While I really enjoyed the first book in this series I really struggled with this plot. The premise seemed exciting and unique, but I quickly found it to be just too unrealistic and over the top unbelievable. I could not invest in the story for all of the times I asked myself if that could actually happen, or “why didn’t the person just do this instead.” It took me out of the story. I also felt like it was the battle of the odd heroines as Kailey and Alex were side by side. Both of these characters are really odd and quirky and together it became too much for me. I wanted to love this one, but it just didn’t hit the spot.

Hold on to your seats folks for this second novel in The Quantico Files series by Mehl, featuring members of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. I just love how these profilers arrive at the profile they create and in this book, a serial killer. I read the first story in the Quantico Files series because it included Kaely Quinn from her Kaely Quinn Profiler series. Now she is one of the profilers but not the main character/profiler in the book. This serial killer is quite different from most serial killers as his method is killing from a distance as in causing the victim to kill himself. Most of the book centers on BAU agents sitting around a table reviewing information and then trying to create a viable profile of the killer. They have very little to go as far as evidence. In fact almost nothing but phone calls. Still people are committing suicide. Now it appears the FBI’s BAU team seems to be the ones targeted and even protection inside the academy is not keeping them safe. They know someone on the inside is helping out the killer, but who is it and why? Then their top man is killed. They have to find out who it is before the next person dies. There is intense suspense as this mystery unfolds. Mehl has written another winner in this one….. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Hold on to your seats when you read this book! Dead Fall by Nancy Mehl is a novel that grips readers from page one and doesn’t let up until page done. There is so much to love about this book. First, this story is seriously fast-paced. When you decide to read this book, make sure you set aside a good chunk of time cause you are not going to want to be disturbed. The suspense is crazy good — it kept me turning pages well into the night. Mehl has a gift for ending her chapters at the exact moment you don’t want them to end. LOL! The characters are also fantastic First, the villain is especially villainous. He is one of the scariest villains I’ve ever read, and how he “kills” his victims is pretty eccentric. Not only is the villain well crafted, but Mehl’s protagonists are pretty stellar, too. I have actually been anticipating this book since I read the first story in the Quantico Files series because Mehl includes Kaely Quinn from her Kaely Quinn Profiler series. Kaely is one of my most favorite characters ever so I was SUPER excited to see how she would fit in with Alex and her BAU team members. She fit in great and I love how she becomes a sort-of mentor to Alex. I appreciate how respectful and considerate Kaely is of Alex’s trauma, and how she clearly wants to help Alex but also respects her boundaries. One of the reasons I like this story so much is because the focus is more on a female, good-friends relationship rather than on a romantic relationship. You don’t see those relationship types get much development in a Romantic Suspense. It was refreshing to read something unique and unlike what’s typical of the genre. I also really appreciate the many topics discussed in this book. The discussion on finding our value in God and not in other humans is my favorite talking point. As someone who has gotten caught up in caring about what others thought about me, this reminder of where my value comes from resonated deeply.

Dead Fall is another home run by Nancy Mehl. If you are a fan of Suspense novels, then this is definitely the book for you. Purchase yourself a copy today so you don’t miss out on a gripping who-done-it!

I received a copy of this novel in paperback form from the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, in order to review. I also purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on November 4, 2021, in order to review. I also received an eBook copy via NetGalley to review. In no way has any of this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I reached out to the only Person
who could show me who I was truly meant to be.
I found God. Without Him,
I have no idea where I’d be right now.
You see, positions, success, praise from people
— none of that lasts.
If you judge yourself by human standards,
you’ll fail. The only way to truly know yourself
is to know the One who created you.
Without Him, we’ll never find our way.
No matter what happens,
nothing will ever rob me of my identity again.

They were retired FBI Special Agents - and somebody killed them. Now the same UNSUB was trying to kill active FBI Agents. Somebody will have to stop the murders or the BAU will be gone.

It would not be easy and the active members of the BAU would find their lives in danger. Following the themes and practices known to fans of Criminal Minds, the story kept this reader awake as the members of the BAU follow the evidence to identify and apprehend the UNSUB.

The characters are real, with strengths and weaknesses they each have to use and overcome. The ending was a surprise (almost), but worth waiting for. I give the book five-stars.
_____________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Fall! In this second book in the series we follow Alex Donavan, an FBI behavioral analyst as she works with her team to profile a serial killer.

I found this entire book to be so unique - the serial killer/mystery was so different than any I have ever read. I totally didn't see the ending coming and I love that.

I thought book two was even better than book one!

Another exciting mystery from Nancy Mehl! And this one combines Alex and Kaely!! I love the character development as you read the series. And seeing the old characters from other books, too. Suspenseful until the end!

Fantastic. This story will keep you guessing almost to the end as to who is the murderer. There were a lot of twists and turns. The characters grow in their knowledge of being BAU analysts and in what they can do with their lives. I cannot wait to see what will come next in this series. This really has you thinking about what people are capable of doing. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House and the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Dead Fall is a modern-day thriller by Nancy Mehl. It is book two in the Quantico Files series. It is not necessary to have read the first book in order to read this one. They do refer to past events several times though, so if you don’t want to feel left out, you might want to consider reading that one first.

Summary: Members and former members of the BAU (the FBI’s elite Behavioral Analysis Unit) are dying. But how they are dying is the true mystery. Each received a threatening phone call. After which they killed themselves.

Who is targeting the BAU? Why are they doing it, and HOW are they doing it?

Can FBI Agent Alex Donovan and her team solve the most dangerous case of their lives before more succumb to the killer’s demands?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. The suspense was fantastic and the mystery intriguing and very unique. It was hard to put this one down.

It isn’t quite as dark as the author’s previous books, which I appreciated, but it is still quite the thriller.

I also like how the author kind of fixed my complaint from the first book in this series. The characters from her Kaelly Quinn profiler series are extremely similar to the characters in this series. But, she actually brought the characters from the Kaelly Quinn series into this book.

It was such a smart move because it really allowed readers to see some of the differences between the characters, and how they complement each other. It was fun to see how they worked together, and it really added to the development of the story line.

I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys plenty of action, drama, and a good mystery.

I would like to thank Bethany House for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Dead Fall is the second book in The Quantico Series by Nancy Mehl. You might have a better understanding of the dynamics of the team, and Alex's backstory by reading the previous book. This book also brings back Kaely Quinn from The Kaely Quinn Profiler series, and again I think you'll get the fullest appreciation if you are familiar with that series too. That being said, I do think you could still enjoy this book without having read any of those too. It's not 100% necessary, but certainly very helpful as both Kaely and Alex have rather unique and complex stories that you'll learn much more about there!

This was a fantastic read, just as I have come to expect from Nancy Mehl's novels. It was action packed from start to finish and kept you guessing right through to the end. I did start to suspect who would ultimately be revealed as the bad guy fairly early on... but there was still enough of a question to keep me wondering if it could really be so. I truly enjoyed trying to figure it all out. There was definitely a spiritual aspect that you don't see a lot in this genre, and it worked well within this story. Overall, it was a really good read. If you enjoy Christian suspense (with just a hint of romance), this is certainly one to add to your TBR.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Nancy Mehl paired Kaely Quinn and Alex Donovan in one doozie of a thriller. Former and current FBI agents are under attack. Sequestered in FBI dorms, the team works together to try to figure out who is doing this... and more importantly, the message he/she is trying to send. Alex and Kaely are roommates, and Alex is very interested in learning Kaely's unorthodox profiling method. The relationship between the two women deepens, as they struggle to stay alive... and solve the murders. A wonderfully twisting and turning storyline!

Dead Fall is book two in Nancy Mehl’s The Quantico Files series. This is a well written, fast paced, Christian crime thriller that is filled with action, suspense, mystery, good friendships and mild romance. The story has wonderful, supportive main characters that were introduced in the first story. The story follows after the first book in the series, so it is best to read them in order.

BAU members are getting phone calls to kill themselves in 30 second or a loved one will die. Even being put in a safe place without their phones, the threat is still very real. This story points out the extreme measures most people would take to save their loved one. I especially enjoyed the tight working relationships and friendships between Alex, Kaely, Logan and Monty. I especially appreciated the importance faith and prayer have in the story. This story is just so full of action and has many twists and turns that I found it very hard to put down. This is a great story!

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

Nancy Mehl’s Dead Fall is over-the-top intense! First of all, Kaely Quinn is back! If you haven’t read the Kaely Quinn Profiler series, it’s one of my favorites. But Dead End follows the FBI Behavioral Analyst Unit team. A killer is on the loose, targeting members of the BAU, and Alex Donovan and Logan Hart team up with Kaely to create a profile of the serial killer. But they can’t seem to get a read on their UNSUB, who continues to go after the team.

I loved this story! So many twists and turns. I couldn’t figure out who the killer was. Nancy weaves an incredible spiritual message as she dishes out the suspense. Readers get to know more of Alex’s story and of course there’s the budding romance between her and Logan. I highly recommend this novel to suspense fans, but caution that it is intense in some scenes.

Overall Rating:
5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)

Suspense Rating:
5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)


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

Alexandra ‘Alex’ Donavan has used her behavior analyst skills to solve her first big case in Kansas, but now she’s working with the elite Behavioral Analysis Unit for the FBI in Quantico. When her team gets called on to solve one of the strangest crimes ever, Alex knows it will take their collective skills to create a profile for local law enforcement to work with.

But time is running out. Before the unit can even agree a crime took place, a second case with the same MO takes place in Australia. And then one of their own comes under attack. Can the unit stop a murder in progress? And who will the diabolical killer target next?

Why I Loved This Book

As a new Christian, Alex continues to grow in her faith with the help of fellow agents Logan Hart and Kaely Quinn. Alex struggles to understand Kaely’s unusual methods of profiling. (Kaely Quinn, the protagonist of her own series, makes an appearance in the Quantico Files. I love it when characters cross into new series, and Mehl does a great job of explaining her presence without belaboring her background).

Although second in a series, readers will enjoy Dead Fall as a standalone novel. But why miss out on Night Fall, in which Alex uses all her skills to catch a serial killer with ties to her unusual upbringing?

Mehl weaves a tangled web of intrigue suspense lovers will find irresistible. I couldn’t put the book down. Fans of Cara Putnam, Colleen Coble, and Lynette Eason will love this book.

“There are a lot of things in this world we can’t see…But they’re real. Even more real than what we can see.”

“Evil is out there. We both know it. We’ve seen it. Our minds, our imaginations, can sometimes create an opening for something dark.”

“Only Jesus Christ can create a brand-new human being.”

Another entertaining read from Nancy Mehl. If you like edge of your seat Christian suspense fiction with a little romance, then this is the book for you. It is book 2 for behavioral analyst Alex Donovan, so definitely read book 1 as well as the Kaely Quinn series. Speaking of Kaely Quinn, what makes this book special is that Kaely joins the BAU team with Alex and Logan as they hunt a psychopath serial killer who is targeting behavioral analysts and threatening their family members and forcing suicide on the analyst. Dark stuff for Christian fiction at first glance but Mehl is quite adept at this and never is gruesome in her details.

While this is a very good book, here are my complaints. One, for some reason I always figure out the villain in a Nancy Mehl book! I did it with all of the Kaely Quinn books and now both books of the Alex Donovan series. I will say that I still usually enjoy her books even though I guess the villain. And then two, sometimes the dialogue doesn’t always ring genuine.

But complaints aside, I still feel like this is a 4 star book and worth reading if you enjoy Christian suspense.

* I received this book free from Netgalley and publisher Bethany House in exchange for an honest review

This book was fantastic. The only problem I had with it was trying to put it down.
I was hooked from the beginning and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire way through.
I highly recommend this book to anyone.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review electronically. I really liked this book. I did not want to put it down. About the Behavioral Unit in the FBI...a story that kept my attention...the story moves quickly...There are so many red herrings that it is difficult to determine the ending...the characters are real to life...I could imagine I was there in the middle of the investigation...I hope this is a series, and I hope to read more about these characters...I can't say enough about this book. Enjoy...Read it...

After putting to rest the most personal case of her career, Alex Donovan is ready to move on and focus on her future at the FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Unit. When the BAU cofounder is discovered dead in his hotel room, the FBI is called in to work on the strangest case they've ever faced. How do you find a killer who murders his victims from a distance?

When it becomes clear that the killer is targeting agents in Alex's unit, they are ordered into lockdown, sheltered in the dorms at Quantico. Alex bunks with controversial agent Kaely Quinn, and as they work together, Alex discovers in Kaely the role model she's never had--despite being warned away.

As Alex questions the type of agent she wants to become, things get personal when the brilliant killer strikes close to home. Now Alex will do anything to find the killer--even at the risk of her own life.

My review: What an interesting book. How do you find a killer when it appears to be a suicide? But you know the person would never commit suicide. Alex is task with doing just that. Every where she and her team goes, it seems the killer knows what they are doing before they do.

This is the second book in the series The Quantico Files. It's not necessary to read the first book in the series before reading this one. I recommend it as you learn more about Alex's background.

I recommend this book to all who like a good mystery.

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

Once again, Nancy Mehl has written a book that I was incapable of putting down. And I loved getting to see Kaely again. Alex's character arc is still ongoing, another fact that I appreciate in this series. When characters have what feels like real growth throughout a series, it draws me in and makes me want to keep reading. I started out the book with my usual game of trying to figure out the whodunit before the book told me. Did I succeed? Sort of. I had my suspicions. I enjoyed the deeper look at the BAU and its intricate details. The deep faith and spiritual thread that was brought into the story is among my favorites. I can't wait to read the next book. The twists and turns throughout the book kept me reading as I never quite knew what might happen next. It was a stay-up-all-night-and-read kind of book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This is the second novel in The Quantico Files series by Mehl featuring members of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. They are the people who create a profile of the killer. This series focuses on Alex, the agent featured in the first book, Night Fall. Kaely Quinn is a co-worker of Alex and features prominently in this series. She has appeared in a previous series, Kaely Quinn Profiler. Her way of profiling is unique and to obtain the best experience of understanding her character, the series featuring Kaely should be read first.

The action in this novel is a bit different from typical ones featuring FBI agents. This novel sees the agents sequestered when it becomes evident someone is targeting members of their unit. Most of the plot centers on BAU agents sitting around a table reviewing information and then trying to create a viable representation of the killer. His method of killing is manipulating people to commit suicide so the evidence is slim.

I felt there was quite a bit of repetition as the team discussed yet again the little evidence and conjectured on the character of the killer. At one point Kaely says, “We're just going in circles.” Alex expressed my own feelings when she replied, “I feel the same way.” (2244/3808) Alex made a revealing comment a bit later. “Working a profile is boring, detailed work. Very repetitive.” (2263/3808) My thoughts exactly.

This is a novel for readers who like characters thinking about their past actions and current growth and possible future. Alex thinks much about who she is and who she wants to become. I really appreciated the Christian aspect of the novel as Kaely and Alex have some good discussions with the gospel clearly presented.

While this may be different from the FBI style plots I generally like, I did appreciate a good dose of suspense at the end as well as a twist I did not see coming at all. Mehl continues to create engaging novels centered on character development and I will be looking for the next in this series.

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

Dead Fall is the second book in Mehl’s newest series, The Quantico Files, following a strong first installment, Night Fall. This series follows Alex Donovan, member of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, Alex is investigating a series of bizarre killings that soon come close to home.

PROS: Those that enjoyed Mehl’s Kaely Quinn series will be thrilled to learn that the author has melded the two series together as Kaely rejoins the BAU alongside Alex. As a Christian romantic suspense, the book features a strong faith element that doesn’t feel forced. As a reader who is much more interested in the suspense element than the romance, I appreciated that this book is much more focused on the suspense aspect than on the romance.

CONS: Some scenes were very cliche. There is one particular scene that came across like the old cartoon where the bad guy is tying the heroine to the railroad tracks cackling evilly and twirling his mustache. (There is no tying of anyone to the tracks in this book, that’s just the feel of it.) When the protagonist says to the antagonist, “You’ll never get away with this” it just felt cheesy. When the action finally picks up, the book’s end felt rushed and the wrap up eliminated the action I’d been waiting for through the entire book.

Overall, this installment of the series wasn’t as strong as the first book, but I do plan to check out the third book in the series, should one be released, since oftentimes the second book in a series ends up being sandwiched between a strong first and third book. Thanks go to NetGalley and Bethany House for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.