“A dynamic story line that grips from the first chapter and doesn’t let go.”
–Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Once Gone)
From #1 bestselling mystery author Blake Pierce comes a new masterpiece of psychological suspense.
Homicide Detective Avery Black has been through hell. Once a top criminal defense attorney, she fell from grace when she managed to get a brilliant Harvard … brilliant Harvard professor off—only to watch him kill again. She lost her husband and her daughter, and her life fell apart around her.
Trying to redeem herself, Avery has turned to the other side of the law. Working her way up the ranks, she has reached Homicide Detective, to the scorn of her fellow officers, who still remember what she did, and who will always hate her.
Yet even they cannot deny Avery’s brilliant mind, and when a disturbing serial killer strikes fear into the heart of Boston, killing girls from elite colleges, it is Avery that they turn to. It is Avery’s chance to prove herself, to finally find the redemption she craves. And yet, as she is soon to find out, Avery has come up against a killer as brilliant and daring as she.
In this game of psychological cat and mouse, women are dying with mysterious clues, and the stakes could not be higher. A frantic race against time leads Avery through a series of shocking and unexpected twists—culminating in climax that even Avery could not imagine.
A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, CAUSE TO KILL marks the debut of a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
Book #2 in the Avery Black series will be available soon.
“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery. Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side, so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”
–Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
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This is the first book in Blake Pierce series for Avery Black. Except for a few gramattical errors, it was a good read. I decided to get Book 2 in this series Cause to Run and was disappointed in that it referred Book One’s serial killer but had the wrong name mentioned throughout the book. Example: Book 1 “Edwin Pesh could be seen on the outer edge of the flashlight’s glow.” Then in Book 2: “Ever since she’d taken down Edwin Peet, one of the strangest serial killers in recent Boston history, her partner had made his feelings known, and Avery had, in turn, let him know that she might be interested as well.
Then I see the review below about the area around Boston mentioned in book is wrong. I do not believe I will go further with this series especially since it is almost like Riley Paige by this same author who has to have these characters always going to a prison to learn from a killer and who both have daughters who are hunted by a killer. Why not just stay with one character? The author also has two female agents with the FBI; I have read everyone and I must admit about to purchase books 7 and 8 for Riley Paige series and maybe a few more for McKenzie White but no more Avery. Sorry!
I hope the author writes more in this series. I love the writing style and these characters. I read both of them, one right after the other. When I was a kid I read all the Nancy Drew Mysteries. I couldn’t wait for the next one to hit the store shelves. I felt the same about this series. Bravo!
I love all of Blake Pierce’s books. Great mysteries.
Tweety
First audio book I have listened to. I didn’t care for the reader. She sounded British to me. Some of the things she said were hard to understand. I think it would have been better if she was from Boston.
I did enjoy the book. I listened to it when I was getting ready, cleaning, at the gym, or in the truck. I like Avery Black, the main character. She once was a big attorney, but after setting a Serial Killer free, she became a cop. She had just been made a detective in the homicide department. Her fellow cops aren’t too happy to have her. Avery does get a partner, Rameriz, that’s willing to give her a chance.
They are assigned a case, where a college girl is killed. Who is this murder that has the audicity to bow to cameras? Before they now it more bodies start piling up. Can they discover who the killer is before it’s too late?
Avery isn’t one used to working with others. She finds herself in trouble with her superiors quite often. Will she be able to solve the case before she thrown off the case?
Love a book that flows with good characters. Will read all that the author has written.
Attention grabbing from the start; very good read.
I love Blake Pierce and the main character in most of his books seem to be driven. Can’t wait to read another of his books.
Great read first in a series with serial killer
This book grabbed me from the start but left me wondering where the back story was for the main character, Avery Black. The back story could be a whole novel on its own. It would help with understanding the dislike, hatred and animosity shown towards the main character versus just taking the authors word. I’m glad I started reading the series with this book as a freebie. I would buy the next book with hopes of getting more then just a few words about Avery’s past.
I love all Blake Pierce’s books.
The mystery and the story held my attention, but Avery’s angst got very distracting after awhile.
I listened to the audio version of this. The narrator was really good. Fast paced. Held my attention. Looking forward to the next one.
I really enjoy his books
Cause to Kill (Avery Black #1) by Blake Pierce is a crime thriller. Complex and flawed characters, a plot that twists and turns, murders to solve, a good read.
Anything by this author is bound to please. Another great read!
This is one of my favorite writers obviously because the books are so good.
As usual, Blake Pierce did not disappoint. Very suspenseful. This book gripped me from the first page. Excellent read.
Blake Pierce is a stupenously taut police detctive writer. This is a sample of her best and I loved rereading it. I love her American ones, as a European I’m not so keen on her Euorpean ones though they aren’t bad. But this is one of her best, unbeatable!
You can publish this in a mobile app so a lot of readers can see your lovely work. Check on N0velStar and see how other writers earn by pursuing their passion in writing.
I LOVE a good cop-thriller and this seemed like it’d kick off a fun series, even taking place in Boston, a city I’m very familiar with.
However, due to less-than-stellar writing, that isn’t the case.
Author does a good job of creating likable characters and others you’ll love to hate.
However, that’s about where the author’s talents seem to end. This book presents an antagonist I’ve read before … a lot. I noticed the lack of originality early on but still thought it could be a good read.
Unfortunately, I thought wrong. This is not an author who should be writing thrillers/mysteries/police procedural, anything along those lines. For one thing, it’s just too bland.
But the bigger problem for me? Was every time a bit of action seemed to spike up, Avery, the main character whose POV we read in, would just randomly start to reminisce about her past. I loved the concept of becoming familiar with her past, but this was executed very poorly. Frustratingly, instead of being able to see the action play out, I’d find myself bored half to death, listening to backstory right smack in the middle of danger.
Sadly, I will not read anything else from this author and I feel i wasted my money on this particular book. Live and learn, right?
2 stars.
Reader beware. If you love thrillers, you may want to move on.