Not Like She Thought

Ilse Beck FBI Suspense Thriller #5

by Ava Strong

Victims are turning up dead in the woods, their bodies arranged with a serial killer’s signature. But what message, exactly, is he trying to send? Can brilliant FBI agent Ilse beck decode it in time before he strikes again? Or will his trail lead her straight into a trap?

In this bestselling mystery series, FBI Special Agent Ilse Beck, victim of a traumatic childhood in Germany, moved to the U.S. to become a renowned psychologist specializing in PTSD, and the world’s leading expert in the unique trauma of serial-killer survivors. By studying the psychology of their survivors, Ilse has a unique and unparalleled expertise in the true psychology of serial killers. Ilse never expected, though, to become an FBI agent herself.

This case, tougher than she could have imagined, brings up dark memories from Ilse’s own past. But the clock is ticking, and she has little time to waste. Can Ilse battle her own demons and solve the twisted puzzle before time runs out?

A dark and suspenseful crime thriller, the bestselling ILSE BECK series is a breathtaking page-turner, an unputdownable mystery and suspense novel. A compelling and perplexing psychological thriller, rife with twists and jaw-dropping secrets, it will make you fall in love with a brilliant new female protagonist, while it keeps you shocked late into the night.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2022

About the author

Ava Strong is author of the REMI LAURENT mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the ILSE BECK mystery series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the STELLA FALL psychological suspense thriller series, comprising six books (and counting); of the DAKOTA STEELE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising six books (and counting); of the LILY DAWN suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the MEGAN YORK suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting).

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Ava loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit her website.

Reviews

[Jeanette Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

44 Winces make you wince big-time

And the word was used in 2 and 3 pages consecutively. There is no excuse for the over-use of the word as I mentioned in an earlier review there are at least 20 synonyms for wince. Surely some sort of editing would fix it. I now feel these books are just churn it out get it done. No I'm finished no more Ilse for me it's cringeworthy and I expect more when I spend my hard-earned on a book. My friend mentioned that AI does not have the ability to pick up on repetition, I really know little about that but it's really the only thing that makes any sense...

[Janiska nordstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like this series, but a few things bug me. I am reading the audiobooks and don’t understand why there is a person with a British accent reading this. Some pronunciations are terrible (Gatorade = Gatorade rat)
Also, Ilse moves into an apartment complex and has a wood stove installed? Yeah, that doesn’t happen! And the FBI doesn’t seem to do background checks or they would have known she changed her name and her background!

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

FBI agents working a case that brings up memories from their past, that was still difficult to handled. A case where they were no clues, a puzzle that is haunting her , and time running out. A chilling story from beginning to end was well done.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

[Sofii Cufone · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️
Esta serie se está siendo cada vez mejor. Por fin hubo capítulos narrados por Sawyer.
La trama está bien construida y fue intrigante combinada con suspenso y mucha emoción. Cada vez que avanzaba se volvía más interesante, que me dejo con ganas de más y de seguir leyendo los libros que quedan.

[Tracy Sauvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book

Love this book! Suspenseful all the way through. Love its insight to the budding relationship between Isles and Tom. Secrets, Suspense and Excitement till the end. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Lopsided · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does not use F word but there are other random curse words like damn it or shit. Another good book that pulled me right in and held my interest. Listened at 1.75 speed.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ilse and Sawyer are facing their own demons whilst working on a very difficult chase - a serial killer that is portraying children's stories with his victims. Besides their own problems, they are not seeing eye-to-eye in this case which only increases the difficulties to be overcome. The plot is full of action, dead-end leads, and for the first time, Ilse has to take some very serious decisions by herself with a surprising result. Another good story that left me wishing to read the next one in the series. As a member of the author's ARC team, I downloaded a free copy of this book and this is my unbiased opinion.