because it is just as creepy and realistic as the events that are happening there. The Locard Institute is one that prepares professionals to interpret crime scenes and solve crimes. It’s a school for CSIs and not without problems since Ellie discovers a dead body her first day there. The events are bizarre and gruesome, but not necessarily realistic. However, the fact that the killer is probably a student of crime scenes makes the story work. The plot is fast paced and mesmerizing; honestly, this book was hard to put down. There is a lot of detail given about the crimes and they seem to be painstakingly researched. The characters are well-developed with some realistic flaws. I enjoyed the fast pace and the multiple layers as well as the numerous suspects. This is a book not to be missed by those who like their thrillers to be intense, captivating and addictive.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Dr Ellie Carr, is excited about starting her new job as an instructor at the Locard Institute. Situated in a beautiful location overlooking Chesapeake Bay in Anne Arundel county, Maryland, the Locard is also a world renowned forensic research centre where the most perplexing crimes are solved. Ellie previously worked in the FBI’s Evidence Response Team, where she met the Locard’s Deputy Director Dr Rachael Davies and later took up her offer of a job where she’ll be teaching courses in advanced forensics to law enforcement personnel.

With her divorce behind her and a new house nearby Ellie’s looking forward to a fresh start. However, her first day on the job doesn’t go to plan when Dr Barbara Wright, the colleague she is replacing, is found dead in the chemical storage cupboard of a lab. When a student disappears the following day, it seems too much of a coincidence not to be connected but hard to see what the link could be.

This is the second book in the series featuring Dr Ellie Carr and Dr Rachael Davies, but does work well as a stand alone novel since the focus in now on the Locard and not the FBI, where Ellie previously worked. The mystery is a good one with no obvious connection between the two deaths and a later event that threatens to harm the Locard. Could someone be planning to damage the Locard’s reputation or does one of the staff or students have a personal reason for their actions?

The setting of a forensic science institute makes this a fascinating case with plenty of description about fingerprinting, DNA technology and the use of algorithms in large data sets to find serial for those interested in forensics. With a possible killer hiding in plain sight, everyone is on edge and the level of suspense ramps up to a dramatic climax. Ellie and Raechel are both interesting characters I’d like to see more of and I hope there will be further novels involving the Locard and its forensic experts.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for this preview. What Harms You is another suspenseful mystery from Lisa Black! This fast-paced thriller is the second in Black's Locard Institute series, and I didn't want to put it down; I read it in one day. Former FBI agent Ellie Carr's first day on the job at the prestigious Locard Institute crime lab starts with a dead body, and things only go downhill from there. Throughout this book we get to learn a lot about forensic science and investigative techniques (because that's Black's first career), as well as snippets about Ellie's early years (which I foresee being featured more in future books), As with her other series, Black's protagonist has a Cleveland connection (as Black does). As a Clevelander, I always appreciate this nod to Black's hometown. If you enjoyed Black's Gardiner & Renner series or the Theresa MacLean books, you will love this one as well! And don't forget Black's other books, written under her real name, Elizabeth Becka, and another pseudonym, Beth Cheylan. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series!

Dr.Ellie Carr will be an instructor at the Locard Institute of forensic. research.
First day giving lectures on DNA and finding the woman she's replacing dead.
A fast pace plot where other murders happen, and a reporter shatters Ellie's
private world. it is well done and flows well, those that want more detail finding
how forensic works will love it. I found it interesting as well as the first book
Given ARC by. Net Galley and Kensington for my voluntary review

What’s unusual in What Harms You by Lisa Black is the setting for the novel. Then, the author adds in great characterization, an atmosphere of suspense, and multiple mysteries to entice readers to keep turning the pages to see what is going to happen next.

This is the second book in the Locard Institute thriller series and is largely set at the institute, which is a state-of-the-art forensic research center located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Experts work to solve challenging and perplexing crimes for professional and private clients. Additionally, they provide classes on various aspects of forensics to professionals in law enforcement or forensics departments.

Dr. Ellie Carr arrives for her first day at work at the Locard. Within hours a colleague is dead and it appears to be an accident. However, Ellie and her new supervisor, Dr. Rachael Davies aren’t sure that’s the case. This is soon followed by the disappearance of a student. Is there a link between the two or is it a coincidence? There are several plausible possibilities, but what is the ultimate answer?
Ellie is a complex character. She recently left her job with the FBI’s Evidence Response Team after divorcing a co-worker. She’s friendly, outgoing, and analytical, but also purchased a house that needs some work with only a brief look at it. Rachael is welcoming to Ellie, but worried about the future of the Locard after the incidents. The students, law enforcement officers, and other staff at the Locard have varying degrees of complexity, but it felt adequate for their roles. They brimmed with personality. I am looking forward to the returning characters’ continued development in the next book in the series.

Readers interested in all aspects of forensics ranging from fingerprinting to genealogical tracing and much more will find something of interest in this book. I found it fascinating, but a little too detailed at times. The world-building was great, whether it is the Locard or Ellie’s house, I felt like I was walking through the halls and rooms with Ellie. The tension level is high throughout the story with multiple mysteries and a thrilling storyline. The scientific analysis of the incidents is woven with the classroom instruction.

Overall, this riveting story arc immediately grabbed my attention and kept me engaged throughout the book. While I haven’t yet read book one, I did not have any problems connecting with Ellie. I can’t wait to read it as well as the next book in the series. Those who enjoy the analytical and scientific side of mysteries will likely enjoy this novel.

Kensington Books and Lisa Black provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for July 25 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

While this is part of the Locard Institute series, it can be read as a standalone.

I've always enjoyed shows and books with a forensic science angle. However, this book is very detailed with acronyms and terminology, and it could be a bit much for some readers. It's clear that a lot of research went into this book. I enjoyed the topic, but the extensive details on DNA did get to be a bit too much, and I had a hard time staying actively engaged, particularly since it seemed to overshadow the murders. As a result, the pace was too slow for the genre. Parts of the storyline felt a bit jumpy (going back and forth from lab work to classroom instruction to field work).

Lisa Black never fails to deliver an intense mystery combined with fascinating forensic elements. She long ago became one of my favorite MUST READ authors. brilliantly fresh, wholeheartedly captivating, and relentlessly in the service of an insanely compelling storyline? It’s as masterful a literary sleight-of-hand as you’ll ever see, and I frankly don’t know how she pulls it off. But I’m glad as hell she does.