Into the Fire

Dead End by Nancy Mehl is Book 3 of the Kaely Quinn Profiler Series. 

A disgruntled husband finds a body in a deserted train yard. The problem for the police is it's not the only one. 

Unique and feisty Kaely Quinn, the banished from Quantico profiler, has somewhat alienated her partner Noah Hunter because of her hard-charging into danger on their last case in Nebraska. Noah has kept a professional distance from her since then because he doesn't want to care about her as much as he's been leaning to do. A widower, his heart has been broken once before – and in his mind, that's more than enough. He's mad at God and he's still a little mad at Kaely when they both get summoned to Special Agent in Charge of their home office in St. Louis Solomon Slattery's office. What happens next is beyond difficult for Kaely, but she finally agrees to do it. Noah cautions her unable to ignore his desire to protect her. 

Soon they find themselves on their way to Anamosa State Penitentiary where her serial killer father Ed Oliphant is held. It seems some of the bodies found in the train yard were old victims of his. Since Ed has refused to speak to any of the authorities who have questioned him about a copycat killer of a recent victim that included something that was never revealed about the corpses, they have enlisted Kaely to get information from him. She hasn't seen her father for 20 years and doesn't really want to see him now, but willing to do her job above all else, she sets up the meeting with him with certain stipulations from the jail's staff. She survives the meeting that ends badly and plans to talk with her dad one more time. However, more victims surface and an occurrence at the prison points to Kaely becoming the killer's specific victim. 

This final novel in the trilogy covers a lot of suspenseful emotional turmoil for Kaely and forces her to address deep trauma and spiritual truths that prior to this she wasn't ready or perhaps able to face. Caught between meaningful memories and horrific recollections, there is almost too much to overcome. Noah's reserves are tapped and he can no longer deny to himself how much he cares for her. When an unexpected attack occurs and Noah deciphers who the copycat killer is, the urgency to find him is expedited by the minimal clues he finds. There are unexpected twists and turns and a satisfactory conclusion to this well-done series.

Father, you are too amazing for our finite minds to imagine. You never cease to cause awe and wonder. Please continue to bless Nancy as she seeks to honor you with her stories and writing. Provide what she needs to keep telling stories. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.