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ALLISON DOYLE’S NEW CASE WILL MAKE HER CAREER . . . IF SHE LIVES TO SOLVE IT.
Motive, opportunity, and no alibi—rookie detective Allison Doyle knows it’s as close to a slam dunk as most investigations get. But even though her small-town Texas police department has identified a prime suspect in a young woman’s vicious murder, she can’t rest easy. And when legendary FBI profiler Mark Wolfe shows up with a startling new theory, all her doubts are amplified. If Wolfe is correct, the real killer is an elusive psychopath who has left a trail of bodies behind him. And he’s just days away from his next kill. . . .
Allison was supposed to be Wolfe’s way into the case, nothing more. But she’s ambitious, stubborn, and far too tempting. With the help of her contacts at the Delphi Center crime lab, Wolfe is within striking distance of the monster he’s pursued for ten years. Except the closer Allison and Wolfe get, the more reason there is to fear. Because with a predator this brutal, every thread of evidence can make a difference between hunting a madman—and becoming hunted yourself.
CHAPTER 1
The day Jordan Wheatley last ran free was clear and bright, like her sixteenth birthday. Like her wedding day. Like 9/11.
She’d overdressed that afternoon in sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt, and she came off the trail with her face dripping and her ponytail saturated. She reached into her car for a tall bottle of water, guzzled most of it down, and poured the few remaining ounces over her head. Jordan checked the timer on her watch. Ninety-seven minutes. That extra two miles was going to make her late getting home, and Ethan would be in a sulk. She needed to hurry.
First, though, she tipped her head back to gaze at the sky and took a moment to just be. The late-afternoon sun touched her cheeks. She inhaled the crisp fall breeze, tinged with cedar. The runner’s high thrummed in her veins and her muscles felt loose. She could do anything. Everything. She could run the whole course all over again, right this minute if she wanted to.
But Ethan was waiting. She checked her watch again and tossed the empty bottle into the car.
“Hey, you wouldn’t happen to have a phone, would you?”
Jordan turned around and saw a young man standing beside a green minivan several spaces away. She glanced over her shoulder to see if he was talking to someone else.
“It’s the battery again.” He smiled. “My wife’s going to kill me this time—she told me to get it changed.” When Jordan hesitated, his expression turned wary. “But looks like you’re in a hurry. You probably don’t have time to play Good Samaritan, do you?”
She stepped forward. “No, it’s all right.” Then she remembered what he’d asked for and reached back into her car. Her cell phone was locked in the glove compartment, and she dug it out.
“You want me to call Triple A or . . . ?”
He sauntered over. “Thanks, but I’ll do it.”
She surveyed him more carefully now, feeling odd about handing over her phone to a complete stranger, even a nice-looking one. He was tall, dark-haired, and had wire-rimmed glasses. He wore faded jeans and a Rice University sweatshirt with the familiar blue crest on the front.
Jordan passed him the phone.
“I’ve actually got a favorite mechanic, if you can believe it. He specializes in German cars, but he owes me a favor, so . . .” He dialed a number with his thumb and pressed the phone to his ear, and Jordan turned around, pretending not to eavesdrop. She wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her arm. In the distance she heard a pair of high-pitched barks as some dogs encountered each other on the trail.
“No answer. Damn. You have any jumper cables?” He smiled hopefully.
“’Fraid not.”
He sighed and looked around at the surrounding scenery—canyons, hills, and scrub brush as far as the eye could see. “So, what do you think the odds are we’ll be able to get a tow truck out here by sundown?” He glanced at the sky. “Not good, I’m guessing. I probably better call the wife.”
Relieved for some reason, she turned away to give him privacy as he made the call.
A weight slammed into her. Air exploded from her lungs with an oomf! and her face plowed into the gravel. She shrieked. The sound was cut off as her head was yanked back and then smashed forward. Pain lanced through her skull.
“Don’t make a sound,” he growled in her ear.
Jordan’s pulse pounded. Her mind reeled. She squirmed and struggled to breathe as his knee dug into her spine.
“You hear me?” He yanked her ponytail again, and her head snapped back. She gazed up at the blue sky and smelled her own terror, ripe and pungent.
This isn’t happening. But it was. Tears burned her eyes and her neck arched painfully. Her heart thundered inside her too-tight chest. For the first time in her life, she felt a fear so complete it replaced every sensation in her body.
Jordan bucked. She kicked and twisted, throwing elbows and knees. The weight slipped off and she scrambled to her feet. Fire shot down her leg as he clawed her skin.
She lunged for her car. He was right behind. He tackled her and she was on the ground again. A fist smashed into her cheek and a bright burst of pain exploded behind her eyes. Blood filled her mouth. She felt a tooth sliding around on her tongue.
He yanked her head back, and through the daze she felt him shift on top of her. She tried to scream, but his weight was on her and it came out like a wisp of air. A hand clamped hard over her mouth. He hauled her to her feet and dragged her across the gravel, and through tear-blurred vision she saw her car.
This isn’t happening. No, no, no!
Jordan writhed and struggled. Pain radiated down her right arm, but she used it anyway, reaching back, desperately trying to gouge his eyes. He gripped her harder. In the corner of her eye, she saw the side of the van. She kicked viciously, trying to break his hold. A muffled curse. He flung her against something hard, making her brain rattle against her skull. Nausea washed over her as his arms tightened once more. The pain was consuming. She felt it taking over, swallowing up her will to resist. All of her limbs quivered.
“There’s no point in fighting.” His breath was hot against her neck. “Just be quiet and I won’t have to hurt you.”
Jordan knew he was lying. From deep inside her came a primal scream.
simple344
Posted April 19, 2012
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loved the story line, so naturally had to get the this book. It did not disappoint!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 22, 2012
When will the next one come out? I read it too fast, looking forward to burned!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.What a fantastic addition to the Tracer’s series.
We have a serial killer on our hands.. He likes to stalk his women then rape and cut their throats from ear to ear.
Mark Wolfe is a FBI special agent who works in the Behavior Analysis Unit. He has come to San Marcos, Texas to investigate a murder which he thinks is tied to killer he has been tracking since 2000 that started in California. Mark has a lot of cases on his plate and he is the most sought after agent in the Bureau but he promised the family of one of the victims that he would never give up on finding the killer. He’s 43 and pretty close to burnout. He lost his first wife to his dedication to his job and is pretty much a loner.
Allison Doyle made detective at 25 and here two years later she still feels like she has yet to gain the respect of those she works with due to her age and gender. Her boss refuses to put her on the case of the latest victim and when she realizes what Wolfe is in town for she goes to his motel and wants answers. She wants to prove herself and get on the task force that she knows is going to come about for the Death Raven as Wolfe likes to call him.
Mark and Alison follow up with lots of leads. And when they find out that there is a lot of evidence that still hasn’t been processed from previous cases Alison makes a call to her friends at the Delphi Center to help with the DNA samples and eventually utilize the new online profiling they are just starting.
This book had my attention from the first chapter until the last. The author did a great job of keeping you guessing on who the murderer was until the end.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Mimi828
Posted December 10, 2012
This series has to be the best one I've ever read in this genre! Hope the author keeps them coming.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.walstonc59
Posted August 14, 2012
I had not read any of the Tracer series before this book, however, I'm planning to read them all from the 1st one. Really enjoyed the books....of course it doesn't hurt that I'm from the around the Austin area..so that makes it even more interesting. So glad to have found another author to read.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 1, 2012
Another great book
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Posted July 23, 2012
this story keeps you wanting to continue to read --the story hard to put down
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ann55
Posted July 1, 2012
I have rea all of Laura Griffin books, they are great
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.LVMCA
Posted June 29, 2012
The plot was good but it moved a little slow for me but the title Twisted really fit.
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Posted June 20, 2012
Exciting page turner, can't wait to see what's goingbto develope in the next book of the series.
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Posted June 19, 2012
This one has been my favorite so far! It was really hard to put this book down.
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Posted June 13, 2012
Fell in love with Mark,,,,Very easy read,,,,Cant wait for next one.
Anonymous
Posted June 5, 2012
This series is well written with lovable characters and great story lines.
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Posted June 4, 2012
Fantastic book...a real page turner!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.JenD78
Posted May 24, 2012
I love this series, can't wait for more.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.lindyLW
Posted May 10, 2012
I just read "Twisted" and couldn`t put the book down. So many twists and turns in the book ,it keeps you guessing and a surprise near the end.
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Posted April 21, 2012
This is a really nice book!1335013103208
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 1, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
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Posted June 16, 2012
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Posted July 15, 2012
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Overview
ALLISON DOYLE’S NEW CASE WILL MAKE HER CAREER . . . IF SHE LIVES TO SOLVE IT.
Motive, opportunity, and no alibi—rookie detective Allison Doyle knows it’s as close to a slam dunk as most investigations get. But even though her small-town Texas police department has identified a prime suspect in a young woman’s vicious murder, she can’t rest easy. And when legendary FBI profiler Mark Wolfe shows up with a startling new theory, all her doubts are amplified. If Wolfe is correct, the...