ONCE, SHE GOT AWAY
The body lying on a cold steel slab bears all the hallmarks of the Chicago Butcher. There’s a cruel slash across her throat, deep enough to sever the carotid artery, and a small crescent carved into her right breast. Her delicate features are painfully familiar to Ash Marcel, once a rising star in the Chicago PD. But though the victim resembles his former fiancée, Remi Walsh, he knows it’s not her.
 
BUT THIS TIME
Though Remi escaped a serial killer five years ago, her father died trying to save her. Grief and guilt caused her to pull away from the man she loved. Now Ash is back in her life, insisting that Remi is still in danger.
 
IT’S A DEAD END . . .
Someone is targeting women who look just like Remi. With or without a badge, Ash intends to unmask the Butcher. But the killer isn’t playing games any longer. He’s moving in, ready to finish what he started, and prove there’s nothing more terrifying than a killer’s obsession . . .

Titles in The Agency series include – Pretend You’re Safe – What Are You Afraid Of? – You Will Suffer – The Intended Victim –

Title:  The Intended Victim
Series:  The Agency #4
Author:  Alexandra Ivy
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Published:  December 31, 2019
Publisher:  Kensington Books
My Rating:  4 stars

The Intended Victim is the fourth title in The Agency series, and although it could be read as a standalone I do wish that I had started this series from the beginning.  (there’s that pesky habit of mine kicking me for not following my own suggestions)  I don’t know that I “should” have read the earlier books first yet I have a strong sense of things I should have been aware of throughout Reni’s and Ash’s race to finally reveal the serial killer who has played a part in both their lives.  It is my intention to go back to pick up what I didn’t know this time around – perhaps not necessary but my curiosity is engaged now about what went on to get to this point.

Remi and Ash make a great team as they attempt to finally put a serial killer behind bars.  There is danger, confusion, red herrings, lots of questions until the final reveal.  It’s also an interesting second chance romance as a couple who once were close to marriage only to see the actions of a killer change both of their lives get the chance to fall in love again, perhaps even deeper with eyes wide open.  Not that their second chance is going to be easy, nothing about this latest development is easy but it does force Ash and Remi to face each other once again.

I had several suspects along the way to the reveal.  For several reasons, none of them stuck in my mind as fitting right until that reveal.  I enjoyed myself (I do think I’d have enjoyed myself more if I had background that I believe I missed from the earlier books) and in the end, that’s really all that matters.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story.  It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

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