🎯 Book Review: Point Blank by Catherine Coulter
A high-octane FBI thriller that blends treasure hunting, serial murder, and personal vendettas—delivering suspense, action, and Coulter’s signature dual-case storytelling.
Book 10 in the FBI Thriller series, Point Blank brings back agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock, while spotlighting Agent Ruth Warnecki in a dangerous solo mission. With a strong Goodreads rating of 4.15/5 from over 14,000 readers, this installment is praised for its fast pacing, layered mysteries, and emotionally charged confrontations.
🧠 Plot Overview
Agent Ruth Warnecki is on the trail of stolen Confederate gold, rumored to be hidden in Winkel’s Cave in western Virginia. But her search takes a deadly turn when she stumbles upon a grisly murder scene and is nearly killed herself. The small town of Maestro is rocked by the crime, and Ruth—suffering from amnesia—is taken in by Sheriff Dix Noble, who helps her recover and investigate.
Meanwhile, Savich and Dane Carver are nearly killed in a stakeout explosion while trying to rescue a kidnapped entertainer, Pinky Womack. Their investigation leads to Arlington National Cemetery, where Savich receives a chilling phone call from an old man with a vendetta—and no clear motive. The agents soon find themselves targeted by a psychotic killer and his equally disturbed teenage accomplice.
💬 Why Readers Enjoy It
- Dual Plotlines: Coulter expertly balances Ruth’s treasure-hunt-turned-murder-mystery with Savich’s cat-and-mouse chase.
- Strong Female Lead: Ruth Warnecki is resourceful, resilient, and emotionally compelling.
- Small-Town Secrets: The town of Maestro adds atmosphere and tension, with hidden motives and local drama.
- Villains with Depth: Moses Grace and Claudia are chilling antagonists with twisted backstories.
📣 Critical Reception
- “[A propulsive story… Coulter keeps the tension high and the action constant.]” — BookBrowse
- “[A detailed synopsis reveals a tightly woven plot with emotional stakes and eerie twists.]” — New Book Recommendation
- “[Explosive action kicks off from page one and never lets up.]” — Goodreads community
Some readers found the plot slightly implausible and the villains over-the-top, but most praised the pacing and character interplay.
🏁 Final Verdict
Point Blank is a gripping, multi-layered thriller that delivers both emotional depth and adrenaline-fueled suspense. If you enjoy FBI procedurals with strong female leads, eerie mysteries, and dual investigations that converge in unexpected ways, this one’s a standout in the series.
