At the Stroke of Madness (Maggie O'Dell, #4) in 2-3-4 Challenge

Oct 15, 2015 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-suspense-thriller, 16000-in-2016, group-read, nc-br-digital-library

Maggie O'Dell is finally taking a long-deserved vacation. Just as she's ready to pack it in, her friend Gwen Patterson calls for her help with one of her patients who she thinks is in trouble. All roads lead to New Haven County, Connecticut where Joan Begley was last seen...and the site of a serial killer's dumping ground.

This by far is the best book in the series to date. We find a mentally healthier Maggie and get to see her in action as a profiler. The case is extremely interesting, if not r ...more

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Apr 09, 2016 Robin rated it really liked it

Shelves: suspense, 2016

Maggie O'Dell is asked by her friend, Psychologist Gwen Patterson, to look into the disappearance of one of Gwen's patients. Joan Begley took a trip to Connecticut for a funeral, but hasn't been heard from for a few days. Maggie is on a much needed vacation from her job as an FBI profiler, but decides to check on Joan while she is in the area. What she finds has her concerned. A woman's body has been found in an abandoned quarry. As the local authorities investigate, they find more bodies in the ...more

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Feb 23, 2011 Lauren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: small-town, serial-killers, fbi-agents, police-procedural

At the Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava
Maggie O’Dell (book #4)
4 stars

Synopsis:
Maggie is asked by her friend, Dr. Gwen Patterson, to look into the disappearance of a patient. At the same time, several bodies are found stuffed into barrels in a quarry near the patient’s last known location. Is she one of the corpses? Who killed them and why?

Review:
The plot is enjoyable and well-paced. The new characters are easy to like, and the killer's motivation is unique as far as serial killer’s go. The pro ...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Kris (My Novelesque Life) rated it really liked it

4 STARS

"In the tomblike silence of an abandoned rock quarry, someone is trying to hide their dirty little secret. A secret that reveals the depths of human depravity. A secret that is about to be discovered. When FBI Special Agent Maggie O'Dell receives a call from Sheriff Henry Watermeier of New Haven County, Connecticut, she assumes it's a routine tip. She's working on the case of a missing D.C.-area woman, and it seems her body had been found. But Maggie's about to learn this is just the tip ...more

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Oct 01, 2014 Melissa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This series is getting better with each book. Maggie is slowly getting better with her decision making, but still messes up a bit here. The story line is an interesting one also. We get to meet Detective Julia Racine's dad, Luc, who is dealing with beginners Alzheimer's. I really liked the character and felt that the author did an excellent job capturing the disease. The unsub in the story is truly a twisted individual, but when you find out the "why" behind his mania you almost feel sorry for h ...more

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Mar 23, 2016 Charlene rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: academia, friends-tbr-lists, follow-this-series, forensic, mystery, adult-themes, law-enforcement, friends-recommendations, rated-not-reviewed, crime

Much better lead character than she was in first books of this series, but the TSTL move at end loses a star from my rating. No FBI professional would make this mistake in subsequent investigations.

This is an interesting story, with plenty of red herrings and suspects.

I'm reading this with a group and will continue with the series next month. ...more

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