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Brandon Fisher FBI #3
The Defenseless
How far would you go for those who can't defend themselves?
FBI Agent Brandon Fisher never expected he'd empathize with a serial killer.
It's almost Christmas and with the festive season in full swing, Denver, Colorado would be an idyllic destination--if not for Detective Mack McClellan's conviction there's a serial killer on the loose. Brandon and his team are called in when a man's body is found next to a dumpster and the victim shares a commonality with a few men who were reported missing. With the discovery of another body, the connection between the two dead men is confirmed and reveals the killer's shocking motive. It's one the FBI hasn't seen before, and it will have Brandon and his colleagues questioning who sits on the side of justice--them or the killer they're hunting.
FBI Agent Brandon Fisher never expected he'd empathize with a serial killer.
It's almost Christmas and with the festive season in full swing, Denver, Colorado would be an idyllic destination--if not for Detective Mack McClellan's conviction there's a serial killer on the loose. Brandon and his team are called in when a man's body is found next to a dumpster and the victim shares a commonality with a few men who were reported missing. With the discovery of another body, the connection between the two dead men is confirmed and reveals the killer's shocking motive. It's one the FBI hasn't seen before, and it will have Brandon and his colleagues questioning who sits on the side of justice--them or the killer they're hunting.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2014
1512 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Arnold
76 books1,283 followersCAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has nearly thirty published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting 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 near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.
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 near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
September 17, 2017
FBI Agent Brandon Fisher and the team travelers to Colorado to stop a serial killer that targets men who were charged with animal abuse twenty years ago, but manage to go free.
This is the third book in the Brandon Fisher FBI series and the first I read. It was easy to get into the story and to get to know the FBI agents even though this was the third book, sure there is history that I only get a glimpse of, but that only makes me want to read the previous three books even more.
The case was an interesting one; this is the first serial killer book I read that the killer is after men who have abused animals. This is probably the first time I have in any way sympathized with a serial killer (well, to be honest, more the cause than the person I question). The sympathy for the killer is also shown in the book. Not many feel that sorry about the men that got killed, not even their significant others. Even the agents felt that this is a case that is tougher because the killer is standing up for those who have no voice.
The ending was a bit weak, it seems that the FBI and the police instead of trying to get it right the first time tried to arrest every damn suspect, realize that the person was not the one and go after the next one. I mean of course they are bound to find out the right killer in the end if they do so, but how about sitting down, go through the evidence a bit more, cover every corner and not bounce and accuse every suspect. Now I just read, and thought "no, that's too easy next one."
Other than that, the book was really great! Liked the characters, I liked the forbidden romance between Brandon and Paige and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
3.5 stars
This is the third book in the Brandon Fisher FBI series and the first I read. It was easy to get into the story and to get to know the FBI agents even though this was the third book, sure there is history that I only get a glimpse of, but that only makes me want to read the previous three books even more.
The case was an interesting one; this is the first serial killer book I read that the killer is after men who have abused animals. This is probably the first time I have in any way sympathized with a serial killer (well, to be honest, more the cause than the person I question). The sympathy for the killer is also shown in the book. Not many feel that sorry about the men that got killed, not even their significant others. Even the agents felt that this is a case that is tougher because the killer is standing up for those who have no voice.
The ending was a bit weak, it seems that the FBI and the police instead of trying to get it right the first time tried to arrest every damn suspect, realize that the person was not the one and go after the next one. I mean of course they are bound to find out the right killer in the end if they do so, but how about sitting down, go through the evidence a bit more, cover every corner and not bounce and accuse every suspect. Now I just read, and thought "no, that's too easy next one."
Other than that, the book was really great! Liked the characters, I liked the forbidden romance between Brandon and Paige and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
3.5 stars
July 18, 2024
This is the third book in the series and I don’t think I’ll be reading anymore. I found the characters annoying and childish. The story line involves animal abuse, although it is not graphic I did not enjoy reading about it. There is a background love story that one moment they live each other and the next they don’t. That being said this wasn’t a bad book just not for me.
April 12, 2019
So. Bad. I really must remember this author’s name so I don’t pick up any of her books again. I’ve picked up 3-4 of her books before and never rated them higher than a 2. I really shouldn’t have even finished this. Awful.
April 13, 2019
Did not finish this book could not get into it. Characters are all over the place
April 9, 2019
Profanity
Why does any author think that crummy language embellishes or enhances a story. It doesn’t. I did not finish this.
Why does any author think that crummy language embellishes or enhances a story. It doesn’t. I did not finish this.
May 3, 2025
This was my first book by Carolyn Arnold. It's book 3 about Brandon Fisher.
I don't normally start listening to a book that is not the first one in a series. I was looking for an audio book to listen to that day.
I don't like the way the reader makes different voices. sometimes Brandon Fisher's voice sounds like a woman which made it confusing. The story was good so it would have been easier to read it.
I don't normally start listening to a book that is not the first one in a series. I was looking for an audio book to listen to that day.
I don't like the way the reader makes different voices. sometimes Brandon Fisher's voice sounds like a woman which made it confusing. The story was good so it would have been easier to read it.
April 28, 2019
Couldn't wait for it to end
Weak premise, not very interesting characters. The romance between Brandon and Paige seemed juvenile and there were so many suspects that I didn't even remember who he was at the end.
Weak premise, not very interesting characters. The romance between Brandon and Paige seemed juvenile and there were so many suspects that I didn't even remember who he was at the end.
July 9, 2017
I am against animal or human abuse. I did not like this book. It had the abuse, but just didn't grab me as a meaningful story.
May 4, 2019
So here's a new installment of Criminal minds with unlikable characters. I read the first one in the series and it was a little bit better. Not really good, but decent. This book does everything worse - the villain is not so interesting and comes out of nowhere. Also the final showdown is as interesting as a balloon slowly deflating. In fact the FBI are not even the ones to figure out who he is, so why we had to go through this stupid adventure with them is a question.
The characters are all just terrible. Paige is useless and whiny even more than in the first book. Brandon has an ego and gets the ladies all excited. Jack smokes. Zach is probably a genius but his skills are never used so who cares? All of them are highly unlikable and I don't really care if the murderer gets away.
I wish there was a moral dilemma here. How far should you go to defend nasty people? Do some people deserve bad things happen to them? But we don't have time for that. We have time for a whole jumbled mess with dozens of characters that doesn't have any relevance to the main plot. And some relationship between two characters I strongly dislike. I'd give this one a pas
The characters are all just terrible. Paige is useless and whiny even more than in the first book. Brandon has an ego and gets the ladies all excited. Jack smokes. Zach is probably a genius but his skills are never used so who cares? All of them are highly unlikable and I don't really care if the murderer gets away.
I wish there was a moral dilemma here. How far should you go to defend nasty people? Do some people deserve bad things happen to them? But we don't have time for that. We have time for a whole jumbled mess with dozens of characters that doesn't have any relevance to the main plot. And some relationship between two characters I strongly dislike. I'd give this one a pas
July 19, 2017
Disturbingly Decent
I have to admit, I was pulled between who to root for this time. Similarly to how you develop a fondness for Hannibal Lecter's "gentleman code", I was definitely not in total agreement with the capture of The Advocate. I could 100% see the justice philosophy of this character's madness. This 3rd installment in the series got back on track with the level of clever writing, character development and intensity. I'm still seeing character parallels with some of my favorite characters from other crime dramas, such as Zachery's speed reading genius which clearly nods to Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds. Loving this series so far, with the exception of book 2.
I have to admit, I was pulled between who to root for this time. Similarly to how you develop a fondness for Hannibal Lecter's "gentleman code", I was definitely not in total agreement with the capture of The Advocate. I could 100% see the justice philosophy of this character's madness. This 3rd installment in the series got back on track with the level of clever writing, character development and intensity. I'm still seeing character parallels with some of my favorite characters from other crime dramas, such as Zachery's speed reading genius which clearly nods to Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds. Loving this series so far, with the exception of book 2.
August 26, 2019
Moral dilemma
A serial killer is on the loose, his victims are abusers of animals, dogs in particular. The team travel to Denver to assist with the investigation and have a degree of empathy with the killer's motives, but must nevertheless investigate and bring the killer to justice. There are twists and turns along the way so keeping you guessing. I enjoyed this and had similar thoughts about the justice delivered to the people who carried out horrific acts of cruelty to defenceless animals and so there is a moral dilemma I guess, that will resonate with all those reading this who abhor cruelty to animals.
A serial killer is on the loose, his victims are abusers of animals, dogs in particular. The team travel to Denver to assist with the investigation and have a degree of empathy with the killer's motives, but must nevertheless investigate and bring the killer to justice. There are twists and turns along the way so keeping you guessing. I enjoyed this and had similar thoughts about the justice delivered to the people who carried out horrific acts of cruelty to defenceless animals and so there is a moral dilemma I guess, that will resonate with all those reading this who abhor cruelty to animals.
June 23, 2025
Not a fan of this series. The main character, Brandon Fisher, is totally unlikeable. The case gets lost in his thoughts of sleeping with just about every woman he meets and constantly talking about Jack and his smoking. And that's another thing, why is Jack's smoking mentioned so often unless it is going to be a problem for him sometime. I purchased all these books so I will read them but it's a struggle. The narrator is horrible too. His voice for Brandon is ok but every other character he puts on such an affectation it's off putting. Sometimes the men's voices sound like women and sometimes the women sound like valley girls. Ugh.
April 26, 2019
First book I've read with defender of dogs
Although I don't justify murder of a human being even when you would say the person deserved it, you can't deny that when it's because the victim abused a defenseless animal especially a dog, I found myself reacting as Brandon and his colleagues did. I love dogs, have a sweet Bishon Frise, Wall_e, whom I love like a child, in real life or in fiction there is no place for abusing these beautiful and loyal beings. No one, whether animal or human should be abused or killed. Thumps up to the author. Thanks!
Although I don't justify murder of a human being even when you would say the person deserved it, you can't deny that when it's because the victim abused a defenseless animal especially a dog, I found myself reacting as Brandon and his colleagues did. I love dogs, have a sweet Bishon Frise, Wall_e, whom I love like a child, in real life or in fiction there is no place for abusing these beautiful and loyal beings. No one, whether animal or human should be abused or killed. Thumps up to the author. Thanks!
June 3, 2019
Payback can be hell.
This is a very good who-done-it that keeps the reader in suspense until the very end. There are nice twists and turns to throw us off, sufficient gore for those who want it, a conflicted team involving the FBI versus the local sheriff, and even a barely budding romance which might evolve in future books. The author has developed an unusual plot involving pay back for abused animals that is believable and might be applauded by some. A good read that is recommended.
This is a very good who-done-it that keeps the reader in suspense until the very end. There are nice twists and turns to throw us off, sufficient gore for those who want it, a conflicted team involving the FBI versus the local sheriff, and even a barely budding romance which might evolve in future books. The author has developed an unusual plot involving pay back for abused animals that is believable and might be applauded by some. A good read that is recommended.
June 28, 2017
Wasn't sure what to expect in a book just under 200 pages, but I was pleasantly surprised! Fast paced and an interesting angle on persons involved with animal abuse cases that were not found guilty for one reason or another. Excellent evidence gathering by the FBI "crew" as they look for the common threads to tie everything together and solve the crimes before the killer strikes again on his/her accelerated schedule.
March 28, 2019
Animal Abusers
Quite a story with many twists and turns to it. The dynamics between the investigator team interesting. The empathy felt by some of the team initially fades as the brutality of the means of murders become known. The suspects are varied and in the end the right person is revealed. The hint of romance lost to work priorities. The book highlights how easy animal cruelty offenders are punished.
Quite a story with many twists and turns to it. The dynamics between the investigator team interesting. The empathy felt by some of the team initially fades as the brutality of the means of murders become known. The suspects are varied and in the end the right person is revealed. The hint of romance lost to work priorities. The book highlights how easy animal cruelty offenders are punished.
April 14, 2019
If you are an animal lover you will find it conflicting to hate the serial killer in this book. The killer calls himself the Advocate of the Defenseless because he takes down men who have killed dogs and he does so by killing them in the same way they killed the dogs. The laws against animal killers usually end with a fine and maybe a time frame in which a new pet can not be obtained. It is a violent story and yet one is compelled to feel like justice is somehow being done.
May 11, 2019
This book poses a moral dilemma. Is it right to kill dog abusers? It then follows FBI Agents as they try to determine who is the killer and apprehend him. In theory this sounds like a good plot but I found the book easy to put down. I rarely read more than a couple of chapters at a time. But the worst was yet to come. I hate lazy authors who introduce a new character near the end that becomes the murderer.
August 5, 2020
Brandon and the FBI team are called into Denver as the Police Chief thinks there is a serial killer at large.This on almost the eve of Christmas
They confirm this and tie it down to a killer who is targeting animal abusers. The killed, calling himself the Advocate, pits himself against Brandon and the team, and leads them astray with setting up various fall guys. A clever yet slightly disturbing book, but well worth a read
They confirm this and tie it down to a killer who is targeting animal abusers. The killed, calling himself the Advocate, pits himself against Brandon and the team, and leads them astray with setting up various fall guys. A clever yet slightly disturbing book, but well worth a read
February 10, 2024
The Defenseless
Awesome FBI crime thriller, great characters and storyline. FBI was called in to work on cold cases of murders. The murderer was killing cases back over two decades of the men who had abused their dogs. This is really a great read, however, it does get sad thinking of the way these people had killed their dogs. Keeps you wondering who the killer really was. A definite must read A+++
Awesome FBI crime thriller, great characters and storyline. FBI was called in to work on cold cases of murders. The murderer was killing cases back over two decades of the men who had abused their dogs. This is really a great read, however, it does get sad thinking of the way these people had killed their dogs. Keeps you wondering who the killer really was. A definite must read A+++
April 3, 2019
This book grabbed your attention right from the start. The plot was well laid out with finding the conclusion only at the end of the book.
The way that the team worked together each handling a part showed the effect of teamwork. The murders along with the disappearances gave very little in clues to be followed. It was a complete team effort.
I recommend this book along with this author.
The way that the team worked together each handling a part showed the effect of teamwork. The murders along with the disappearances gave very little in clues to be followed. It was a complete team effort.
I recommend this book along with this author.
April 30, 2019
This book will keep you guessing until the very end.
The Defenseless is one of the best books. It also talks about a very touching subject, animal abuse and the laughable way the legal system treats animal abusers. I am an animal lover myself. In that respect, this book was hard to read. It was one of the few books where at first you root for the perp. I loved this one.
The Defenseless is one of the best books. It also talks about a very touching subject, animal abuse and the laughable way the legal system treats animal abusers. I am an animal lover myself. In that respect, this book was hard to read. It was one of the few books where at first you root for the perp. I loved this one.
May 1, 2019
I enjoyed this book. The author has written another wonderful book. The characters are amazing and have lots going on including a romance that has dissolved. The plot is great. There is no down time. The clues are each intriguing and will keep you interested throughout the entire book. Of course I will need to read more from this author.
May 17, 2019
Love the Series
Thoroughly enjoyed Book 3 in this series. A bit of a spoiler - this book deals with people who abuse animals. I am not an animal lover but I do not like those who do abuse animals and this is a thought provoking book on people who do that and the punishment they receive.
Thoroughly enjoyed Book 3 in this series. A bit of a spoiler - this book deals with people who abuse animals. I am not an animal lover but I do not like those who do abuse animals and this is a thought provoking book on people who do that and the punishment they receive.
September 13, 2019
Didn't really care for this book at all . The animal abuse was disgusting and sadistic . It seemed like the FBI was going around in circles never connecting the evidence with the correct suspect till the very end . I'm tired of Brandon and Paige romance problems . Don't think I'll read this author again
May 1, 2020
A decent but sometimes confusing book
I liked the characters for the most part and the mystery was handled nicely but truthfully was confusing at times. I had a hard time keeping tract of unsubs and did not even know some of them even existed until the story was complete. I felt like I was left in the dark.
I liked the characters for the most part and the mystery was handled nicely but truthfully was confusing at times. I had a hard time keeping tract of unsubs and did not even know some of them even existed until the story was complete. I felt like I was left in the dark.
March 6, 2021
I’m glad I didn’t waste any money on this book. I downloaded it on my Kindle, through bookbub. The story line sounded interesting but it was so boring, I only finished it because it was not a long read and I was hoping it would get better. The characters were so undeveloped and unlikeable, I had no idea who anyone was. I will not be reading any more books by this author.
December 18, 2022
Once again Caroline Arnold pulls out a great thriller
Abused dogs now the abusers are piling up dead from the same thing their animals died of. So many spins so many possibilities too many people fit the bill. Is it him or him fingers pointing in all directions. A good thriller with so many people are in the frame for the crimes. I recommend this book
Abused dogs now the abusers are piling up dead from the same thing their animals died of. So many spins so many possibilities too many people fit the bill. Is it him or him fingers pointing in all directions. A good thriller with so many people are in the frame for the crimes. I recommend this book
February 25, 2017
Good but needed more
Brandon and company were terrific as usual. The plot was good but needed more excitement. Too many characters kept getting introduced, I was getting lost at times. Still overall very good.
Brandon and company were terrific as usual. The plot was good but needed more excitement. Too many characters kept getting introduced, I was getting lost at times. Still overall very good.
May 13, 2019
Unusually Good Serial Killer Mystery!
Too often serial killer mysteries vary little; however, Arnold adds a nice, heart-tugging twist that keeps reader interest throughout the action and surprise twists.
Too often serial killer mysteries vary little; however, Arnold adds a nice, heart-tugging twist that keeps reader interest throughout the action and surprise twists.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews