My Review of Mind Games by Nancy Mehl
I should warn you that this review had spoilers…

Creepy! I expected this to be dark but did it really have to end like it did? Ugh! I want to enjoy a book with just a bit of hope. This book was interesting but I hate that the killer was killing for the reason they were. The murders were useless enough but the why was ridiculous! Why is it that almost every book I read in the last month all led to adultery? It's sickening! I'm just so tired of the 'Christian' fiction I read being less clean than the fiction I rarely read. Sighs. Why? What makes every suspense lead to adultery or something of the like?

That's without mentioning Kaely's odd and mostly insane way of working in a case. I'm sorry for the author and that I'm giving such a bad review but I'm am tired of books that are filled with adultery.

Oh, but if you like books with imaginary friends, an imaginary cat, (that's an adult we're talking about, not a kid.) and talking over a case in public with a suspect who isn't really there this may be a book for you.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and am truly happy to provide it. ( )

Kaely is an intriguing enigma FBI profiler that uses unconventional methods to find killers. She's the daughter of a serial killer so she's had to change her name after being outed by a newspaper reporter who follows her from location to location. The reporter received a letter about Kaely under her given name that's threatening to her and others. She is paired up with Noah to pursue leads after the first murder occurs. A nursery type poem describes what's going to happen and she & Noah must work together to get ahead of the killer before he strikes again. Alex, an agent and Kaely's previous partner who had feelings for her shows up putting a rift in the investigation and throwing Kaley off her game. Noah is dealing with tragedy from his own life but is drawn into Kaelys as they narrow suspects down and get ready for a final confrontation with a killer. A solid twisty book with Christian values and believing and praying to God while confronting monsters. ( )

Mind Games by Nancy Mehl is a 2019 Bethany House publication.

Kaely Quinn is a top-notch FBI profiler, with an unusual way of doing her job. But when the FBI learns of her sordid past, they demote her down to doing field work. But her skills, as unorthodox as they may be, will be critical when it looks as though someone is targeting her. Naturally, she can’t be the lead on case that directly involves her….

Enter Noah Hunter, a man who recently lost his wife, which has left him feeling cynical and angry. Though he doesn’t know quite how to take Kaely, the two attempt to forge a solid partnership, though they are challenged at every turn….

This is the type of romantic suspense, I have been dying to find!! This was a really good story! There are some very nice reveals and twists, and the author kept me guessing all the way to the bitter end. Very nicely plotted, with precision pacing.

This is a Christian fiction story, and it does delve deeper in some spots into the character’s Christian faith than other books that fall into this category- which, in my opinion, makes it more of a sincere faith-based story- but without coming off as preachy'..

But this is still predominantly a novel of suspense and is very well crafted and executed! I will definitely read more books by this author. ( )

I really tried to read this book, but almost immediately I was bored.

First off, it says it's the first book of the series, but it reads as if there was a book before, because the amount of backstory mentioned is substantial. If there is no previous book, then maybe there should be, it really disrupted the flow for it to constantly be filling in the reader about previous happenings.

It was difficult to slog through and I had to force myself to read, because nothing was really propelling me through the narrative. I was further turned off when I detected the foreshadowing of a romance. I was not aware that this was of that genre, and I am really not a fan of anything that sets the romance up so obviously.

The characters are dull and predictably fashioned. Nothing made them stand apart from any other "haunted" FBI agent I've read or watched. Physical descriptors were overused and unoriginal. The entire thing was a played out retelling of an exhausted spiel. ( )

Fans of crime shows and suspense will love this new series. Kaely Quinn is a FBI behavior analyst with an unusual past, and unusual methods. In this book her past history - her father was a serial killer - comes into play in a new series of crimes that specifically seem to be taunting - and targeting - her. Her boss teams her with a new agent and they did into finding the killer, who left a cryptic poem with his first fiction. As the book unfolds pieces of the truth behind Kaely's past are uncovered, as she and her partner race against time to solve they mystery and keep Kaely from becoming the final victim.
This was a well written book full of suspense which I found hard to put down. I especially enjoyed Kaely's character and getting to know her, and seeing how she rose to the challenge of both her personal problems and her work. Her struggle seemed real as there were no "quick fixes", but a gradual journey toward hope and healing and purpose. I would definitely enjoy reading more about her in future installments of the series. ( )