What do you think?
Rate this book
Blake Pierce Mystery Bundle: Once Gone / Before he Kills
A free two-book mystery bundle by #1 bestselling author Blake Pierce, author of ONCE GONE, a #1 bestseller on Amazon with over 350 five star reviews! Here is a bundle of the first books in two Blake Pierce series—the Riley Paige and Mackenzie White series—all here in one convenient place. This bundle offers a great introduction to Blake Pierce’s series with over 140,000 words of reading. In BEFORE HE KILLS, a woman is found murdered in the cornfields of Nebraska, strung up on a pole, the victim of a deranged killer. It doesn’t take long for the police to realize a serial killer is on the loose—and that his spree has just begun. Detective Mackenzie White, young, tough, smarter than the aging, chauvinistic men on her local force, finds herself called in grudgingly to help solve it. As much as the other officers hate to admit it, they need her young, brilliant mind, which has already helped crack cold cases that had left them stumped. Yet even for Mackenzie this new case proves an impossible riddle, something the likes of which she—and the local force—have ever seen. With the FBI called in, together, an intense manhunt ensues. Mackenzie, reeling from her own dark past, her failed relationships, and her undeniable attraction to the new FBI agent, finds herself battling her own demons as her hunt for the killer takes her to the darkest places of her mind. In ONCE GONE, women are turning up dead in the rural outskirts of Virginia, killed in grotesque ways, and when the FBI is called in, they are stumped. A serial killer is out there, his frequency increasing, and they know there is only one agent good enough to crack this Special Agent Riley Paige. Riley is on paid leave herself, recovering from her encounter with her last serial killer, and, fragile as she is, the FBI is reluctant to tap her brilliant mind. Yet Riley, needing to battle her own demons, comes on board, and her hunt leads her through the disturbing subculture of doll collectors, into the homes of broken families, and into the darkest canals of the killer’s mind. As Riley peels back the layers, she realizes she is up against a killer more twisted than she could have imagined. Dark psychological thrillers with heart-pounding suspense, BEFORE HE KILLS and ONCE GONE mark the debut of riveting new series—and beloved new characters—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Books #2 and #3 in the Riley Paige series are also available!
423 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2016
About the author
Blake Pierce
856 books5,078 followersBlake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 10, 2020
2 well-rounded mystery plots. I like the 1st better but that’s preference. BP writes a good tale but once in a while there are slight discrepancies, which don’t effect the end but can make you scratch your head for a second. Still in all a good plot always drawn together tightly in the end. Goodly, strong but usually impetuous, young women are authors’ forte. Some profanity - also a usual, without which I’d give him a 4*
June 8, 2020
Blake Pierce's books seem to follow a template, as both had a similar plotline - a female detective hunting a serial killer. She follows some hunches that make her unpopular with the other detectives and so ends up getting herself removed from the case and going solo and finding the killer all on her own in the end at personal risk and sacrifice. Yawn. Predictable and nothing unique on offer here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2020
Strong characters
Main character, Riley is weak but also strong in instincts. The devils are truly dark. I enjoy this type stories.
Main character, Riley is weak but also strong in instincts. The devils are truly dark. I enjoy this type stories.
December 22, 2023
I enjoyed once gone, but had a hard time with sound effects with before he kills
January 3, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised I like a good Mystery. I will definitely read more by Blake Pierce
January 30, 2017
3 stars to Once Gone:
Detective Riley Paige has been off work after being kidnapped but decides to return to help solve the newest case. We don't really know anything about what she went through, and I did double check this is book 1, so I felt like we were missing quite a bit of plot. Riley is extremely intelligent and can place herself in the killers mind. She stepped out of bounds more times than I could count, illegal interviews, searches etc. But then she never filed on people for obstruction. Which you would have thought would have been a no brainer. I wish we knew more about the killer, I think it would have helped build the suspense up. I've read a few books by this author this month and this is the only one that didn't blow me away.
5 stars to Before He Kills:
Officer White faces plenty of harsh reality being a female detective. However she is bound and determined to prove herself. When she is removed from a case she decides to ignore the order and still hunt down leads to find a murderer. The book is filled with action and leaves you left in the dark enough to keep the story entertaining. You don't know the killer so you spend time creating a profile all on your own. This author definitely has the talent to pull you in and keep you turning the pages.
Detective Riley Paige has been off work after being kidnapped but decides to return to help solve the newest case. We don't really know anything about what she went through, and I did double check this is book 1, so I felt like we were missing quite a bit of plot. Riley is extremely intelligent and can place herself in the killers mind. She stepped out of bounds more times than I could count, illegal interviews, searches etc. But then she never filed on people for obstruction. Which you would have thought would have been a no brainer. I wish we knew more about the killer, I think it would have helped build the suspense up. I've read a few books by this author this month and this is the only one that didn't blow me away.
5 stars to Before He Kills:
Officer White faces plenty of harsh reality being a female detective. However she is bound and determined to prove herself. When she is removed from a case she decides to ignore the order and still hunt down leads to find a murderer. The book is filled with action and leaves you left in the dark enough to keep the story entertaining. You don't know the killer so you spend time creating a profile all on your own. This author definitely has the talent to pull you in and keep you turning the pages.
November 4, 2021
I really love this book it was a great mystery a trying to find out who killed who and the reader I love it she had a soft voice that was perfect for this book I hope I can read it again thank you.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews