Final Victim by Gregg Olsen offers a thrilling and suspenseful crime novel. With themes of dark secrets, trauma, and redemption, along with a strong and relentless female detective, Final Victim is a must-read for those who enjoy a fast-paced and gripping story.
Title: Final Victim
Author(s): Gregg Olsen
Series: Detective Megan Carpenter #6
Published by Bookouture on January 17, 2025
Pages: 314
Genre(s): Crime Fiction
Source: Netgalley
Format: eArc
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
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“Megan, you need to call me. Wallace was here. He left a message to say please don’t worry. He’s coming for you soon.” As I hang up the call, my blood runs cold. I’ve spent a lifetime running from this man. But as I look down at his next victim, their face frozen in one final moment of fear, I can’t escape the feeling that I will be next to die.
When the body of Detective Susan Dupont is discovered lying across the dividing line of two counties, Detective Megan Carpenter is immediately called to the scene. When her body is examined they find a sharp piece of metal has been lodged in her eye. A detail that takes Megan back to a deeply-buried memory which she has long been running from.
Twenty-four hours later, retired Detective Riley Denton is found dead at home. His death is deemed a tragic accident. He fell down the stairs and had no enemies. Why would anyone want him dead? But Megan feels sure there is a link to the deaths and there is only one person she can trust with her theory.
Calling in the help of her partner Detective Ronnie Marsh, they start to piece together a link that places Megan right at the centre of a deadly plot. As they race to find the killer before they strike closer to home, a string of murder victims going back years starts to emerge. And when Megan discovers how the murders are linked, she has to finally accept a dark truth she has spent her life running from.
A killer from her past is back just like they promised and they will stop at nothing to take everything she loves. Can Megan stop them dead in their tracks or will she pay the ultimate price?
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Final Victim is the sixth book in the Detective Megan Carpenter series. When I picked it up, I didn’t realize it part of a series, let alone the sixth installment. However, I’m happy to report that it works well a stand-alone novel. The author provides sufficient backstory making it easy for new readers to follow along. Also giving one the compulsion to go and read the previous books
The protagonist, Detective Megan Carpenter lives a life associated with murder. At the start of Final Victim readers see her working 0n her own. Her partner has taken personal time to spend with family. Despite the previous case taking a toll, Megan dedicates herself to working and taking down murderers. So, the murder of a fellow detective in a brutal fashion, sees her making it her mission to stop the killer. Megan thought she would work the case on her own. However, as parts of the victim’s body were found in two different jurisdictions, working on her own was not an option. Throughout the course of the investigation, they discovered the death of another detective. A death which initially ruled as an accident was in fact murder. Further investigations revealed that both murders were connected.
Combined with this new case, Megan is facing a personal challenge of her own. A challenge which involves a stalker and if not dealt with will derail the life she has built has Megan Carpenter. She can’t risk the secret about her past coming to light. This led to her struggles with navigating the lines between her professional and personal life. A situation which worsens with her working with new people and the return of her partner. The fear of revelation of her past life intensified when the connection between her stalker and the murders came to light.
The stalker’s POV added an extra layer of suspense to the story. From his perspective readers see his morbid fascination with Megan. He goes out his way to ensure she’s always looking over her shoulder with his chilling messages and his attacks on the people close to her. Throughout the story the reader faces the challenge of identifying not only the connection between the stalker and the murders but also his connection to Megan. Uncovering the truth proved an exciting and thrilling experience.
If you enjoy well-crafted police procedurals, then consider adding Detective Megan Carter series to your reading list.
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About Gregg Olsen
Gregg lives in rural Washington State (about a mile as the crow flies from Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard’s infamous Starvation Heights sanitarium). His thriller, THE LAST THING SHE EVER DID was an Amazon Charts bestseller. LYING NEXT TO ME was a reader favorite, charting at No. 1 in the Kindle store and the bestseller’s list at the Washington Post. Gregg’s true crime book, IF YOU TELL, found a home on Amazon Charts for more than 140 weeks. In fact, it was the bestselling Kindle ebook of 2020 (and the second-bestselling of 2021). He’s been a guest on Dateline NBC, NPR, Good Morning America, The Early Show, FOX News, CNN, Anderson Cooper, Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, 20/20, Snapped, Deadly Women, William Shatner’s Aftermath, and A&E’s Biography. You can find out more about Gregg at www.NotoriousUSA.com.
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