About the Book
Book: Mind Games
Author: Nancy Mehl
Genre: Suspense
Release Date: December, 2018
Publisher: Bethany House
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.
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About the Author
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.
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.
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!
My Review
This was my first time reading a book by Nancy Mehl, and my “thinking cap” went straight into overdrive in an attempt to beat the agents at discovering the killer (because, you know, you can do that in books sometimes). This story certainly had my attention from cover to cover!
One thing I really loved about this story was the author’s incredible ability to send the reader’s mind in one direction… before jerking it in another… all to throw you off once again. I loved the element of unpredictability. I cannot go into any further detail because I don’t want to spoil anything, but the suspense had me pinned to my chair until I was through.
The piece that I struggled with in this story I don’t want to share because I think the author intended it to be hidden until later, but I will say that there was part of a character’s personality that I really wish didn’t exist as it was. It’s not enough that I wouldn’t have read the story, but considering the person was a Christian I don’t feel it should have been written into their character. (You’ll probably understand what I’m talking about when you read it).
If you’re a fan of crime fiction and suspense, I highly suggest you pick this book up and read it. I also suggest you plan to open it at a time when you won’t be needed anywhere anytime soon… because you won’t be wanting to get up until your through. This was the first book I’ve read by the author, but I’m sure I will be reading more from her in the future!
*I received a copy of this book from the author through Celebrate Lit Tours and NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
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Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 11
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 11
The Lit Addict, December 11
amandainpa, December 11
A Reader’s Brain, December 12
Daysong Reflections, December 12
Livin’ Lit, December 12
Reading Is My SuperPower, December 13
By The Book, December 13
Lighthouse Academy, December 13
Multifarious, December 14
Jennifer Sienes: Where Crisis and Christ Collide, December 14
Splashes of Joy, December 14
Back Porch Reads, December 15
Real World Bible Study, December 15
Robin is Bookish, December 15
Janices book reviews, December 15
C Jane Read, December 16
Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 16
The Becca Files, December 16
Bigreadersite, December 16
Quiet Quilter, December 17
Margaret Kazmierczak, December 17
Godly Book Reviews, December 17
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 18
Just the Write Escape, December 18
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, December 18
Simple Harvest Reads, December 19 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Mary Hake, December 19
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 19
For the Love of Literature, December 20
Remembrancy, December 20
Inklings and notions, December 20
Carpe Diem, December 20
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 21
Pause for Tales, December 21
A Baker’s Perspective, December 21
Have A Wonderful Day, December 22
Book by Book, December 22
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, December 22
Bibliophile Reviews, December 23
To Everything a Season, December 23
Southern Gal Loves to Read, December 23
Cafinated Reads, December 24
Texas Book-aholic, December 24
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 24
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!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d73b/mind-games-celebration-tour-giveaway
I’m starting this book today. I don’t normally read this genre, but the synopsis intrigued me. Great review, Becca!
Thanks I’m curious to hear what you’ll think of it too
I am about half done and I am intrigued, to say the least! Thanks for your review and being part of this tour.
Hope you enjoy it!
I enjoy Nancy’s books! I’m excited to read this new series!
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