Review: Once Gone by Blake Pierce

Once Gone

By: Blake Pierce

Series: Riley Paige Mystery #1

My Copy: Ebook for Honest Review

BookWhisperer Rating:

Women are turning up dead in the rural outskirts of Virginia, killed in grotesque ways, and when the FBI is called in, they are stumped. A serial killer is out there, his frequency increasing, and they know there is only one agent good enough to crack this case: Special Agent Riley Paige. 

Riley is on paid leave herself, recovering from her encounter with her last serial killer, and, fragile as she is, the FBI is reluctant to tap her brilliant mind. Yet Riley, needing to battle her own demons, comes on board, and her hunt leads her through the disturbing subculture of doll collectors, into the homes of broken families, and into the darkest canals of the killer’s mind. As Riley peels back the layers, she realizes she is up against a killer more twisted than she could have imagined. In a frantic race against time, she finds herself pushed to her limit, her job on the line, her own family in danger, and her fragile psyche collapsing. 

Yet once Riley Paige takes on a case, she will not quit. It obsesses her, leading her to the darkest corners of her own mind, blurring the lines between hunter and hunted. After a series of unexpected twists, her instincts lead her to a shocking climax that even Riley could not have imagined. 

A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE GONE marks the debut of a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. 

If you are looking for a story that will have you checking the windows and doors, Once Gone, will be right up your alley. FBI agent, Riley Paige, has a slightly alarming ability to project herself into the mind of a killer. Not literally of course, but her terrifyingly accurate understanding is quite possibility the only opportunity the FBI will have in saving lives from the gruesome and heinous acts of one deranged madman. Unfortunately, Riley herself is trying to overcome the damage from the last case where she found herself in the clutches of a different dark and twisted individual. In the wrong place at the wrong time Riley finds herself with a front row seat to the first hand experience of these dark and heinous acts. With only her deep seeded desire to protect she is struggling through the constant onslaught of flashbacks and triggers that return her to those dark moments. With a murder that is quite obviously trying to tell a story; FBI are struggling to discern the man's motives and message that will lead them to this culpit. With Riley's uncanny ability she is tasked with deciphering this monsters true intentions. With her current mental state Riley will struggle to overcome her own fears, and follow her instincts that could possibly lead her within another vile man's reach. This was a thriller, and I was on the edge of my seat for the duration. Riley has a very unique ability, but unfortunately it leads her directly into the center of the lions den. I have been on a hiatus of mysteries as of late, and this is a great one. Once Gone carries a bit of two story lines throughout, and it is that second story that will allow for the drive to continue the series. I am anxious to see what the future of the Riley Paige series will offer. 

~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~