A serial killer is on the loose in Salem, Massachusetts. Police Chief Wilder Mason receives assistance from the FBI. The task force, composed entirely of women, adds an interesting dynamic to the plot. The book keeps guessing about the killer's identity while also featuring sexual scenes. Trigger warning: there is graphic violence in the story. I recommend this book to romance and thriller readers

The murder plot of Undercurrents is engaging, offering layers of intrigue that keep readers guessing. The historical connection to the Salem Witch Trials adds an interesting twist that sets this mystery apart from others in the genre. The urgency of the investigation and the race against time are well-conveyed, providing a sense of tension and excitement.

While the murder mystery itself is compelling, the character relationships fall short of being deeply developed. Agent Tala Marshall and Detective Wilder Mason's partnership, though central to the narrative, lacks the depth and complexity that could have enriched the story. The personal connections and emotional stakes between the characters could have been more fully explored to enhance reader investment in their journeys.

Undercurrents offers a gently interesting read for fans of murder mysteries, particularly those intrigued by historical connections. Although the character development could be stronger, the plot's layers and the backdrop of Salem provide enough intrigue to keep readers engaged. It is a solid choice for a light, suspenseful read with a touch of historical flavor.

Overall, Undercurrents might not captivate every reader with its character dynamics, but it delivers a sufficiently engaging mystery with a unique historical twist.

In my opinion this book has a lot of potential, a unique premise in an all female task force. Murders to solve, and for the most part interesting story. However, it was just good. Too many characters and deciphering who was a side character and a main character was hard in the beginning. I also found the story a bit predictable.

I have not read anything else by this author, and I will probably go back and read them at a later date. I hope this book works for others, as it was a miss for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

This book is about a group of people (fbi agents and an interim police chief) who team up together to try and stop a serial killer. Now this was an interesting book but I feel like the characters didn't hit their full potential. They were all interesting people but with so many characters and this being a fast and short read... we didn't get time to fully connect with the characters. Not only that but some of the characters personalities seemed to falter when with the group. I think they would've been better for their own story, they just felt crammed in this particular book.

BUT besides my issues with the characters, I really did enjoy this book and the plot. I thought it was a thrilling read that kept me wanting more. and I do wish it was longer,

A very fast paced and interesting read. The connection between Wilder and Tala comes quick and is strong. I love how the friendship blossomed between the ladies. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters.


Thank You NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

This is a story about Wilder Mason an interim police chief in Salem Mass. Wilder is teamed up with 5 FBI agents to find and stop a serial killer who is coping the Salem Witch Trials from the 1600s.

I liked Wilder’s character and one of the FBI agents, Mason. They were fun and interesting people. The book had too many characters in it for me and was a short book with predictable plot.

I enjoyed McCall written by Patricia Evan’s, so I was looking forward to this book. It was not as good and I was disappointed in it.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

So, it's the story of the Salem, MA interim Police Chief, who decides she needs help and somehow magically has the FBI whip up an all female team who will live in her house while they solve what is purported to be a really confusing serial killer case (that's messing with tourism). Weirdly enough, that wasn't my least favorite part of the novel.

These six women also all seem to have big emotional/life breakthroughs while working on the case, and, of course, Wilder, the Interim Police Chief, and Tala the FBI profiler who, I'm gonna be honest doesn't seem to do a lot (or any really) of actual profiling, get close. As do two other FBI agents (one from Australia?) Darcy and Maren. Honestly, I"d have rather seen the relationship between Maren and Darcy be the one on the front burner and only been privy to some of the Wilder/Tala relationship, but, the author chose the other way. To each their own.

And now, to what stuck in my craw. Salem is 20 miles north of Boston (45 minutes and above to get between the two in a car). Heck, Salem is in NOBLE (North of Boston Library Exchange), while Boston's libraries are in MBLN (Metro Boston Library Network). The Salem Chief of Police's boss is the Mayor of Salem and the City Council of Salem. If the Salem Police Department needs help, the Mass. State Police Detective unit or State Troopers get called in, not whatever "Boston Southside" is (There is Southie aka South Boston neighborhood, and a South End, but, Boston and Salem aren't even in the same county, Salem is in Essex, Boston is in Suffolk, so, there is no way that unless the world was literally ending in Salem that of all places Boston would be called). There is mutual aid in Mass. But, police and fire from places like Beverly, Danvers, Lynn, Marblehead, would be called wayy before anyone called in Boston). So, if they needed more bodies for roadblocks or things like that, it would never be Boston that was called in, just Staties and mutual aid communities. Even for things like SWAT there is a mutual

Ah, and then the 'interim' Chief. No.... there would be no police officer coming from anywhere else, especially not Boston, ever. Ever ever. It'd either be Wilder, or if something really weird happened and Wilder was literally not able (shot or something) to do the job, I guess Reynolds probably. Although, in reality I do believe that Salem for its size probably has at least three or four Captains, probably double that number Lts. and then double again or so for Sergeants, etc. Because, the thing is that Salem's police force is independent. Totally. Entirely. Their Chief reports to no one else who is any sort of police officer. It's the same in Danvers, and Beverly, each city and town has their own. Each controlled by the mayor/city council or town manager/select board/town meeting.

And yes, there's more (I have no doubt most everyone has stopped reading at this point, but, I'm gonna carry on because all this really took away from my enjoyment of the book, so...)

Also, take the person in charge of the Museum, maybe they'd be staying with 'family in Boston'. More likely, though, they'd be staying with someone in Danvers (aka Salem Village), or Woburn, or Haverhill or Beverly or Marblehead, or, they'd say something like 'She's staying with her Mom in Dorchester or Southie or Beacon Hill. Barely anyone lives in Boston (compared to the suburbs) for the simple fact that almost no one can afford to these days unfortunately.

Aside from the location problems. There was also a lot of logic leaps that weren't spelled out even a little (especially at the beginning), which made the plot choppy.

I will say that all the characters were well done and interesting characters. But, the thing is that they all deserved their own books, not to be thrown in to a big mess of lesbians where only Tala and Wilder sorta got their relationship shown. And, honestly, as I said above, I thought that theirs was the boring one, I'd have much rather have Darcy and Maren have been the MCs.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Agent Tala is in a race against time to stop a serial killer when bodies starts appearing in Salem Harbor, Massachusetts she gets help from detective Wilder as they dives deeper they learn the murders may be tide to the Salem Witch Trials. As they get closer not only to the truth but with each other they get help from the supporting characters Hooper, Trobaugh, Maren, and Darcy who all brings their own take to the case. I thought this was a good read the second half was bit better but I wouldn’t mind seeing theses characters again.

This opens with panic in Salem over murders and a prospect of a serial killer on the loose.as bodies wash ashore. This is demonstrated by the assorted and diverse residents besieging the local police office under any excuse possible in order to get any news, gossip going on the situation. Into this scene arrives Agent Tala Marshall to be part of an elite team tasked with solving the murders. Her introduction is somewhat bazaar, with detailed observations of various other characters down to hair styles, smells and other rather uncomfortable seemingly irrelevant features. Particularly so of the local acting chief Wilder Mason. The story then sets off on a race to discover the killer and a journey of personal discovery which seems to be the main focus and purpose of the tale rather than stopping a murderer. It is distracting from what could be the main gripping story and at times uncomfortable.

This story has been just ok for me. Maybe I had expected more because I had discovered this author recently and I liked her McCall and sequel a lot. More than this one.

This novel has quite a homicide plot, with FBI agents and local Salem police teaming up to catch a serial killer. Perhaps the number of characters that appear in the plot, especially the group created to try to catch the killer, has been the main cause of my lower rating. I'm not saying that each and every one of the characters isn't interesting, but maybe because there are too many, too much accumulates in a single book. And that makes you lose interest.

The police plot itself is not original or surprising, so it adds to the general disappointment.

I think that, separately, some of the couples that have been formed in this story would be more interesting, without mixing one with the other. The personalities of some of the protagonists have not been clearly explained either, many things are intuited or must be read between the lines.

Definitely, this author has better novels.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I had a really hard time getting into the story in the first half of the book, BUT the second half was really good. I just couldn't connect to the characters or the story at first, but I'm glad I stuck around for the ending.

Things I liked
I really enjoyed the connections made between the characters as they worked together on the task force. I thought Darcy's ability was a nice surprise, and I wanted to see more of it. The story taking place in Salem with ties to the witch trials was an interesting addition as well.

Tropes and Things
- Serial killer hunt
-Sapphic Romance (FF)
- BIPOC representation
- FBI Taskforce

Things I wanted more of

I wanted more detail and time spent on the abilities of everyone on the task force, especially Tala. I feel like I didn't really get to see her fully in action. I also would have liked to see more of the development of the relationship between Tala and Wilder. It felt a little rushed in the beginning stages.

Review posted on Goodreads and Barnes and Noble.

"Undercurrent" by Patricia Evans offers a gripping blend of crime thriller and character-driven drama set against the haunting backdrop of Salem Harbor, Massachusetts. Bodies mysteriously wash ashore, prompting the formation of an elite task force comprising FBI agents, profilers, and detectives, all converging in a remote log cabin to crack the case.

Agent Tala Marshall stands out as the protagonist, her intricate background of overcoming deep generational wounds making her the country’s top criminal profiler. She is paired with Wilder Mason, a local detective who intriguingly ties the present murders to the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. As they delve deeper into the case, Tala and Wilder's relationship evolves, weaving personal growth with professional dedication.

While the mystery itself carries all the intrigue expected of the genre, some readers might find it a bit predictable, with the culprit becoming apparent midway through the book. Nevertheless, the richness of the characters compensates for this, especially with the dynamic between Tala and Wilder, and the supporting characters Hooper, Trobaugh, Maren, and Darcy, each bringing unique strengths and interactions to the story.

"Undercurrent" effectively balances crime suspense with character development. Although managing six main characters in a relatively short novel can be challenging, Evans handles it well enough to keep the story engaging. Fans of her previous McCall series will appreciate her venture into crime thrillers and likely hope for future cases involving this compelling ensemble.

Overall, "Undercurrent" is a fast-paced, character-rich novel that promises excitement and emotional depth. The blend of historical intrigue with modern-day crime-solving creates a captivating read that leaves readers eager for more.

I have picked the book based on the very intriguing premise of hunting a serial killer in Salem and discovering connections to 1692 Salem Witch trials in his motives.
FBI task force is pulled together to join local Police chief Wilder Mason. Complete task force is 6 females who share a cabin in the woods.
They all have complex stories. I believed that Darcy's character deserved lots more detail and time in the book. Tala and Wilder were the main characters. Maybe others get follow up book in a series?
The book felt rushed, big leaps made with not much detail as to how the characters got there.
The author painted lovely picture of the rural cabin, you felt cosy reading about amazing meals shared by the agents and the roaring fires.
Maren was my favourite character, also have enjoyed few witty jokes.
However my main gripe is, that the story was nothing like what I expected.
The serial killer hunt was tucked away so far in the background that you could fit in on 2-3 pages if that. Instead the book was fully focused on the dynamic of the group and their relationships.
The book could have been easily twice as long with more time spent on the crimes and history of Salem Witch hunt and on individual characters.

Undercurrent is the story of a group of specialist law enforcement women forced together to work on a serial killer case. While the case itself weaves in the background, the main focus is the dynamics and budding relationships between the women involved in catching the killer.

As a mystery, the murder story has all the intrigue you would expect. However, it was a little predictable, and I have to admit that I was able to guess the culprit halfway through the book. I found the real focus to be on the incredibly complex characters who each have a myriad of layers written into their personalities that made them come alive on the pages. As you would expect, when 6 powerful same sex attracted women are thrown together, sparks will fly. Our author clearly captures those sparks and carefully peels back the layers of each of the women’s personalities to render them vulnerable to each other.

At the centre of this is Tara and Wilder, both with complex histories, who see each other’s strengths and vulnerabilities. As they become closer, they develop a mutual trust and companionship that lends itself to further exploration. Hooper and Trobaugh, the older, married couple within the group add value with their maturity and strength and of course, humour. Then we have Maren and Darcy, two opposites who find a strength in each other as they work together to solve the case.

An all-round good read. I really hope this turns into a series, there is so much more to explore of each of these wonderful women.

The female team who caught a serial killer
Reading the blurb I expected this book to track down a serial killer with all the tension and gritty details that usually entails. So it was a total surprise that the focus from the outset is on the investigation team which comes together in smalltown Salem, Massachusets: There were quite a few fun scenes which had me laughing out loud. I loved the chemistry between the characters and the delightful insights into those individuals who are not always what they seemed (cheers for the Australian mate!). It gave the whole story warmth and substance - the romance comes naturally. As a foodie I relished the dashes of great cooking.
And the thriller? There are grisly murders, creepy encounters and the grand finale sneaks up behind all the efforts to get a handle on the murder.
So yeah, there was some great writing, good character descriptions, a fun team but the balance between this and the thriller was a bit off. So it was 4 plus stars rounded up to 5.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

Can you call books about a serial killer nice? Let's go with yes, so I can say this was a nice crime procedural about a task force pulled together to track down a serial killer in Salem Massachusetts. And because this is totally normal, ALL of the women on the task force are lesbians. And just like a softball team, romance is not far behind!

The romance part of the story is focuses on hotshot FBI Profiler Tala Marshall and acting Salem Police Chief Wilder Mason, two women with painful pasts who find themselves drawn together despite the gruesome circumstances. There are also agents Maren James, a wild Australian, a buttoned-up Darcy Norse, and the married couple LJ Hooper and Brenda Trobaugh. The six women converge on the police chiefs cabin to try and figure out who is killing the people who keep washing up on the beach in Salem.

The story was well-written and engaging, but lacked the complexities that the best crime thrillers have. The women do their best to solve the mystery, and do uncover some answers, but I never got the sense that these were crack agents despite their reputations. I don't want to give any spoilers, as I was surprised at the ending, but I didn't feel like there were clues or a good build-up to discovering who the murderer is, which takes some of the fun and suspense out of the novel. It was an interesting take to tie it in to the Salem Witch Trials, but in the end I felt like it was just a coincidence of location.

I liked the characters and their different personalities, but trying to write a book with six of them is ambitious and in this case took away from getting deep into any of them. It was interesting to see how the dynamics changes depending on who was interacting with who. I know Hooper and Trobaugh have their own book, but there was still a decent amount of page time allocated to them here. All the characters just made it hard to develop the romance between Wilder and Tala, which was meant to be the main focus of the story.

Overall I enjoyed reading Undercurrent and would recommend it to anyone looking for a light serial killer read.

Undercurrent is a murder mystery/thriller set in Salem, Massachusetts, with historical ties to the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. The lead characters include Wilder Mason, a local detective, and agent Tala Marshall. In addition, there is an interesting cast of FBI agents and profilers who form a task force to try to catch a killer who is murdering people who have committed various sins.

The task force characters were varied and interesting, especially Maren who is introduced in a unique way while on a lesbian cruise. I hope that Maren and Darcy get a book of their own in the future. I'd recommend this book to others for its historical implications, good writing, funny dialogue and situations, and an interesting murder mystery. 4.25 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Salem police chief Wilder Mason gets help from FBI specialists to find a serial killer that has already struck three times. The six women form a task force and are staying at Wilder’s cabin to avoid attracting attention in the community. Tala is one of the FBI’s top profilers and is sharing a room with Wilder and partnering up during the investigations. The story jumps in quickly and it took a bit for me to figure out the six main characters. Maren (Australian and great cook) teams up with Darcy (who has psychic abilities).

The story is fast paced. It is somewhat a procedural novel as they visit crime scenes, conduct interviews and get autopsy findings. But the book is mostly focused on Wilder and Tala while the others report when the task force meets up or dines together. Other people in the book are limited so I didn’t have a hard time guessing who was behind the killings but that didn’t make it any less exciting.

Overall I enjoyed the crime suspense story. The connection for Tala and Wilder is strong and comes very quickly. I loved Maren and Darcy and getting glimpses of their growing friendship. But trying to follow six main people is a lot in a short novel. Also I realized that even though they are the best profilers an actual profile is never given. This may be because of how quickly the story progresses.

I’ve read and enjoyed the author's McCall two book series. And I like her switching genres to try a crime thriller. Now that I’ve figured out the characters I am hoping there may be another case for them to work on together.

This was a good book, but I figured out who the killer was pretty early.

Set in Salem, Massachusetts, a task force is brought in to help with a serial killer. It's mostly based in Wilder and Tala's POV, but others are sprinkled in as well. This was a lot to keep up with in regards to all the characters, but Evans did a good job keeping it smooth and not give us too much information at once.

The six women living in a house together had its up and downs while they try to solve the case. The friendships that are developed and more were great to see even if I feel like it moved really fast. I would read a book about Maren and Darcy though as they are completely different. This was a good crime, suspense novel and the history was intertwined really well.

Overall, a pretty good book, but I still felt like Wilder and Tala moved super quick, but I've heard life and death situations enhance everything. I would recommend it.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Six mains, as far as I can see. Two may have been in another book so are not a romance as together but it is still six mains that is quite a lot to keep their backstories in my head and I’m struggling. I’ve resorted to writing a cheat sheet, with names and potted history to try and keep on top.
I’m also struggling with the story and some plot devices. It feels a bit like a clever book that is cleverer than me. I’m enjoying it but not understanding all of it. That said when the tension ramped up towards the end, I was tense. There were actually less baddies than mains, but the writer did a good job of each red herring being possible. I never quite felt I was on top of all the moving parts but I still enjoyed the read as a tag along rather than immersed.