The Third To Die

The first book in Brennan’s (“Lucy Kincaid” and “Max Revere” series) new thriller series is a multilevel and multijurisdictional (police/sheriff/FBI) investigation involving a serial killer and the race to find and stop him. LAPD detective Kara is on leave and staying in her Washington state hometown when she discovers a body during her morning jog. It’s a young nurse who was killed on March 3, and the MO echoes that of the “Triple Killer,” who strikes every three years. DC-based FBI special agent Mathias, head of the newly formed Mobile Response Team, recognizes the signs. The elusive killer strikes in a series of three beginning with the first murder, then one on March 6, and a third on March 9. Other than the dates, they can find nothing else that the victims have in common except for the way they were killed. At times, the book gets repetitive as each agency is updated with the facts of the case, but the urgency of the story keeps the momentum going.