ARC Review: Spiraled by Kendra Elliot

Spiraled
Author: Kendra Elliot
Series: Callahan & McLane (Book 3)
Publication: Montlake Romance (June 2, 2015)

Description: FBI Special Agent Ava McLane solves crimes; she doesn’t witness them. When she’s trapped in a mall without her weapon as a shooter picks off victims, she hides with a wounded teen and prays for her survival.

But that’s only the beginning…

An epidemic of mass shootings has swept across Oregon. The young shooters terrify the public, committing random murders before taking their own lives. The task force assembled to solve the case—which includes Ava’s boyfriend, detective Mason Callahan—remains stumped. And on top of this chaos, Ava’s troubled twin sister reappears, throwing Ava’s already-tumultuous life into a tailspin.

An old-fashioned cop with a strong sense of duty, Mason struggles to find the cause of the shootings as workaholic Ava spins ever closer to breaking down. But can one detective save the lives of countless innocents—and prevent the woman he loves from going over the edge?

My Thoughts: Kendra Elliot has written another very suspenseful thriller in SPIRALED. Ava is coming from yoga class when a shooter comes to the Mall. The young woman Ava was walking with was shot and Ava gets her to the dubious safety of a sunglasses kiosk. After calling 911 and giving as much information as she can, she has to just wait with the young woman and hope the shooter doesn't see them.

Meanwhile, Mason is called in and has to wait outside until the police manage to clear the Mall. The shooter kills himself in a Mall bathroom and the investigation starts. Because a witness to a Federal crime was one of the victims, the FBI gets involved. A task force is formed to try to find out why a seemingly ordinary young man decides to start shooting and then take his own life. After a second incident in a park, even more questions are raised.

Ava is supposed to be on vacation but she keeps getting involved in the investigation. She is having stress related issues that are only compounded when she hears from her mentally ill twin who threatens suicide. Ava is torn between cutting her sister out of her life to preserve her own mental health or getting sucked into Jayne's emotional whirlwind again. This stress and tension is making her pull away from Mason. But Mason isn't going to let her go without a fight.

The investigation has all sorts of twists and turns. The cases aren't what they first look like. Eventually the police catch on to what is really going on but, before they can find the real killer, Ava finds herself in his sights and fighting for her life.

This was excellent and suspenseful. I love the relationship between Ava and Mason. Ava's relationship with her twin also rings true. I could feel how conflicted she was when having to deal with her sister Jayne.

Fans of romantic suspense and thrillers will enjoy this series which began with VANISHED and continued in BRIDGED.

Favorite Quote:

"Agreed." She smiled at him and welcomed the peace that enveloped her. It'd been that way from the first moment they met. When they were together, the air around them settled into a relaxing harmony. It was rare and precious, and something she wanted for the rest of her life.

I got this eARC from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.