Past Deeds is book Eight in the Brandon Fisher FBI Series by Carolyn Arnold. I first came across the series back in 2017 with book six, Remnants, and subsequently read book seven, On the Count of Three, in 2018. Both of these books feature gruesome serial killers and they perked my interest. Book eight has the detectives working a different kind of case, a sniper.

The team is first called to Arlington, Virginia to the scene of a sniper attack on prosecuting attorney, Darrell Reid. He was shot dead outside of an apartment block at 6 am, but no-one knows why he was there, especially as he arrived at 11 pm the night before. All those that knew Darrell, including his wife, are staying tight-lipped or hiding behind confidentiality clauses.

Over time it becomes apparent that there have been other sniper targeted shootings in other parts of the country. It is up to the agents including Brandon Fisher, Kelly Marsh, Jack Harper, and Paige Dawson to put the pieces together and work out who and why is someone targeting people and to stop them before more are gunned down.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoy reading about Brandon and his team and how they work. I think Brandon is a great character, sometimes a little hot-headed but he comes across as a capable and realistic FBI agent. However, what I also like about the series is normally how we get to get in the mind of the serial killer and why they do their gruesome acts. This book didn’t have much in the way of interaction with the sniper and nothing was revealed until right at the end.

I also missed the gruesomeness of the killings that have been in the other books, I’m talking people being skinned or decapitated, this one, although, people were still being murdered didn’t have the blood and guts to go with it that I have come accustomed to with this series.

Whilst all the above were a little bit of a let down for me, the writing was once again superb and the accuracy of the handling of the case and FBI procedures was spot on. It was fascinating to see that Ms. Arnold had written the sniper as a female (not a spoiler as it is obvious from the synopsis), I just wish we got to hear more from her.

I do hope that the next in the series goes back to tracking the worst kind of serial killers, Past Deeds was a good read but I like the shocking storylines that normally come with the Brandon Fisher Series.

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor.

She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

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