ARC Review: Targeted by Kendra Elliot

Targeted
Author: Kendra Elliot
Series: Callahan & McLane (Book 4)
Publication: Montlake Romance (June 7, 2016)

Description: All Detective Mason Callahan wanted was a quiet fishing trip with the guys—a chance to get away and unwind before Halloween.

Until he finds the body of his boss, Denny Schefte, near their remote Oregon cabin. Now all he wants is to catch the sadist who slit Denny’s throat and covered his face with a mask. Mason was the last person to see him alive and will stop at nothing to find his friend’s murderer.

When the FBI learns of the mask left at the scene, they realize they have a serial killer on their hands—one who is targeting cops. They assign the case to Special Agent Ava McLane, despite her engagement to Mason. Barely recovered from her own nearly fatal injury and her sister’s attempted suicide, Ava hopes she is ready to chase another killer.

But as she delves into the increasingly disturbing case, the killer may be closer than expected—dangerously close.

My Thoughts: Ava is finally back at work as an FBI Special Agent. She is in therapy to deal with her relationship with her sister and with her almost dying. She has come to a better place in regard to her sister realizing that she can't take responsibility for Jayne's choices. However, she is still shelling out big bucks for Jayne's most recent attempt at therapy. She and Mason are planning their wedding, theoretically. Ava is having a hard time picking a venue or setting a date.

Mason is away for the weekend for a fishing trip with his boss and some of his fellow officers when he steps out of the cabin early one morning and finds his boss Denny murdered. His throat was slit and his is wearing a scary Halloween mask - Pinhead. Because of their jobs, the investigation invites the FBI in and Ava and Zander get the case with Zander taking lead. Despite being a witness, Mason attaches himself to the case unofficially.

Denny's death causes the team to look at the recent suicide of an FBI agent specializing in domestic terrorism who was also found wearing a scary Halloween mask. The third victim is a trooper with the Oregon State Police. He was found nailed to the wall of his living room and wearing a Scream mask. The fourth victim is from the West Linn police force. His mask is from Friday the 13th.

The task force that is convened is busy trying to find any connection between the four victims besides the fact that they all worked in law enforcement, were murdered, and had the horror masks. That would be enough to keep Ava busy without throwing in a sister who knows just how to manipulate her and the counselors around her and the need to figure out why she has been reluctant to find a venue and set a date to marry Mason.

The story is a great mix of police procedural and heart-pounding action. Fans of romantic suspense and, certainly, fans of the Callahan and McLane series won't want to miss this one.

Favorite Quote:

Ava understood. She had a form of PTSD from a cocktail of Jayne's emotional abuse and her own physical trauma. Now it was embedded and woven int the person she was. Forever.

I got this book for review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.