Once Gone (a Riley Paige Mystery—Book 1)
Women are turning up dead in the rural outskirts of Virginia, killed in grotesque ways, and when the FBI is called in, they are stumped. A serial killer is out there, his frequency increasing, and they know there is only one agent good enough to crack this case: Special Agent Riley Paige.
Riley is on paid leave herself, recovering from her encounter with her last serial killer, and, fragile as she is, the FBI is reluctant to tap her brilliant mind. Yet Riley, needing to battle her own demons, comes on board, and her hunt leads her through the disturbing subculture of doll collectors, into the homes of broken families, and into the darkest canals of the killer’s mind. As Riley peels back the layers, she realizes she is up against a killer more twisted than she could have imagined. In a frantic race against time, she finds herself pushed to her limit, her job on the line, her own family in danger, and her fragile psyche collapsing.
Yet once Riley Paige takes on a case, she will not quit. It obsesses her, leading her to the darkest corners of her own mind, blurring the lines between hunter and hunted. After a series of unexpected twists, her instincts lead her to a shocking climax that even Riley could not have imagined.
A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE GONE marks the debut of a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
About Author
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the several mystery series with women detectives. The first book of every series is available as a free download on Amazon!
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
Let’s meet the key characters.
Characters
- Riley Paige: the annoying protagonist who think she’s the best
- April Paige
- Ryan Paige
- Bill Jefferys: Riley’s partner
- Walder: Special agent who is senator’s lapdog
Non-Spoiler Recap
Another serial killer on the loose, and FBI agent Riley Paige herself had been a captive of a serial killer. She still hasn’t recovered from that trauma, but one murder brings her back to the team. She’s trying to take care of her teenage daughter and get back to work. Her partner Bill is happy to have her back on the job even if his wife Maggie isn’t. Apparently, Maggie thinks Riley and Bill are an item.
The killer is posing his victims as dolls. Riley is brought onboard because apparently has the ability to get inside of murderer’s head. She was still recovering from the trauma of the earlier case where a perp Peterson had captured her. She wanted to help other people in the situation she has nightmares about.
Review
Not what I had expected. Riley Paige was touted to be the greatest FBI agent but I found her impulsive, annoying and out of her depth. The backstory of a moron ex-husband Ryan and a pain-in-the-a teenage daughter April only made my blood boil more. At one point, I couldn’t decide who’s more immature: April or Riley (hint: it’s the mother because April once nurses her mother from a hangover and empties all alcohol bottles. Bear in mind that Riley once caught April smoking weed and was all “you shouldn’t do it”).
Riley’s life is not perfect and she just doesn’t get the hint about what her daughter wants. She was supposed to have the ability to think as a murderer and uncover things but everytime she does that, she fails, miserably. That’s not all. She jumps on people and accuses them, even arrests people who remotely fit the bill of her perception of the perp. She impulsive, stubborn and refused to see reason. At one point, she also got drunk and called Bill confessing her “feelings” about him.
I guess some people might like her, and some would hate her. I’m in the latter category. She made me grit my teeth.
Of all the Blake Pierce books, this one is my least favourite. I wouldn’t be returning to this series for sure.
Some Highlights and Notes
- I can’t think of anything at the moment, honestly.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, no final thoughts.
Have you read “Cause to Kill” or any other Blake Pierce novels? What did you think of Avery Black as a protagonist? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Stay tuned for more book reviews.
Until next time, happy reading!
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Shabana Mukhtar