Unknown Threat is the first book in Lynn H. Blackburn’s new Defend and Protect Series. It was a bit of a let-down compared to some of her previous books.  The book is about an FBI agent who is called in to assist the Secret Service with a string of murders and attempted murders.  As one might expect one of the Secret Service agents and the FBI have a past history.

The main character just doesn’t seem to have much of a personality.  The reader learns Faith Malone is a work obsessed person who likes Cherry Coke and is pretty much grumpy all the time.  That is really all there is.  Everything else centers around these themes.  It is hard to get into a supposed romantic interest when this is your first main squeeze character.  Enter male love interest Special Agent Luke Powell.  He has an unforgiving vexation for the FBI and a desire to avenge his fallen comrades. 

Overlooking the wooden characters and moving to the plot, the story moves on but is frequently interrupted by a little rehash of the same irritating scene played out over and over.  The flat and somewhat lifeless main characters have to go round and round with their personal issues and every so often the author seems to remember she has a case to solve.   Unknown Threat is not an engaging read.

Review of an Advance Reader Copy received from the Publisher

Content Analysis

Profanity:  None

Violence/Gore:  Many scenes in which characters are shot at, resulting in lots of blood, injury and sometimes fatalities; report of a character being killed by a poisoned dart; report of a character murdered when his house explodes; a character’s home is reported to have been blow up; a character is held at knife point; bombs explode destroying properties and killing people.

Sex/Nudity:  Characters suspect a man might have been having an affair with a hooker, this is mentioned many times; report a married character was propositioned by a single female; non-married characters kiss and embrace.

Mature Subject Matter

Murder of close friends; revenge.

Drug/Alcohol Use  

Mention of characters having beers.