🎯 Book Review: The Target by Catherine Coulter
A high-stakes romantic thriller where a federal judge, a traumatized child, and a determined mother are thrust into a deadly conspiracy—Book 3 in the FBI Thriller series.
Catherine Coulter’s The Target continues her popular FBI Thriller series with a gripping blend of suspense, emotional depth, and fast-paced action. With a strong Goodreads rating of 4.15/5 from nearly 15,000 readers, the novel is praised for its compelling characters, layered plot, and the return of fan-favorite agents Savich and Sherlock.
🧠 Plot Overview
Judge Ramsey Hunt, seeking solitude after a courtroom scandal, retreats to a remote cabin in the Colorado Rockies. His peace is shattered when he discovers a mute, abused little girl named Emma in the woods—clearly the victim of a horrific crime.
Soon after, Molly Santera, Emma’s mother, arrives and mistakenly believes Ramsey is the kidnapper. Once the truth is revealed, the trio becomes the target of relentless attackers. With nowhere safe to hide, they seek refuge in Chicago with Molly’s father—crime boss Mason Lord—only to find that danger follows them even there.
As the mystery deepens, FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock join the hunt, helping Ramsey and Molly uncover a conspiracy that reaches into the darkest corners of power and family secrets.
💬 Why Readers Love It
- Emotional Core: The bond between Ramsey and Emma adds heart to the suspense.
- Romantic Tension: Ramsey and Molly’s relationship evolves naturally amid chaos.
- Series Continuity: Savich and Sherlock’s involvement ties the book into the larger FBI Thriller universe.
- Twists & Turns: Coulter keeps readers guessing with layered villains and unexpected revelations.
⚠️ Critiques
- Some readers felt the pacing slowed during the middle chapters.
- The resolution, while satisfying, may feel slightly rushed compared to the buildup.
- The mob subplot adds intrigue but may stretch believability for fans of grounded thrillers.
📣 Reader Highlights
“Coulter plunges her characters into a labyrinth where the unthinkable happens and the unimaginable becomes terrifyingly real.” — BookBrowse summary
“A man and a woman thrown together into a diabolical conspiracy and the little girl at its center.” — Goodreads reviewer
🏁 Final Verdict
The Target is a compelling romantic thriller perfect for fans of Lisa Gardner, Tami Hoag, or Sandra Brown. If you enjoy stories where emotional stakes meet relentless suspense—and where justice is personal—this one hits the mark.
