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Retribution

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6 teenage girls have been kidnapped, brutalized, and murdered in the Washington DC area and the FBI’s SPCD Unit – the Sexual Predators of Children Profilers – are nowhere close to finding the monster responsible. How are the victims chosen? How does the killer find them, contact them, lure them into his sick web? Questions the team has no answers for.

When a high-ranking US Senator’s daughter is the next victim, SPCD team leader, Tucker Petrie, is forced to call upon retired profiler -- and his last partner -- Kella O’Brien for help. Kella’s been out of the game for 10 years, but her expertise and insights into a serial killer’s mind are unparalleled. If anyone can discover who this madman is, it’s Kella.

But as the team rushes to prevent another young girl’s death, clues the killer leaves behind have Kella wondering if his endgame is all about…her.

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 23, 2024

About the author

Peggy Jaeger

54 books1,655 followers
Peggy Jaeger is an award winning author of contemporary romance.
https://linktr.ee/peggyjaeger

Peggy is a contemporary romance writer who writes #RomComs about #strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.

#Family and #food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.

Her #hobbies include #painting #crafting #scrapbooking and #decoupaging old steamer trucks that she then gives as gifts to her friends

As a lifelong diarist, Peggy caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she's blogging about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!" daily.

She's a lifelong and avid #romance reader and writer, is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter

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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Elisha Ethridge.
48 reviews13 followers
February 27, 2024
A 10/10 phenomenal read. This is a psychological thriller with child abduction so read the trigger warnings!! That being said.....
This book was amazing. I am a criminal minds fan and this book put me in the head space of that. I absolutely loved how the author kept the pace without rushing any part of the story and it unfolded brilliantly! I can usually figure out the killer fairly quickly but i was wrong on my first choice!! And then by the time i figured it out, i was almost at the end of the book!!
This is a must read if you like psychological thrillers, or crime dramas, or even criminal minds!! All the 🌟 🌟 🌟 🤩
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Renee Johnson.
18 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! For an author who writes romance books, this was an excellent first suspense book. I am going to read her romance books and will definitely read any suspense books she puts out.

This book has a good plot and great twists to keep you guessing. The characters are built beautifully. There is a little romance which pairs nicely with the suspense.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
15 reviews2 followers
March 22, 2024
So amazing couldn't put it down had to continue the amazing journey. Held my full attention and I pulled a all night up reading to finish this amazing book. If you love Suspense filled books read to get your hands on this book.
Profile Image for Brooke Harrington.
32 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2024
Every true crime lovers will love following along with this story. One of the few books I've read and was completely wrong on who did it.
896 reviews5 followers
February 20, 2024
Well written and composed story. Plot full of action twists and turns. Interesting strong characters and relationships among them. The book keeps attention.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Janett L.
52 reviews2 followers
February 19, 2024
Do you like Criminal Minds and Law & Order SVU? Well, then Retribution by Peggy Jaeger is for you. This was a five star read for me. It was reading these two series together with extra cliffhangers. This was an ARC read for me but I plan on buying the book when in comes out on April 23, 2024.
Profile Image for Rebel.
1,251 reviews
April 21, 2024
I was completely enthralled by this book! As an author primarily known for romance novels, the transition into suspense writing was executed flawlessly. With its gripping storyline centered around child abduction, this psychological thriller had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The plot is intricately woven with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The characters are expertly developed, each with their own complexities and depth, adding layers of intrigue to the narrative. The subtle romance elements intertwined seamlessly with the suspense, enhancing the overall tension of the story.

As a fan of crime dramas like Criminal Minds, I found myself fully immersed in the chilling atmosphere of this book. The pacing was masterfully done, allowing the story to unfold naturally without feeling rushed. I was completely blindsided by the unexpected twists, and I found myself eagerly devouring each page to uncover the truth.

In fact, I was so engrossed in the story that I ended up pulling an all-nighter just to finish it in one sitting. This is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, crime dramas, and anyone who enjoys a riveting, pulse-pounding read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kay Hertz.
113 reviews7 followers
March 30, 2024
Your heart will break, rage, and finally mend in this story!

BLUFF: Great plot building, 3rd person with multiple POV, serial murder mystery with FBI in charge (obviously :) That's there job!)

I'm not going to go into a plot synopsis - I feel it would inadvertently give spoilers.
First and foremost, there's one big thing you should know about this fantastic thriller: there's 2 descriptions of SA to minor girls. The 2nd chapter, and honest to goodness one line with maybe 8 words later in the book. They're hard, they're ugly, but especially the 2nd chapter set up the depravity of and sense of urgency to find the perpetrator. So, if you're a parent (like myself!), especial of girls, this book, especially chapter 2, will hit HARD. I mean, crack open your chest and tear your heart out, hard. And you'll be absolutely cheering for the total and utter destruction of the perpetrator. You could skip chapter two entirely and still fully enjoy the story if you need to, but you do lose a little context.
This is indeed heavy subject matter, but hints of Peggy's romance background seep though this story at just the right places to let you breathe. The love story between our FMC, Kella, our former FBI agent pulled in as a consultant on the case, and her husband Sean, is beautiful. And honestly, I want to know more! Tucker, our MMC, a current FBI agent and former coworker of Kella's, is a driven, smart, capable man. It's clear throughout the book the characters support one another, acknowledge each other's strengths, and as a team, work together. There's no "super power" for any one person that seems utterly unreasonable which is refreshing. So each of the characters, main or secondary are real and relatable.
Those small points of levity throughout the book are perfectly placed. The story moves forward well, a burst of activity, and then a bit slower just a real investigation would, the sense of urgency building and building. You'll probably find yourself even reading faster as you draw closer to the climax, the big reveal. And with that, there's great hints throughout allowing you as the reading to build your own mental suspect pool - you're fully engaged and invested in figuring out this whodunit.
There are a few elements of 'romance' as I mentioned, but it's all closed door, hinted at, or a gentle flame that builds. Just enough to balance the book out.

I definitely recommend checking this book when it releases April 23, 2024

I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway get absolutely nothing for my review other than the satisfaction of hopefully having more folks read her book when it comes out!
Profile Image for Christina Yau.
213 reviews9 followers
March 11, 2024
Wow oh wow first book by this author and it did not disappoint! I went into this book thinking criminal minds! After reading it I have the criminal minds with law and order svu! This is a psychological thriller and it does not disappoint. There is suspense,action, twists, child abduction with a fast pace. Even with the fast pace the author had an amazing plot that didn't feel rushed to where you couldn't get a grip on the story. It was beautifully executed writing that had me guessing who done it and I was wrong!

Kelly has been out the fbi game for years. She is living her happily ever after. Small town, husband and three children. She is called upon by her former partner who knows her profiler expertise is needed. The killer leaves clues. What's the endgame?

This is a must read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I'd give more if the rating allowed it!
Profile Image for Katy.
143 reviews
March 6, 2024
This is a completely different sort of story from Ms. Jaeger’s other works, but you’d never know it - it’s just that good!

Retribution is like reading an episode of Criminal Minds - it gets you thinking, keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end! The story is so addicting it will keep you up all night, just to see what happens!

By far, Retribution is one of my favorite reads in the last year. I was glued to the pages!

If you like a great whodunnit that’s brimming with tension and a perfectly paced story arc, Retribution is the book for you! Spine-tingling, mind-blowing perfection!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jillian.
1 review
March 25, 2024
Got this book as an Arc. Definitely had my hooked in from the start, and even though I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was still surprised i didn't figure it out by the end. It was a fast read for me. Definitely recommend if you like suspense crime. I liked how the chapters started with the location and date. It made it easier to follow when changing people/locations.
Profile Image for Lori Plumstead.
6 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2024
Wow! This book will grab your attention from page 1 all the way until the end. A psychological thriller with twists and turns you would not expect. Thank you Peggy for releasing this to us! Your talent is unbelievable and I am hoping there will be a few more books with Tucker, Anna, Sean and Kella!
Profile Image for Lori.
104 reviews2 followers
March 10, 2024
I loved this book! So many twists and turns! It kept me guessing right until the end! If you like CSI, Criminal Minds type shows you will love this book!
Profile Image for CRYSTAL RENNER.
97 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2024
Thriller, mind games, past meets present. This book has it all. I left my jaw on the floor waiting for the “ what just happened” explanation…. Riveting and left me wanting for more.
Profile Image for Amy Moody.
37 reviews4 followers
March 9, 2024
With a storyline and characters set in a mixture of criminal minds & law and order svu this story will pull you in from the first page.

Within the FBI is one of many elite units the SPCD- the serial predators of children profilers. One that Kella O'Briens father led throughout her younger years and early twenties.

Kella has been out of the game for ten years after nearly falling victim to one of the killers she'd been tasked with bringing down. She has the dream life in a small town,happily married with three beautiful children. When a case forces her former partner Tucker Petrie to call upon her for help she finds herself in the crosshairs of the killers and realizes his endgame is all resting on her.

This story is a whirlwind that keeps you guessing until the very end.
Profile Image for Fleur.
3,345 reviews26 followers
April 14, 2024
Wow this is a totally different book to what this author normally writes and I want more!!!
This is one heck of a page turner right from the beginning and whilst the tension is continuously high, at times gut wrenching and you feel the pressure Tucker and his team along with Kella are under you do have some moments of levity to help break things up. I kept trying to guess who was behind it all but to no avail and there are some great twists and shocks that blind side you.
The characters and the ways their lives intertwine is complex making you really connect with them to the point there were times I was yelling at my kindle especially towards the end!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
34 reviews3 followers
February 21, 2024
When you can’t put a book down because you are in the edge of your seat; your heart is racing, your mind is going in circles trying to help the characters in the book and you are praying that they will solve the case in time. THAT is a great book!
I love books and tv shows about the FBI and their cases. Retribution gave me a front row seat to how an FBI team looks at so many angles and ideas to solve a gruesome case.
The characters were strong and also showed us their caring and vulnerable sides.
I highly recommend this fast paced, gripping story that will have you rooting wholeheartedly for the good guys to win!
10 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2024
Has the serial killer known as the butcher returned after ten years or is there a copycat? The FBI’S Sexual Predator team cannot discover the identity of the killer. A senators daughter disappears. Is she the next victim? The FBI lead agent is ordered to bring in a retired profiler who is aware of both cases. Tension builds as the reader is led through the myriad facts to a well developed conclusion. I loved the many characters and their interactions. A must read for crime fans.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Terry Hammoutene.
1,428 reviews12 followers
March 27, 2024
This book had me on the edge of my seat. When girls go missing the local police have to give this case to the big guns. They pull the best team together, however girls still go missing. There are twists and turns at every corner. This book does have trigger warnings, so don't expect a sweet read.

For me this was an awesome book. It had everything needed for a thriller with a little romance. I could not put it down
Profile Image for Kaija.
1,031 reviews16 followers
April 8, 2024
This was an interesting book!
It’s my first by this author and while this was a book that took me a little to get through it was intriguing! I kept wanting to know more and figure out what was happening and going on!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
9,771 reviews119 followers
April 14, 2024
I've read a lot of books written by Peggy Jaeger; she is one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

She has written another good stand-alone book. The story is about Kella & Tucker; after a series of teenage girls being kidnapped and murders, he calls her for help to solve the case.
Profile Image for Kira.
221 reviews
April 8, 2024
This is a great mystery novel I very much enjoyed this book it is very well written this is a great mystery novel that I very much enjoyed this is book 1 in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
332 reviews4 followers
April 17, 2024
This book grabs you from the first page and does not let you go until the last page. Really really good book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Becca.
2,718 reviews31 followers
April 26, 2024
I really hope there will be more of this characters. Kella and everyone else made this a couldn't put it down book. It is full of action twists and turns that just keep you wanting more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Tjode Pollock.
17 reviews2 followers
May 28, 2024
It really wasn't my cup of tea but the book was very well written I just didn't really get into it
Profile Image for Irma.
99 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2024
Story had my attention the whole time enjoyed
Profile Image for Brenda M..
171 reviews2 followers
April 21, 2024
Silence of the Lambs meets CSI

I couldn't put this book down, lost sleep and
might have called in sick to finish it. Lol

Clarice Starling would be proud of Kella and her distinct capabilities that make her the best chance the FBI has of finding this serial killer and saving the next girl that might be within his sights.

Don't miss this thrilling suspense story.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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