Damaged – Alex Kava -(Maggie O’Dell # 8)
Damaged – Maggie O’Dell #8 – Alex Kava
Damaged is the eighth Alex Kava novel featuring FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell, and it’s another fast, compelling read. Like many of Kava’s thrillers, it weaves elements of real-world truth into the fiction — and in this case, it drops Maggie right into the eye of a hurricane.
The Story
When a sea chest containing dismembered body parts is pulled from the Gulf of Mexico, Maggie is sent to Pensacola, Florida, to investigate.
At the same time, Dr. Benjamin Platt is called to Pensacola to help determine why young soldiers are dying after otherwise successful surgeries to repair war injuries. Maggie first met Platt while being treated for Ebola exposure in Exposed, and now they have a tentative, evolving relationship.
Adding to the chaos, a Category 5 hurricane is bearing down on the Florida coast.
Among the standout characters here are:
- Liz Bailey, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer who recovers the chest.
- Walter Bailey, Liz’s father, whose Coney Island canteen is a fixture on Pensacola Beach.
Thoughts on the Series
I’ve been an Alex Kava fan since A Perfect Evil, Maggie O’Dell’s debut, and every book since has been solid. The last three before Damaged — Exposed, Black Friday, and now Damaged — have tackled a wide range of threats: biological terrorism, suicide bombers, and now the grisly mystery of dismembered bodies.
While reading the series in order adds depth to Maggie’s character development and relationships, each book works well as a standalone.
If you’re looking for a smart, fast-paced thriller, pick up Damaged — or grab any Maggie O’Dell novel and enjoy the ride.
