Vortex: An FBI Thriller

Written by Catherine Coulter

Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld and Pete Simonelli

#1 New York Times bestselling Catherine Coulter returns with a brilliant new novel in her FBI thriller series, in which agents Sherlock and Savich find themselves dealing with very powerful figures from the past who could wreak havoc in the present.

Seven years ago, Mia Briscoe was at a college frat rave with her best friend, Serena, when a fire broke out. Everyone was accounted for except Serena, who was never seen nor heard from again. Now an investigative journalist covering the political scene in New York City, Mia discovers old photos taken the night of Serena’s disappearance and begins to uncover a sinister string of events going all the way back to that disastrous party. Working with Sherlock, the secrets begin to unravel. But some very powerful—and very dangerous—people will do anything to keep them from learning the truth.

CIA Operative Olivia Hildebrandt is a team leader on a mission in Iran to exfiltrate a betrayed undercover operative. She’s nearly killed by an exploding grenade and saved by a team member. But by the time Olivia is released from Walter Reed Hospital, that team member and a critical flash drive he was carrying have disappeared. When Olivia is attacked on her first night home, Savich suspects that the strike is a direct result of the compromised mission and the missing team member and flash drive. But what intelligence was at stake and who betrayed them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063004115

Catherine Coulter

Catherine Coulter is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eighty-four novels, including the FBI Thriller series and The Brit in the FBI international thriller series, cowritten with J.T. Ellison. Coulter lives in Sausalito, California, with her Übermensch husband and their two noble cats, Peyton and Eli. You can reach her at [e-mail] or visit Facebook.com/CatherineCoulterBooks.

Reviews for Vortex

[Jonnie Furmanchik · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

How in the world is this a bestseller? I would give this zero stars if I could. Reads like a bad YA book complete with predictable, eye rolling scenarios. I could only make myself get through about half of this before I just had to stop and save you from it.
Do NOT waste your time, there are too many good books in the world.

[Eva · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was not able to get even halfway through this book before deciding to drop it, despite many attempts at picking it up in the span of months. The plot could be interesting, if it weren’t for the strange characterization and dialogue (everyone speaks in weird catchphrases), and the writing loses itself in irrelevant nonsense constantly. I’d be willing to give it another try if I ever need anything to put on the background, but it was definitely disappointing.

[NNEAMAKA PAYNE · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This has been a very interesting and adventure book. Fill with many exciting actions with police and the FBI< and the CIA. Mia Briscoe never got over the fact that her best friend went missing from a party seven years previously, never to be seen again. The trail has long gone cold, but Mia is determined to find out what happened to her, especiay as she sees old photos that have been sent to her. Who is sending the photos and why now? FBI Agent Lacey Sherlock gets called into help, but soon discovers that asking about the past presents incredible danger.

There is a second case going on, and it is involving the investigation headed by CIA Operative Olivia Hildebrandt and Sherlock's husband, also a Special Agent of the FBI, Dillon Savich, are called in th extract a missing agent. Things get too close to home for Olivia and Dillon has to work hard to keep her safe.

Vortex is another exciting book in the FBI Thriller series. This is book number 25 and it proves to be just as gripping as every previous book in the series. Savich and Sherlock are still going strong. I love them as a couple and their cases are always riveting making this installment another page-turner.

Many thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Kathryn Mathias · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Either I enjoyed this one more because I'm getting to know the series' characters better, or it was simply a better book - with two mysteries. Enough action and suspense and realistic enough to keep me engaged in reading (listening) to the end.

[Amy Hagberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You: What? You’ve never read a book by Catherine Coulter?
Me: No, and I’m kind of embarrassed to admit it.
You: Well, my friend, better late than never!
Me: Yikes, I’m talking to myself again.

I don’t know how I missed this writer… after all, there are 25 books in this series alone (she’s written 86 novels altogether). I love a good thriller, and Vortex checked all my boxes. What are those boxes, you ask?
1. Well-developed, likeable characters
2. A unique, interesting plot
3. Great pacing
4. The perfect amount of description vs. action
5. Minor pulse pounding.

In other words, a real knockout! Will I be reading other books in this series? You betcha! 4.5 stars. For more reviews visit amyhagberg.com.

[sheriawilkinson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Vortex (FBI Thriller, #25) by Catherine CoulterMia Briscoe, a journalist is looking into the disappearance of her friend Serena. With the help of FBI Agent Sherlock they set out to solve this crime and bring justice for her friend. They will not stop until the case is solved.Olivia Hildebrandt, A CIA operative is nearly killed on duty, then again in her own home. FBI Agent Savich is on the case, determined to solve this crime and keep Olivia safe.A fast paced compelling story with page-turning suspense. Secrets are reveled, some twists and thrills kept me engrossed from the first page. Catherine Coulter did not disappoint, she knows how to grab (your) attention and not let go.Overall I found Vortex quite enjoyable. I highly recommend to those who enjoy thrilling reads.

[nyiper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This series is so good! Always a book that is hard to put down! Can't wait for more about this busy pair, Savich and Sherlock.

[barbararogers-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I always look forward to the next release in this series and I am absolutely never disappointed. This book, as always, was well-written, well-plotted, well-delivered, and had engaging and relatable characters. We follow Sherlock and Savich as they wade through the clues and solve two different cases. The cases are very different and both are very interesting.Sherlock’s case with Mia/Thomas/JuliaI quickly came to admire Mia Briscoe. She is so very brave and once she gets her first clue, she is doggedly determined to solve the mystery of what happened to her best friend seven years ago. Serena disappeared without a trace from a frat party she and Mia had attended, and there hasn’t been a trace of her or what happened since then. Then, out of the blue, a blurry picture is unearthed and it sets everything in motion. Mia does most of the investigation on her own and Sherlock isn’t involved until closer to the end of the case – once Mia has nearly been murdered. Mia has many obstacles in her path – some of those obstacles are very rich, powerful, politically inclined, families. You’ll love Mia and those she enlists to help her and you’ll love the way the case unfolds and wraps up.Savich’s case with OliviaWhen a foreign national tries to murder CIA agent Olivia Hildebrandt, the case falls under the jurisdiction of the FBI – particularly Agent Dillon Savich, head of the Criminal Apprehension Unit. To say the CIA is unhappy with that turn of events is putting it lightly. The CIA’s unhappiness doesn’t faze Savich in the least and he proceeds to protect Olivia and solve the case of the missing CIA agent, Mike Kingman, and the flash drive he carried. The CIA is inclined to believe Kingman is a traitor and has stolen the flash drive, but Olivia is absolutely sure that isn’t the case – and Savich believes Olivia. What is on that drive that is worth a foreign entity hunting down and murdering a CIA operative? Is there a traitor in the CIA? Who compromised the mission to retrieve the flash drive? Leave it to Savich and his intrepid crew to solve it all and see to the appropriate punishment.I can highly recommend this book and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. Have you read all of the books in the series? For a while, the author made much use of Savich’s ‘sixth sense’, but that hasn’t been mentioned in the last several books. I have to wonder if that just wasn’t a popular thing or if it was just easier to write the stories with it. It certainly doesn’t detract from the stories, but – you have to wonder – if someone has a sixth sense, why wouldn’t they use it all the time?