🥊 Book Review: KnockOut by Catherine Coulter
A supernatural-tinged FBI thriller that blends telepathy, cults, and a relentless chase—with Savich and Sherlock caught between two dangerous cases.
Book 13 in Catherine Coulter’s FBI Thriller series, KnockOut adds a paranormal twist to the procedural formula, introducing a telepathic child and a villain with mind-control powers. With a solid Goodreads rating of 4.18/5 from over 13,000 readers, this installment is praised for its fast pacing, emotional stakes, and genre-blending suspense.
🧠 Plot Overview
Seven-year-old Autumn Backman has a gift—she can communicate telepathically. When she sees FBI Agent Dillon Savich on TV, she reaches out to him without a phone, warning that her family is in danger. Her uncle Blessed, a charismatic cult leader with psychic abilities, is hunting her and her mother.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Ethan Merriweather of Titusville, Virginia, finds Autumn and quickly realizes she’s brought him more than just trouble—she’s being pursued by a madman who can control others with a glance. Savich and Sherlock join the race to protect Autumn, while also juggling a second case involving a teenage killer and a revenge plot against Savich.
💬 Why Readers Are Hooked
- Paranormal Elements: Telepathy and psychic control add a fresh layer of suspense.
- Dual Case Structure: Coulter balances two intense investigations, keeping the stakes high.
- Emotional Core: Autumn’s vulnerability and courage make her a standout character.
- Savich & Sherlock’s Dynamic: Their partnership continues to anchor the series with intelligence and warmth.
📣 Critical Reception
- “[A race to stop the madness… or the madness will destroy them all.]” — Always With a Book
- “Autumn is being hunted for her ‘talents’ by a paranormal cult group… you feel for the little girl and hope she can be saved.” — BookBrowse
- “Even if you’re not a fan of paranormal thrillers, the suspense and character depth make this one worth reading.” — Reader review on Goodreads
Some readers found the supernatural angle a bit jarring for a crime thriller, but most agreed it added tension and originality to the plot.
🏁 Final Verdict
KnockOut is a bold, emotionally charged entry in the FBI Thriller series. If you enjoy stories that mix psychic suspense with procedural grit—and don’t mind a dash of the paranormal—this one delivers a knockout punch.
