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Book Review of Dead By Morning (Dead By, Bk 2) (Powell Agency, Bk 8)

Dead By Morning (Dead By, Bk 2) (Powell Agency, Bk 8)
MELNELYNN avatar reviewed on + 669 more book reviews


Dead By Morning is the second book in a trilogy. Dead By Midnight is the first book. I would recommend reading Dead By Midnight. In addition, I would also recommend The Murder Game. The Murder Game goes into details about how FBI agent Nicole Baxter and Griffin met while working a case together.

In Dead By Morning, there are two plots going on simultaneously. Both plots are linked to the Powell Agency. One is about a copycat carver killer whose mimic psychopath Jerome Browning. Browning is a carver serial killer who had plea bargained to avoid the death penalty. Jerome Browning had murdered Maleah's former college boyfriend. The copycat carver killer is methodically precise and organized. In the other plot, a serial killer is targeting families of Powell Agency employees, and killed a Powell agent. Griffin Powell believes the killer is someone from his own past who is trying to destroy him and everyone he loves. Griffin put his long-time friend Sanders, who shared his past, in charge of the case.

Maleah Purdue works for the Powell Private Security Agency as an agent. Derek Lawrence is a former FBI profiler. He was hired as a consultant. Griffin Powell assigned Maleah and Derek to investigate the copycat murders. They work well together as a team, although Maleah disliked Derek when they first met. Derek sees Maleah as a challenge. They act as if they don't like each other, but under the veneer they have bonded.

Beverly Barton did an excellent job of weaving the two storylines and the characters into a thriller novel. The last chapter in Dead By Morning has a suspenseful climax with unanswered questions. The final book in the trilogy, Dead By Nightfall, will be released on November 29th 2011.

Beverly Barton passed away. My condolence to her family. MS. Barton will be missed.