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When a frustrated ex-con takes a young family and their home hostage, the only officer he’ll speak with is Detective Wade Jackson. But Jackson already has his hands full running the Eugene Violent Crimes Unit and overseeing the investigation of a series of seemingly random assaults.

While Jackson juggles the hostage negotiations with his chaotic single-parent home life, the assaults point toward a troubled company that recycles industrial oil. With several lawsuits pending, the CEO of WestPac emerges as a likely copycat suspect in the latest attack of a trial lawyer.

As Jackson delivers the property title that the hostage taker has demanded, a powerful politician interferes for personal reasons, and the standoff turns bloody. Meanwhile, the latest assault victim dies, and Jackson’s team must scramble to identify the assailant. But can they piece together all the connections in time to prevent another murder and save the family?

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 19, 2017

About the author

L.J. Sellers

42 books475 followers
I write the bestselling Detective Jackson mystery/thriller series—a four-time Readers Favorite award winner—as well as the Agent Dallas series, the Extractor thrillers, and provocative standalone thrillers. My 30 novels have been highly praised and have sold more than a million copies.

I reside in Eugene, Oregon where my many of my novels are set, and I'm also an award-winning journalist who earned the Grand Neal. When not plotting murders, I enjoy standup comedy, cycling, social networking, and attending mystery conferences. I've also been known to jump out of airplanes.


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5 stars
318 (44%)
4 stars
278 (39%)
3 stars
92 (12%)
2 stars
18 (2%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Andrew.
626 reviews
December 31, 2017
This was another good read within this series, although took me a bit longer to get into this one. Bullying is a key theme that runs through the book both as teenagers in School, and the lasting impact later in life - clearly you never know when the worm will turn. The ending was very interesting and could have major ramifications for Wade’s future life - watch this space! I am happy to continue with this entertaining series.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews59 followers
Want to read
February 21, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/21/2019)! 🎁

Blurb:
When a frustrated ex-con takes a young family and their home hostage, the only officer he’ll speak with is Detective Wade Jackson. But Jackson already has his hands full running the Eugene Violent Crimes Unit and overseeing the investigation of a series of seemingly random assaults.

While Jackson juggles the hostage negotiations with his chaotic single-parent home life, the assaults point toward a troubled company that recycles industrial oil. With several lawsuits pending, the CEO of WestPac emerges as a likely copycat suspect in the latest attack of a trial lawyer.

As Jackson delivers the property title that the hostage taker has demanded, a powerful politician interferes for personal reasons, and the standoff turns bloody. Meanwhile, the latest assault victim dies, and Jackson’s team must scramble to identify the assailant. But can they piece together all the connections in time to prevent another murder and save the family?
Profile Image for Red.
474 reviews5 followers
March 26, 2017
This book was totally awesome. It lead around and around and around, and I didn’t think it was possible to come to a conclusion. I was totally taken aback at the end. No way ever that I could have predicted anything about the plot. As always, superb writing as in grammar and spelling, and a thrill a minute read. I’m not sure the old men have another book in them (just kidding) due to all the health problems they have, but I guess there can always be one more until someone dies…LOL… I came away from this book happy. The very last chapter thrilled me to death. Just what I’ve been waiting for!
Profile Image for Kath.
2,792 reviews
March 27, 2017
Wow, are we really on book 12 in this series!? Unlike some series that get tired as they go on, this one just keeps getting better. Book one was one of the first books I read when I got my Kindle many years ago and the author was still self-published. Now published and with a very impressive back catalogue, this author is very much in my top ten with no signs of that ever changing.
So, Jackson is called to a hostage situation as the hostage taker wants to talk to him and him alone. It all stems back to when Jackson arrested him and, subsequently jailed, the county seized his property and, now free, he wants it back. Jackson really hasn't got time for this. With Kera away doing her daughter duty nursing her parents, he is trying to juggle being a single father as well as ploughing through his own case load; a rather nasty spate of vicious attacks. Talk about having to split yourself in many pieces. Assisted by the usual suspects Lara, Schak, Quince, Jasmine and, on the side, Sophie, Jackson starts to try and pull all the pieces of the several puzzles together and comes to some astonishing conclusions.
Well, as with this author's other books, this is so very well and tightly plotted. Just when I thought I got it sorted, it went off at yet another tangent, learning new things before veering back towards the original course just slightly left of centre. As path after path converged, diverged and intersected I had to give up all hope of working it out and just rode alone with the gang as they discovered evidence and made connections until, finally, all was completely satisfactorily wound up at the end. Phew what a ride! Glad I strapped myself in nice and tightly.
I've followed these character for a fair while now, seen both their good sides and bad, followed their struggles, so much so that I kind of consider myself to be a member of the team. Some of the things in this book, away from the crime solving, have me in two minds though. You know when you've been wanting something for so long that when it happens you just get scared. This is me now. I am also rather worried for other characters too, for very different reasons. So to say I am looking forward to and also dreading the next book would be pretty close to the truth. Although, having followed this author for about six years now, through this series, the Dallas series, and her stand alones, I think I can trust her enough to put aside my fears and just get excited when the next book is published. I hope so anyway! In the mean time she has a new book out later on in the year. That'll keep me going until Jackson 13!
7,615 reviews44 followers
May 20, 2018
Brutal attack, man had a big money case, now to find evidence rather it was personal against the lawyer or the lawsuit. Hostage situation, and will talk only to Jackson. A house had been bought by a young family, his demand is almost impossible to grant. How are the two tied together. Jackson pulling too many hours, and it’s telling on him, guilty for not spending time with the kids. Missing Kara, when or if she is coming back. Having read the others in this series, one feels the emotion, guilt that Jackson is dealing with. The plot is tense, twisted, trying to solve the problem, and dealing with people, who are slow to help. Readers will love the story, the series is great.
Profile Image for Jenny Komic.
5 reviews
June 8, 2017
Great story line

As always, L. J. Sellers did not disappoint.great book, great story line. Hope Jackson and Evans end up together. Can't wait for next one
Profile Image for Jane.
1,207 reviews15 followers
December 21, 2019
Refreshing read

Four years ago, Jackson was responsible for the arrests of Thomas Foster and his son, Rogan Foster. They were both sentenced to jail and the county seized Thomas‘s farmhouse in the process. Thomas’s sentence, however, was overturned after serving for eighteen months. His son, on the other hand, was sentenced for six years.


Following his release, Thomas takes the family who now lives in his property hostage and has threatened to kill then unless his property is returned to him. He wants Jackson to oversee the exchange.


Earlier that day, an attorney who was covering a lawsuit was badly beaten and hospitalized. Is there a connection between the hostage situation and the assault on the attorney? 


A refreshing police procedural. Engaging storyline and interesting characters. Fast-paced— so much happening in a span of four days, way too many suspects to question and demands to be met. I absolutely enjoyed this book and I’ll be reading more of this series.
Profile Image for Elaine Emmerick.
137 reviews9 followers
July 18, 2017
AN INTENSE, GRIPPING READ!!

What a brilliant and nail biting read!! I was on the edge of my seat, I couldn't put it down!! This is the 12th book in the Detective Jackson series and it's like getting together with old friends... Jackson, Lara, Benjie and Katie! I hope that Jackson and Lara get together... The storyline is not an extreme idea; the way L.J. weaves the story is brilliant and emotional. BRAVO, L.J.! You didn't disappoint!!
June 23, 2019
Harried Detectives

This is a literate police procedures book,demonstrating the varied responsibilities of a demanding profession. The characters all have professional and private lives. They handle these not perfectly but reasonably. I am tiered of Super Girl female officers. The portrail is generally overdone and inaccurate. The author mostly avoids this. This book is not a whodunnit but interesting and worth reading.
101 reviews2 followers
October 31, 2019
Enjoyable read

Didn't realize this was the end of a series but it was a good mystery. Multiple attacks/murders in an Oregon town puts a police department under great stress-stretching their personnel beyond their limits as they put together the clues as to the culprit or culprits creating havoc. And it demonstrates some of the pressures that those in law enforcement face in their own lives as they try to do their jobs. I'll be checking out the earlier books in this series.
606 reviews2 followers
September 5, 2018
#12 in the series. About the same cast of characters, carry forward of their personal and professional issues, always with some flaw and usually some family calamity.

Good police procedural, a bit more of a social issue stressed, and I thought I had it figured out, but I almost never do.

If you like whodunits this is a good series.

Yes, I cut and pasted from #11....
Profile Image for Steve Hildebrand.
263 reviews3 followers
April 1, 2020
A nice.mystery to enjoy

I really liked the flow and mystery in this story. The characters were fantastic and definitely became my friends. I really enjoyed the mystery that intertwined and maintained my attention. The ending was spectacular and definitely caused me to want to read more books by L.J.
341 reviews3 followers
January 12, 2023
A down to earth police store

All the characters are interesting and you get enough development even when you haven’t read the prior books. The police characters are all down to earth showing police work and human problems they are trying to work out. The story lines go several different ways, with several different people and meet at the end. Read and enjoy.
485 reviews2 followers
March 7, 2019
Detective Jackson has a tough time dealing with a hostage situation and home problems

Detective Jackson has his hands full with too many criminal issues combined with personal issues at home and at work
33 reviews1 follower
March 13, 2019
Unexpected climax

I enjoy this kind of book. It seemed clear cut and I was anticipating a certain outcome. The story began to move very quickly once the climax was being reached and was thrilling as the facts came forth tying everything together
Profile Image for Cherie O'Boyle.
Author 14 books59 followers
March 22, 2019
A realistic police procedural with a relief from gore. Engaging and well-developed characters, only a hint of romance, and a clever plot twist near the end. Expertly edited. Another good read in a long-running series.
Profile Image for gwen graves.
1,084 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2020
Good

I like the character of Detective Jackson and the story was good. I haven’t read all the series, missed a few in the middle and that kind of makes you feel a little lost as to what is going on in the Detective’s life.
Profile Image for David Highton.
3,317 reviews22 followers
January 3, 2021
As Wade Jackson is the temporary head of the Unit, he gets drawn into a hostage situation relating to a property forfeited by the previous District Attorney while his team investigate an assault and a homicide. Not the best of the Jackson books but still a good read.
March 13, 2021
Love this series of books!

I was hooked from the first book! I love the setting, love Jackson & his home & work families. Every book has been a different ,I was never bored with anytime through this book & look forward for the next one !
27 reviews8 followers
May 26, 2022
Action, mystery, a bit of nail biting and love

Action, mystery, a bit of nail biting and blossoming love ... This is well written, with characters that are well defined and likable .... or understandably NOT. I liked that there aren't too many characters in it.
Profile Image for Angela.
2,998 reviews31 followers
October 19, 2023
A terrific series

This was a complex, suspenseful, and very twisted thriller that had many unexpected twists and turns that will certainly keep you guessing.
I would definitely recommend this book, series, and outstanding author.
Profile Image for Abigail Marsh.
22 reviews2 followers
May 16, 2017
Easy Reading

Very easy going storyline
not to violent ,interesting characters to follow through
Hope there will be more to come thank you
Profile Image for Lynda.
9 reviews
August 26, 2017
I do love the Detective Jackson books. I do wonder how much longer he can go on for though! The stories have not let me down so far so I'll keep reading until they do.
September 4, 2017
Good read

This book is a fast read. The story is like big web, with all the connecting parts. Love seeing the characters grow. I've read all 12 books.
October 8, 2017
To shirt

I love her books but they are always short,i guess thst keeps me coming back for mire..,,may start another suthor
35 reviews
February 27, 2019
A good read

A Good read Keeps you guessing with an unpredictable twist to the whole story. Well worth reading. Why does it need more words. Thats it!!
2 reviews
March 1, 2019
Great characters

I loved the characters and their many complicated relationships. I also really enjoyed reading about an area I'm familiar with.
Profile Image for Russ Leavitt.
1,305 reviews1 follower
June 30, 2019
Excellent book. Does this mean Wade and Evans are gonna get together?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Scott.
52 reviews
July 21, 2019
Another good read

I continue to enjoy this series. There are some peaks and valleys, but overall very rewarding characters and stories make it satisfying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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