The Third Victim

Written by Lisa Gardner

Narrated by Teri Schnaubelt

The past isn't over....

An unspeakable act has ripped apart the idyllic town of Bakersville, Oregon, and its once-peaceful residents are demanding quick justice. But though a boy has confessed to the horrific crime, evidence shows he may not be guilty.

Officer Rainie Conner, leading her first homicide investigation, stands at the center of the controversy. It's hitting too close to home, bringing back her worst nightmares, threatening to expose her secret sins. But with the boy's life at stake, she won't let anything stop her from finding the real killer.

With the help of FBI profiler Pierce Quincy, Rainie comes closer to a deadly truth than she can imagine. Because out there in the shadows a man watches her and plots his next move. He knows her secrets. He kills for sport. He's already brought death to Bakersville and forever shattered the community. But what he has really come for is Rainie -- and he won't leave until he has destroyed her....

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: May 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781713588726

Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty novels, including Look for Me, Right Behind You, Find Her, Crash & Burn, Fear Nothing, Touch & Go, Catch Me, and The Neighbor, which won the International Thriller of the Year Award. She lives with her family in New England.

Reviews for The Third Victim

[candyadams03 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Rain in Quincy are great pair and I love the way they work together in the other books True love or too honrenous love this book

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

The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner is the 2nd book in the Quincy and Rainie Mystery series, although the first book is where we meet police officer Rainee Connor. Police officer Rainie Connor is called to a school shooting where the shooter appears to be the son of her boss. A fabulous and complex thriller with plenty of twists and misdirection. Although we met special agent Quincy in The Perfect Husband, it is in this book that we learn more about him and meets officer Rainie Connor. This book seems a bit unfinished though in which direction they are heading. Both are very capable yet complex characters and I look forward to the next installment.
Really enjoying this series!

I think the less you know going into the series the better. I didn't read the description of the second novel before I started and I loved the opening scenes! The book opens up with Officer Rainie who is complaining about how slow the crime is in Bakersville, Oregon. Be careful what you wish for Rainie because a school shooting has just occurred. Rainie is thrown into the politics of the school shooting. She needs to figure out who has committed the crime, well also respect those families who the shooting has affected.

Even though the reader is made aware that the shooting isn't as it appears to be, there was still a lot of mystery. Even though I had my guesses of what was going on, I was still surprised when everything was revealed.

I also loved the relationship between FBI profiler Quincy and Officer Rainie. This was the first book in the series that Rainie was introduced and I really heard her backstory. Can't wait to see what happens between these two!

[celma · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This audio book is damaged. It has several blanks with missing dialogue.

[Audrey Hoskins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great author!
Not predictable with surprises!
Will read more of Lisa Gardener

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

Very suspenseful. I lost myself in the story and became invested in knowing the outcome of the main characters - a sign of a well-written novel (in my opinion). Hoping there are more books in this series.

[fernemysteryreader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the 3rd thriller I've read by Lisa Gardner and I did not realize it was the 2nd novel in a series until adding it to my Library. I read it as a stand-alone novel and it encompassed my full attention without my feeling any gaps to my understanding of the storyline or backgrounds of Officer Rainie Conner and FBI profiler Pierce Quincy.As a former educator who worked for many years in public schools at the elementary level it was in some ways difficult to read this book at the beginning of a new school year as although I am now retired I know all the emotions and particularly all the opening preparations. In viewing the copyright date of 2001, it is almost beyond comprehension how many school shootings have occurred since the novel was published. As I shared in another review of a novel by Lisa Gardner, her writing is heart-pounding, heart-wrenching, and heart-riveting. She introduces compelling and driven characters and I was again on the edge of my seat until all the mysteries of the investigation were revealed.Just as people think they can accurately assess a teacher's life so do many believe they can just as accurately assess the lives of individuals that serve in the field of law enforcement. Only those that live with teachers and those that live with a member of a law enforcement truly know the sacrifices that are made by those that serve in these capacities and both are occupations of commitment, dedication and service. Lisa Gardner artistically creates realism that evoked many emotions.This novel poignantly describes the effect and interpretation of law enforcement and community actions and reactions by the family members that lose a loved one in a school shooting and the emotions of the family trying to cope and understand that their loved one participated in a school shooting. Everyone processes grief differently and in their own time regardless of gender or age. The author has not only written a riveting suspense story but tragically one that has happened all too frequently. Let us all spread more kindness than judgment and innuendo. There was a reason the generations that came before us passed on the old adage, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

[kimsalyers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

picked up today at the doctors office. they have a shelf that had books in that u can pick up and read. very interesting

[carol420 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Third Victim By Lisa GardnerThe FBI Profiler series Book #23 StarsFrom The Book:An unspeakable act has ripped apart the idyllic town of Bakersville, Oregon, and its once-peaceful residents are demanding quick justice. But though a boy has confessed to the horrific crime, evidence shows he may not be guilty. Officer Rainie Conner, leading her first homicide investigation, stands at the center of the controversy. It's hitting too close to home, bringing back her worst nightmares, threatening to expose her secret sins. But with the boy's life at stake, she won't let anything stop her from finding the real killer. With the help of FBI profiler Pierce Quincy, Rainie comes closer to a deadly truth than she can imagine. Because out there in the shadows a man watches her and plots his next move. He knows her secrets. He kills for sport. He's already brought death to Bakersville and forever shattered the community. But what he has really come for is Rainie -- and he won't leave until he has destroyed her.My Thoughts:It's almost like history repeating itself for Raine as she struggles to come to gripes and believe that 11 year old Daniel O'Grady shot and killed a teacher and two young classmates. Raine herself has nightmares about being accused of killing her own mother fourteen years ago. Supervisory Special Agent Pierce Quincy from the FBI enters the turmoil to study child killers and to offer assistance to a small police force that up to now the largest crime they have investigated is a traffic accident. The two start out cautiously but eventually find they work well as a team. As anyone can guess that has read books of this type...they are probably destined to be more than just a "team".I have a measure of hope for this series. I'm not a big fan of romance books and usually skip them all together but I will wait

[debavp · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t realize this was going to be a series when I read The Perfect Husband so I don’t really remember Quincy vividly. I won’t make that mistake again as Gardner has set him up to be an interesting, but not overwhelming character. I still didn’t figure out who-dun-it until it was revealed. Bravo for not making it obvious. Rainie’s secret was also well played. Overall an enjoyable read about a difficult subject and Gardner’s comments in the beginning were thought provoking and took nothing away for the book itself as sometimes happens. Looking forward to see how Quincy and Rainie move one from here.

[jennbisk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hard to put down.

[chrissywest · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One thing I liked about this book was the fact that it had 3 or 4 really good sub-plots, which made the book far from predictable. Lisa Gardner is one of my many favorite authors. When I pick up her books I’m usually not disappointed. The Third Victim is the 2nd novel in the Quincy/Rainie series. I thought the character development was superb. The plot was very fast-paced. And I think alot of research went into the book. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the ending. It seemed very rushed. Other then that, it was a great read!

[caroren_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Just another school shooting, or is it really something else. Officer Rainie Conner thinks something else is going on, and maybe the killer is even stalking her. A tense page turner, though not her best. Though still good.

[lynnebookhound · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Raine Connor is called to a mass shooting in her local primary school in rural America. The local policewoman is shocked to discover that the shooter is the 13yr old son of her boss the sheriff. There are three victims, two eight year old girls and the young, pretty and popular computer science teacher but although Raine discovers young Danny red handed with two smoking guns something about the forensic evidence doesn't add up.As with the two previous Gardner books Raine (short for Lorraine) has a troubled background. Her trailer trash mother was found murdered , head blown off by a shotgun, and no one has been charged with that crime although Raine was arrested and most people in the small town in Oregon where she lives suspect that she was guilty.The school shooting is soon being examined by homicide police from the local city and then by Special Agent Pierce Quincy, from the FBI. Quincy has appeared in the two previous books, The Perfect Husband, and The Other Daugher as a bit player. He is a profiler for the FBI and he soon puts the evidence together and suspects that Danny has been groomed over the internet to commit these crimes and that the UNSUB (unindentified suspect) has been involved in previous school massacres.Quincy too has baggage. He is divorced from his wife and his elder daughter is being kept alive on a live support machine after a road traffic accident has left her brain dead. His ex wife refuses to give consent for the machine to be switched off and Quincy is powerless to do anything to change her mind.This was a good read and it will be interesting to see if Raine and Quincy can build a relationship.

[mramos_710291 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A school shooting brings out the best and the worst small town people. The sherriff's son is incremenated from the start. Officer Rainie Conner, leading her first homicide investigation, stands at the center of the controversy. And she has a secret pass, which is coming back to haunt her. With the help of FBI profiler Pierce Quincy, Rainie comes closer to a deadly truth than she can imagine. Because out there in the shadows a man watches her and plots his next move. Will she be able to prove that Shep's 13 year old son did not go on a killing spree? All of the characters are flawed in some way. And there is a very interesting villian.