This is a very timely psychological thriller. Growing up in the DC area, I found myself drawn to the setting of this book. Corruption in government is always on the back burner of everybody’s mind and this book had a unique way of addressing it. The premise of the book is poignant and I love that the multiple heroines in this novel are very strong women and girls. I would highly recommend this for anyone who loves a good psychological thriller.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082VJV6B6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

This is the third book in the Agent Sayer Altair series. As the typical me, I have not read the first two books, but did not feel so out of touch that I was confused, but I think a little back story would have helped out some. This starts with a need for a seatbelt, as you are about to head onto one heck of a roller coaster, so strap in and be ready! We begin this book in the District of Columbia Police Department Dispatch Center. Dispatcher Karla Haskell hears Officer 2026, Officer Frankie Graham's voice checking in on the radio. Frankie would do more and more check ins lately. As they were having some friendly batter, Frankie notices that there is a graffiti tagger, and Karla stays on the line. Karla hears a loud crack of a gunshot and he does not respond so she calls 10-33, which is an officer down on duty! We are then taken to the Georgetown University Lecture Hall in Georgetown, D.C. FBI Senior special Agent Sayer Altair is still answering questions thirty minutes after her lecture. She talked about how she had seen numerous deficiencies in the brains of serial killers. The next question is one of substance- should we screen children for this lack of gray matter around the limbic system to see if they have a psychopathic brain? What if it was your child? These people also are able to channel their narcissism, lack of empathy, and preternatural calm into successful careers as lawyers, CEOs, police officers and doctors. Not everyone has to be a social butterfly. She talks about her research and how her subjects were able to be interviewed anonymously and one subject- Subject 037 had taken quite the interest in her and saved her in the middle of a major FBI scandal. She is interrupted by the call of a double murder downtown, including the police officer that was in the opening scene with a female as well. Apparently, the cop had interrupted the killer, not interrupted graffiti. They specifically asked for Agent Sayer Altair. Did I mention how bad a^& Agent Sayer is? She drives a motorcycle in D.C.!!! We are then taken on the adventure of finding out who the female victim was. But wait, it gets better. There are more bodies found, so this morphs from a homicide with an “accidental” murder to much more. We get to ride along on the journey with the Agent and the whole process of finding who did this. This was quite the page turner and will be following this author in the near future!

Cut to the Bone is the kind of mystery/suspense book I love the most. Not only there is a fast-paced plot with lots of twists and turns, but also the characters are diverse and with very interesting backstories. I read this book in only two sittings, and I loved every minute of it. Edge of my seat suspense, Egyptian history, police/FBI procedural, and some very disturbing mind games make this book a 5 stars read for me and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves this genre. Also, this is a third book in the series, and I highly encourage to read the first two books before this one in order to get the main character’s backstory.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion

A great police procedural for everyone that likes NCIS, criminal minds, or Rizzoli and Isles. I loved this quick read which is book 3 in the Agent Sayer series. Cut to the Bone begins with a grisly murder at the beginning of the book and Agent Sayer lays out the procedures to solve the crime and find clues. This is one of those books that can keep your attention for a FULL day until the book is done as you have to know what happens. I read it in one day. Highly recommend. Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Great psychological thriller. I was aware that this book was the third in a series, but I think it can be read & enjoyed even without this knowledge. Wonderfully diverse & suspenseful; I thought I had figured out how it was going to go multiple times and was wrong on every count! Kept me guessing until the end. I really enjoyed the character development as well.

This book moved fast, like an episode of Criminal Minds mashed into a Dan Brown novel. A killer has highjacked a bus full of high school students in Washington DC and is placing their dead bodies around monuments in disturbing, cryptic ways. The book follows FBI agent and neuroscientist, Sayer Altair, as she deciphers clues with her team that relate to Egyptology while she uses her knowledge of sociopathic behavior to track the killer’s next move.

This is not a character-driven book but the characters are fun and probably within the whole series quite complex. You never really slow down to get more than a few short bits of info about her family, her love of motorcycles, or the loss of her boyfriend that was clearly the plot of a previous novel (spoiler I guess) but it has all the hallmarks of a procedural tv series where the cast evolves over a longer span of time. The DC location provides a wealth of nerdy subjects that readers can geek-out on over the course of the series so I can see this being extremely satisfying and successful for fans of this type of book. While the hints of past books do make me curious about those crime-solving puzzles, I’m personally not into reading procedurals.

On the mystery itself in Cut to the Bone, I am a huge lover of all things Egypt, so that’s why I chose the book. I did learn some new details about the Amduat, a famous ancient book on the afterlife, I became frustrated with the typical investigative dead-ends that I knew were dead-ends (it’s only halfway through the book… so of course we’re not going to find the kidnapped girls) but I really loved the alternating chapters that went to the teens on the bus in a warehouse. Something about being with the kidnapped subjects always takes me back to Silence of the Lambs. You know the FBI agents are on the hunt and each time they open a door you’re hoping the two POV worlds you’re flipping between join one narrative and they are saved… That anticipation is what keeps you hooked.

This was a fun read with a twisty ending that was satisfying although not ground-breaking. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves data-driven procedurals with a strong and diverse cast from all nationalities, physical abilities, and mental classifications. There are heroes of every stripe in here.

On a quiet night in Washington, D.C. a police officer walking his beat sees a strange man seemingly up to no good. When the officer confronts the man the man turns and shoots the officer. However the officer turns out to not be only the only victim. There is a young girl who is lying there dead and her body has been left in a ritualistic way.
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FBI Agent Sayer Altair’s is called to investigate the scene as she has a background in dealing with psychopaths. During the investigation she learns that the dead girl was part of a field trip with other young boys and girls and their bus is missing and nobody knows where they are.
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Agent Altair is put in charge of the case to find the missing kids and what she discovers is things are not what they seem. (I don’t what to say too much more so I don’t spoil anything)
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First off I want to thank @minotaur books for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This book hooked me in from page 1 and I struggled to put this one down. The story and characters are simply fantastic and I love Agent Altair. She is portrayed as the bad ass who can take on anything or anyone. The twists and turns are amazing and unexpected. I also learned a few things about Washington which is one of my favourites cities I have been to in the USA. I can’t say enough good things about this one and highly recommend it to everyone. It comes out

I absolutely love this series and Cut to the Bone is my favourite so far.

I have really been liking these thriller/mystery/suspense novels where it’s less focused on a whodunnit and more focused on the why and how these crimes are committed. For me, when the killer in a book is revealed, it can make or break a book. When books are less focused on keeping the reader guessing on who is responsible, and instead focuses on the protagonists and them trying to get into the mind of the suspect, it makes it a more enjoyable read for me.

Not only was this books mystery and crime really interesting to follow, it made some great advances on the previous book’s storyline. Sayer was conducting her own study looking at the brains of psychopaths, and subject 037 takes a keen interest in her and ‘checks in on her’ and follows her handling of this case. I love a series spanning story line, and this book ended with a jaw dropping cliffhanger! I usually don’t appreciate cliffhangers (I am impatient!), but this one was really well done and am so excited that it means there will be a next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced e-reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy the characters in this book and how they all fit together. It was nice to see one story arc end and another one get really interesting! I can't wait for the next book!!!!

I didn’t realize this book was part of a series and the author did a good job of making sure characters and plot was well developed. After a bus of high school students vanishes, and students start turning up dead, the FBI devotes it’s resources to locating the missing. Agent Altair manages her own grief along with various relationships while remaining focused on finding the children. Unexpected twists abound including returns from past and a mystery caller with clues for the case.

Senior special agent Sayer is investigating the disappearance of a school bus with 24 high school students on it.
This book was written very well. Sayer is a strong, independent and intelligent character. I felt invested in the outcome of the story as it continued. There were other interesting parts of the story including the use of neurology, Egyptian mythology, and conspiracy theories. The author did a great job of immediately grabbing my attention within the first few pages and developing characters.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

Sayer is on the case of a group of missing kids. Her work on psychopaths makes her essential on this new case where a police officer and a young girl are found dead. There are signs of Egyptian symbols around the body which leaves the task force with lots of questions. Bringing in her neighbor and his dog at certain points, and her old boss who was pushed out of her job recently.

This had a lot of action, and highly intense with some ties into Sayer's past that come back to the surface. The ending left me speechless and can't wait for the next book in this series.

I've been eyeing this book for so long and thanks to Minotaur books, I was able to receive a copy as part of their #influencer program! This is my first novel by Ellison Cooper and it will not be my last. This is the 3rd installment of her Agent Sayer book series ... and this is one badass main character.

The first thing that caught my eye was the cover. For some reason, I was instantly drawn to it's beauty. The obsession with this book didn't end after I opened it ... this one was FAST PACED, very detailed and super original novel which is hard to find these days. Without giving too much away, I am super intrigued as to why Cooper chose characters with a specific interest in Egyptology and Hieroglyphics. Those are 2 subjects that intrigue me, but I never thought would find their way into a thriller in the manner it did - and I LOVED IT.

I absolutely adored the female protagonist in this book. She was sharp, witty, experienced and laser focused on her role in saving the children who were kidnapped from harm. She was instantly likeable and someone I would follow throughout many more books. She had a keen sense of self and was relentless in her pursuit of the killer. Her relationship with the other characters in this book (who by the way were AMAZING and eclectic - and all played a very important role) kept me reading long into the night. While this is "graphic" in some senses, its tactifully done. This is not your typical serial killer novel ... and I was grateful for a bit of a break from that aspect. The murders happen in rapid succession of the book ... which is one reason why it was so fast paced ... because there could have been so many other deaths if Agent Sayer hadn't beautifully filled her role.

I am looking to go back and read the first 2 books in the series simply because I enjoy Ellison writing style and her characters. This is a fantastic standalone as well!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

How long am I going to have to wait for the next one!? This series just keeps getting better and better. I love the character development, the story lines keep me riveted. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I really enjoy that the chapters are short, it keeps everything moving quickly. Since I first started this series, I’ve been hooked. I really enjoy the way Ellison Cooper weaves history and thriller together. I will eagerly be waiting for the next book in this series!

Thank you to Ellison Cooper and Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book!

Ellison Cooper is an author to watch! Cut to the Bone is a superb book that will keep you turning pages until the end!

While this isn't perhaps my favorite installment in the Agent Sayer Altair series, I continue to love author Ellison Cooper's books, primarily her lead character. Sayer's high principles, intellect, dogged determination, not to mention that thorny exterior masking a huge heart, will always keep me fangirling after her. Add in a terrific supporting cast, plus some truly bizarre killers, usually obsessed with ancient mythologies, and you get one of the most unique and entertaining serial killer series out there.

FBI neuroscientist Sayer Altair is one of the most fascinating characters and watching her development and story through the first two novels, I will look forward to any future novels from Ellison Cooper. I happened on the first novel, bought the second novel and thank the publishers for allowing me to enjoy the third.

Altair's focus may be on studying the brains of psychopaths but she has a skill set for solving cases that can't be ignored. Her latest to which she is assigned, with only the help of a few agents, is to find a busload of kidnapped high school STEM students. When one turns up as what seems a sacrifice with an Egyptology theme the race is on to figure out where the rest of the students are. At the same time you are further introduced to Sayer's family, past, loves and losses and supporters. You root through the suspense and mystery that the case will get solved and the students saved. The suspense and chills will keep you in their grip right to the last surprising pages. Highly recommended.

I realized once I started reading this one that it was a part of a series. I DNF'd until I could read the previous titles in the series and will come back and edit my review when I do.

This was my first novel from Ellison Cooper but it won't be my last! I really enjoyed this one and it did it's job - it kept me turning those pages wanting to see what happened next!

When I initially requested this one from the publisher I didn't realize that it was part of a series featuring the main character Sayer Altair. A few times in the story events were mentioned that were clearly backstory from the previous novels, but I was never lost or wondering what happened. While reading the other ones in the series first would be beneficial, it did not affect my love for this book at all and I do think the novel stood alone well. I found it very easy to follow along and figure out what was going on. It was thrilling in all the right ways and moved along at a great pace. I really liked the main character Sayer. I thought she was flawed, but not too flawed and she was a strong female lead.

Overall, this was an entertaining read and I would definately read more from this author! Publishing on July 14th, this will make an excellent addition to your summer reading list!

When I initially requested this novel on NetGalley I didn't realize that it was part of a series. Cut to the Bone is the third book in the Agent Sayer Altair series but I didn't feel left in the dust by the story line. There are events mentioned that I'm assuming are covered in the previous two novels but they're more passing information than being an important piece of the current novels plot line. Certain events do occur within this book that might make it less appealing to go backward though and I'm still trying to decide on if I will.

Sayer is a very humanly compelling character - just the right mix of flawed. To Sayer, the job comes first before nearly anything except family. She is the type of character that constantly puts herself in precarious and more than likely dangerous to save someone else above and beyond what duty as a FBI agent calls for. It was nice to see yet another HRD team in this book with Max & Kona - their relationship reminds me of the character Luke Alvez (Adam Rodriguez) and his dog Roxie (if she were an HRD dog) from Criminal Minds. Reading this book brought me back a lot to that show actually. The supporting characters (that have a history with Sayer) have great interaction with her but I think it would be more meaningful had I read the prior two novels. If I do wind up going backward I look forward to getting to know the characters better - especially Tino, Max and Holt.

I do so love books with killer's that have strange rituals and/or backgrounds and this one drew from one of my most favorite subjects - Egyptian history. Cut to the Bone featured certain funerary rites from Ancient Egypt and it was so interesting. I would love to go into depth here but I don't want to ruin the book for anyone. This book is based in Washington D.C., I visited D.C. shortly after 9/11 through our 4-H Washington Focus trip and it's not something I'll ever forget. Having traveled to some of the locations where scenes took place made it all the more interesting and immersive for me.

The book is a moderately fast-paced ride and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a solid installment for a series and you could read it as a standalone book if you weren't curious about what happened before or takes place afterword. Sayer's case is wrapped up but the what she found herself thrust into the middle of is definitely far from over I think. When I thought I had my conclusions drawn I got thrown a half curve ball - I was partially correct about only one thing. There were several twists in this book that I did not see coming at all.

I would have honestly preferred to start with Caged first so that I could follow the series from the beginning. Not starting with book one didn't lessen my experience with the third book in the series. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy thrillers, suspense, mysteries, Egyptian history and serial killers. A big thank you to the publisher William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Cut to the Bone as an ARC copy - all opinions are my own.