Cover Image: Dead End

Dead End

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This is the 3rd and final installment in the Kaely Quinn profiler series by Nancy Mehl. While the story line in this one can stand alone, having the background of the prior 2 books helps. Kaely is an FBI profiler and the daughter of an infamous serial killer. When some bodies are found in her old hometown that copy the MO of her father's kills, she's called on to face her own personal demons and come face to face with the person who fractured her life 20 years ago.

As a fan of suspense, this series fully drew me in. I enjoyed the unique perspective and quirks of Kaely and her profiling technique. The story lines of all 3 books and this one in particular were quite enticing. My one complaint is that the emotions seem stilted at times and out of proportion, and there's a lot of repitition in how feelings are stated in the book. I've struggled with this for all 3 books, though I don't remember it being quite as pronounced in the first book. I also struggled with Kaely's statement that she would deal with her feelings later, that she needed to press on with the case. Because she is a behavioral analyst and well versed in human psychology, she should know better than the average person how much that doesn't work. Her Christian witness was also frustrataing at times. The ending was still satisfying though, and the overall storyline mostly made up for these deficiencies in my mind. While the first book had pretty much zero romance and there was only a hit of it in the second book, this one had all the angst of a romantic suspense novel. I would recommend this book and series for fans of Christian romantic suspense.

Special thanks to NetGalley for an e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

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Inspirational romantic suspense.
Kaely Quinn and Noah are at it again.
The Raggedy man has a copy cat.
Suspenseful and thrilling, keeps you on edge of your seat.
Reunited with Ed Oliphant and Jason.
Need to read prior books in series for better understanding

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My best advice is to be prayed up before you start reading this book. The message is much needed, but the content of spiritual warfare by nature includes the reality of pure evil. Those who enjoy psychological thrillers will be fans of this latest offering by Nancy Mehl,as they will the entire Kaely Quinn Profiler series. Readers can feel the tension of the battles between good and evil, a battle that Kaely is in the midst of throughout the series. Many readers will feel as though they battle alongside her.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

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Dead End is the last book in the Kaely Quinn Profiler trilogy, which is super sad: I have SO enjoyed reading this series and following Kaely and Noah as they grow and develop their relationship with God and each other.

This book covers the biggest mystery of all: a killer who is mirroring the style of Ed Oliphant, Kaely’s serial killer father. Kaely has to face her own history as she helps the FBI find the person committing these crimes and prevent more people from dying.

This book was fast paced and action packed: there was SO MUCH that happened! Between the action, there was also a lot of spiritual content and introspection that occurred on Kaely’s, but also Noah’s part. I thought that was a really nice touch!

Again, the mystery/suspense was super well written, like the first two books, which I really appreciate! The only thing that felt a little bit sudden was the romance: it had been a SLOW romance all the way through the trilogy, so it made sense, but it still felt a little rushed overall, if that makes sense.

Overall, this is one of my favorite suspense trilogies! It ranks up there with the If I Run trilogy by Terri Blackstock, which it is reminiscent of. It’s a tossup whether I like this one or the first book more, but all of them are really good and I lovED this trilogy and am very sad to see it go!

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I was so excited to finally read the conclusion of the Kaely Quinn Profiler series! This book picks up not long after book two. There is a copycat killer and Kaely may be the only one who can stop him. Forcing Kaely to face her biggest fears was a great tipping point to end the series. Kaely's reactions and emotions felt very realistic throughout and it was easy to relate to her, even if you hadn't been through the trauma she had. I also enjoyed Noah's character, although I feel like his storyline, small as it may be, could have been wrapped up better. His emotions throughout the story as well were spot-on. The ending is climactic and intense, and I wasn't able to put the book down! I did not guess the villain's identity, so the shock factor was high.

I loved finally getting the conclusion to Noah and Kaely's romance. I think everyone has been waiting for it since book one! But I appreciated how the author didn't move too quickly on that subject; it was much more realistic to be slower and more drawn out throughout the series.

I mentioned in my review of the second book the issues I had with the lack of conclusion regarding the spiritual issues, so I was intrigued to see where this one would end. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what I was wanting. I appreciated that the subject of spiritual warfare was recognized, and in some way it was wrapped up. I just wish there had been a little more finality to it and a little more emphasis put on it.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this conclusion to the series, and look forward to reading more by this author! I highly recommend this to lovers of suspense\mysteries, especially with slow romances and spiritual themes.


FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

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A couple out treasure-hunting with a metal detector finds a gorgeous diamond ring—only it's attached to a corpse buried in a shallow grave. As the police comb the crime scene, they uncover more bodies—some of them over two decades old. When they notice that each body has a red ribbon binding the hands and feet, they believe they’ve stumbled upon more of Ed Oliphant’s victims. Only the convicted serial killer has spent the last 20 years in prison.

FBI Special Agent in Charge of the St. Louis office asks Kaely Quinn to interview the man she’s tried to forget she wants to say no. Her journey to forget her father—Ed Oliphant—has taken years. But the FBI thinks he has made contact with a protegee on the outside. Unless someone can get him to talk, more young women might die.

Special Agent Noah Hunter doesn’t want Kaely to talk to her father—it seems too risky and dangerous. He can’t decide if he admires her for her willingness to do whatever it takes to stop evil, or if her risk-taking will kill his feelings for her. As special agents, they make a wonderful team, and he struggles to understand what part he wants to play in her life.

You’ll Love This Book If…

If you love suspense, you’ll love this book. Mehl keeps readers on their toes, trying to guess who’s wreaking havoc with the case. Kaely, a trained behavioral analyst, uses an unusual profiling method—one the skates around the edges of normal. During the last case she and Noah worked on, she received a distinct message that she would die soon.

Mehl does a masterful job of showing how flawed and hurting people can find mercy, grace, and healing when they trust in God. Her well-developed characters struggle with the same questions that readers have.

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This is the third book in this series, and yes, I have read them all, not that I would want to, but, I do think you could read this one alone, the author does a wonderful job of bringing you up to date.
With this book, Kaely's father has now been in jail over 20 years, and now there are new murders with the same MO, how can that be?
There are so many twists and turns here, and no I did not see them coming, you will think you have your mind made up, when the rug is quickly pulled out from under you.
This is the end of the series, and yes, I would love to continue here, and the answers are forthcoming, will they be as you hope? There is a bit of sweet romance, and a lot of forgiveness, both to others and oneself, and throughout the book there is a love of God..
I will miss these characters, but am looking forward to the next read from this author, she never disappoints!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

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Dead End is book number three in the Kaely Quinn series. This was my first experience with Nancy Mehl and this series. I was impressed with the main heroine and her struggles being a FBI Special Agent with a serial killer father. Her relationship with Noah Hunter is evolving and changing as they face Kaely's father in hopes of catching a copycat killer.

Although not entirely predictable, I figured out who the copycat was and why. The story line was familiar and I able to piece it together. I still truly enjoyed the mystery and the characters.

I can't wait to continue reading Nancy Mehl.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with an ARC.

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Mehl's novel has a definite emphasis on character growth. There is really no suspense until near the end. Much of the book deals with Kaely's inner battles about her killer father, such as guilt. She also battles a feeling she will die young, something from childhood combined with a threat from an evil man she confronted in her FBI work. She also struggles with her faith, wondering if it is enough to get her through the hard experiences she anticipates coming.

There are several other psychological themes explored. What makes a serial killer, a psychopath? How do childhood experiences play a part? What part does the devil have in it? How does one handle anger toward God because of personal tragedy?

This is an interesting book for readers who like to get in the minds of main characters since suspense appears only near the end. There are good explorations of many themes involving evil behavior, its causes and cures and healing from its effects. While the edition I read contained no discussion questions, I think this book contains much to think about and discuss.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

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When I saw this book was available on Netgalley I jumped at the chance to read it. Nancy Mehl's books always keeps me in suspense and this series has been exceptionally good. Kaley Quinn has a lot of baggage to deal with. Who wouldn't if you had a serial killer as a father. In the latest case a body is discovered in a shallow grave. The way she was murdered lines exactly with Ed Oliphant's method of operation. A few other bodies were discovered that were done by the same person but a few older that were definitely the work of Ed Oliphant. What they are dealing with is a copycat killer but how in the world did the newest killer learn about Ed Oliphant's methods. These were details that were not revealed in the press so he must be getting the scoop directly from Ed Oliphant who is in prison. Kaley and Noah go on a quest to find answers.

There are some reviewers who said they guess who the copycat killer was but I thought it was someone else and I was wrong. Sometimes I guess but this time I did not. In this book Kaley was able to achieve healing. Here friendship with Noah developed into something more but was not the main focus in this book. I look forward to any new series this author will write and I'm sure she has more in the works.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bethany Publishers for providing me an ebook of this book to read and review. Dead End is due to be released on March 31, 2020

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DEAD END by NANCY MEHL is the third book in the Kaely Quinn Profiler series. I could not put it down and I guarantee you will not be able to put it down either! It is a fast paced psychological thriller with a great Christian message and an undercurrent of romance.
Kaely Quinn is a profiler who works for the FBI and is called upon to interview her father, an unrepentant serial killer, in prison, in order to try and find out who the copycat killer of several young women is, before any more die. It is very traumatic for her, and also for her good friend, FBI agent, Noah Hunter, who is very protective of her.
The characters are well defined and the plot is well worked out. We are kept guessing right to the end.
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling the read for you.
I highly recommene Dead End for anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

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Dead End is book number three in the Kaely Quinn Profiler series by Nancy Mehl. While I believe this could be read as a standalone, I think it can best be enjoyed by reading the previous books as well. I found that while I enjoyed book two, I really did enjoy this story even more and I think that was in part because I had had the chance to get to know Kaely more in the previous book.

If you haven't been introduced to Kaely yet, you're in for a treat... I truly adore this character. She's flawed, without a doubt, but she's so unique that I cannot help but be drawn into her world. The stories are good, but it's the character that really makes it. In Dead End we get an even deeper look into her mind and her rather unique way of thinking things through, and I couldn't get enough. While I'm not certain if this is the final book in the series, it certainly feels as though it could be. While I will be sad to say goodbye to it if that is the case, I do feel like it came to a fantastic conclusion if it is.

The story is absolutely intriguing... so many twists and turns to keep you guessing. While I will say that I suspected fairly early on who the UNSUB was in general (as in not the specific name of the person, but who they were in relation to the other characters), it wasn't until just before the big reveal that I began suspecting the specific person. I had to keep reading to figure it all out!

There were a lot of great faith elements in this story too... with some beautiful messages of forgiveness and God's ability to heal us and protect us. I didn't find it to be in your face or preachy, but weaved beautifully into the story quite naturally as it would have been in these characters' lives.

Overall, this was a fantastic read. If you love Christian suspense, this series is definitely one to check out. I cannot wait to see what Nancy Mehl brings us next!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are 100% my own.

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The conclusion of the Kaely Quinn Profiler series will have readers sitting on edge as Kaely finally faces her serial killer father in prison. When bodies are found in a mass grave, questions emerge about how the copycat killer knows details that were never released. Kaely and Noah, both will have to confront their past as they move to solve the crimes and face their future. Readers who love criminal fiction will enjoy the twists and turns. For a complete understanding of Kaely and Noah, readers will need to read to trilogy in order.

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I adore suspense, romantic suspense, and thrillers novels. I get excited about a novel or series that features a reoccurring serial killer. I know. You're probably turned off now, but I love the hunt for someone and picking up on the clues and red herrings, trying to distract me from figuring out who the villain is. In Nancy Mehl's current series, Kaely Quinn Profiler, I have enjoyed the series because of the heroine's perspective. Being a serial killer's daughter is completely different and unique. She brought something new to the table. There is some romance between Kaely and Noah, a fellow officer, but nothing to touchy-feeling. Not for the true contemporary romance fans. Way more downplayed. I loved the action and suspense in Dead End. It really captured my attention. I was at lunch at work and reached the climactic point at the end of my lunch, and I didn't want to return. Needed to see how the story played out. The little disappointment for the story was that I figured out who the killer was in this novel before the end. Not that it took away from the story. I just read so many of these suspense novels that I usually have them figured out. Overall, Dead End was an enjoyable read. Definitely a series for my keeper shelf. If readers enjoy Lynette Eason, then I recommend picking up this series.

I received a complimentary copy of Dead End by Nancy Mehl from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

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