When Protectors Need Protection: Our Review of Lynn H. Blackburn's: Unknown Threat cover art

When Protectors Need Protection: Our Review of Lynn H. Blackburn's: Unknown Threat

When Protectors Need Protection: Our Review of Lynn H. Blackburn's: Unknown Threat

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 The Secret Service agents who dedicate their lives to protecting others suddenly find themselves as targets in Lynn H. Blackburn's gripping novel Unknown Threat, the first book in her Defend and Protect series. Our podcast team dove into this heart-pounding thriller, and we're excited to share our thoughts with you.The Story That Hooked Us from Chapter OneUnknown Threat follows Secret Service agent Luke Powell, who's devastated after losing three fellow agents in unusual circumstances over just 10 weeks. When FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is assigned to investigate these unprecedented attacks, Luke finds himself torn between his attraction to Faith and his distrust of the FBI. With more agents being targeted, they must learn to work together to bring a killer to justice.As one of our hosts noted, "By the end of chapter one, every book of hers that I've read, it's like you're hooked. There is something big that you're like, whoa, I gotta keep reading." Blackburn's talent for crafting irresistible chapter hooks makes this a true page-turner.Characters We Loved (And One We Didn't)Faith Malone won us over with her determination and integrity. We loved her unique hobby of rowing and how she consistently proved herself trustworthy through her actions rather than just her words. Her relationship with her sister Hope provided some of our favorite moments—the classic sister dynamic and Hope's blunt question about Luke being a good kisser had us laughing.The Secret Service Team felt like a real family unit. The bonds between Luke, Gil, Zane, Tessa, and their boss Jacob created authentic workplace relationships that drew us in. When Gil gets shot and insists Faith stay in the room because he wants to talk to her, it perfectly showed how she'd earned their respect.Janice, however, was a character we all wanted to shake. Her extreme bias and arrogance made her insufferable, though we recognized her importance in highlighting how prejudices can affect judgment and helping Luke see that not all FBI agents are the same.A Mystery That Kept Us GuessingThe complex family history behind the murders created a web of connections we didn't see coming. Even our host who was re-reading the book found herself wondering "Wait, who is it?" because Blackburn masterfully keeps the killer's identity hidden until the very end.What struck us most was feeling sympathy for the killer by the story's conclusion—something that rarely happens in thrillers. The revelation and explanation felt organic, not like an information dump, making us part of the investigation rather than passive observers.Our LiteraryScape RatingsDrama Level: Mocha ☕☕ (lots of familial complexity throughout)Mystery Level: Latte ☕☕☕ (couldn't figure it out until the end!)Inspiration Level: Mocha ☕☕ (faith lived out quietly through actions)Romance Level: Mocha ☕☕ (just the right amount woven in)Suspense Level: Latte ☕☕☕ (kept us on the edge of our seats)Overall Lasso Rating: 2.5 to 3 out of 3 🤠🤠🤠While we all agreed this is a solid three-lasso book that will hook readers from the start, we noted that other books in this series might edge it out slightly. But that's the beauty of a strong series—each book brings something special to the table.Why You Should Read This SeriesLynn H. Blackburn has become a favorite on our podcast for good reason. Her writing style combines relentless pacing with character development that makes you genuinely care about the outcome. She wraps up loose ends satisfyingly while building relationships that carry through the series.If you're looking for a suspense novel that balances action with heart, complex mysteries with authentic relationships, Unknown Threat delivers on all fronts. Just be warned—you might find yourself saying "just one more chapter" well past your bedtime.Next week, we'll be discussing book two in the series, Malicious Intent. Join us as we continue following this team of Secret Service agents and the FBI agent who's become one of their own.Listen to our full discussion of Unknown Threat on the LiteraryScape Podcast. Don't forget to grab some chocolate before diving into this series—you'll need the comfort food for the intense moments ahead!www.literaryscape.com/podcast/166
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