🔐 Book Review: Deadlock by Catherine Coulter
A dual-layered FBI thriller where revenge, mysticism, and political secrets collide—Book 24 in the Savich & Sherlock series.
Catherine Coulter’s Deadlock continues her bestselling FBI Thriller series with two gripping investigations that test the limits of logic and loyalty. With a strong Goodreads rating of 4.27/5 from over 8,700 readers, the novel is praised for its fast pacing, eerie atmosphere, and the return of beloved agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock.
🧠 Plot Overview
Two cases unfold in parallel:
- The Red Box Mystery: Savich receives three cryptic red boxes at FBI headquarters, each containing puzzle pieces tied to a town only Agent Pippa Cinelli recognizes—her hometown of St. Lumis, Maryland. Sent undercover, Pippa teams up with local Chief Wilde to unravel a decades-old conspiracy involving sudden deaths and blackmail. But someone knows who she is, and the deeper she digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes.
- The Medium’s Warning: Meanwhile, Rebekah Danvers, wife of a prominent congressman, is drawn into a chilling mystery when a medium named Zoltan claims to have a message from her dead grandfather. What begins as skepticism turns into terror when Rebekah is nearly kidnapped—and Savich must intervene. As FBI agent Griffin Hammersmith is assigned to protect her, long-buried secrets about political greed and personal betrayal begin to surface.
💬 Why Readers Enjoy It
- Dual Plotlines: The red box mystery and the psychic subplot offer contrasting tones—one grounded, one mystical—keeping readers engaged.
- Strong Female Leads: Pippa Cinelli and Rebekah Danvers bring emotional depth and resilience to the story.
- Series Continuity: Savich and Sherlock’s chemistry and competence remain a highlight.
- Twists & Turns: Coulter delivers plenty of surprises, especially in the Danvers storyline, which blends suspense with the supernatural.
⚠️ Critiques
- The romance is minimal, which may disappoint fans of earlier entries with stronger romantic subplots.
- Some readers found the séance scenes overly dramatic or implausible.
- The resolution, while satisfying, leaves a few emotional threads open-ended.
📣 Reviewer Highlights
“Deadlock is difficult to put down… You may need numerous late-night readings, complete with a flashlight or nightlight, to finish this satisfying thriller.” — Bookreporter
“Plenty of excitement for thrill seekers… the two threads offer twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.” — Econogal
🏁 Final Verdict
Deadlock is a layered, fast-paced thriller perfect for fans of psychological suspense, cold case mysteries, and FBI procedurals with a supernatural twist. If you enjoy stories where logic meets mysticism and justice is personal, this one’s a compelling addition to Coulter’s enduring series.
