Happy Tuesday Bookworms!
About the Book
Series: FBI: Strange Crimes Unit #1
Author: Jessica R. Patch
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: June 28, 2022
Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense
"A taut, psychological thriller with deeply relatable characters. Patch’s brilliantly created plot will keep readers turning pages until they reach the shocking conclusion. I highly recommend it!” —Nancy Mehl, author of the Quantico Files series
When a cold-case serial killer returns, FBI special agent Fiona Kelly has one last chance to stop him before he claims the prize he’s always wanted—her.
The sight of a goose feather at a murder scene modeled after a children’s poem is enough to make FBI special agent Fiona Kelly's blood turn to ice. Almost two decades ago, a feather was left with her sister's body—and with every subsequent victim of the Nursery Rhyme Killer. Now he's back. Only this time, his latest gruesome murder is a message to the only one who ever got away: Fiona.
Finding “Rhyme” is an obsession that's fueled Fiona's career—and destroyed her marriage to fellow FBI agent Asa Kodiak. Now Fiona and Asa have to put their past tensions aside and work together one last time. But Rhyme is watching, and catching this killer may force Fiona to reveal her biggest, darkest secret…the one only he knows.
“Her Darkest Secret by Jessica R. Patch grabbed me in the first scene of this edge-of-your-seat suspense and didn't let go until the end!” —Patricia Bradley, author of the Memphis Cold Case novels
My Review
In true Jessica R. Patch fashion, Her Darkest Secret starts off dark and disturbing, setting the tone for what would be an epic start to a series and introducing a sadistic serial killer not only from his victim’s point of view but also his own. Being fascinated with the psychological aspect of crimes, I was instantly locked in and ready for what looked to be a dark ride.
Having read the third installment of the series in 2024, I have been wanting to go back and read the first two books in the series, and during the holiday season, I finally had my chance. While I don’t feel like Her Darkest Secret is as good as The Garden Girls, I did feel like it was a pretty strong start to a unique series. In most thrillers and police procedurals, the crimes are pretty standard, but this series focuses on a unit that deals with unusual crimes, an idea that in and of itself is intriguing and quite dark.
Those that are sensitive to darker subject matter might want to skip this series as it does go to some pretty sinister places. There are some pretty intense scenes and some twists that were quite surprising. The ending was a shock and something that never crossed my mind, which was great as well as other small details that added nuance to the story and kept the overall narrative engaging and interesting.
As I’m writing this, I’ve already engrossed myself in the second book in the series and can tell it’s going to be another complicated and intricate tale. This author has quickly become a favorite of mine as I love how she interweaves darkness and light, not shying away from the bleakness that lurks in this world while also showing the hope.
More in This Series
About the Author
Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author, Jessica R. Patch has penned over 27 novels and is known for her dry wit and signature twists whether she’s penned a romantic suspense or a dark, twisty thriller. When she’s not getting into fictional mischief with her characters, you can find her cozy on the couch in her mid-south home reading books by some of her favorite authors, down the street at the Mexican restaurant, or collecting recipes to amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook.
Connect with Jessica by visiting jessicarpatch.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to her email newsletter "Patched In" updates and receive a FREE short thriller.
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