Having barely made it through the previous installment in the series, What Harms You, which nearly became a DNF, I hesitated before diving into this latest offering.

Thankfully, The Deepest Kill opened with a slightly more promising start. Yet, the author’s fondness for excessive detail veers into overkill. Yes, I appreciate thoroughness, but do I need a description of a bathroom faucet?

And then there’s the unnecessary filler that weighs down the narrative. Additionally, inconsistencies crop up all over the place, and the plotting takes shortcuts, leaving me wondering how to connect the dots.

This is where I will be jumping off the Lisa Black / Locard train.

The Deepest Kill by Lisa Black
Locard Institute #3

Was it really an accident…or was it murder? That is what Martin Post needs to know about his recently deceased daughter SO he calls in the Locard Institute experts to find out.

What I liked:
* Dr. Ellie Carr: left FBI to work for Locard Institute, crime scene analyst, scientist, divorced, and from previous books know that she purchased a house, took in a rescue dog not mentioned in this book so wonder who is watching it, had a difficult backstory
* Dr. Rachel Davies: assistant director of Locard Institute, bright, single parent to deceased sister’s toddler, counts on her mother for childcare, left job as medical examiner to work at Locard Institute, divorced
* The plot, pacing, setting in Florida, writing – plenty of twists and turns
* The forensic information I learned and how it tied into this case
* FBI agents Michael Tyler and Luis Alvarez who were in the last book and showed up again in this one – wondering if perhaps Michael is interested in Ellie
* Thinking about wealth and how it motivated some in this story
* Wondering if or when Ellie might l earn more about how her mother died and what if any impact it will have on her
* Having a feeling I knew who the murderer was when that person showed up and then being validated at the end of the story
* The title of the book and how it tied into the story

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The reasoning behind the murderers decision to kill…such a waste…
* The ending…though it completes the story, would have liked to have one more chapter, I think

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC this is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Oh, I didn’t want this book to end where it did! This is a series but I had not read the previous books, but I will now. You can read this book as a stand alone but knowing the characters back story old have made it more interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC of ‘The Deepest Kill’ by Lisa Black.

I immediately need to read the first two in this series. This book is truly a must read if you like mystery and thriller books. The characters were well developed despite this being the third in a series. The plot was full of suspense and I couldn’t put this down. I believe given that not everything was wrapped up at the end that there will be another book in this series and I cannot wait to read it. Whilst I wait for that I’m going to go back and read the first two.

Tech mogul Martin Post, one of the wealthiest men in America, has hired the Locard Institute, which specialises in forensic science, to look into the death of his beloved pregnant daughter, Ashley after her body was found washed up on the shore near Martin’s estate.

Ashley’s mother died eight years ago when she was seventeen, and now Ashley and her husband, Greg Anderson both live and work on Martin’s huge private estate on the coast of Florida. The morning she died, Ashley took her boat out into the Gulf, as she did every day, to work on her laptop in the peace and tranquillity of the water, somehow falling into the water, and drowning after sustaining a head injury. The county coroner has ruled Ashley’s death an accident, but Martin is not convinced and has hired ex-medical examiner, Dr Rachel Davies, and ex-FBI agent, Dr Ellie Carr from the Locard to perform a second autopsy and review the investigation to look for signs of foul play.

Martin’s company, Oak Tree is in the final stages of putting together a huge defense proposal for the US Department of Defence and he is concerned that Ashley’s death might have been orchestrated by one of his competitors or even a foreign power in order to scupper his chance at winning the massive contract.

Although the characters and their backstories have been mostly fleshed out in the previous books of the series, this novel can be read as a stand-alone as there is sufficient description to enable readers to form a good picture of Rachael as a strong and confident leader, and Ellie, who is often unsure of herself and easily stressed, she is braver than she thinks. The mystery is carefully plotted with false leads and unexpected twists leading to a gradual uncovering of secrets and Lisa Black’s professional knowledge of forensic science adding scientific authenticity. Like the waters of the Gulf in the impending storm, their investigation becomes turbulent and dangerous as the pressure ramps up and a very atmospheric climax perfectly wraps up this compelling thriller.

The Deepest Kill by Lisa Black is the third installment of Black's Locard Institute thriller series. I have read both of the others in this series, in addition to all of Black's other books (under both pen names). This one seemed to start out a bit slower than her others, but once it got going it was fast-paced and exciting. I loved the combination of the tech sector, government defense contractors, personal lives of the main characters, and the murder mystery. As usual, Black packs in lots of interesting tidbits about everything from the star wars murders to rare diseases. I loved the story right up to the end, where it ended way too abruptly for me, hence the lower star rating than I world normally give. There was no denouement; the tale ended at the height of the action, and I found this very unsatisfying. Given that we still don't have answers to the mystery surrounding Ellie's own mother's death, I think we can assume there will be more books in this series, but I still would have liked this story wrapped up a bit more.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-galley of this book and write a review.

The Deepest Kill by Lisa Black is filled with suspense and intrigue, capturing readers’ attention from page one to the last page.
A fast paced and pulse pounding thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat with each turn of the page.
The mystery and characters were written so well and
The Deepest Kill grabs you from the start and refuses to let you go throughout the whole story.
This is a very captivating, suspenseful thriller with plenty of mystery, danger, and intrigue. It kept me reading through the late hours until I finished the book.

Thank You NetGalley and Kensington for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Deepest Kill by Lisa Black is the third installment in the Locard Institute series. It could be read as a standalone, but readers would benefit from the backstory in the first books.

Drs Ellie Carr and Rachael Davies are called to help investigate the death of the daughter of one of the richest men in the country, Martin Post, a tech genius working on a top secret middle defense system. Did Ashley faint from her boat and drown, an unfortunate accident, or was she murdered?

I enjoyed this book and the forensic science tidbits interspersed throughout. Theresa first half was definitely slower than the second with bits of Ellie’s past sprinkled in. I am really intrigued to see where Ellie’s story goes in the future.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Kensington books, Lisa Black, and Netgalley.

This is book 3 in the Locard Institute series and I am definitely continuing to enjoy it. I did think this one moved a little slower than the last, but I thought it was a good mystery. I really like both Dr. Rachael Davies and Dr. Ellie Carr and I hope they have more mysteries to solve in their future. Dr. Davies and Dr. Carr are called in by the second richest man because he doesn’t believe the death of his daughter was an accident like the initial autopsy indicated. Teaming with the FBI they begin investigating when the second autopsy indicates a question of foul play. This series is definitely more heavy on the forensic side which I think makes it different than most similar books and genres. I wasn’t super surprised by the twist at the end, but I thought it was a good wrap up of the mystery at hand.

The Deepest Kill by Lisa Black is an excellent, heart-stopping forensic mystery/thriller featuring two complex female protagonists. This is very highly recommended and the third novel in the Locard institute series.

Dr. Ellie Carr and Dr. Rachael Davies, forensic experts at the Locard Institute, are called by billionaire Martin Post, the genius behind OakTree software design, to his compound on the Florida Gulf Coast. Martin's pregnant daughter, Ashley, has been found dead. She had taken out her boat into the Gulf, went missing, and her body washed up on the shore. Martin wants Ellie and Rachel in on the autopsy and investigation to make sure every angle is looked into. The two quickly determine her death was murder. Ashley's husband, Greg, is naturally a suspect, but her murder could also be due to the project she was working on for OakTree. FBI agents Michael Tyler and Luis Alvarez are also on the scene investigating.

The writing is exceptional in this compelling, engrossing story with a fast and riveting plot. As the facts are uncovered in the investigation and interviews in each chapter, the list of suspects grows. More details from Ellie's childhood are also revealed along with the elements from the investigation. Ellie and Rachel have various complicated pieces and clues to investigate. All the intricacies add depth and interest to the narrative while the two try to follow their knowledge and intuition to untangle the many pieces of their investigation.

The Locard Institute series continues to be a very appealing and highly rated series for me and I look forward to another installment of the series. The Deepest Kill can be read as a stand-alone novel although those following the series will appreciate the new insight and development of characters. Both Ellie and Rachel are complex, interesting fully-realized characters. It was such a pleasure to follow them along as they investigated a new case. The other characters in The Deepest Kill are also well-developed and intriguing

Anyone who appreciates novels with details about the forensics and scientific details involved in an investigation along with strong, competent female characters will enjoy The Deepest Kill. I'm anxiously awaiting their next case. Thanks to Kensington for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble Edelweiss, X, and Amazon.

The third book in Lisa Black’s Locard Institute thriller series is The Deepest Kill . Once again, she provides great characterization, suspense, and multiple mysteries in this crime thriller that kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. Once again, the author’s expertise and background in forensics brings realism to the story.

Dr. Rachael Davies and Dr. Ellie Carr, forensic analysts from the Locard Institute, have taken on a client in Florida. Software pioneer Martin Post’s daughter Ashley had taken a day trip in her motorboat, went missing, and has been found dead on a nearby shore. The local medical examiner has ruled Ashley’s death an accident, but Martin doesn’t believe it. Since Martin has been working on a new defense initiative for the US military, the FBI is also involved.

Ellie is a complex character. She recently left her job with the FBI’s Evidence Response Team after divorcing a co-worker. She’s analytical, outwardly friendly and outgoing, but somewhat insecure. Change stresses her. Readers learn more of Ellie’s childhood during this novel. Rachel is empathetic, a former Washington D.C. medical examiner, and is currently the assistant dean of education at the Locard Institute. She’s also very good at detecting deception.

The riveting story arc immediately grabbed my attention and kept me engaged throughout the book. It’s descriptive without slowing the pace and well-plotted with some unpredictable moments and red herrings in the story. Readers interested in all aspects of forensics will find something of interest in this book. I found it fascinating to view a case from this perspective. The tension level varies throughout the novel which has several action scenes interspersed with investigations and interviews. The author vividly portrayed the private estate where Martin and his family lived on the Gulf coast near Naples, Florida. My biggest quibble relates to the ending. It seemed rather abrupt with several items not completely resolved. However, the main mystery is resolved. Themes include death, grief, forensics, family, secrets, hatred, resentment, and money.

Overall, this was a story that demanded my attention throughout the book. Those who enjoy the analytical and scientific side of mysteries will likely enjoy this novel with its intriguing and engrossing mystery along with well-developed characters. While this novel can be read as a stand-alone, readers will gain a better understanding of the key characters and their backgrounds if they read the series in order.

Kensington Books and Lisa Black provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 20, 2024.

This one is for fans of thrillers where forensics play a big (big) role. Ellie and Rachael find there's more to the death of Audrey than even her father expected. This merges conspiracies with tech with kinda rotten people. I missed the earlier books in the series but it was fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A page turner.

The third book of the Locard Institute series, The Deepest Kill finds the two protagonists, Rachael and Ellie embroiled in a tangle of lead lines searching for the killer of a wealthy inventor's daughter. Possible suspects are varied and include the victim's husband.

This is my first read by Lisa Black and I had no trouble reading it as a stand-alone, though I will catch up with the first two books soon. The plot was torn from the evening news: family jealousies, high tech military involvement, an overly demanding parent, a possible kidnapping gone wrong. I found that to be challenging.

I enjoy learning about the "why" and "how" of things , so the technical descriptions were of particular interest. That really clarified certain things for me. This was a fast moving plot littered with red herrings and switch ups for those who enjoy crime solving.

I recommend this book to readers of thrillers, mysteries, crime---you will not be disappointed.
Thank you for the Advanced Reader Ecopy that I requested and received from #TheDeepestKill #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A rich father…a husband who might be guilty…a dead pregnant wife…family and friends…murder and mayhem…the realistic characters keep this story moving quickly. This talented author has written a page turner. Red herrings and secrets add to the guessing. Who did it? Was there ever a baby? Was the baby taken? Was it too early? Questions to be answered. The protagonist works diligently to answer these questions and more. Curl up in front of a cozy fire and become lost in this mystery. Thanks Netgalley.

Lisa Black is a hit or miss author for me because her writing is almost what readers are hoping for and then falls flat or the story doesn't quite flow right,
The Deepest Kill is part of the Locard Institute Thriller series, and this is book. The story is part of a series and would be best if read as part of a series to better understand the different characters. The story can be read as stand-alone novel readers just have to push though the update in the story to get to the meat.
Readers can tell the author did her research and at times will be lost in too technical side of the story.
Overall, it is a thriller mixed with a little too much scientific information.
Thank you to Netgalley for advance copy.

Billionaire software mogul Martin Post asks Ellie Carr and Rachel Davies of the Locard Institute to investigate the suspicious drowning death of his daughter Ashley near their Florida costal home. Was it really accident or something more sinister?

This was hard to put down. Much more scientific than a lot of forensic thrillers and loved the Cleveland connection.

I hadn’t read the first two in the series but am definitely going to! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A software mogul worth more zeros than I can fathom has lost his only child to an apparent boating accident. Storms aren’t unusual in the gulf waters off the Florida coast. He has reached out to two doctors from the acclaimed Locard Institute, Rachael and Ellie. He wants them to take a second look at his pregnant daughter’s death so he hires them as consultants. His private island type estate is secure and isolated. There is the younger second wife/step mother, a husband who isn’t grieving the loss of his wife or unborn child and a high tech electronic assistant that’s just plane creepy. There are a couple of FBI agents stumbling and bumbling around.
There’s an astronomical government contract on the line. The type that makes or breaks a company. The DOD is very interested in this new technology. Could there be a competitive company to blame for the boating accident? The Locard team will need every bit of talent they can muster to solve this and not become a target themselves along the way.
I had a pretty solid theory early on in the plot, which didn’t deter me from finishing at breakneck speed to see if I guessed correctly. I’ve enjoyed this series and hope there’ll be more. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “The Deepest Kill” a Locard Institute Thriller (volume 3), by Lisa Black, Kensington Publishing Corp. Expected publication date 02/20/2024. These are always all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Dr Carr and Dr Davies of the Locard Institute are hired by a rich software genius to determine if the death of his only daughter was a murder. The husband is the obvious culprit and is not the most charming, genuine person. This book has suspense, revenge, murder and a few plot twists. It definitely kept me turning the pages. The only problem I had was I thought the ending was a little abrupt. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

The Deepest Kill by Lisa Black is a quick paced thriller that finds Dr Ellie Carr and Dr Rachel Davies brought together by a rich software pioneer Martin Post to determine if his daughter's accident was actually murder. They quickly determine that his daughter was murdered and work together to determine the identity of the killer. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for my review.

This was a good story which kept me turning the pages throughout the night. Great mystery, writing and plotting will recommend to all my friends who love this genre.