I really really liked this book. The main storyline and mystery keeps you interested throughout, with multiple potential suspects and endings coming and going. If you weren't gripped already, the subplot of sally's ex husband and his relationship adds that extra bit of tension and suspense during the entire book. I actually found myself wanting to know how that was going to play out more than the main storyline. The ending wasn't predictable and left me feeling satisfied. Which I think is actually quite hard to do with a thriller.

I know I am a big police procedural lover, but I really like the series that have a little different something to offer. In this one, Sally, the MC, went from being a police officer to being a victim's advocate. And while it looks like she is back on the way to heading back to the police department, I love how she cares and thinks of the victim as she works to solve kidnapping, assaults and rapes. Having her history, she always makes sure that is at the top of her thoughts.

And appropriately in this case, a secondary story involves Sally and her ex-husband and him trying to come back around and change the narrative on what he has done to her. She gets a chance to grow and see how strong she is while battling him.

Sally is interesting and I'm always interested in what she plans to do next as she works tirelessly to solve the case. This one was fast paced and full of tension.

While it is the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone.

I am loving this series. This book has a fantastic story line which had me gripped throughout. I look forward to reading more

I love when a book keeps you guessing and this one certainly did. Even though this is number 3 in the series, I quite easily read it as a standalone. Loved the combo of thriller cross police procedural. Will be reading more from this author.,

This is the third book of the series and it just gets better. I have read all 3, but feel you could read this as a stand alone and not be lost.
Sally is asked to be a consultant detective in a case of murder and attempted murder.
I liked the officer assigned to, Clarence,
I really enjoyed this and was VERY happy with the ending
Thanks to Netgalley for the copy

Thank you Net Galley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my free and honest review. While I did get a bit impatient with Sally’s back and forth between tough and whiny, that quickly dissipated as I got further into the novel. What a great storyline, believable characters and twisty plot. Definitely recommend!

This was my first L.A Larkin novel and it will not be my last. I jumped right in with book #3 and I was able read this with ease. This was SO good. It was so good that I need it in a movie or TV show. I haven't really read "crime" thrillers before, but boy was I missing out. The writing of this is smooth, page turning, and you want to stay up all night to read the end. Highly recommend!

I am thoroughly enjoying this series, I really like Sally she is caring and empathetic to everyone and now she has been asked to come back to the Franklin Police Department as a detective for three months to solve a cold case and that is the murder of an old man and the attack on his wife, Sally is keen to show she can do this.

Sally and her partner Clarence start investigating what appears to be a burglary gone wrong but the more they investigate the more they uncover it appears to be a murder of revenge but by who? Why was Joseph Austin brutally murdered and his wife Fiona left in a coma in hospital Sally is hoping that Fiona will awake and have some answers and when another two neighbours are murdered Sally is really put under pressure.

To make things worse her ex-husband has arrived back in town, with a new wife and young son to resume work as a cop and he is doing his best to destroy Sally’s reputation as he puts the pressure on her and their son Paul and the man she put behind bars is also pushing her with questions and offers of help, will Sally uncover all the answers she needs to convict the killer or killers and how will things go with her ex Scott.

This is another compelling story in this series, one that I highly recommend, it kept me turning the pages I wanted to know all of the answers and I do look forward to more Sally Fairburn stories.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Solid police procedural.

‘First Victim’ is a page-turning crime thriller with ex-cop protagonist, Sally Fairburn. Having retired from the police, Sally Fairburn is happy to work a case her previous boss from the Franklin PD has called her about, as a detective. The murdered victim is retired accountant, Joseph Austin; while his wife, Fiona, is found in a coma, in their exclusive Peakhurst mansion. The murder sends shocks reverberating across the city The police suspect a burglary gone wrong, but without anything obviously stolen, the murder is not straightforward. This case will give Sally a leg into her new profession.

The second plot revolves around Sally's violent ex-husband, Scott, who has a new wife and child, but has remained a threatening presence in her life. As book three in the series, the mystery can be read as a standalone, though the relationships make better sense if the first 2 books are read.

LA Larkin introduces interesting clues and more murders in subsequent chapters, making this a solid police procedural. To answer the motive for the gruesome assault, Sally digs into the main suspects, helped by her sidekick, Clarence. As she does so, the mystery deepens, and the body count increases. There are long-buried secrets; plenty of suspects, red herrings, and twists and turns. This fast-paced, page-turning murder mystery is highly recommended.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book review also appears in https://Amazon.com, https://netgalley.com, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5878825185 and https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/2023/10/first-victim-by-la-larkin-5.html

"The doorbell chimes loudly. Her husband answers. Muffled voices. Then a crash. The sound of her husband’s body falling to the floor. “Joseph…?” Her voice wobbles. And she knows instantly—she should have stayed silent…"

Wow.  What a way to get my attention.  Sally Fairburn is back to take on a a high profile case as a detective.  And what a case it is. This is a story that doesn't stop with its thrills and suspense you will not want to stop reading. This one will get the emotions going and will have you on the edge of your seat.

The characters bring depth to the story and the secrets are edgy making the story intense and interesting. This is a great series and one where you can't wait to see what the next book brings. Love Sally Fairburn, she works well in these books. A book and series I highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have read her two other books and this one continues to be just as good of a read. Sally is asked to be a consulting detective on a cold case, while working it other murders keep happening in this neighborhood. This has no longer become a cold case and she needs to find the killer. Along the way Scott moves back to town whom has the capacity to throw off Sally’s focus. How will having him be back in town mess with her?

First Victim by L.A. Larkin is the third book in the excellent Sally Fairburn Crime Thriller series and I can't recommend this series enough......This book was excellent from the beginning till the end with brilliant twists and turns that has you sitting on the edge of your seat.
This series just gets better and better, If I could give it 10 stars I would.

I highly recommend this series.

Big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Loved this one. Thrilling and absolutely gripping - could not put it down. Love this series and this author - cannot wait for the next wonderful instalment in this amazing series.

I am loving this series! I feel connected to Sally and when things are not going right it brings out so much emotions! You know you are reading a good book when you feel for the characters and just reading can bring up so many emotions for those characters. This is book 3 and yet again I was guessing the whole time on who the killer was. I went back and forth and in the end I was wrong! Who I thought it was, was not who it was and I love it when books surprise me like that. You have the main story for the book and then the continuing story line that has followed from book 1 which keeps me wanting more! I cannot wait for the next book!

I read the previous two books so of course I had to read the third.

This book has a great role model of a woman named Sally. Having survived an abusive relationship she is now trying to get her life back together and has become fresh eyes at solving murders.

I really enjoy this saga, especially the ending. I can’t wait to see where this author takes us for the next book.

Book 3 in the Sally Fairburn crime thriller series, FIRST VICTIM proves that L. A. Larkin should be on the top of every TBR pile.

Sally, a civilian for 23 years, works in a bookstore and is a victim advocate of many years. She shares a 15 year old son, Paul, with her ex-husband Scott. When Sally is contacted by the head of homicide from the Franklin PD, Fred Clark, she is asked to act as a consultant in the grizzly murder of Joseph Austin, and the serious aggravated assault of his wife, Fiona. As Sallie and her new partner, Clarence Pew begin to investigate, more murders take place in this tony neighborhood. We see secrets, lies and manipulations throughout as Fairburn and Pew attempt to uncover the truth.

While Sally is investigating, she is also dealing with her abusive ex-husband who has returned to town with his new wife and son in tow to work at the Franklin PD. While Scott tries to sabotage Sally’s consultancy and reputation, he is also making demands on wanting to see Paul, who has no desire to have a relationship with him. When Sally is contacted by Scott’s wife, Harper, asking for help to escape him, Sally is reminded of having been in the exact same position herself. And if that isn’t enough, Sally is contacted by serial killer Richard Foster, who is in prison, but has. “people” who can help her.

This is a Books 3 in the series, and it is as good as the previous two. I really enjoy the writing style as it leads to a smooth transition from one part to the next. While this book can be read as a standalone, it helps to have some of the background of the previous two novels. I could not put this book down and can’t wait to see where the author takes Sally and I next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily..

Sometimes it's a bit harder to recall what previous books in a series were about when you read a lot, but as soon as I opened this one, my mind flew back to one character immediately. I remembered quite vividly what a disgusting so and so he was and it seemed like he had not changed one little bit.

Of course you need this kind of people in thrillers. People you can hate with all your heart, because they make this genre so good and sometimes you really feel sorry you can not dive between the page to give them a good piece of your mind. But thank God there is something like karma who often steps in to deal with it once and for all.

I, for one, would not mind to see someone setting this person straight. Maybe my prayers will contribute to something...?

There are also cute things happening in thrillers and I adore the new addition to Sally's family. :)

So if you are in for a great story starring Sally, you can sit back and enjoy this wonderful book, filled with characters you love to love and some you love to hate. 

Sally is dong a splendid job as did the author. 5 stars

Thank you

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book.
Sally is an excellent detective and her senses stopped her from jumping to the obvious conclusions in this story. The appearance and interference of her ex husband in this book added to the intrigue of the story.
Not a book I would go back and read again but a good read non the less.

Another winner. from this author. I've enjoyed all these books from this author so far and this one didn't disappoint. A great murder mopportunity to read this book stery, very twisty and Interesting. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

First Victim is book 3 in the Sally Fairburn series by L.A. Larkin. The book keeps you on edge from the beginning to the very end with the case Sally is working and her stressful family situation. Sally is asked to be a temporary detective for 3 months to see how she likes it and to be evaluated on her performance. Sally is an ex-cop and helped the police a lot on past cases .She earned the respect of several on the force. Sally checks with her son before accepting the position, but when he says yes, she's very eager to get started.

Sally is called to a scene in which the husband answered the door late at night, invited the person inside, and was then killed by the visitor with a hammer to the head. His wife was upstairs at the time and when she heard her husband scream she tried to make it to the phone. Fiona, his wife, suffers from arthritis and has trouble walking. Just when she was reaching for the phone, the visitor caught up to her, and hit her hard from behind. She was left for dead. Fiona is in a coma and the doctors aren't sure if she'll wake up or not.

Everyone seems to think it's a burglary, but something about the scene doesn't fit Sally's eye. There are many valuable items laying around that the person didn't take. Why? Who would want to hurt this sweet old couple? Are they really as sweet as they seem? The neighbors tell a different story. There are many people that wouldn't mind seeing Joseph and Fiona dead. As Sally and her new partner, Clarence, begin investigating another neighbor is killed. Who is killing people in this nice neighborhood and why? How come someone doesn't see something?

As Fiona wakes up, Sally is hoping she will know who attacked her and Joseph. Will she? Is Fiona as innocent and forgetful as she claims? Who is this young man that wants to visit Fiona? Could he be the murderer? As Sally works the case, her ex-husband that she and her son escaped from six years ago is back. He's as dangerous and violent as ever and wants to make Sally's life miserable. He gets his old job back at the same police station Sally is working. He's spreading lies about Sally and his buddies believe them. Will Sally be able to solve the case while worrying about her son's safety as well as her own?

First Victim is a fantastic book that keeps you guessing until the end. There are twists that will keep you on your toes as you try to figure out who is doing the killing. I rate First Victim 5 stars and give it my highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of First Victim in exchange for a fair review. #FirstVictim