Book Review
Counter Attack by Patricia Bradley
Romantic Suspense / Christian Fiction
Reader’s Thoughts:
Christian, romantic suspense was one of my go-to genres as a teen. And while I don’t read the genre as frequently anymore, the blurb for this newest Patricia Bradley novel, Counter Attack, immediately caught my eye: “No sooner has Alexis Stone been sworn in as the interim sheriff for Russell County, Tennessee, when a serial killer dubbed the Queen’s Gambit Killer strikes again…”
What I enjoy about this genre is that you get chapters packed with action and excitement, but you also know (usually from the first or second chapter) who the protagonist is going to end up with. You can sit back and enjoy the anticipation and building suspense, all the while knowing its going to have a tidy resolution and a happily-ever-after. And Counter Attack absolutely met those expectations. Throughout the novel, Alexis faces constant threat to herself. It is non-stop go! Also in true romantic suspense style, she is, of course, partnered closely with her high school ex-boyfriend, the handsome Chief of Police, Nathan Landry, and they have to sort out and admit their feelings for each other.
For me, this was a case where a book had almost too much action. With the “cat and mouse” nature of the hunt for the serial killer, it was understandable (and certainly made for a fast-paced and exciting read). However, there were a lot of near-death experiences and that did take away some of the realism from the story.
When it came to the mystery, I was able to pinpoint one of the culprits from very early on in the story. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing (I always love reading on to see if I’m right) but it did feel overly obvious and made me wonder why the characters weren’t investigating this person further. There was also a secondary criminal investigation happening throughout the book, and when that culprit was revealed, I initially couldn’t remember who the individual was. I had to flip back to figure it out. Neither of these reveals were ideal for me and did take away from some of my overall enjoyment.
As a whole, I thought this was a decent start to a new series. It is a quick and clean read for those who enjoy serial killer, murder mystery plots. Having read other books by this author, I will admit that this one didn’t quite live up to my expectations. However, if you’re in the mood for something action-packed (and at times, a little cheesy) this is an easy and entertaining read!
Recommended for:
Fans of contemporary police procedurals with clean romance
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. All opinions expressed are my own. This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
About the book:
(From the publisher): No sooner has Alexis Stone been sworn in as the interim sheriff for Russell County, Tennessee, when a serial killer dubbed the Queen’s Gambit Killer strikes again–this time in her hometown. Pearl Springst is just supposed to be a temporary stop along the way to Alex’s real dream: becoming the first female police chief of Chattanooga. But the killer’s calling card–a white pawn and a note with a chess move printed on it–cannot be ignored.
Pearl Springs chief of police Nathan Landry can’t believe that his high school sweetheart Alexis (he refuses to call her Alex) is back in town, and he can’t help wanting to protect the woman he never stopped loving. But as the danger mounts and the killer closes in, can Nathan come through on the promises he makes to himself to bring a killer to justice before it’s too late.