EVERY SMALL TOWN HAS A SECRET The rolling fields outside Curry, Oklahoma, are a beautiful spot to ramble on an early spring day . . . and a lonely place to die. Among the prairie grass and wildflowers, a killer kneels beside a curled-up figure, plunging a syringe beneath skin to deliver the fatal dose. And as the victim’s last breath mingles with the air, it sends a warning out to the world: This … the world: This is just the beginning.
AND THIS ONE
Rejecting her judge father’s prestigious connections, Ellie Guthrie opened her own law firm in Curry. But something strange is going on. Ellie’s tires are slashed. Dead rats are dumped on her patio. Her neighbor, former FBI agent Nate Marcel, insists on watching out for her. And then bodies begin turning up—supposed overdoses that Nate suspects are something much more sinister.
IS WORTH KILLING FOR
There’s a killer in town, toying with her, drawing both Ellie and Nate into a web of murder and vengeance. To find answers, she’ll have to unearth this small community’s dark and twisted past . . . before it’s her turn to die.
Praise for Pretend You’re Safe
“Alexandra Ivy gives readers a nice balance of romance and suspense in her fast-paced,
well-plotted novel.”
—Kat Martin, New York Times bestselling author
“A satisfying mystery . . . Ivy’s clever foreshadowing keeps the tension high throughout this
fast-moving tale, and the romance sizzles.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A pulse-raising romantic thriller.”
—BookPage
more
This chilling romantic suspense keeps readers guessing throughout with lots of suspenseful events, surprising twists and disturbing secrets. Ellie and Nate are strong, captivating characters that easily draw the readers into their story and their romance is one that adds to the suspense of the story. Ellie and Nate certainly have that magnetic attraction and sizzling chemistry going on but Ellie fights it to the very end which adds lots of relationship ups and downs to the story. Their characters also complement each other really making the story center around them as the events unfold which makes it easy for readers to become engrossed.
The story takes a place at suspense building pace that ensures that readers don’t want to put the book down until every last detail has been uncovered. With Nate and Ellie discovers pieces to the puzzle in true crime solving fashion which has readers trying to work out the ‘who, what where and why’ answers right along with the characters. The author gives vivid details and builds the suspense so thoroughly that readers can’t help but be shocked and surprised when the true culprit is revealed.
Having read the one before this one I found this series intriguing so I wanted to see if it continued. Yes indeed I received my answer on that. What starts out as two people who connect after some time of seeing each other around it starts to get some shaking up. Being in a small town you hear everything which is part of how this fuels it. Ellie gets to get the pieces and Nate starts to put them together but soon things happen more quickly with targets not just on her now on him too. Curiosity thanks to the writing giving peaks on who it could be drive you nuts so when things become to be revealed you are still really surprised.Ending nicely done with would go back for more.
This is the 3rd book in The Agency series but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone book. All I can say about this is WOW! It is mostly about Ellie Guthrie and what is happening to her and the town she was born in. She is a young lawyer who has moved back to where she was born in the hopes of getting out from under her parent’s thumbs and making herself happy. Nate Marcel is a former FBI agent and her neighbor. And while the attraction is there for both of them, she backed off because she doesn’t want a full on relationship with someone. But when things start happening to her and the people of the small town, Nate helps keep her safe.
I really liked this book! Ellie is smarter than can be but also knows what she wants in her life and is working to get there. Nate is moving on from leaving the FBI and trying to figure out exactly where that leaves him. They compliment each other perfectly, even when they are arguing! This story drew me in from the beginning and kept me reading and the twist with the end! I definitely wasn’t expecting that!! The only thing that made me not give it a 5 star was there were parts that seemed too slow to me or unnecessary. Otherwise, I absolutely loved the rest of it! Definitely well worth the read!
You Will Suffer (The Agency #3) by Alexandra Ivy … If you enjoy a good romantic thriller this one is for you… Alexandra keeps you glued to the book … you have to keep reading. Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for allow me to preview and review this book. Nate(retired FBI…) Ellie (Lawyer… daughter of a judge) People are dying in her small home town after she moved back and opened her office. Nate is attracted to Ellie and wants to help her… There is so much going on it keeps you guessing.. there is laughter and fear…..violence… I must admit I did figure out part of it but not all of the twists… I was so glad to get to the HEA at the end.
You Will Suffer by Alexandra Ivy
The Agency #3
There’s a serial murderer loose in Curry, Oklahoma! Who is it and why are they killing? There is a mystery to solve before the killing can stop and Ellie and Nate may figure out who it is before the police do.
Ellie Guthrie has moved away from the big city to open her own law office and has been avoiding a “relationship” with nate Marcel for a year when their story begins in this book. He stops by again even though he knows she is independent and keeping her distance and he finds she does need help and she finally is willing to ask for it. Why? All four of her tires are flat – they have been slashed. A great number of things happen in this story and it takes some time to figure out who the killer actually is and what is motivating the need to kill. It was twisted and sordid and at the same time there thankfully was the romance going on between Nate and Ellie to keep things from being way too dark.
I am not sure how believable this book is but it was an interesting way to spend the day and I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington – Zebra for the ARC. This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
Fantastic page turner from the first to the last. This is an intense thriller that will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed smart down to earth lawyer Ellie Guthrie and hunky former FBI agent Nate Marcel. This is a smart, action packed brain teaser that will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed it. This may be part of a series but can be read stand alone. I highly recommend this fast paced mystery.
I enjoyed this book. You can read this book as a stand alone. I didn’t know who the killer was until it was revealed which makes me like this book even more. I love how Nate already knows how much he loves Ellie and wants to be with her, now it’s just convincing her of that. This book has a great mix of drama, romance and mystery. If you like all of those things then pick this book up so worth it.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
Nate and Ellie moved to their small town for a new start and become neighbors. There’s an immediate attraction between them but Ellie is determined to ignore it. Nate is patient and decides he can wait on Ellie to change her mind until strange things start to happen to her at home and her office. Then there are several deaths that seem suspicious and somehow connected. Nate and Ellie join forces to figure out who is behind everything that is happening.
YOU WILL SUFFER is the third instalment in Alexandra Ivy’s contemporary, adult THE AGENCY romantic, suspense series. This is retired FBI Agent Nate Marcel, and attorney Ellie Guthrie’s story line. YOU WILL SUFFER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Ellie and Nate) as well as first person (murderer) YOU WILL SUFFER follows the search for a killer(s). With a recent spate of murders and disappearances in the small town of Curry Oklahoma, local attorney Ellie, and her neighbour retired FBI agent Nate Marcel begin an investigation of their own only to find themselves in the line of fire. In the hopes of trying to connect the pieces of the growing puzzle, Ellie and Nate will soon learn about the mysterious past of Curry Oklahoma, and a group of well-connected and prominent people whose secrets are about to be revealed. What ensues is the building relationship between Nate and Ellie, and the fall-out as our couple’s investigation begins to reveal a dark and dangerous past.
YOU WILL SUFFER is a story of betrayal and vengeance; secrets and lies; power, fear, and control; mystery and suspense. A killer is on the loose in Curry Oklahoma, a killer who is determined to destroy those who destroyed their life. More suspense thriller than romance, YOU WILL SUFFER focuses on the clues-both the past and the present-and the victims whose ties to one another reveal a dark, sordid and dangerous history, a history that seeks revenge for sins of the father, and sins of the past. The cleverly written premise is intriguing and intense; the colorful supporting characters are numerous ; the romance is secondary to the overall premise
Ellie Guthrie is attracted to former FBI agent Nate Marcel, too attracted. Believing she has no time for a relationship because she is too busy with her private law practice in Curry, Oklahoma Ellie avoids Nate as best she can. This doesn’t stop Nate from trying though. Good thing because strange things are happening to Ellie and Nate is determined to protect her. Too many suspicious deaths are occurring in their quiet hometown and Nate fears they are somehow related to Ellie.
You Will Suffer by Alexandra is the third book in her Agency series. This story has many twists and turns, chock full of suspense and a surprise ending. The plot is well-thought-out and runs smoothly. I liked the two main characters, Ellie and Nate. Their chemistry is off the charts and how they develop trust in each other is admirable. I highly recommend this book.
I didn’t know that this was the third in the series but I wasn’t lost so I do not think you need to read the other books first but since I did enjoy this book I will go back and read them. We meet strong female in Ellie and some weird things start happening and she is just going to ignore them no big deal until her neighbor Nate who was an FBI agent thinks she should worry more and take them seriously and she should considering someone is killing people and no one knows who.. So she and Nate get together to find out who is doing it and why? While spending time together they realize they like each other more than they thought..Grab a copy my friends and enjoy!
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
Ellie has tried to get out from under her fathers influence. She wants to be a lawyer under her own terms and only take the positions that HE decides she should take.
Curry may be a typical small town in Oklahoma but it is hiding some deep, dark, terrifying secrets. Ellie seems to be the main target but others starts to fall around her. Nate may be former FBI but his instincts are still finely hones. He helped Ellie when she first moved in and now he is determined to make sure she stays safe.
Very twisty story, dark dealings and family links that are torn and trod on. Tragedy comes in many forms and you do wonder just who is behind it all. Great nail-biting read!
The mystery in this book is intriguing and it has some twists and turns you won’t see coming.
The pace itself was a little slow. Not much really happened and when it did, it was brief and in my opinion, downplayed. There was not much of the angst and dread I was expecting.
I did enjoy the relationship between Ellie and Nate. Nate was super sweet and at the same time manly and protective. I loved the way he slowly seduced Ellie to his way of thinking.
Ellie is strong and independent. She does not want anyone to tell her what to do. With Nate, she keeps her strength and independence but, she gives her trust, which is saying a lot for a girl like Ellie.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read but I wanted so much to feel the mounting tension. Instead it left me feeling a little nonplussed.
I received an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I couldn’t put You Will Suffer down! Nate and Ellie take you on an adventure full of mystery. I was hooked from the first page. One of the best Romantic Suspense novels I have read in a long time.
Ellie is an attorney who returns to Curry, Oklahoma to open her own firm. When someone slashes her tires, leaves rats on her patio at work, and sets her house on fire, she knows someone is after her. But the bodies are piling up in this small town, and she is afraid she’ll be soon. Nate is a former FBI agent and lives close to Ellie. When she first moved in, he tried to help her fix her place up but she turned him away. Now they are working together to figure out what’s going on in their town. Can they find the killer before Ellie ends up next?
Hard to write without giving something away. Excellent story with suspense, mystery, action, and a little heat. It will have you biting your nails and wondering who the killer is. Be prepared to stay up all night reading until the end.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *
Ellie Guthrie was a defense attorney who opened her own law firm in Curry. In this small town she was an intimidating force of nature to those people who enjoyed a slower pace of life. Ellie was a single female focused on her career leaving no room for a long term relationship, yet that doesn’t stop Nate from pursuing her. Ellie was a by the book type of character who was careful and cautious.
Nate Marcel was a former FBI agent, yet he still reacted with the skills of a FBI agent. He just couldn’t resist investigating the crimes in this small town. As an agent his life was in constant danger. He thrived on the thrill. He lived alone on his ranch in Curry immediately setting his sights on Ellie. When a persistent retired FBI agent pushes his way into Ellie’s life she’s thankful for his need to protect and serve. Standing on her porch begging to be noticed he demanded attention.
Overall: It’s not grabbing my attention like I had hoped. The premise led me to believe this was going to be a dangerous and thrilling book. There was some criminal activity, yet certain characters downplayed the murders creating a less than thrilling feeling.
Story: Ellie’s life was in danger, yet the threats were anything but life threatening. Someone was sending her a message. Nate a former FBI agent worked with Ellie to find the person threatening her life. This was a character driven story with many minor character introductions. It was easy to follow along. This had an excellent concept and premise. However, the execution wasn’t what I envisioned. There were Clever plot twists. Unfortunately, the killer was quite easy to figure out using Process of elimination. Having Nate an FBI agent was too convenient in my opinion. His love interest in Ellie was also convenient considering he was at the right place at the right time to offer his protection.
This was the third book in this series, so I’m not sure there is a backstory that I’m missing. The story mixes a little business with pleasure, however I prefer a story to focus more on the business. I found this book to be a bit wordy in areas that didn’t warrant the extra details.
I have never read any of this author’s books before but the synopsis sounded interesting so I was willing to give this book a chance.
The plot is good and it is entertaining enough, a small town crime novel, with a serial killer thrown in to grab your interest.
However, it did not keep me riveted. The pace and predictability made this more of a take it or leave it than a must-read for me.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
My first from this author and I was blown away! This story had the right balance of mystery and intrigue plus the added bonus of a burgeoning and very subtle romance between Ellie and Nate. Both characters exhibit great strength and wisdom as they try to figure out why the younger residents of the small town of Curry, Oklahoma are seemingly dying of overdoses.
Both Nate and Ellie are a bit closed off, each dealing with pasts that keep creeping into their present lives. But they find a calm with the other and thankfully Nate’s persistence pays off as Ellie falls for the sexy ex-FBI agent one day at a time. Not to mention that they keep the other on their toes with both wit and curiosity and I found that very endearing.
I truly enjoyed the way the author took her time in letting the mysterious deaths and their ultimate cause unfold. It was a true shock to understand all the whys of what had transpired, with Ellie discovering truths no one should have to realize. The secondary characters were mostly a vile lot but added the perfect harsh element to this book. And Nate and Ellie’s slow burn romance gave the story the lightness it needed when things seemed dire and there was no end in sight.
I would not hesitate to read from the this author again, wanting now to go back and read the first two books in this well-written and thought-provoking series.
5 stars!
YOU WILL SUFFER is an exciting and engaging read. The suspense is eerie and methodical and the storyline is full of dangerous intrigue. The plot had me gripped tight and I couldn’t stop reading until I unraveled the mystery! I didn’t think Nate and Ellie had great chemistry but they were essential characters to the plot. I would have liked a little more heat in their relationship. Overall, this was a very enjoyable reading experience. I think Ms. Ivy has found her knack in the romantic suspense genre and I look forward to future projects!
***I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of the book provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects or influences my thoughts and feelings about the story***
This is the only the second time I’ve read a novel by Alexandra Ivy, and it’s the third book in her The Agency series, and the first novel in the series I’ve read, but it worked just fine as a standalone, and I never felt that I missed any connections to the previous novels. While I was expecting a novel of romantic suspense, this came closer to the mystery/suspense genre than it did to a romance novel, although there is an attraction between the hero, Nate, a retired FBI agent, and his neighbor, Ellie, who is returning to her home town of Curry, Oklahoma, to set up her law practice rather than accepting a posh position at a big name lawn firm her status-seeking father, now a judge, would have preferred she accept. I liked the set-up, I liked Nate and Ellie and the attraction and tension between them , and I liked the whodunit, which certainly kept me guessing until the end, which is why this novel gets a solid 4 star rating from this reader.
The first glimpse of trouble we see is when Ellie is getting into her car to go to work one morning and notices that she has a flat tire, then she notices a second flat. Her neighbor, handsome hunk, Nate, sees her dilemma in passing and stops to offer his assistance. Ellie is very much an “I can do it myself” type of gal, but when Nate points out that all 4 of her tires are flat, and that they’ve been deliberately slashed, the mystery begins, and it doesn’t stop at mere vandalism. Next, Nate finds a pile of dead and mutilated rats on the patio behind Ellie’s law office, and soon it’s not just dead rats that are piling up, it’s human bodies being dumped in an empty field, and the inept and lazy local sheriff, Gary Clark, is quick to decide that these aren’t murders, just unfortunate drug overdoses from a bad batch of heroin. Nate and Ellie aren’t buying it, and while Nate and Ellie try to get to the bottom of who’s suddenly committing arson and killing the residents of Curry and why, and what a twisted tale of old town secrets, scandal, the good ole boys network, blackmail and corruption Ms. Ivy has created for her main characters to solve.
When yet another dead body is found inside a building Nate just bought to house his homemade furniture business, Sheriff Clark thinks he’s got his killer–Nate, and Ellie appoints herself as his lawyer, knowing that there is no way Nate could have or would have committed these crimes. But if not Nate, then who? And even more important, why? And why does Ellie’s snob of a father suddenly show up unannounced and trying to get her to move back to Oklahoma City, when their relationship has always been strained at best? What’s the common denominator behind all these deaths and destruction? Good luck trying to guess, because this mystery definitely had me stumped.
All I will say is that this is one addictive, page-turner of a novel, with a harrowing and surprising denouement, and not only was the mystery riveting, so too was the slowly forming bond between Nate and Ellie. While I would have preferred a little more romance in this story, this was, nevertheless, one very good read and I’m happy to recommend it.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.