 | FBI Behavioral Analyst Kaely Quinn’s methods may be highly unorthodox, but her talent is undeniable. She’s done her best to establish a new life for herself after being demoted and transferred to St. Louis when a reporter revealed she’s the daughter of an infamous serial killer. But when that same reporter claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely’s, it seems her old life has followed her. When a body is found that fits the poem’s morbid predictions, Kaely and her new partner, Special Agent Noah Hunter, are forced to move past his skepticism of her approach and work together to unravel the deadly riddle. With a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else, including Kaely, is killed. |
Genre: Suspense
Release Date: December, 2018
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: December, 2018
Publisher: Bethany House
Click here to purchase your copy!
My Review
Read this book at night...if you dare...
When I started Mind Games I was expecting the usual romantic suspense fare, something that I absolutely love, as this was the first book that I've read by Nancy Mehl. I was wrong. Boy, was I wrong! What I got was a taut thriller with such depth of psychological drama that it fairly hummed on the page.
Dark and riveting, readers get the chance to go with Kaely as she delves into the mind of a serial killer. Which is a bit of an uncomfortable place to be, even when it's only on the printed page and you are safe at home in your own living room.
To say that I had a hard time putting Mind Games down would be an understatement. Saying I was glued to the page wouldn't do it justice. I've read literally hundreds of suspense books over the years and I have to say that I've not run into one quite like this one before. The closest would probably be Brandilyn Collins.
The heroine is just not what you EXPECT which keeps the hero, and readers, a little off balance. I loved it! Nancy Mehl kept me guessing from beginning to the end. I've read and watched, even listened to, so many suspense and mystery stories that I've gotten fairly good at identifying the killer(s), sometimes within a few minutes. This time I had 3 strong suspects and 1 lesser, and, while it was 1 of the main 3 and the one my mind kept going back to every so once in awhile, Nancy Mehl really did play Mind Games with readers in the getting there.
I can honestly say that I am really looking forward to reading the next Kaely Quinn Profiler book and that I just can't wait for it to release!
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Mind Games by Nancy Mehl a 5 Bark rating.
When I started Mind Games I was expecting the usual romantic suspense fare, something that I absolutely love, as this was the first book that I've read by Nancy Mehl. I was wrong. Boy, was I wrong! What I got was a taut thriller with such depth of psychological drama that it fairly hummed on the page.
Dark and riveting, readers get the chance to go with Kaely as she delves into the mind of a serial killer. Which is a bit of an uncomfortable place to be, even when it's only on the printed page and you are safe at home in your own living room.
To say that I had a hard time putting Mind Games down would be an understatement. Saying I was glued to the page wouldn't do it justice. I've read literally hundreds of suspense books over the years and I have to say that I've not run into one quite like this one before. The closest would probably be Brandilyn Collins.
The heroine is just not what you EXPECT which keeps the hero, and readers, a little off balance. I loved it! Nancy Mehl kept me guessing from beginning to the end. I've read and watched, even listened to, so many suspense and mystery stories that I've gotten fairly good at identifying the killer(s), sometimes within a few minutes. This time I had 3 strong suspects and 1 lesser, and, while it was 1 of the main 3 and the one my mind kept going back to every so once in awhile, Nancy Mehl really did play Mind Games with readers in the getting there.
I can honestly say that I am really looking forward to reading the next Kaely Quinn Profiler book and that I just can't wait for it to release!
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Mind Games by Nancy Mehl a 5 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Guest Post
from Nancy
Writing Mind Games is a dream come true. I’ve been interested in FBI profiling for years. I’ve read about it, studied it, and watched every TV special I could find on the subject. So when the chance finally came to write the book I’ve always wanted to write, I jumped at it. Thankfully, through the help of another writer, I was hooked up with a retired FBI profiler. I was so excited. Until I found out I had almost everything wrong. Yes, I had some understanding about profiling, but I knew nothing about the FBI and how it works.
First of all, the FBI doesn’t call the men and women who profile criminals, profilers. They’re called Behavioral Analysts. The plot for Mind Games had my analyst running around the country solving crimes while she was stationed in St. Louis. Uh, no. Behavioral analysts do travel, but they all work out of Quantico in Virginia. So…I rewrote.
There were ways around my conundrum, but one solution led to more and more problems. We finally worked through them. Then I spent the next few months learning acronyms. CIRG, CJIS, NCAVC, HRT, UNSUB, CNU, THU, ViCap, CODIS, SWAT, ERTU, OPU, THRU, ERT… Well, the list goes on and on. The FBI is made up of many specialized units. And a plethora of acronyms, it seems.
There were ways around my conundrum, but one solution led to more and more problems. We finally worked through them. Then I spent the next few months learning acronyms. CIRG, CJIS, NCAVC, HRT, UNSUB, CNU, THU, ViCap, CODIS, SWAT, ERTU, OPU, THRU, ERT… Well, the list goes on and on. The FBI is made up of many specialized units. And a plethora of acronyms, it seems.
I rewrote Mind Games three times before my source said we were good to go.
If you assume I’m out of the woods now, you’d be wrong. I haven’t had the nerve to open up the manuscript I sent her for book two in my Kaely Quinn Profiler series. I figured I had Fire Storm right but… Well, I can tell from her email comments I’ll be doing more rewriting. Sigh.
So is it worth it? A resounding yes! I love learning, and as long as my analyst friend hangs in with me (she has the patience of Job), I’ll keep at it.
I hope you enjoy Mind Games. It’s edgy but fun. Kaely Quinn is a quirky character. She was thrown out of Quantico because her version of profiling is… Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out!
If you assume I’m out of the woods now, you’d be wrong. I haven’t had the nerve to open up the manuscript I sent her for book two in my Kaely Quinn Profiler series. I figured I had Fire Storm right but… Well, I can tell from her email comments I’ll be doing more rewriting. Sigh.
So is it worth it? A resounding yes! I love learning, and as long as my analyst friend hangs in with me (she has the patience of Job), I’ll keep at it.
I hope you enjoy Mind Games. It’s edgy but fun. Kaely Quinn is a quirky character. She was thrown out of Quantico because her version of profiling is… Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out!
-Nancy Mehl-
 Nancy Mehl | Nancy Mehl (www.nancymehl.com) is the author of more than thirty books, including the Road to Kingdom, Finding Sanctuary, and Defenders of Justice series. She received the ACFW Mystery Book of the Year Award in 2009. She has a background in social work and is a member of ACFW and RWA. She writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband, Norman, and their Puggle, Watson. She is part of The Suspense Sisters: www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com, along with several other popular suspense authors. She is also very active on Facebook. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Nancy is giving away a grand prize of a copy of Mind Games and
the three books in Nancy’s Defenders of Justice series, plus a $20 Starbucks gift card!
Two additional winners will also receive a copy of Mind Games!
the three books in Nancy’s Defenders of Justice series, plus a $20 Starbucks gift card!
Two additional winners will also receive a copy of Mind Games!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
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Cafinated Reads
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Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions
The Lit Addict
amandainpa
December 12
A Reader’s Brain
Daysong Reflections
Livin’ Lit
December 13
Reading Is My SuperPower
By The Book
Lighthouse Academy
December 14
Multifarious,
Jennifer Sienes: Where Crisis and Christ Collide
Splashes of Joy
December 15
Back Porch Reads,
Real World Bible Study
Robin is Bookish
Janices book reviews
December 16
C Jane Read
Ashley’s Bookshelf
The Becca Files
Bigreadersite
December 17
Quiet Quilter
Margaret Kazmierczak
Godly Book Reviews
December 18
All-of-a-kind Mom
Just the Write Escape
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
December 19
Simple Harvest Reads (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Mary Hake
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy
December 20
For the Love of Literature
Remembrancy
Inklings and notions
Carpe Diem
December 21
Tell Tale Book Reviews,
Locks, Hooks and Books
Pause for Tales
A Baker’s Perspective
December 22
Have A Wonderful Day
Book by Book
A Good Book and Cup of Tea
December 23
Bibliophile Reviews
To Everything a Season
Southern Gal Loves to Read
December 24
Cafinated Reads
Texas Book-aholic
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
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