In Ellison Cooper’s suspense thriller Buried, an FBI neuroscientist is on the trail of a serial killer who’s turned up the heat on a cold case…Senior Special Agent Sayer Altair studies the minds of psychopaths. But even she didn’t expect to uncover a killer within the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Rooting him out and exposing internal corruption got her a bullet wound and six months of desk … and six months of desk duty. Now, she’s finally back in the field, called in when an off-duty FBI agent and his cadaver dog fall into a sinkhole filled with human bones.
Found deep in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, the skeletal remains date back almost two decades, the same time a beloved local teen disappeared. The cold case quickly heats up when Sayer’s team finds two fresh corpses among the bones. When a gruesome clue ties these new bodies to a woman recently kidnapped along with her young daughter, Sayer has to uncover the connection between the old bones and the new bodies before the mother and child become the next victims.
But the killer is one step ahead, attacking her team and sabotaging their efforts. With Sayer’s investigation compromised and unsure of who to trust, she receives unwanted help from Subject 037, one of the anonymous psychopaths she is currently studying. She has the chilling realization that he’s someone powerful in Washington D.C.–and he is not about to let a mundane serial killer jeopardize his own ominous agenda for Sayer…
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I was amused because I had just finished The Finders by Jeffery B. Burton, and then I start Buried by Ellison Cooper and both books have cadaver dogs in them… and both books are excellent!
Having read and really enjoyed the first book, Caged, in the Agent Sayer Altair series, I was hoping Buried would be good too, and I was not disappointed. If anything it was even better because I was able to catch up with some of the characters, while getting to know some new ones that I hope pop up in future books.
Once again Cooper does not hold back when it comes to bad things happening to main characters, and I love that. To have people who are in dangerous jobs actually coming up against the bad guys and not walking away scot-free is a refreshing change from some other books I’ve read. But even with all the evil things that are done to the characters they continue to grow and not become jaded to the rest of the world… which is something I need right now… good stories and to remember not to become hardened with all the horrible things happening in the world today.
The science once again adds an interesting layer to the novel, and the mythology was fantastic, taking Buried even higher. When one of the major twists came along, I had heard about it before, but Cooper gave even more information about it that I was not aware of… and it is so cool.
I don’t want to give anything away. I just want you to read it and hopefully enjoy it as much as I did. And you don’t have to start with Caged, but you really should, since it will just enhance your reading experience of lots of twists, turns, sciencey things, and mythology. 🙂
And another reason I am so happy I found this series is because I had really enjoyed the Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell series by Chelsea Cain, but no new books have come out for a bit. The series are not exactly the same, but have some similarities, and I love them both. I am really gushing here.
Go grab yourself a copy of Caged, Buried, and book three, Cut to the Bone, and get to reading!
“Abusers never do conveniently have fangs and horns. They’re usually really good at hiding what they do behind closed doors.”
Sayer Altair is a neuroscientist and a Senior Special Agent with the FBI. INn the first book of this series CAGED, she was shot and is recovering with six months of desk duty.
She gets called to a case early at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia when an off-duty FBI K-9 handler and his dog find a cave containing human bones and eventually more.
Sayer ends up having to work this case with a motley crew of FBI agents, Park personnel and local law enforcement and it quickly becomes apparent this case is still active.
I like this protagonist and the different characters in the book. Some of the story was pretty far-fetched but it is fiction and I was mostly able to overlook that.
I am claustrophobic and a lot of the action in the story takes place in caves so extra scary for me.
I recommend this to readers who like psychological thrillers or murder mysteries. Parts of it are pretty graphic violence, so be forewarned.
I received this book from Minotaur Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
This is book 2 of a series of three books. I am currently reading book 3 and it’s every bit as good as the first 2. I hope she writes more in this series. I believe she ha other books, too.
EXCELLANT read
Interesting topic studying Psychopaths. Really twisted villain; lengthy descriptions but enjoyed reading.
Very interesting, twists and turns, great female lead character.
I enjoyed the second Agent Sayer Altair novel even more than the first one! In this installment, Sauer is almost recovered from her injuries from her last case. She is called to investigate a sinkhole where bones were discovered in Shenandoah National Park.
What lies ahead for Sayer and her team are gruesome murders, Greek mythology, and a monster in their midst.
The last few chapters are especially tense as Sayer and her team hunt the killer.
Nana, Tino, Adi, and Vesper all make an appearance in this novel.
#Buried #EllisonCooper
This author – really knows how to bring it – Series features FBI agent SayerAltair -smart / determined / forensics science while deciphering clues /doesn’t let anyone or anything stand in her way / to find the truth
3.5s. The second in the Sayer Altair series, Buried, is a good murder mystery that I read in two sittings. I could not put this down until I finished it (at 1:30a, when I have to get up in 4 hours)! Sayer is an FBI agent who is just returning to active duty after being shot on her last case. When a mass grave filled with both old bones & fresh bodies (okay, ‘fresh’ sounds horrible, but I don’t know a better word??) is found in a national park, agent Altair is put on the case. Her boss gives it to her thinking old bodies means she can start back slowly and is less likely to be shot at…Or not! So begins an exciting and disturbing search for a serial killer…
My only real complaint with this book is the same issue I had with the first in the series, I figured out who the killer was and what was going on long before the characters in the book. I like a good murder mystery that gives you little hints along the way and just when you think you’ve solved the crime another twist is thrown in & you have to guess again. If I can solve the crimes before about three quarters of the way through it gets a bit tedious to wait for the characters to catch up. BUT, that said, this was still a good mystery.
There’s also a side story going on that involves Bureau politics and Sayer being at risk of losing her job because of her last case (which does carry over from the first book, Caged, so I do recommend reading that first). That part gets really crazy & eerie, I can’t wait to find out what happens with that plot line in the next book! So, all in all, if you’re a murder mystery fan you’ll probably enjoy this book, it’s a a quick read that you won’t be able to put down until you’re done! I won this book in a giveaway.
Buried by Ellison Cooper is an intense and gritty mystery. If you have not read Caged, you will not be lost. The author provides background information on Sayer Altair and a summary of what occurred in Caged. I believe, though, that it would be a better reading experience if the series is read in order. Sayer Altair is an FBI neuroscientist who studies serial killers’ brains when not in the field. She has been benched after what happened in Caged, and this new case is her first time back in the field. Max Cho is enjoying a day off hiking when Kana alerts to the presence of a cadaver. A wrong step has Max falling into a cavern full of skeletons. Sayer along with forensic anthropologist, Dana Wilbanks find two fresh victims after a harrowing encounter. There is plenty of action in Buried as Sayer and the team search for the killer who recently kidnapped a woman and her little girl. The authors vivid descriptions allowed me to visualize the grisly scene Max found in that cave. It was interesting to see things from Sayer’s perspective. I liked that the mystery was complex with one exception. There are a number of victims over two decades. The one downfall of Buried is that I could solve the whodunit before I was a quarter of a way through the book. I prefer a mystery that scatters the clues throughout the book with surprising twists, so I am kept guessing. Sayer is still investigating the death of her fiancé, Jake. She has a feeling that what is in the case file is not the true story. Plus, there still might be repercussions from the case in Caged. Buried does contain graphic violence and foul language (these two things seem to par for the course with chilling crime novels). Buried is a psychological thriller with curious clues, a variety of victims, irksome incidents, a pathological predator, and colossal changes.
/ 5
Buried by Ellison Cooper made an excellent book 2 for the Agent Sayer Altair series, and I have to say it was even more disturbing!
What it’s about: FBI neuroscientist Sayer Altair studies the brains of murderers trying to figure out why some people become killers, and some don’t. While she isn’t doing that, she is out fighting bad guys for the FBI. In Buried, Sayer is back leading a new investigation after an off-duty FBI agent falls into a sinkhole that has been hiding human remains. They also end up finding 2 fresh corpses, and ties to a local girl that disappeared many years earlier. As Sayer rushes to crack the case, the killer is trying to attack and sabotage them while also holding other victims. Sayer must work fast to figure out who the killer is before anyone else dies at their hands.
I think that I liked Buried even more than the last book, Caged. This book had even more disturbing qualities and just as much action, but there was just something about it that had me even more excited. Once again Sayer is a kickass female lead, but she isn’t perfect so prepare to get frustrated with her! She makes more blunders than the FBI agents in Criminal Minds, but she is human after all. The overall feel I got was Criminal Minds again just in book form, which is something I am really loving about this series. I think it would make for a great TV show!
Cooper seems to be really good at writing likable characters, and there were more than just Sayer that I was a fan of. Some of whom are back from their first appearance in Caged while a couple were new. Of course there are the bad guys and some red herrings, but overall, I really liked most of the characters in Buried.
Buried also seemed to contain more politics, as well as one of Sayer’s research subjects being very mysterious. That part actually reminds me of Castle, another show that I love. Once again viewpoints jump around a bit, but mostly focus on Sayer and make for a great police/detective procedural novel.
Final Thought: If you are looking for a book that is a mix of Criminal Minds and Castle then this could be the book for you! Buried was a little more graphic than the first book so be prepared for that. This series could definitely be read as standalones as well, although for character development I would recommend starting with Caged. I am officially addicted to this series and can’t wait for the next installment!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Another stellar accomplishment for Ms. Cooper on the 2nd installment to the FBI thriller series. Just in fascination with the author’s ability to keep the intrigue and suspense flowing throughout the book. Agent Sayer is a woman with a mission to save the captive and alive the crimes, while trying to solve the problems of her own life. Love that she is finding little pieces of the truth about the death of her fiancé, keeping readers in suspense. Vespers is my type of a loyal companion and it’s great to see Adi becoming a family member. I just hope that the books in this series continue to bring such great details to the unfolding story!!
Be prepared to sit down and read this book in one sitting. You won’t want to put this down until the very last page.
Senior Special Agent Sayer Altair is called back into the field after six months of desk duty following being shot. Her shoulder is still a little stiff and sore but Sayer is convinved she is ready to go. She is a neuroscientist who is studying the minds of psychopaths. In the field she tracks down psychopathic serial killers. In this case a fellow FBI agent, Maxwell Cho, a member of the FBI Human Remains Detection K9 Unit, and his canine Kona are hiking in Shenandoah National Park when Max falls into a sinkhole while Kona scented human remains. There he finds lots of human bones. Recent dead bodies are also found there. This looks like a dump site of a serial killer. Sayer and Max subsequently find out that a woman and her child who are missing are in the hands of the serial killer. Then another woman was kidnapped . The hunt for this brutal killer is on.
Buried by Ellison Cooper is the second book in her Agent Sayer Altair series. This book is filled with pulse-pounding thrills as much as the first book, Caged. Readers who are interested in Sayer’s background might want to read Caged but that’s not necessary to enjoy this book. Author Ellison Cooper has a way of telling a thrilling story that sends chills up the spine. There are lots of twists and turns and some very interesting red herrings. She sure kept me guessing. This storyline is tight and well-written. Ellison Cooper’s characters are fascinating and quite believeable. This is a twisted, convoluted look into a seriously psychotic serial killer that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
This is the second book on the Sayer Altair series. I really am lovin’ this new author. Gritty, heart pounding suspense. Sayer has been on leave since the events of the last book. She’s eager to get back in the field. A cave full of bones sends her back. Lots of political fall out in the background from the events from her last case. The shadowy figure of subject 037 is something I hope to see more of in future books.These are definitely not your run of the mill serial killer books. I’m eager to see what this author comes up with next.