John flushed a little, a light smatteringof pink across the very top of his cheeks that was exceedingly attractive. Howhad she never noticed that before? “Yeah, I did. I saw your name in the reportsas giving a statement to the press. I just wanted to hear it from you. And, youknow, not come off like a stalker.”
“Reading information available in thenational press hardly qualifies you as a stalker,” Zoe reassured him. “But Iwill tell you everything. We were called in because two bodies had been found,both with their throats cut and heavily burned.”
John made a face. “Gruesome. Go on.”
Zoe hesitated. “Are you sure you want totalk about this while we eat? What about your latest cases?”
John waved a hand in the air. “I’m notsqueamish. We’ll talk about the Hadwell estate dispute over dessert. Now, comeon. I want to hear the gory details.”
Zoe grinned and continued with herstory. Although she had to slide around some of the details, as they pertainedto her own ability to see the numbers, and explain them away with logical leapsor chance discoveries, she felt like she could almost now see a future whereshe spared no detail. Where John would still look at her the way he was doingnow, with focused attention and admiration.
And it was only when they began to eatdessert, taking spoonfuls of baked cheesecake and Madagascan vanilla ice creamwhile John told her about the family inheritance that had turned into aproperty feud, that Zoe realized something. She had made it through the wholedinner, and listened to John, without missing a single moment. The numbers werethere, but she stayed focused, never once feeling overwhelmed.
She dropped her spoon against her plateby accident, causing it to clatter loudly, and watched it with a kind ofdetached amazement.
“Are you all right?” John asked, lookingat her with concern.
“Yes,” Zoe said, and she meant it. “Yes,I—I was just realizing that I… at this moment, I am quite happy.”
John’s face broke into a beam. “Let’stry to keep it that way,” he said. “Shall we stay on for a drink?”
“No,” Zoe told him. “But we might gohome for one.”
And though she had no way of knowingwhat kind of dangerous killer she might be chasing tomorrow, Zoe thought toherself that perhaps for tonight, that was all right. Tonight she could beherself, Zoe, a woman with hopes and desires that she had long tried to quash—andtomorrow, Agent Prime would still be back in action.
NOW AVAILABLEFOR PRE-ORDER!
FACE OF MADNESS
(A Zoe PrimeMystery—Book 4)
“AMASTERPIECE OF THRILLER AND MYSTERY. Blake Pierce did a magnificent jobdeveloping characters with a psychological side so well described that we feelinside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. Full oftwists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”
--Booksand Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
FACEOF MADNESS is book #4 in a new FBI thriller series by USA Today bestsellingauthor Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download)has received over 1,000 five star reviews.
FBISpecial Agent Zoe Prime suffers from a rare condition which also gives her aunique talent—she views the world through a lens of numbers. The numberstorment her, make her unable to relate to people, and give her a failedromantic life—yet they also allow her to see patterns that no other FBI agentcan see. Zoe keeps her condition a secret, ashamed, in fear her colleagues mayfind out.
InFACE OF MADNESS, a truly awful serial killer is targeting women in FBI SpecialAgent Zoe Prime’s home state of Nebraska, using methods reminiscent of TedBundy. Zoe sees all the numbers—but for the first time in her life, it doesn’thelp. This killer may be driven by human and social reasons—something that Zoestruggles to understand.
Isthis the case that proves her limits?
Oris there a pattern to everything? Even social interactions?
Andas Zoe battles her own demons, will her decision to visit her family—adisastrous one—finally lead to her breaking point?
Anaction-packed psychological suspense thriller with heart-pounding suspense,FACE OF MADNESS is book #4 in a riveting new series that will leave you turningpages late into the night.
FACE OF MADNESS
(A Zoe PrimeMystery—Book 4)
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Todaybestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeenbooks. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series,comprising thirteen books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series,comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books;of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATEWISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychologicalsuspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspensethriller series, comprising seven books (and counting); of the AU PAIRpsychological suspense thriller series, comprising two books (and counting); ofthe ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); and of thenew ADELE SHARP mystery series.
ONCEGONE(a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFOREHE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL(An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), ATRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), WATCHING(The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1), NEXTDOOR (A Chloe Fine Psychological Suspense Mystery—Book 1), THE PERFECT WIFE (A Jessie HuntPsychological Suspense Thriller—Book One), and IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 1)are each available as a free download on Amazon!
An avid reader and lifelong fan of themystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel freeto visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn moreand stay in touch.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICALSUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSESERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF
