Bea Reviews Outfox by Sandra Brown

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing 
Source: Hardcover - the publisher in exchange for an honest review; ebook - library via OverDrive
Release Date: August 6th, 2019
Buying Links: Amazon* | Apple Books* | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Google Books | Kobo |
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Blurb from goodreads:

From the #1 NYT bestselling author: After a thirty-year search for a serial killer, FBI agent Drex Easton becomes a suspect's next-door neighbor -- but can he navigate a shocking series of twists and turns to track down the truth? Sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats, this new novel will feature Brown's signature combination of steamy romance and jaw-dropping plot twists.

FBI agent Drex Easton is relentlessly driven by a single goal: to outmaneuver the conman once known as Weston Graham. Over the past thirty years, Weston has assumed many names and countless disguises, enabling him to lure eight wealthy women out of their fortunes before they disappeared without a trace, their families left without answers and the authorities without clues. The only common trait among the victims: a new man in their life who also vanished, leaving behind no evidence of his existence . . . except for one signature custom.

Drex is convinced that these women have been murdered, and that the man he knows as Weston Graham is the sociopath responsible. But each time Drex gets close to catching him, Weston trades one persona for another and disappears again. Now, for the first time in their long game of cat and mouse, Drex has a suspect in sight.

Attractive and charming, Jasper Ford is recently married to a successful businesswoman many years his junior, Talia Shafer. Drex insinuates himself into their lives, posing as a new neighbor and setting up surveillance on their house. The closer he gets to the couple, the more convinced he becomes that Jasper is the clever, merciless predator he's sought--and that his own attraction to Talia threatens to compromise his purpose and integrity.

This is Drex's one chance to outfox his cunning nemesis before he murders again and eludes justice forever. But first he must determine if the desirable Talia is a heartless accomplice . . . or the next victim.

My Thoughts:

I received a hardcover copy for review last summer but that was when I was having trouble with tendonitis and arthritis in my hands and I could only read a few pages before holding the book was too painful, so I gave up. Then a few months ago I checked my library's e-catalog and there it was, so I put a hold on it and waited my turn.

Once I started, I buzzed through the book in about a day. The book had some intense moments, a little humor, and an attempt at romance. There is a love story of sorts but I wouldn't call it a romance and I honestly didn't care if they got together. Warning - if infidelity is a problem for you, be warned that Talia is still married when she and Drex become involved.

Drex Easton has been after a serial killer for years. He has little personal life and spends most of his work hours as well as most of his personal time looking for the killer. He's obsessed, intense, driven, unethical, arrogant, and rude. He was hard to like, and I wanted to like him. I never warmed up to him. But he was good at his work, he was determined, and ultimately, he got the killer. And the girl.

"Outfox" was a suspenseful page turner. There were some minor plot-holes and the romance just never took off. There was mild sexual tension but I never felt their connection or need or love. The lust was there but wasn't 100% believable. Additionally, the romance/love story was overshadowed by the mystery and hunt for the killer. Brown usually does better blending the two. It just didn't work this time. There was a twist at the end that truly was a twist. When I looked back, I realized that there had been hints; I just didn't put them together. You may be more observant than I was. The twist did answer some questions that I had and filled in a few of the plot holes.

Strong suspense, lots of action, detailed characterizations, thrills, "Outfox" isn't Brown's best work but it's decent and it's a page turner.