The Therapy Room by Sam Baron
FBI Agent Susan Parker #1

I nearly gave up on this book at various times while reading. This is a twisted tale that is complex and complicated but one I had trouble relating to or becoming immersed in. At times I felt like I had come into book two of a series as there was little backstory and the characters were not well fleshed out. There was a lot going on with numerous characters introduced but I never really felt I got to know them well and found them difficult to warm up to. Though the FBI team did figure out who “The Splinter” serial killer was, there were still many holes in the story that were not dealt with and hopefully will be wrapped up in future books of the series. As I was unable to relate to Susan, I probably will not continue with this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars ( )

FBI Special Agent Susan Parker is on the hunt for a serial killer. She is coming off of leave and has been called to a farmhouse. Little does she know, this call may lead her to find her husband’s murderer.

Talk about a damaged character. Susan has had such a terrible time recovering from her husband’s death. But, finding Splinter is her new priority and the further she digs the more confusing this case becomes.

Well, this story is different, intense and right in my wheelhouse! I had it figured out, partly. Only because the author wanted the reader to figure it out. I love how the author kept weaving different aspects and drama into this tale. And believe me, this story is full of drama!

I don’t think I have listened to a book narrated by Lauryn Allman. She is now on my radar. I really enjoyed her voice!

Need a good psychological thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

Debut crime thriller has potential.

A psychiatrist is found, viciously stabbed to death, in the kitchen of an isolated farmhouse in Santa Carina, California. In the basement, 12 individual cells hold 11 victims. All still alive but refusing to speak. FBI agent Susan Parker is called to the scene when a local cop finds a post it note with her name on it attached to the basement door. Convinced that the dead man is the serial killer, Splinter, she's been hunting, Susan is desperate to debrief the victims but is denied access to them having to instead go through a therapist that the prisoners had requested. Working with the local cop and her team, Susan attempts to figure out what was going on out at the farmhouse and why these people were kept in the basement. And the 12th person? Does he have the answers she seeks. Meanwhile, Susan is still grieving the death of her husband.

This was an audiobook and kept me interested. The narrator had a decent voice and performed the different character voices adequately although the varying accents were sometimes exaggerated. Certainly, the novel had a wide variety of nationalities with Susan and her family being Indian and there were other representations as well. I have to say that what got on my nerves the most was the constant focus on Natalie, Susan's deaf daughter. Way too much about the child which added nothing to the aspect of this book meant to be a suspense thriller. The character of Susan seemed rather dense for her being an SAC in the FBI. I had figured out most all of the story way early and was annoyed by how long it took her and the team to catch up.

This is the first in a new series featuring SAC Susan Parker of the FBI. It ends without tying up all the loose ends, which is always a drawback for me and leaves that feeling of something unfinished that I do not like. The second installment is due out soon, so perhaps answers will come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this audiobook to read, review, and provisionally recommend. I will reserve full judgment once I have read the second in series. ( )