Never Look Back was an action packed suspense novel that kept me on the edge of my seat.  The action revolves around TBI Agent Melina Shephard’s and FBI Agent Jerrod Ramsey’s search for a serial killer who targets prostitutes.  Along the way, they discover a connection to another serial killer and Melina’s past.

I loved how these two worked together to solve the case.  Melina was a bad-ass heroine who didn’t back down from a fight and was determined to catch the bad guy.  Jerrod has been chasing serial killers for years and he had become desensitized to the violence.  This case and working with Melina reenergized him.

I enjoyed this story and I loved the plot twists.  It was a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end.

Never Look Back is the third book in Mary Burton’s Criminal Profiler Series. It is a well written full length romantic mystery novel with an intriguing storyline, great chemistry between the lead characters and a happily ever after. If you love Criminal Minds you will throughly enjoy this book. 

While working undercover as a prostitute to investigate several missing woman, Agent Melina Shepard of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation barely misses becoming a serial killer’s latest victim. Backup arrives in the form of profiler and FBI agent Jerrod Ramsey. While working together to learn more about the killer, another case involving a serial killer crosses their path. A case that has eerie similarities to Melina’s painful past. The chemistry between Ramsey and Melina simmers between them as they race to catch two serial killers- both with Melina in their crosshairs. 

This is another great book from an author that is quickly becoming a favourite of mine. She is a fantastic author and I was instantly driven into the storyline because of her great characters and writing style.  I cant wait to read more of her work. 

This is a voluntary review of an advanced readers copy I received from netgalley.

I found this book to be a typical thriller-lite.   It was somewhat predictable, a couple of unusual plot points, but overall solid writing and editing.

If thrillers are your thing, give it a try.   I don’t think it will keep you up at night, but it is entertaining.   

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review, but my opinions are my own.

Agent Melina Shephard is a hands on, hard working, detective with traumatic childhood memories she tries to keep compartmentalised while investigating child abduction cases. When her best friend tells her how worried she is about two residents who have disappeared from her rescue mission Melina knows her help is needed and doesn't hesitate.

Working unauthorised undercover shifts as a prostitute, Shephard has no luck finding the two missing women but, after getting into a dangerous situation of her own, finds the disappearances catching the attention of the FBI. Special Agent Jerrod Ramsey is a team leader at Quantico but misses active investigations; so when he sees what Melina has discovered he heads for Tennessee himself rather than send someone else. 

With very little to act on Melina and Jerrod are diverted to help a little girl who has been abandoned after a car accident. Feeling a connection with the child and memories from her own past threatening to surface Melina is determined nothing will hinder her ability to remain focused. When the vehicle is searched by the forensic team it reveals untold horrors and the agents realise they may now be hunting two serial killers. With only limited time to work through everything will Shephard and Ramsey find themselves stretched so thinly they are unable to solve either case?

Never Look Back was my first book by this author but I have a feeling it won't be my last. I enjoyed the two cases being investigated concurrently and with Melina and Jerrod having to switch from one to the other numerous times during the storyline it was good they were different enough to prevent any confusion for the reader, at least! 

Melina was instantly likeable while Jerrod was sympathetically written and fitted in perfectly. Although formulaic in set up I was surprised more than once as the book progressed and there was a very satisfying denouement 

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this author's work or wants a detailed serial killer storyline to dive into.

A predictable police procedural. Could not relate to the characters. Just not for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

The thriller/mystery aspect of this book is top-notch! It is dark and often quite gruesome but very believable in the way the character's search, stumble, then re-adjust as they work to find not one, but two absolutely horrific killers.  The identity of "Sonny" was incredibly interesting AND took an even more shocking twist towards the end.  It also made him somewhat sympathetic even as the reader cringes at his actions.  I was shocked at how sad I was with the outcome of his character!

The relationship aspect of the book was its biggest downfall. Jerrod and Melina had nothing but a professional and extremely distant relationship until near the end, when suddenly there is one night of sex - then back to non-talking professionalism again. Then, in the last few pages, a relationship is just miraculously there!  There was absolutely no growth or development shown with any depth at all throughout the entire story, which makes the ending quite jarring.  Where did that come from? 

Still, I hardly believe anyone reads Mary Burton's books for the love interests when the suspense/mystery aspect is always to good.  So, overall, it is well worth the good scare and excitement!

I love a good crime thriller. In the past, I have been absolutely obsessed with true crime television series and this novel reminded me of Criminal Minds. Melina is a cop who typically investigates missing person cases on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. She is helping out a local friend who runs a women’s shelter by investigating after two of her clients have gone missing. While she is working undercover, she is targeted by a predator who attempts to abduct her. She manages to get away by stabbing him and gets a DNA sample in the process. A handsome detective from the FBI named Ramsey shows up after the DNA reveals a link to a serial killer he has been hunting for many years. 

Melina is an excellent protagonist. She has a great back story as an adopted child who doesn’t know her biological family and she is extremely likeable. Burton does a great job at creating an intense plotline as she expertly combines multiple cases. I took great delight in reading how she had Melina and Ramsey connected the dots of the investigations. I enjoyed her writing style as there was great character development and you were always left wanting more. My only criticism is the ending which was a little bit too quick and perfect for my liking. It seemed like the last 300 pages just got wrapped up very suddenly. I would definitely pick up another Criminal Profiler book!

Action packed from the very beginning, this book kept me reading hour after hour. Two serial killers, so many horrors. Very well developed characters and a great story line. Can’t wait to read Mary Burtons next book.

I discovered Mary Burton’s books about a year ago and have been reading/listening my way through her large body of work. She writes thrillers with female main characters and of course there’s always a romance. Romantic suspense used to be my go to and is rapidly making a comeback in my tbr books. The delight for me is any new book by Mary Burton that I can get my hands on!

Melina Shepherd is an agent with the Tennessee Crime Bureau and works to solve murders or find missing people. After putting herself out there(literally)to solve the case of missing prostitutes she just barely escapes a mad man’s clutches. So of course the FBI sends Special Agent Jerrod Ramsay to try and connect the case to serial murders that he has been dealing with for years. The two end up working together and before it’s over with they’ve discovered that more than one serial killer is at work here. They’ve also discovered each other. Of course, there’s a lot more going on here. Melina has a very interesting back story. Who knew it would come up in the investigation?

I really liked Melina’s character although sometimes she is, shall we say, too curious for her own good? She manages to put herself into precarious situations. She’s the ultimate investigator and immerses herself into her cases to the exclusion of having a personal life. Jerrod was also kind of different. He’s all business and no play. He, too, has no personal life to speak of either. He’s older than Melina and the job of being the leader of his team is weighing on him. It’s unusual for him to be in the field and he is realizing how much he has missed it. They start opening up to each other after rescuing a small child from a wreck. A character named Bonnie was a piece of work. She’s older but could possibly be up to her neck in a serial killer’s world. She cunning and conniving and I wanted to shake her at times. Of course we have suitably horrible villains in the form of serial killers and we get drawn into their world as well.

I’m mostly going to leave it at that about the story. I will say that Burton’s work is always well written, researched and paced. I’ve probably read more than my share of serial killer books and this ranked up there with some of the best for me. The romance is a slow burn and I appreciated that as well. He’s based in Washington D.C., she’s in Nashville. How could that ever work? I enjoyed seeing how everything played out with both the romance and the mysteries.

If you haven’t read Mary Burton yet and like a good romantic suspense book, you are definitely missing out. I rated this 4.25 stars and recommend it to adult readers that enjoy crime drama with romance. FYI-there is some violence and some scenes are not for the squeamish.(Review will post on DelightedReader.com on or close to release date.

This is the third book in the criminal profiler series but can definitely be read as a standalone. I like my romantic suspense the way this story unfolds with more emphasis on the suspense than the romance.  The main character, Melina, is a strong person both physically and emotionally and this case hits a little close to home requiring her to draw on the strength of those around her.  There are actually two cases that Melina is investigating but that end up colliding with one another.  The plot has plenty of suspense and a little bit of a twist.  I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers.

My thanks to Netgalley for my copy of Never Look Back. I have to admit I read the first chapter and was ready to call it a day as it was so horrific and raw I didn't think I'd be able to stomach it. I gave it another go and I was pleased I did.

This is an American police drama with a teensy weensy bit of romance running through it. Yes the crimes committed by the two serial killers were beyond belief in cruelty but the characters involved slowly became more important and more interesting and I was hooked.

I really enjoyed Never Look Back!  Mary Burton's writing always flys by and makes for really compelling reads!  I loved the two serial killer aspect, as its not done too often and therefore felt new and different. A lot of twists and turns that are incredibly wild and a lot of fun! Enjoy the ride...it's a good one!

I absolutely loved this romantic suspense story!!!!!   It was the absolute!  Melina and Ramsey tracking two serial killers from Nashville.  I loved how the book kept me on the edge of my seat!  Very good writing and style.  I will definitely be checking out more of her books!

Book 3 in the Criminal Profiler series and it is a thrill ride at its finest. Mary Burton never fails to keep me on the edge of my seat, turning pages well past my bedtime. Just when you think you have it all figured out, bang, a new twist and you're engrossed again. Her characters are well developed, like the story, with depth and multi-faceted. A new book by Mary is always anticipated and one read with pleasure.

One of my go to authors that never disappoints. She always brings terrific characters in a storyline that keeps you on edge of your seat. The suspense, thrills and twists make you read in one sitting and forget all around you. Love this series and cannot wait to read more from her.

Why haven't I been reading Mary Burton's book all along is beyond me?!? Thanks NetGalley, Mary Burton and Montlake for introducing me to my new favorite author. I was hooked on this book from the very first chapter. I love thrillers, trying to figure out how the good guys will catch the bad ones. I'm definitely reading the other books in this series.

I did decide to read the first two books in this series first but honestly you can read them in any order you want. But I’m still glad I did read the other ones because this author knows how to keep me hooked. Fast paced, dark and sometimes a few twists. I wouldn’t say this book or the other ones are mind blowing good and the best mystery I’ve read but they kept me engaged and I fully enjoyed them.

A page turning thriller. Melina Shepard of the TBI almost gets taken by a serial killer. She fought back and stabbed him in the thigh. Girls are missing from the Mission that Sarah Beckett runs. Many are ladies of the night. Melina works with FBI agent Ramsey to track down a serial killer.

Never Look Back is Mary Burton at her best.  She writes creepy, evil villains scarily well.  This is the story of Melina Shepard, an agent with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and FBI Special Agent Jerrod Ramsey.  Their backstories are diverse and polar opposite but somehow with their career choices and hunting a serial killer they manage to fall in love.  Burton also includes the cute kid factor with Elena and her interaction with Melina’s family.  I can see (hope for) another book with these characters.  Burton is a must read for me.  I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.

Mary Burton's latest book is once again a gripping and intelligent thriller. Melina Shepard is an agent of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation with a knack for finding missing persons. The story begins with her nearly being kidnapped by a serial killer while posing undercover as a prostitute. She's in trouble with her boss because of that but gets a reprieve from the dreaded desk duty when another possible serial killer case comes along and she is paired with FBI profiler Jerrod Ramsey.  A car accident with an apparently abandoned 5 year old little girl reminds Melina of herself. She feels a connection with Elena. But they are also left with a grizzly discovery in the trunk of the car that leads them into the search for a new serial killer. Along the way, Melina begins to uncover secrets from her own past. As Melina and Jerrod start growing closer together there's alot going on....2 serial killers to stop and the future of a little girl to secure...but Mary Burton expertly brings everything to a satisfying, shocking, conclusion. 
Thank you the author and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.