Blake Pierce

Chloe Fine, an intern with the FBI Evidence Response Team, finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation in which her troubled twin sister, Danielle, is the prime suspect. As she and her FBI mentor, Agent Kyle Greene investigate, Chloe must face the dark and troubled past of her mother’s death some seventeen years earlier.

This narrative fails to build tension and doesn’t provide the reader with much in the way of suspense. The mostly unlikable characters spend a great deal of show more time making less-than-believable choices, and the entire plot lacks credibility. Once readers get past the implausibility of an intern actually investigating a case in which her sister is a suspect, there’s the sending of a suspect to prison because she appears to have committed a crime. Before any formal charges are brought against her, she’s hustled off to prison? Law enforcement simply does not work that way in the United States.

And then there’s the tired, frustrating, overused good twin/bad twin trope that needs to be retired forever. Every reader who also happens to be a twin cringes whenever this scenario pops up in a book, usually because most writers have absolutely no idea of what it’s actually like to be a twin and they don’t begin to understand the relationship and how twins interact with each other.

Story and plot points aside, there’s a desperate need for someone to edit . . . Greene often becomes Green; Steven becomes Martin in one conversation before morphing back to Steven in that very same conversation; present tense sneaks into a long piece written in past tense; plural noun/singular verb sentences keep popping up . . . these, and so much more, all work together to pull the reader out of a story that fails to deliver on so many levels.

This is the first in a series of Chloe Fine stories; hopefully, some reality will edge its way into the telling of future tales. show less

"If She Saw" continues the Kate Wise series with a fast-moving investigation that forces Kate to confront a chilling new case while navigating the personal changes in her life. As the stakes rise, Kate and her partner must race against time before others fall victim.

I thought this was better than the first book, "If She Knew". The plot felt tighter and more compelling, with fewer mistakes and a stronger sense of momentum from start to finish. The pacing kept me engaged, and the tension built show more nicely as the mystery unfolded.

Kate and DeMarco make a strong team, and I really enjoyed seeing their dynamic develop further. Their collaboration felt more natural and balanced this time around, adding depth to both characters. I also liked the inclusion of Allen, who only made a brief appearance in the previous book - his expanded role added another layer to the story, giving Kate a love interest, the first since her beloved husband’s murder.

One of my favourite aspects was Kate’s personal growth. I was genuinely glad to see that by the end of the novel, she had finally found the balance she was looking for between family and work.

Overall, "If She Saw" was a solid, engaging instalment that improved on its predecessor and left me interested in continuing the series. show less

Cora Shields, former Navy SEAL and after just a couple of pages former FBI Agent, looks like a badass but inside she's addicted to painkillers and drinks too much. When she gets a call that a former colleague and one of the few women in the SEALs has committed suicide, Cora travels from West Virginia to Colorado to pay her respects.

But her friend Addie's sister comes to her with a problem. Addie's daughter Caitlin has disappeared, and the local cops are calling her a runaway. Addie's sister show more Jamie asks Cora to give her just one day to look into the disappearance.

Since Cora didn't have any other life plans, she gives Jamie that day which leads to a corrupt local police force and a trafficking ring. Caught up in the hunt for Caitlin, Cora calls on an old friend and former boyfriend for help as she is determined to find Caitlin.

Cora is James Bond on steroids - a crack shot and an uber SEAL, but without that pesky government oversite. If you are looking for realistic action, you'll have to look elsewhere. If you want fast-paced, bloody adventure you are in the right place. show less

"If She Knew" is the first book in Blake Pierce’s Kate Wise series, introducing readers to a retired FBI detective who is pulled back into the world of violent crime when a close friend’s daughter is brutally murdered.


This was a solid and engaging start to a new series. Kate Wise was a likable and believable protagonist, and I especially enjoyed her internal struggle with retirement. Her sense of loss at stepping away from meaningful work, balanced with the genuine joy she feels about show more becoming a grandmother, added a nice emotional depth to the story.

The pacing was good and the book was an easy, fast read, perfect for fans of short crime thrillers. I also really liked Kate’s young partner, Kristen DeMarco. She came across as sharp, enthusiastic, and switched on, and their dynamic worked well, giving the investigation some energy and contrast between experience and fresh perspective.

That said, there were a few obvious plot errors and logic gaps that should have been caught before publishing. They didn’t completely ruin the story, but they did pull me out of the narrative at times and kept this from being a higher-rated read.

Overall, "If She Knew" delivered a compelling premise, a strong main character, and enough intrigue to keep me interested. Despite its flaws, I enjoyed the introduction to Kate Wise and am definitely looking forward to seeing how the series develops in the next book. show less