Full disclosure – I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the authors but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own.
Return of the “One That Got Away”
In a packed house of a popular sitcom taping the audience is waiting to see their favorite actors make magic, but when the stars are literally blown away by a bomb planted on set, the scene devolves to chaos. Detectives Loshak and Darger are called to the scene to investigate, and it is clear from the start that this is the work of a person they are all too familiar with. Tyler Huxley, serial bomber, and the one that got away during a pursuit in the subways of New York has returned to exact his special brand of violence against, this time against the Hollywood elite. But even having a familiarity with his MO does not provide the agents with an advantage as Huxley has made his clues even more cryptic. Once again the duo embarks on a race against the clock to attempt to prevent the next bomb from going off. When the final puzzle is revealed the agents rush to an unthinkable locale. In the most crowded venue yet the main question surrounding Huxley’s swan song is not if they can stop the event, but if they can minimize the number of victims before it is all said and done.
Celebrity Skin is the 12th in the long running Violet Darger FBI Mystery Thriller series by author duo Tim McBain and LT Vargus and by far this is the most explosive one yet. For long running fans of this series if the premise and the perpetrator feel familiar, it is because the pair have encountered this person before. Originally appearing in Countdown to Midnight, serial bomber Tyler Huxley has resurfaced in Los Angeles to continue his reign of terror on those who he deems the elite in society. But his victims are not confined to the celebrities and paparazzi this time around, as his bombings are escalating to include innocent bystanders. Darger and Loshak must decipher the clues to locate the scene of the next attack and disarm the bomb before it goes off. In twelve-hour cycles, a new set of clues is uncovered, a new set of victims and another mad dash to minimize the carnage. Keeping the pacing fast also helps to add to the binge ability of this title and having a villain who is not unknown is also a plus. While this is the twelfth in this series and the second to feature Tyler Huxley, as with all books in this series each title may be read standalone or as part of the overall storyline. If you are new to this series or are a long-time fan, Celebrity Skin will not disappoint. For those of you who are longtime fans of McBain and Vargus, you will notice easter egg type nod to one of their earlier series.
Jennly Reads 