There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.

Leah and Jon are the best sharp shooters around. As a matter of fact, Leah is third in the nation. You don't want to face off with these two in a shoot out. They know each other but have never actually worked together. They discover right away there is an attraction between them. But they decide to put that on hold until they can discover who is killing prominent people with snake venom. Everybody they interview seems to be hiding something from them. There have been attempts on their lives and others connected to the case. They begin to believe there is an informant in the Galveston Police Department. They are also trying to determine if God is real.

This is a good book with lots of action. I recommend it to all mystery readers.

I was given this book by Tyndale House Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

I really liked the main characters, two FBI agents/snipers working together for the first time. They developed both a professional and personal relationship naturally and easily. Galveston made a great setting for the story. The plot was a little unusual, with supposed gang members using snake venom as a murder weapon, and nothing was as it seemed. Although there wasn't a strong Christian component to the plot, there was the Catholic priest who lived his faith in the face of personal risk, so the faith element was a natural part of the plot.

I received a copy of the book from the author, but this voluntary review reflects my honest opinion.

An interesting suspense novel by DiAnn Mills. Fatal Strike intrigues the readers with a look into FBI procedures and various twists and turns throughout the storyline. This was my first book my DiAnn Mills. The story didn’t hold my attention as much as I thought it would, and I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I typically do. However, this was an enjoyable read, and I think suspense fans will enjoy it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert are called into action in Galveston, TX to take out two kidnappers when hostage negotiations fail. Both agents are top snipers for the FBI. Before the smoke clears and the paperwork is done, Leah and Jon, who have never worked together before, are asked to investigate the third murder here in Galveston in three days. A police officer, an attorney and now a judge have all been killed with lethal injections of rattlesnake poison. Leah and Jon hit the ground running and start their interviews with the only eyewitness to the judge’s body being dumped on the church steps. It seems that this eyewitness clearly saw Dylan Ortega dump the body and leave, and he has home surveillance video footage to prove it.

Dylan is just getting his life back together after spending a little time behind bars. No one in the community can believe he could possibly be the killer. However, the investigation seems to indicate he is a part of the Veneno gang whose mission is re-conquista, to take Texas back for Mexico. But a larger question looms … how is this gang being funded? The further Leah and Jon dig into this murder, the more complicated the relationships of the people involved in Dylan’s life becomes. Dylan is on the lam. Can Leah and Jon find him and/or find the murderer and discover the real agenda of this gang?

DiAnn Mills is a master at police procedural thrillers, and FATAL STRIKE is no exception. She opens the story with a gripping scene, and the intensity never lets up. Fast-paced and riveting action flow throughout to keep the reader engaged and turning pages. Although Leah and Jon are strong, determined characters, they each hold onto secrets from their past that still haunts them. While working through those secrets and the case, the agents find an attraction to each other. Can they detach mentally, work the case, and keep it professional? FATAL STRIKE is a story about shame and forgiveness; about making mistakes, recovering from them, and moving forward. This inspirational thriller asks the question … can you offer up lip service to God with your life full of toxins? FATAL STRIKE is a great read … don’t miss it!

Loved this read. The book had an intricately woven, complex plot. I anticipated a couple twists, but many fit into place only as I read them. The romance was good and enjoyable.

When a killer begins injecting victims with Galveston, TX, and those targeted are law enforcement, the FBI sends in two well trained agents, both of whom are snipers. Jon and Leah are tasked with bringing the killer to justice before anyone else is targeted.

This a tight, well written inspirational suspense novel, and I enjoyed it for the most part. About midway through, it kind of bogged down for me and the romance portion seemed a bit forced. But that's only my opinion. Reviews are very subjective. It is a good novel of suspense and I can recommend it.

*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

For fans of FBI investigations, complex mysteries, and suspense

Fatal Strike puts readers right into the middle of an FBI investigation. Set in Galveston, TX, Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to investigate the murder of three law enforcement officials, who were targeted by a gang. The newly paired agents hunt down one eye-witness who is on the run.

Fatal Strike is well researched, and readers will get inside perspective on FBI procedures. As a fan of Diann Mills, this book has a bit of a different feel than her others, but still delivered the excitement and drama that fans expect. While plenty of action, the book feels like a ride along with the two detectives. Fatal Strike follows Leah and Jon, and readers get to put together clues right along side of them. The pair develops a chemistry on and off the job, as both have to face their own fears to find justice in their investigation. I enjoyed the complex mystery and watching Leah and Jon discover how to relate to each other as partners, but also exploring the potential of a more meaningful relationship.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Diann Mills has hit another homer with Fatal Strike. Loved loved loved this awesome suspense. This one definitely kept me glued to the pages. Wish I could give this book a 10!. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Fans of DiAnn Mills will enjoy this suspenseful, high action FBI thriller. Two FBI snipers are thrown into a complex situation where nothing seems to add up. Leah and Jon work together well as a team solving this case as the twists and turns lead them many directions. Recommended!

Snakes and Leah Riesel do not go well together. The problem is that the latest serial killer striking Galveston, TX, is using snakes to hunt down and kill members of the law enforcement community. That wasn’t that was not her only problem - she was not a people person. But her new partner was so attractive and single and she wished that she was more of a people person. But Leah’s problems did end there; she also had issues with her family in Brooklyn.

As both Leah and Jon Colbert, her partner, look for the killer, they will both have to begin to face their spiritual lives and the God that is seeking them out.

The plot is well-executed, the characters appear real, and the book is one that this reader could not put down. Leah will face her fears and her history and will be touched by a God is full of grace and hope. My only concern is that the author wraps up the story with an epilog when a follow-up book could have done a better and moe complete job of bring closure to these characters and their lives.

The book will find a place on the shelves of many church libraries and in the homes of believers. I would hope that it would find a spot on the shelves of many public libraries as well.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Publisher's Description
There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.

Here is my review:
Set in Texas, where I live, was a treat. I loved the characters, the plot and the world-building. It truly was written well and I enjoyed it. Highly recommend everyone to grab this one!!!!

I used to be a real DiAnn Mills fan, and I can't remember why I stopped reading her novels. I think it was mostly that there were so many other books to read! Anyway, I was pleased when I saw there was a new DiAnn Mills romantic suspsense novel available for review.

But I wasn't impressed. I didn't enjoy Fatal Strike nearly as much as I remember enjoying previous DiAnn Mills romantic suspense novels. The thriller/suspense element of Fatal Strike was excellent—there was plenty of action and tension, enough to satisfy any thriller or suspense fan. But the writing was somewhat formulaic. It was polished enough. It just didn't shine.

I also don't think it satisfied in the Christian or the romantic elements. The Christian element was very low-key. Neither of the main characters were Christians at the beginning of the novel. While one went through a spiritual journey on the page, it was understated to the point of being almost invisible. The other may have had a foxhole conversion, but one muttered possible prayer does not make someone a Christian.

The Christian thread was redeemed by Father Gabriel, who annoyed both investigators by standing up for his Christian beliefs at the risk of his life. I don't necessarily agree with his actions, but that says more about me than Father Gabriel. I admire the conviction behind his actions. The Christian church would be stronger if we had more Father Gabriels.

(There is one plus to this "Christian-lite" plot: this is definitely a book you could give to an unsaved friend, especially an unsaved Catholic friend, because Father' Gabriel's faith elements felt very natural.)

The romance element was even less satisfying. I knew the novel was supposed to be romantic suspense, but there was a complete lack of romantic tension (unless you count statements like "he had the most gorgeous partner on the planet", which felt like Mills was trying to shoehorn the romance into the plot). I prefer to see and feel the romance for myself, rather than me told she's gorgeous or he's fun (and he wasn't. At least, he hadn't done anything fun at that point, so the comment made no sense).

It didn't help that I wasn't particularly enamoured with either Leah or Jon. Leah spent much of the novel angsting about her non-existent relationship with her parents, another plot point that felt shoehorned in for the sake of it. I didn't see that anything had happened to prompt Leah's soul-searching, so it came across as contrived.

Jon annoyed me by belittling Leah for her fear of snakes. I may be biased because I come from a country with no snakes, but I don't like them. On this, Leah and I are in total agreement. I can totally understand her reaction to a pit full of rattlesnakes—she was braver than I would have been.

Apart from that, the plot was solid, with plenty of twists and turns, and an evildoer that made sense (I've read thrillers where the evildoer is revealed, and I'm "Nope, it couldn't have been him because X". Fatal Strike had a large cast of characters (perhaps too many—they got confusing at times), but the end made perfect sense.

However, Leah and Jon were both competent snipers and FBI agents, and I usually enjoy novels about competent people. It's just a shame I didn't enjoy this one.

Thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

This is another winner by DiAnn Mills. She is a master story teller and throws twists and turns in all around.. Her character development and story development keep you engaged in the book. She introduces a new (at least to me) way to kill people--snake venom.

I received an ARC from the author for an honest review.

#FatalStrike #NetGalley

When prominent members of the community are found dead by snake venom, two FBI agents, Leah and Jon are sent to investigate. Leah has a few secrets she isn't willing to share. Jon is still grieving and trying to make the best of each day. A novel about family relationships, trust, and of course romance. I liked the writing style. This novel had a lot of characters, I was impressed, by the way the author made it clear who the characters were. A Quick read. I would like to read more by this author.

"Fatal Strike" is a Christian romantic suspense. The main characters were likable and determined to track down the truth. Though they'd never worked together before, the two FBI agents got along well and made a good team. The hero respected the heroine's skill and wasn't put off by her reputation. Each allowed the other to take the lead if the other was better suited to handle the person or situation. They fell in love as they got to know each other.

The author maintained a delicate balance between making little forward progress while having them constantly following up leads. Their main lead was a young man that was witnessed dumping the body but whom everyone swears wouldn't have killed the man. And it seemed like everyone was hiding some secret that impacted the case. The high suspense came from the continuing attacks on the future targets of the gang.

Both main characters had some questions about how God works. They objected to how the priest seemed more devoted to trying to save those in gangs than helping the FBI pursue justice. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.

"Fatal Strike" by DiAnn Mills is a great read. I have to admit, though, I did have a hard time getting into the book at first. But after the first few chapters, I was hooked. The book had a few twists and turns, and it ended quite differently than I thought it would.

FBI Agents Leah and Jon are called in to investigate the deaths of some prominent people in the community. There is reason to believe the local gang is responsible. Leah and Jon are racing against time to find the killer(s) and also to prevent another one from happening.

This book had suspense and a little romance throughout. If you like good, clean, romantic suspense novels, you will love this book.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Fatal Strike by DiAnn Mills is a predictable, unoriginal tale of drug chasing. From the first chapter, I had a good idea of how the story would lay out, and I was proven correct. The characters were flat and had told their story before. I had a hard time staying focused on the story. I have seen the story before written by a number of romantic suspense authors. Not that Mills doesn't know how to write; she does, but I have read this drug chasing and terrorists plots a number of times, and they are really repetitive and boring. While this story might be just the right story with plenty of action for some fans of romantic suspense, Fatal Strike did not work for me. I wanted something a little more original with tons of hair raising moments and an unpredictable ending. Fans of Irene Hannon and Colleen Coble might be overjoyed with Fatal Strike, but not me.

I received a complimentary copy of Fatal Strike by DiAnn Mills from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

A string of murders using rattlesnake venom brings a team of FBI experts to Galveston, Texas. Finding a connection proves difficult. Everyone seems to be hiding something.
Another interesting crime drama by this dynamic author, with a subject pulled from current problems: gang violence, border concerns, illegal drugs. The main characters are smart, capable and tough, but have their own regrets and fears from their pasts. The dialogue is quick and snappy, with some romantic interest. Plenty of action and revealed clues to the mystery kept the story rolling along at a steady pace. It gave me a peek into how stressful and frustrating at times it must be for law enforcement officers to get to the bottom of real crimes.
The involvement of the parish priest and the characters' own personal struggles added some faith elements. Finding a way forward through grief, regrets, and difficult parent-child relationships were key themes. I liked the wrap up and hopeful ending.

Recommend for readers who like police or crime based dramas, with some faith and a bit of romance.

Deb’s Dozen: Leah and Jon, FBI Snipers, Face Fears, Fatalities, Forgiveness, and Finally, Romance

Fatal Strike, DiAnn Mills’s latest entry in the suspense and mystery field, ranks as one of her best. She nails the characters of her protagonists, Leah and Jon, and makes us like them from the very beginning. Both carry secrets from their past that keep them from getting close to people. Nevertheless, their pasts make them excellent at their jobs of FBI snipers.

Fatal Strike starts with a hostage situation where Leah and Jon do what they do best–kill at a distance. The criminals, holding children as shields, make their jobs a bit easier. Immediately after the hostage situation ends, tasked with investigating a string of murders in Galveston, they cement their partnership. Three very prominent people–a cop, a lawyer, and a judge–killed by an injection of rattler venom to the heart form the center of the plot. However, a complex string of characters: a priest, a very angry police chief, the judge’s widow, several possible perps, keep Leah and Jon and us guessing.

Mills does what Mills does best with her suspense and mystery tales–leads us astray until the end of the book with just enough false trails. We wonder if the obvious suspect and real murderer coexist. Mystery, murder, and mayhem–loved every minute of Fatal Strike, which I read in one afternoon. Keep ’em coming, DiAnn! Five Stars!

Suspense and mysteryDiAnn Mills, a multi-awarded, prolific author who always keeps her readers guessing, lives in Texas. However, she co-directs the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina. She loves her coffee, her friends, and her faith. Get to know her through her books. I’ve never once been disappointed.

Tyndale House gave me a digital ARC of Fatal Strike, but I was in no way obligated to write a review.

Wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat! It was intense and incredibly interesting. I had a very difficult time putting this book down when I had to and found myself thinking about it when I was doing other things.
DiAnn Mills has such a knack for writing amazing suspense stories. They are always so enthralling.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense.