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A review by paulabrandon
Czarny Piątek by Alex Kava
2.0
Is Maggie O'Dell actually an FBI profiler? She only seems to investigate conspiracy theories these days. This time it's a terrorist plot that her half brother Patrick has been dragged into. Her investigation also reunites her with on-off sorta love interest Nick Morelli.
Yes, that's right. Nick Morelli. The one who started the series as a small-town sheriff, then later returned to his prosecutor roots. Except now in this book he's the head of a security firm. Kava is finding ridiculously contrived ways to keep him in the series. And it's not even clear why! Nothing in regards to their relationship is explored, moved in a new direction or tied up.
(I think even Kava realised how ludicrous it was getting, as I believe Nick was mostly phased out after this book.)
As for Maggie's profiling skills, does she actually use them? No, not really. We're not provided any insight whatsoever into the mastermind's motives. He sets about completing his nefarious terrorist activities, seemingly for shits and giggles, and because Maggie is pretty useless at her job,
The Maggie O'Dell series was always a pretty average/slightly above average series, but this one was the start of a very significant slump which moved away from Maggie profiling serial killers and instead investigating conspiracy theories, with plots that were very thin (most of the rest of the books) or completely and utterly incoherent (Hotwire). If you're reading the series for the first time, I advise you to chuck it in here. It only gets worse!
Yes, that's right. Nick Morelli. The one who started the series as a small-town sheriff, then later returned to his prosecutor roots. Except now in this book he's the head of a security firm. Kava is finding ridiculously contrived ways to keep him in the series. And it's not even clear why! Nothing in regards to their relationship is explored, moved in a new direction or tied up.
(I think even Kava realised how ludicrous it was getting, as I believe Nick was mostly phased out after this book.)
As for Maggie's profiling skills, does she actually use them? No, not really. We're not provided any insight whatsoever into the mastermind's motives. He sets about completing his nefarious terrorist activities, seemingly for shits and giggles, and because Maggie is pretty useless at her job,
Spoiler
he gets away with it. (And that's not even the first time one of her targets has eluded capture!The Maggie O'Dell series was always a pretty average/slightly above average series, but this one was the start of a very significant slump which moved away from Maggie profiling serial killers and instead investigating conspiracy theories, with plots that were very thin (most of the rest of the books) or completely and utterly incoherent (Hotwire). If you're reading the series for the first time, I advise you to chuck it in here. It only gets worse!