DANGER IN NUMBERS

3.5 stars

After having read and enjoyed two of the author's other books, I have to say that this one - while enjoyable in many ways - doesn't quite measure up. The subject matter - ritualistic murders and a secretive religious cult - always makes fodder for a good story, and this is no exception. The main characters, though, just seem a bit too "perfect" to be totally believable - the budding relationship between Florida State Police Special Agent Amy Larson and FBI Special Agent Hunter Forrest was a forgone conclusion from the moment she met and disliked him.

While it in no way factored into my rating, I confess to being very bothered by the frequent and glaringly incorrect references to the Bible book that's the basis for the cult's beliefs. It is "Revelation," not "Revelations" (plural). Although I'm reading a pre-release galley and a few errors can be expected - publishers almost always contend these things will be caught and corrected in the final version - but this mistake is so pervasive that someone should have caught it long before this. If it hasn't been fixed before you get a copy, well, you read it here first.

All that said, this is still an engrossing story, with twists and turns that held my interest all the way to the end. It begins with the exceptionally gruesome murder of a young woman that clearly has religious overtones. Amy has been called in, and she's surprised when Hunter - a Fed - shows up unannounced (and, as far as she's concerned, unauthorized). Despite her wariness, they manage a truce of sorts; as the investigation moves along, the truce begins to turn to trust. 

And time is of the essence when suspicions turn to what's outlined in that Bible book - predictions of four murders - one by sword, one by starvation, one by disease and one by animal attack. Given the nature of this murder, could it represent the first of four? If so, can Amy and Hunter and members of their teams find who's behind it before he or she strikes again? 

The chase takes the pair through some of Florida's most remote parts as they meet up with some small-town locals who put a very different spin on what faith is all about. The search continues right up to an action-packed ending that makes the whole thing well worth reading. Thanks very much to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. 

Danger in Numbers by Heather Graham (MIRA, March 2021); 266 pp.