View source for Exposed by Alex Kava

{{infobox1 
|title= Exposed
|author= Alex Kava
|reviewer= Kerry King
|genre=Crime 
|summary= Agent Maggie O'Dell believes she's responding to a threat, but instead walks into a trap; the killer's weapon is a deadly virus, virtually invisible and totally unexpected.  With only hours to live, Maggie must stop the deadliest, most intelligent killer she has ever profiled.
|rating=4.5 
|buy= Yes
|borrow= Yes
|pages=400 
|publisher= MIRA
|date= October 2008
|isbn=978-0778302599 
|cover=0778302598
|aznuk=0778302598
|aznus=0778325571
}}

I'm a bit partial to the crime genre and enjoy a well-crafted story where the protagonist is a go-getting, tough-as-nails chick, struggling to make her mark in a male-dominated environment such as the FBI and ''Exposed'' did not disappoint.

Special Agent Maggie O'Dell models herself on her superior officer, the cool, calm and calculating Assistant Director Cunningham.  He is not a man for trifles, and we are not talking the kind with jelly and custard - AD Cunningham pontificates over doughnut varieties.  And it's just as well he does because as Maggie is about to select her favourite chocolate-covered doughnut, Cunningham spots an envelope in the bottom of the box.  Within this envelope is a note that is just the start of the story.

''CALL ME GOD''.<br>
''THERE WILL BE A CRASH TODAY.''<br>
''At 13949 ELK GROVE''<br>
''10:00 A.M.I'D HATE FOR YOU TO MISS IT.''<br>
''I AM GOD.''<br>
''P.S.YOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT SAFE ANYWHERE AT''<br>
''ANY TIME.'' 

I was gripped from the start.  Kava paints the central characters likeably well and generates an aura of malevolence around her 'baddie' that is genuine and frightening.  You very much feel that you are in the presence of intelligent evil and for my money, that's capturing the essence of a crime genre book.  

I'd like to go into greater detail about the plot but I don't want to give anything away; Kava has not brought us a complex tale - what she has delivered instead is simple, engaging and brilliantly written and these ingredients are plenty to be going on with.

Just because I figured it out halfway through, does not detract from the enjoyment by any means.  In fact, I wasn't ''entirely'' sure I was right and kept flicking about to check facts for my own personal satisfaction.  I'd like to recommend this sixth Maggie O' Dell outing to you on its merits and those alone.  This is a great book, with plenty of what I like to call the ''oh!'' factor, tucked inside its pages.  For the most part, it's really gripping stuff.

If you like Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs, you are going to like Alex Kava, though there is admittedly less of a gory pathological/forensic angle.  In any case, perhaps you might like to take a look at [[Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell]], a 'Scarpetta' thriller, which we have reviewed for you here at Bookbag.  Similarly, you may also enjoy [[The Chemistry of Death by Simon Beckett]], who some compare to Reichs at her peak and again in an analogous vein.  Lastly, if you want something along the same FBI-lines (and why not?) then take a look at either or both of [[The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross]] or [[Blind Rage by Terri Persons]], the excellent follow up to [[Blind Spot by Terri Persons|Blind Spot]].  You might also enjoy [[Black Friday by Alex Kava]].

Lastly, our thanks indeed to the ladies and gentlemen at Mira Books for sending this copy to Bookbag for review. 

{{amazontext|amazon=0778302598}}
{{amazonUStext|amazon=0778325571}}

{{commenthead}}
[[Category:General Fiction]]
[[Category:Thrillers]]