Can't believe it took me this long to pick this up and read , because it's like I'm revisiting one of my all time favorite shows in book format which is Criminal Minds, which is why I request itin the first place plus I love finding new authors as well as new series that have some of my favorite things in them, suspense, serial killer, FBI ,profiling , and amazing characters as well as story line .

I requested this book because Criminal Minds is one of my favorite shows and I thought this book would be a good read. I liked the book. I tried to go in with an open mind that this wouldn't be like Criminal Minds and to enjoy the story for what it was. And I did. Some parts were cringey but overall, I loved the suspense and thrills I got from the book. Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

I have to admit HQI stories have always been the books you read and review because there isn't much to the stories they are short and sweet AKA filler when you need something to read and forget.

To my surprise this story will stick with reads and the non stop action from the beginning to the end of the book that will have readers excited for the next book in the series. The characters are are flushed out and almost realistic that readers could put there feet in the shoes of the lead and know what they are feeling.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Nichole Severn Profiling a Killer

Good start to a new series, this one about a Behavior Analysis Unit of the FBI. This book is about Nicholas, the team's profiler. He has a fantastic record of identifying serial killers, starting with the X Marks the Spot killer. That one was hard on Nicholas because the killer turned out to be his next-door neighbor and like a second father to him. During that case, a crucial piece of evidence was uncovered by the medical examiner, Dr. Aubrey Flood.

Three years later, Aubrey's sister died at the hands of a copycat serial killer. Aubrey insists that Nicholas be the agent to work this case because she knows he's the best. She also refuses to remain uninvolved in the investigation.

The action in this book stayed intense from beginning to end. This case stirs up some hard memories for Nicholas with its resemblance to the original X Marks the Spot's MO. It also makes him even more determined to catch the killer quickly. When the killer strikes again, using the MO of a different serial killer, Nicholas knows he has a challenge on his hands. I could feel his frustration as he realized that this killer has an agenda, and Aubrey is his focus. The detective work fascinated me, from Nicholas trying to get inside his head to Aubrey using her ME skills to notice minute details that may help identify the killer. The part I found frustrating was the number of times the killer outwitted and physically bested the agents. The ending was a nail-biter as the killer almost got away with his plan, but for Aubrey's and Nicholas's determination to save each other. The twists and turns of the case kept me glued to the pages. I did figure out the killer's identity before the end but wondered how they would stop him.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Nicholas and Aubrey. The sparks have been there since the first time they met, though neither did anything about them. When they come together on this case, the time they spend together gives those sparks time to strengthen and grow. I liked that they respect each other's work and can admit when they need help. Both Nicholas and Aubrey have issues that keep them from developing lasting relationships. Aubrey tends to put everyone else's needs before her own, leaving her with nothing for herself. Nicholas's ability to trust disappeared when he realized how his neighbor had manipulated him for so many years. Thanks to Nicholas, Aubrey made changes in her life, but he let her down when it counted most. I wanted to shake Nicholas when he allowed his trust issues to come between him and Aubrey. It was lucky he saw his error as quickly as he did, or things would have turned out very differently. I loved the scene at the hospital as he opened his heart fully to Aubrey.

Agent Nicholas is working on his newest case that seems familiar to an old one. Unfortunately for Dr. Aubrey sister was murdered by that serial killer and wants to do everything she can to find that person behind it because he's leaving a trail similar to other well known serial killers and it seems that Aubrey is in the killers sights.

I love a good mystery suspense novel and this book was perfect for me. It was short for one so perfect beach side read when you don't want to carry around a tome around. I loved that there was so much going on. There were plenty of leads and questions as to how this person was getting away with this. There was a press for time because with every body there was a lead to another one. Soon enough when it become apparent that Aubrey is a target theres the wonder of when the person would strike and how. Theres just so much to love about this book and I reocmmend you lovely readers who love a good mystery suspense novel to check this book out.

I couldn't put this book down!

The action starts off strong and never lets up in this romantic thriller. Nicholas and Aubrey first met three years prior working a serial killer case, and now an apparent copycat killer has claimed Aubrey's sister as a way of drawing her out. Nicholas is an FBI agent who specializes in getting into the minds of the killers, while Aubrey is the city's medical examiner whose careful attention to detail helped identify the killer on their first case together. Now, she's driven to work this case for her sister, but as a potential victim Nicholas is trying to keep her safe.

I really enjoyed the easy working relationship these two had, and how they challenged each other to move beyond their emotional comfort zones. This was instrumental in laying the foundation for their romance, which grew quickly due to the intensity of the danger they faced during the investigation.

There are plenty of details of the killings and attempted killings, so this is not a book for the squeamish. It's not overdone, though - just enough to really understand the inner strength required for them each to survive to see justice done. The HEA focused more on that justice and less on the romance, as did the entire book, but there's no doubt about either Nicholas's or Aubrey's feelings by the end.

This was an exciting, non-stop read for me. I loved getting into the hearts and minds of the main characters, and I was completely drawn into the details of the case. I'm looking forward to reading more in this thrilling series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.