The Perfect Trap, page 21
“And her bodyguard,” Lemmon wondered. “How is she?”
“Her forearm was sliced open, and she was severely burned on her back, but my understanding is that she’s going to make a full recovery,” Jessie said.
“What about your bodyguard, the British gentleman?” Lemmon asked.
“He’s good too,” Jessie answered. “It turns out that the drug that both he and the officer outside my room were injected with didn’t do permanent damage. Each of them was more impacted by the other injuries they suffered. Grover got punched in the face several times and was knocked out. And as you saw, the officer hit his head pretty hard when he fell. Still, they were both back at work the following week.”
“I’ve been impressed by how quickly everyone wanted to get back to the job,” Ryan added. “Detectives Bray and Goodwin were back in the office the day after everything happened, even though neither was cleared for field work at that point. Even Jim Nettles and Susannah Valentine have returned to the office, though both are still on desk duty for now.”
“It sounds like everyone is doing well, all things considered.” Lemmon concluded.
"Not everyone," Jessie replied. "Unfortunately, we discovered that one of my neighbors, an older man named Steve Odom, had been murdered in his home. His front window had a clear view of our house, and DNA and fingerprint evidence show that Mark Haddonfield was there. He must have been using the place to watch me."
“I’m sorry,” Lemmon said quietly. “Were you close?”
"Not close," Jessie replied, "but we were friendly. He liked to walk the neighborhood for exercise, and he always had a nice word to say if he saw you. I wanted to go to his funeral, but I wasn't allowed to leave the hospital at that point. And, of course, Haddonfield's not doing super."
“What’s his current status?” Lemmon asked. “Ryan’s encounter with him that night was spirited, to say the least.”
“I was officially cleared of wrongdoing by a review board,” Ryan said, “though whether I should have been is another question. But to answer your question, it depends. Physically, he's okay. They kept him in the medical unit of the county jail for a few weeks after he arrived to let his face heal. They even performed surgery on his injured knee. Otherwise, I'd say he's in a bad way. He may be a killer, but he's also a pampered college kid who's been thrown behind bars with hardened criminals. I hear he's not faring well with the other prisoners. In fact, from what I understand, he hasn't said a word since the night we tangled."
Everyone was quiet for a few seconds. Jessie wondered if the others were also wondering why Haddonfield hadn’t spoken.
“How are you doing in the aftermath of all that, Ryan?” Lemmon asked, indicating her focus was elsewhere.
“Better than I have been in a long time,” he told her. “I have to admit that it’s a relief to know that Jessie isn’t actively in danger right now, either from vengeful killers or her own need to be in on the action. I realize the latter may have to change at some point, but I’m enjoying the quieter life for now, even if some of that is because Hannah’s not there.”
“I can’t say that I love that part,” Jessie conceded. “It’s been an adjustment.”
“Empty nest syndrome may not be a recognized psychological condition, but it’s a real, powerful thing,” Lemmon said, “though I’ll admit that I don’t see it in many thirty-one-year-olds. Regardless, that’s something we can definitely discuss more down the line.”
“Okay,” Jessie said. “Of course, there's another reason Ryan's schedule isn't so hectic anymore. There's also the job change."
“Oh yes, tell me more about that, Ryan,” Lemmon insisted. “I’ve only heard about it second hand.”
“There’s not a ton to tell,” he explained. “You knew that I was thinking about this for a while. But the events of last month really clarified things for me. I just wasn’t getting satisfaction out of being the captain of Central Station. It was originally supposed to be an interim thing, something Roy Decker asked me to do when he was promoted from captain to chief of the LAPD. And then I just kind of stayed put, mostly out of a sense of obligation.”
“But no more?” Lemmon prodded.
“Nope,” he said. “I officially offered my resignation two weeks ago, despite Decker’s pleas to reconsider. On my recommendation, he replaced me with Gaylene Parker from Vice, who had been filling in for me anyway. Truth be told, she was probably more qualified for the job than me. Her Vice unit was triple the size of HSS. But Decker wanted someone he knew well and trusted when he was just starting as chief. Now that he’s more entrenched, there’s no need for that.”
“So how has it been?” Lemmon asked.
“I’m much happier,” he admitted. “Now I just run HSS again. We’ve got our small contingent of detectives and researchers—and maybe at some point, a returning criminal profiler. I get to go into the field to investigate cases. The bureaucratic workload is infinitely more manageable. So far, so good, I’d say.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it’s going so well,” Lemmon said. “That way, I won’t feel bad for making your next forty-five minutes a bit challenging.”
“Oh,” he replied, “so the happy talk is over?”
"Yep," Lemmon said. "Your situation may have improved, but the issues in your marriage won't be magically resolved by a change in your job. Are you ready to get to work?"
“I guess so,” Ryan said.
Lemmon looked at Jessie.
“What about you?” she asked.
Jessie smiled before answering.
“Have you ever known me to back down from a challenge?”
EPILOGUE
Jessie didn’t want to be here.
As she sat at the dividing window in the visiting room at Twin Towers Correctional Facility one day after the session with Dr. Lemmon, she once again considered just getting up and leaving. She was under no obligation to be here.
In fact, Ryan had opposed the visit. He wondered what the point was of going to see the man who had murdered multiple people out of hatred for her and then tried to kill her too. Why give him the satisfaction of getting to sit across from her, even if it was through a glass barrier?
But Jessie had to admit she was curious. According to prison officials, he still had yet to speak a word, but this morning he had given a note to a guard asking her to visit him. It was his first communication of any kind since being thrown in here.
Maybe he wanted to confess to additional murders they were unaware of in exchange for better conditions. More likely, he just wanted to rail against her. Either way, Jessie had decided that the experience might offer her some kind of closure, at least until his trial, which was still over a year away.
A door opened and a guard led Mark Haddonfield in. He already looked different from the last time she’d seen him. Always skinny, he was even more gaunt than usual, especially in his dark blue jail jumpsuit. His curly, blond hair had been cut short and his wire-rimmed glasses had been replaced by ones with bookish, black, plastic frames. His head was down, and she couldn’t see his expression.
Wearing a brace on his left knee to stabilize it after his surgery, he hobbled over and sat down across from her. When he looked up, he had a bruise on his cheekbone that was clearly recent, but he had a thin smile on his face. He grabbed the corded phone on the dividing wall and put it to his ear. Jessie did the same.
“Thanks for coming,” he said.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“You really just cut to the chase, don’t you?” he replied admiringly. “No chit chat, even with a serial killer who hasn’t spoken in twenty-nine days. Aren’t you flattered that I chose you to finally break my silence with?”
“My patience is already wearing thin,” she told him. “You’ve got about five seconds to get to the point or I’m hanging up and walking out that door.”
“Okay, okay,” he said. “I should have known better. She told me that you wouldn’t have any interest in engaging in a little casual conversation, but I didn’t listen. Now I’m going to have to deal with her berating me about it for the rest of the day.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jessie retorted sharply. “What I do know is that you’ve exhausted your five seconds.”
She pulled the handset away from her ear and lifted it to hang up.
“It’s not over!” he said quickly, his voice sharp and crisp.
She slowly returned the handset to her ear.
“What does that mean?”
His thin smile morphed into a wide grin.
“I was preparing my strategy to punish you for your sins for six months before that night at the hospital,” he told her. “Do you really think that I didn’t have backup contingencies in case things didn't go as planned? Do I strike you, after everything that I've done, as the kind of person who would just hope for the best, leave things to chance, not cover my bases?"
Jessie studied his face. She didn’t have to be a criminal profiler to see that he was telling the truth. He wasn’t just trying to scare or intimidate her. There was a confidence in his tone that made it clear he could back up what he was saying.
“Okay,” she said. “You asked me here. You have my attention. What are your ‘backup contingencies?’ You know you want to tell me.”
Now, it was Haddonfield's turn to hang up the phone. He stood up and motioned to the guard that he was ready to go. As he limped away, he looked back. He was almost through the door when he gave her a little wave and mouthed three words that weren't hard to understand.
“Be seeing you.”
NOW AVAILABLE!
THE PERFECT EXPRESSION
(A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book Thirty-One)
In an exclusive, wealthy neighborhood, women are turning up dead, a killer amongst them in plain sight. Jessie must immerse herself in the world of the wealthy, and look behind their delicate façade to uncover the secrets and lies, and to find the truth before it’s too late….
“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.”
—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
THE PERFECT EXPRESSION is book #31 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, which begins with The Perfect Wife, a #1 bestseller (and free download) with over 5,000 five-star ratings and 1,000 five-star reviews.
A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
Future books in the series will soon be available.
“An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
“A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
“A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
“Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
“Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
“Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
THE PERFECT EXPRESSION
(A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book Thirty-One)
Did you know that I've written multiple novels in the mystery genre? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSIE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising thirty-five books (and counting); of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising sixteen books, of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising six books; of the LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising eleven books; of the ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising twenty-one books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books, of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising six books; of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising thirteen books (and counting); of the VALERIE LAW mystery series, comprising nine books; of the PAIGE KING mystery series, comprising eight books; of the MAY MOORE mystery series, comprising eleven books; of the CORA SHIELDS mystery series, comprising eight books; of the NICKY LYONS mystery series, comprising eight books, of the CAMI LARK mystery series, comprising ten books; of the AMBER YOUNG mystery series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the DAISY FORTUNE mystery series, comprising five books; of the FIONA RED mystery series, comprising eleven books (and counting); of the FAITH BOLD mystery series, comprising eleven books (and counting); of the JULIETTE HART mystery series, comprising five books (and counting); of the MORGAN CROSS mystery series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the FINN WRIGHT mystery series, comprising five books (and counting); of the new SHEILA STONE suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the new RACHEL BLACKWOOD suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting).
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
RACHEL BLACKWOOD SUSPENSE THRILLER
NOT THIS WAY (Book #1)
NOT THIS TIME (Book #2)
NOT THIS CLOSE (Book #3)
NOT THIS ROAD (Book #4)
NOT THIS LATE (Book #5)
SHEILA STONE SUSPENSE THRILLER
SILENT GIRL (Book #1)
SILENT TRAIL (Book #2)
SILENT NIGHT (Book #3)
SILENT HOUSE (Book #4)
SILENT SCREAM (Book #5)
FINN WRIGHT MYSTERY SERIES
WHEN YOU’RE MINE (Book #1)
WHEN YOU’RE SAFE (Book #2)
WHEN YOU’RE CLOSE (Book #3)
WHEN YOU’RE SLEEPING (Book #4)
WHEN YOU’RE SANE (Book #5)
MORGAN CROSS MYSTERY SERIES
FOR YOU (Book #1)
FOR RAGE (Book #2)
FOR LUST (Book #3)
FOR WRATH (Book #4)
FOREVER (Book #5)
FOR US (Book #6)
FOR NOW (Book #7)
FOR ONCE (Book #8)
FOR ETERNITY (Book #9)
JULIETTE HART MYSTERY SERIES
NOTHING TO FEAR (Book #1)
NOTHING THERE (Book #2)
NOTHING WATCHING (Book #3)
NOTHING HIDING (Book #4)
NOTHING LEFT (Book #5)
FAITH BOLD MYSTERY SERIES
SO LONG (Book #1)
SO COLD (Book #2)
SO SCARED (Book #3)
SO NORMAL (Book #4)
SO FAR GONE (Book #5)
SO LOST (Book #6)
SO ALONE (Book #7)
SO FORGOTTEN (Book #8)
SO INSANE (Book #9)
SO SMITTEN (Book #10)
SO SIMPLE (Book #11)
FIONA RED MYSTERY SERIES
LET HER GO (Book #1)
LET HER BE (Book #2)
LET HER HOPE (Book #3)
LET HER WISH (Book #4)
LET HER LIVE (Book #5)
LET HER RUN (Book #6)
LET HER HIDE (Book #7)
LET HER BELIEVE (Book #8)
LET HER FORGET (Book #9)
LET HER TRY (Book #10)
LET HER PLAY (Book #11)
DAISY FORTUNE MYSTERY SERIES
NEED YOU (Book #1)
CLAIM YOU (Book #2)
CRAVE YOU (Book #3)
CHOOSE YOU (Book #4)
CHASE YOU (Book #5)
AMBER YOUNG MYSTERY SERIES
ABSENT PITY (Book #1)
ABSENT REMORSE (Book #2)
ABSENT FEELING (Book #3)
ABSENT MERCY (Book #4)
ABSENT REASON (Book #5)
ABSENT SANITY (Book #6)
ABSENT LIFE (Book #7)
CAMI LARK MYSTERY SERIES
JUST ME (Book #1)
JUST OUTSIDE (Book #2)
JUST RIGHT (Book #3)
JUST FORGET (Book #4)
JUST ONCE (Book #5)
JUST HIDE (Book #6)
JUST NOW (Book #7)
JUST HOPE (Book #8)
JUST LEAVE (Book #9)
JUST TONIGHT (Book #10)
NICKY LYONS MYSTERY SERIES
ALL MINE (Book #1)
ALL HIS (Book #2)
ALL HE SEES (Book #3)
ALL ALONE (Book #4)
ALL FOR ONE (Book #5)
ALL HE TAKES (Book #6)
“Her forearm was sliced open, and she was severely burned on her back, but my understanding is that she’s going to make a full recovery,” Jessie said.
“What about your bodyguard, the British gentleman?” Lemmon asked.
“He’s good too,” Jessie answered. “It turns out that the drug that both he and the officer outside my room were injected with didn’t do permanent damage. Each of them was more impacted by the other injuries they suffered. Grover got punched in the face several times and was knocked out. And as you saw, the officer hit his head pretty hard when he fell. Still, they were both back at work the following week.”
“I’ve been impressed by how quickly everyone wanted to get back to the job,” Ryan added. “Detectives Bray and Goodwin were back in the office the day after everything happened, even though neither was cleared for field work at that point. Even Jim Nettles and Susannah Valentine have returned to the office, though both are still on desk duty for now.”
“It sounds like everyone is doing well, all things considered.” Lemmon concluded.
"Not everyone," Jessie replied. "Unfortunately, we discovered that one of my neighbors, an older man named Steve Odom, had been murdered in his home. His front window had a clear view of our house, and DNA and fingerprint evidence show that Mark Haddonfield was there. He must have been using the place to watch me."
“I’m sorry,” Lemmon said quietly. “Were you close?”
"Not close," Jessie replied, "but we were friendly. He liked to walk the neighborhood for exercise, and he always had a nice word to say if he saw you. I wanted to go to his funeral, but I wasn't allowed to leave the hospital at that point. And, of course, Haddonfield's not doing super."
“What’s his current status?” Lemmon asked. “Ryan’s encounter with him that night was spirited, to say the least.”
“I was officially cleared of wrongdoing by a review board,” Ryan said, “though whether I should have been is another question. But to answer your question, it depends. Physically, he's okay. They kept him in the medical unit of the county jail for a few weeks after he arrived to let his face heal. They even performed surgery on his injured knee. Otherwise, I'd say he's in a bad way. He may be a killer, but he's also a pampered college kid who's been thrown behind bars with hardened criminals. I hear he's not faring well with the other prisoners. In fact, from what I understand, he hasn't said a word since the night we tangled."
Everyone was quiet for a few seconds. Jessie wondered if the others were also wondering why Haddonfield hadn’t spoken.
“How are you doing in the aftermath of all that, Ryan?” Lemmon asked, indicating her focus was elsewhere.
“Better than I have been in a long time,” he told her. “I have to admit that it’s a relief to know that Jessie isn’t actively in danger right now, either from vengeful killers or her own need to be in on the action. I realize the latter may have to change at some point, but I’m enjoying the quieter life for now, even if some of that is because Hannah’s not there.”
“I can’t say that I love that part,” Jessie conceded. “It’s been an adjustment.”
“Empty nest syndrome may not be a recognized psychological condition, but it’s a real, powerful thing,” Lemmon said, “though I’ll admit that I don’t see it in many thirty-one-year-olds. Regardless, that’s something we can definitely discuss more down the line.”
“Okay,” Jessie said. “Of course, there's another reason Ryan's schedule isn't so hectic anymore. There's also the job change."
“Oh yes, tell me more about that, Ryan,” Lemmon insisted. “I’ve only heard about it second hand.”
“There’s not a ton to tell,” he explained. “You knew that I was thinking about this for a while. But the events of last month really clarified things for me. I just wasn’t getting satisfaction out of being the captain of Central Station. It was originally supposed to be an interim thing, something Roy Decker asked me to do when he was promoted from captain to chief of the LAPD. And then I just kind of stayed put, mostly out of a sense of obligation.”
“But no more?” Lemmon prodded.
“Nope,” he said. “I officially offered my resignation two weeks ago, despite Decker’s pleas to reconsider. On my recommendation, he replaced me with Gaylene Parker from Vice, who had been filling in for me anyway. Truth be told, she was probably more qualified for the job than me. Her Vice unit was triple the size of HSS. But Decker wanted someone he knew well and trusted when he was just starting as chief. Now that he’s more entrenched, there’s no need for that.”
“So how has it been?” Lemmon asked.
“I’m much happier,” he admitted. “Now I just run HSS again. We’ve got our small contingent of detectives and researchers—and maybe at some point, a returning criminal profiler. I get to go into the field to investigate cases. The bureaucratic workload is infinitely more manageable. So far, so good, I’d say.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it’s going so well,” Lemmon said. “That way, I won’t feel bad for making your next forty-five minutes a bit challenging.”
“Oh,” he replied, “so the happy talk is over?”
"Yep," Lemmon said. "Your situation may have improved, but the issues in your marriage won't be magically resolved by a change in your job. Are you ready to get to work?"
“I guess so,” Ryan said.
Lemmon looked at Jessie.
“What about you?” she asked.
Jessie smiled before answering.
“Have you ever known me to back down from a challenge?”
EPILOGUE
Jessie didn’t want to be here.
As she sat at the dividing window in the visiting room at Twin Towers Correctional Facility one day after the session with Dr. Lemmon, she once again considered just getting up and leaving. She was under no obligation to be here.
In fact, Ryan had opposed the visit. He wondered what the point was of going to see the man who had murdered multiple people out of hatred for her and then tried to kill her too. Why give him the satisfaction of getting to sit across from her, even if it was through a glass barrier?
But Jessie had to admit she was curious. According to prison officials, he still had yet to speak a word, but this morning he had given a note to a guard asking her to visit him. It was his first communication of any kind since being thrown in here.
Maybe he wanted to confess to additional murders they were unaware of in exchange for better conditions. More likely, he just wanted to rail against her. Either way, Jessie had decided that the experience might offer her some kind of closure, at least until his trial, which was still over a year away.
A door opened and a guard led Mark Haddonfield in. He already looked different from the last time she’d seen him. Always skinny, he was even more gaunt than usual, especially in his dark blue jail jumpsuit. His curly, blond hair had been cut short and his wire-rimmed glasses had been replaced by ones with bookish, black, plastic frames. His head was down, and she couldn’t see his expression.
Wearing a brace on his left knee to stabilize it after his surgery, he hobbled over and sat down across from her. When he looked up, he had a bruise on his cheekbone that was clearly recent, but he had a thin smile on his face. He grabbed the corded phone on the dividing wall and put it to his ear. Jessie did the same.
“Thanks for coming,” he said.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“You really just cut to the chase, don’t you?” he replied admiringly. “No chit chat, even with a serial killer who hasn’t spoken in twenty-nine days. Aren’t you flattered that I chose you to finally break my silence with?”
“My patience is already wearing thin,” she told him. “You’ve got about five seconds to get to the point or I’m hanging up and walking out that door.”
“Okay, okay,” he said. “I should have known better. She told me that you wouldn’t have any interest in engaging in a little casual conversation, but I didn’t listen. Now I’m going to have to deal with her berating me about it for the rest of the day.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jessie retorted sharply. “What I do know is that you’ve exhausted your five seconds.”
She pulled the handset away from her ear and lifted it to hang up.
“It’s not over!” he said quickly, his voice sharp and crisp.
She slowly returned the handset to her ear.
“What does that mean?”
His thin smile morphed into a wide grin.
“I was preparing my strategy to punish you for your sins for six months before that night at the hospital,” he told her. “Do you really think that I didn’t have backup contingencies in case things didn't go as planned? Do I strike you, after everything that I've done, as the kind of person who would just hope for the best, leave things to chance, not cover my bases?"
Jessie studied his face. She didn’t have to be a criminal profiler to see that he was telling the truth. He wasn’t just trying to scare or intimidate her. There was a confidence in his tone that made it clear he could back up what he was saying.
“Okay,” she said. “You asked me here. You have my attention. What are your ‘backup contingencies?’ You know you want to tell me.”
Now, it was Haddonfield's turn to hang up the phone. He stood up and motioned to the guard that he was ready to go. As he limped away, he looked back. He was almost through the door when he gave her a little wave and mouthed three words that weren't hard to understand.
“Be seeing you.”
NOW AVAILABLE!
THE PERFECT EXPRESSION
(A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book Thirty-One)
In an exclusive, wealthy neighborhood, women are turning up dead, a killer amongst them in plain sight. Jessie must immerse herself in the world of the wealthy, and look behind their delicate façade to uncover the secrets and lies, and to find the truth before it’s too late….
“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.”
—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
THE PERFECT EXPRESSION is book #31 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, which begins with The Perfect Wife, a #1 bestseller (and free download) with over 5,000 five-star ratings and 1,000 five-star reviews.
A fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding suspense, the JESSIE HUNT series is a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
Future books in the series will soon be available.
“An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
“A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
“A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
“Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
“Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
“Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
THE PERFECT EXPRESSION
(A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book Thirty-One)
Did you know that I've written multiple novels in the mystery genre? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSIE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising thirty-five books (and counting); of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising sixteen books, of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising six books; of the LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising eleven books; of the ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising twenty-one books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books, of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising six books; of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising thirteen books (and counting); of the VALERIE LAW mystery series, comprising nine books; of the PAIGE KING mystery series, comprising eight books; of the MAY MOORE mystery series, comprising eleven books; of the CORA SHIELDS mystery series, comprising eight books; of the NICKY LYONS mystery series, comprising eight books, of the CAMI LARK mystery series, comprising ten books; of the AMBER YOUNG mystery series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the DAISY FORTUNE mystery series, comprising five books; of the FIONA RED mystery series, comprising eleven books (and counting); of the FAITH BOLD mystery series, comprising eleven books (and counting); of the JULIETTE HART mystery series, comprising five books (and counting); of the MORGAN CROSS mystery series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the FINN WRIGHT mystery series, comprising five books (and counting); of the new SHEILA STONE suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the new RACHEL BLACKWOOD suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting).
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
RACHEL BLACKWOOD SUSPENSE THRILLER
NOT THIS WAY (Book #1)
NOT THIS TIME (Book #2)
NOT THIS CLOSE (Book #3)
NOT THIS ROAD (Book #4)
NOT THIS LATE (Book #5)
SHEILA STONE SUSPENSE THRILLER
SILENT GIRL (Book #1)
SILENT TRAIL (Book #2)
SILENT NIGHT (Book #3)
SILENT HOUSE (Book #4)
SILENT SCREAM (Book #5)
FINN WRIGHT MYSTERY SERIES
WHEN YOU’RE MINE (Book #1)
WHEN YOU’RE SAFE (Book #2)
WHEN YOU’RE CLOSE (Book #3)
WHEN YOU’RE SLEEPING (Book #4)
WHEN YOU’RE SANE (Book #5)
MORGAN CROSS MYSTERY SERIES
FOR YOU (Book #1)
FOR RAGE (Book #2)
FOR LUST (Book #3)
FOR WRATH (Book #4)
FOREVER (Book #5)
FOR US (Book #6)
FOR NOW (Book #7)
FOR ONCE (Book #8)
FOR ETERNITY (Book #9)
JULIETTE HART MYSTERY SERIES
NOTHING TO FEAR (Book #1)
NOTHING THERE (Book #2)
NOTHING WATCHING (Book #3)
NOTHING HIDING (Book #4)
NOTHING LEFT (Book #5)
FAITH BOLD MYSTERY SERIES
SO LONG (Book #1)
SO COLD (Book #2)
SO SCARED (Book #3)
SO NORMAL (Book #4)
SO FAR GONE (Book #5)
SO LOST (Book #6)
SO ALONE (Book #7)
SO FORGOTTEN (Book #8)
SO INSANE (Book #9)
SO SMITTEN (Book #10)
SO SIMPLE (Book #11)
FIONA RED MYSTERY SERIES
LET HER GO (Book #1)
LET HER BE (Book #2)
LET HER HOPE (Book #3)
LET HER WISH (Book #4)
LET HER LIVE (Book #5)
LET HER RUN (Book #6)
LET HER HIDE (Book #7)
LET HER BELIEVE (Book #8)
LET HER FORGET (Book #9)
LET HER TRY (Book #10)
LET HER PLAY (Book #11)
DAISY FORTUNE MYSTERY SERIES
NEED YOU (Book #1)
CLAIM YOU (Book #2)
CRAVE YOU (Book #3)
CHOOSE YOU (Book #4)
CHASE YOU (Book #5)
AMBER YOUNG MYSTERY SERIES
ABSENT PITY (Book #1)
ABSENT REMORSE (Book #2)
ABSENT FEELING (Book #3)
ABSENT MERCY (Book #4)
ABSENT REASON (Book #5)
ABSENT SANITY (Book #6)
ABSENT LIFE (Book #7)
CAMI LARK MYSTERY SERIES
JUST ME (Book #1)
JUST OUTSIDE (Book #2)
JUST RIGHT (Book #3)
JUST FORGET (Book #4)
JUST ONCE (Book #5)
JUST HIDE (Book #6)
JUST NOW (Book #7)
JUST HOPE (Book #8)
JUST LEAVE (Book #9)
JUST TONIGHT (Book #10)
NICKY LYONS MYSTERY SERIES
ALL MINE (Book #1)
ALL HIS (Book #2)
ALL HE SEES (Book #3)
ALL ALONE (Book #4)
ALL FOR ONE (Book #5)
ALL HE TAKES (Book #6)
_preview.jpg)
