Counter Attack by Patricia Bradley

Counter Attack
by Patricia Bradley

ISBN-13: 9780800741624
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: May 16, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
No sooner has Alexis Stone been sworn in as the interim sheriff for Russell County, Tennessee, when a serial killer dubbed the Queen's Gambit Killer strikes again--this time in her hometown. Pearl Springs is just supposed to be a temporary stop along the way to Alex's real dream: becoming the first female police chief of Chattanooga. But the killer's calling card--a white pawn and a note with a chess move printed on it--cannot be ignored. The murdered women all look strikingly like Alex, suggesting a connection to her past.

Pearl Springs chief of police Nathan Landry can't believe that his high school sweetheart Alexis (he refuses to call her Alex) is back in town, and he can't help wanting to protect the woman he never stopped loving. But as the danger mounts and the killer closes in, can they bring the killer to justice before it's too late?


My Review:
Counter Attack is a Christian romantic suspense. Alexis left small town life for the big city and her dream of one day becoming the first female police chief of Chattanooga. When her sheriff grandfather has health issues preventing him from working, she agrees to run the department as his chief deputy. Not everyone likes that she got the job, though. Even Nathan thought he might get the job, but he's needed in his current position as chief of police. He's tracking down drug dealers, but he works with Alexis to stop the serial killer who's followed her to Pearl Springs. Alexis and Nathan learned to work together as a team. They already cared for each other, but Alexis has to decide if she can be content with small town life and potentially becoming the next sheriff.

The main characters were likable, complex, and reacted realistically to events. The high level of suspense came from several attacks on Alexis, her need to get her deputies working smoothly under her, and trying to stop the serial killer from murdering yet another woman that looks just like her. However, I wondered why Alexis so easily believed the distress call at the end since the caller was previously pointed out as a possible suspect and also didn't fit the profile of the killer's previous targets. She could have been portrayed as slightly suspicious.

Alexis didn't like to ask anyone for help, even God. She felt that God knew what was needed and could stop evil, so He ought to just do it. She finally realized she should have been asking for God's guidance and help all along. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.