How do you confront a threat that is hiding in plain sight? FBI agent Craig Frasier and psychologist Kieran Finnegan hunt an escaped serial killer in the latest explosive thriller in the New York Confidential series.It was one of Kieran’s most chilling cases: her assessment of a murderer known as the Fireman. There was no doubt that the man needed to be locked away. Now Craig is called to a … Now Craig is called to a gruesome crime scene that matches the killer’s methods, and news breaks that the Fireman has escaped prison.
Amid a citywide manhunt, Kieran and Craig need to untangle a web of deceit, privilege and greed. They suspect that those closest to the killer have been drawn into his evil, or else someone is using another man’s madness and cruelty to disguise their crimes.
When their investigation brings the danger right to the doorstep of Finnegan’s Pub, Kieran and Craig will have to be smarter and bolder than ever before, because this time it’s personal, and they have everything to lose.
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Ho-oh-oh-oh-ly chit!
I don’t typically read books with serial killers nor am I a huge fan of any kind of procedural. But this book is not typical and I am so glad I pounced it.
The Fireman is one sick ticket and I loved it! Also,
I also love a book with a credible and badass female lead!
Twisty, turny, disturbing, delish!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Plenty of twists and turns and steam. Love these characters. Totally had me guessing to the end. The epilogue had me crying happy tears. And then there’s this dog…
A great plot with interesting characters with many twists and turns which make for a good suspenseful read!!
Love, love Heather Graham
Good mystery with a side of romance.
Craig Frasier is the FBI agent responsible for catching the serial killer, The Fireman. When the man escapes, he is concerned over his fiancé Kieran’s involvement in the manhunt. Craig and his team re-visit the old case while looking into the new one. He fears they are dealing with a copycat when the homicides prove similar yet different than The Fireman’s usual mode of operation. Can Craig protect Kieran from both the new and old threats? Will they be able to find the culprits before either kill again?
Kieran Finnegan is a criminal psychologist. She interviews The Fireman to assess his mental capability for trial. After he escapes custody, new murders with his methodology crop up. However, Kieran doubts The Fireman’s involvement in the latest homicides. Her involvement in the investigation leads Kieran into precarious situations. Can Kieran find The Fireman? Will her expertise flush both killers out in the open? Or will she become an unfortunate victim?
It took me a while to warm up to Craig. I like how he knows when to back down from the inevitable and concede defeat. Craig understands that Kieran’s job brings her in close proximity with dangerous people, so he has to suppress his protective instincts to allow Kieran to do her job. I love how he listens to Kieran’s thoughts and opinions. With her line of work, especially the workings of a person’s mind, Kieran’s observations are dependable. What I adore the most about Craig is how he and Kieran open their hearts and home to a dog in need, especially one who is not their ideal breed.
As with Craig, it took me some time to somewhat connect with Kieran. I adore her family’s dynamics. The Finnegans are a close-knit family. They each have their own individual professions, yet they willingly help one another when the need arises. I admire Kieran’s confidence in her profession. She realizes that reading another person is not entirely fool proof. What I admire the most about Kieran is how she knows when to compromise and when to stand her ground. She recognizes Craig’s instinctive need to be protective, yet she refuses to let him be too overbearing about it.
THE FINAL DECEPTION is book five in Heather Graham’s romantic suspense series, NEW YORK CONFIDENTIAL. To understand Craig and Kieran’s relationship and partnership, it is necessary to read the prior four books in the series. I have not read the previous books, so I felt a little disconnected with the couple. The story’s overall plot reminds me of something I would have watched on my favorite television show, Criminal Minds. The romance did seem non-existent.
THE FINAL DECEPTION is a thrilling, nail-biting conclusion to an interesting series. I have always enjoyed Heather Graham’s romantic suspense novels, and this book is no exception. I cannot wait for more books from this author.
Review courtesy of Romance Junkies
Love her stories can’t put the book down!
Great read for fans of Heather Graham!
Always love her books. This one kept me guessing until the end.
Scary romantic steamy read with a twisted killer on the loose!
It looks like I’m late to the game on this series, but this one is about a serial killer, so I had to check it out. I was a bit worried about being lost since I’m not familiar with the series, but I didn’t have any problem at all figuring out the characters and their connections. As far as the Fireman – well, I’ll just say that he is one twisted dude, but the story also has its share of twists to keep readers on their toes. The story is everything I expect from Heather Graham. It’s well written with a good pace and a steadily rising tension. We get some great characters to connect with as well as a gripping mystery to solve. All in all, another winner from this author.
The Final Deception by Heather Graham
New York Confidential #5
Coming into this series on book five shouldn’t have worked but it did. I have enjoyed this author’s work before and was happy to read a new-to-me book by her again.
Craig Frasier is an FBI agent and his fiance sometimes does pysch consultations for the FBI. In this book Craig is still having nightmares about the tough case of THE FIREMAN and Kieran Finnegan, Craig’s fiance, has just interviewed The Fireman a little while before he escapes from prison. About the time he escapes another murder following the same modus operandi takes place and all of New York is soon intently watching the news to find out what will happen next. Is this a copycat murder or did The Fireman do it?
In addition to the catch-him-if-you-can thread there is the ongoing romance between Craig and Kieran and if/when they will get married, the sibling support of the Finnegan family for one another, the police procedural aspects of solving the murder, the suspense of wondering who might be following Kieran and the question of Ruff the dog and where he will end up in the future.
This was an interesting read that might have been more interesting had I come in on book one and read the four books preceding this one because I would have known the main and supporting characters better than I did going into book five. That said, I still knew them well enough to enjoy the story.
What I liked:
* Kieran: Smart, intuitive, puzzle solver, not clingy, a good sister and fiance and very likable
* Craig: Intelligent, driven, keen to solve cases, not too clingy, a good boyfriend, dependable and bit hearted.
* The relationship between Kieran and Craig – they were mature, knew what they wanted and allowed one another the independence and distance needed to accomplish the goals of their profession.
* The Finnegan brothers – I am sure there is more to each and every one of them that I would love to know.
* Ruff – a scrappy fellow that landed in clover
* Following the threads that lead to the WHO and WHY of the murders
* The twist or two at the end
* The good thwarted evil
What I did not like:
* The psychotic puppet master and those he pulled the strings of
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Harlequin-Mira for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
Reading The Final Deception confirmed for me what I already knew. It had been far too long since I’ve read a book by Heather Graham. Graham, a master of romantic suspense, infused this book with the perfect balance of serial killer induced mayhem and family entanglements. Although I haven’t read the previous books in the series, I had no problem understanding who the characters are and how they are connected to each other and the investigation.
At the center are Kieran and Craig, a criminal psychologist and an FBI agent respectively. Also, an engaged couple. Together they are confronted with the evilness of ” The Fireman” who is intent on ridding the world of perceived monsters, that he also calls witches. While the crimes are pretty gruesome, nothing is overdone or too shocking in the scene descriptions. The story is completely captivating as the action never lets up and the twists and turns keep the reader guessing.
I loved Craig and Kieran’s relationship, her family and life at said family’s pub. I really enjoyed this fast-paced read and am excited to have been reintroduced to Heather Graham’s storytelling. 4 Stars and recommendations.
Love…love…love this book. An FBI Agent and his psychologist fiancee get tangled up in a disturbing chilling case and the suspect is on the loose, so the manhunt begin with new victims appear along the way. Oh yesss this one has story that hooked me from the get go, so many suspects that keep me turning the page and keep my heart racing, then add the camarederie of an Irish family and the sweetness of the relationship between Craig and Kieran to this high tension story, yup this book has a perfect concoction that we as suspense reader will love.
So if you’re looking page-turner suspense mystery read, this is the book for you.
This is the first book I read in the New York Confidential series, even though it’s supposed to be the last. You can read it without reading the others, but I wouldn’t suggest it because you don’t have the entire world, or the case leading up to this point.
Craig and Keiran are a couple who find themselves in the center of a firestorm. The infamous Fireman has escaped Rikers Island and a scant 4 hours later, a murder is committed that resembles his m.o. Did he have time to get into the secured building, or is someone else using what they know about the case to make it look like his work?
This book can at times be dark and disturbing, it’s about a serial killer after all. It’s fast paced, intriguing, and well written. I can’t recommend this book enough for fans of police procedurals/romantic suspense.
**I received a copy from Harlequin-Mira through Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
This is one of my favorite authors so I was excited about being able to read an early copy of this book. I haven’t read the previous ones in this series but I had no trouble following this book. I think they all must stand alone. It was fast paced, I was kinda surprised with the twist towards the end. I enjoyed the story and so will everyone that likes FBI books with a strong female character. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy