Tag: Alex Kava

Alex Kava – Hidden Creed – Ryder Creed #6

  By
Hidden Creed - Alex Kava Ryder Creed #6

Hidden Creed – Ryder Creed #6 – Alex Kava

I’m not a dog person — we’ve always had cats.
But Alex Kava through her Ryder Creed series has convinced me just how many incredible things dogs can do that cats can’t (or simply won’t). Hidden Creed was book #41 for me this year, and it might just be the best yet in the series.

My History with Alex Kava

I’ve been reading Alex Kava since 2005, when I first picked up A Perfect Evil, the debut Maggie O’Dell novel.
The only Maggie O’Dell book I haven’t read is Stranded (#11) — and yes, I’ve checked it out from the library more than once, even started it, but always got sidetracked by another book. That’s worth noting because Stranded is the story where Ryder Creed and Maggie first meet — and that case is mentioned here in Hidden Creed.

Why the Ryder Creed Series Stands Out

For me, the heart of this series is the characters — both human and canine.
Ryder Creed and Maggie O’Dell are two of my favorite fictional characters, and Kava has surrounded them with a strong supporting cast:

  • Brodie – Ryder’s sister
  • Hannah – his business partner
  • Jason – an ex-soldier and valued employee
  • And, of course, the dogs — my personal favorite being Grace, the fearless Jack Russell Terrier.

As Tracie Hotchner of the Radio Pet Lady Network™ put it:

“It’s impossible not to care about and root for the human and canine heroes in Kava’s series.”
I couldn’t agree more.

The Story

During a K-9 training session in Florida’s Blackwater River State Forest, Ryder and Brodie follow Grace’s lead straight to a shallow grave. Soon, more bodies are discovered — and it becomes clear this is the isolated dumping ground of a serial killer.

Meanwhile, Maggie O’Dell is in Pensacola investigating a storage locker purchased at auction. Inside? An array of body parts and containers — possibly the twisted cache of a killer.

Kava weaves four distinct storylines together, creating a tense, fast-moving thriller where the suspense doesn’t let up until the very last page.

The Bottom Line

If you love page-turning thrillers with memorable characters, Hidden Creed is a must-read. While it works as a standalone, I recommend starting with Desperate Creed (#5) to get the most out of the relationships and backstory — especially between Ryder and Brodie.

And if you want to fully understand Maggie O’Dell, go back and read some of her solo cases. She’s had some fantastic adventures of her own!

Author’sWebsite |
Wikipedia
Goodreads
Amazon

Alex Kava is the New York Times, USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of twenty-three novels that include the critically acclaimed series featuring K9 handler Ryder Creed and the international bestselling series with FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell.

She’s been awarded two Nebraska Book Awards, a Florida Book Award and the Mari Sandoz Award.

Published in thirty-five countries, her novels have sold seven+ million copies and have appeared on bestseller lists in the UK, Australia, Germany, Poland, Italy and Japan. Full Bio

 

Midnight Creed (Ryder Creed (#8) (Maggie O’Dell World #19) Alex Kava

  By

Midnight Creed is the 8th book in Alex Kava’s Ryder Creed series — a spin-off from her long-running Maggie O’Dell novels. Since Maggie and her FBI colleagues play such an integral role in Ryder’s world, the series often feels like an extended Maggie O’Dell universe.

The Story

In this installment, Maggie O’Dell is investigating the serial killings of homeless people up and down the East Coast. Meanwhile, Ryder Creed and his dogs are searching for a missing boy, while also preparing for a shipment of K9s left behind when U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan.

When another boy goes missing — one Ryder’s coworker Jason knows personally — Ryder and his team launch a frantic search. At the same time, the serial killer Maggie’s tracking is headed to Florida. The question is: will these two cases collide?

My History with Alex Kava

I’ve been reading Alex Kava since her debut A Perfect Evil, the first Maggie O’Dell book. Across the first 11 O’Dell novels, Maggie faced everything from serial killers and arsonists to a potential mall bomber, electrocuted teenagers, and deadly pathogens.

The Entwining of Maggie and Ryder

Kava introduced Ryder Creed in the 2015 release Breaking Creed. A former Marine turned K9 search-and-rescue trainer, Ryder rescues dogs and trains them for life-saving missions. Over the first seven books, Maggie and Ryder’s professional relationship has deepened, and in book 7, they finally acknowledged their love for each other — though they still live apart. Maggie can’t leave the FBI and Quantico, and Ryder can’t leave his dogs.

Final Thoughts

Once again, Kava delivers a well-paced, character-driven treat. Alongside Maggie and Ryder, supporting characters like Jason and Ryder’s sister Brodie have grown in importance. (Brodie has been part of the backstory since the beginning, but readers only met her in recent books — raising the question: where was she all this time?)

Midnight Creed can be read as a standalone, but I suspect you’ll want to dive into the earlier Ryder Creed books — and maybe even the Maggie O’Dell series — once you’ve read it.

Explore More About Alex Kava:

Wikipedia

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Amazon

Desperate Creed Another Winner from Alex Kava

  By

 

Desperate Creed – Ryder Creed #5 – Alex Kava

Today, in addition to running this morning, I also finished my 40th book of the year: Desperate Creed by Alex Kava, the fifth installment in her Ryder Creed series.

I became a fan of Kava’s writing back in June 2003 when I picked up her debut, A Perfect Evil. By September of that year, I’d read all the Maggie O’Dell novels available at the time. Since then, I’ve read all but one of the twelve books in the Maggie O’Dell series.

In 2015, Kava introduced Ryder Creed in Breaking Creed. Ryder is a former Marine who now trains and handles K9 search-and-rescue dogs. That book chronicled his first meeting with Maggie O’Dell, and Desperate Creed marks the fifth time the two have appeared together.

A Different Kind of Threat

In her Author’s Notes, Kava says:

“With every new book, I try to cover something different — human trafficking, the bird flu, contamination of our foods, or the everyday struggles of our veterans. For the Ryder series, I’m always looking for new ways to show off the numerous talents of scent detection dogs. For Desperate Creed, I wanted to concentrate on how amazing scent detection dogs are in finding victims after natural disasters when every moment counts.”

That’s exactly what makes Desperate Creed stand out — it’s not just about the human danger, but also the life-saving work these dogs perform in the aftermath of disaster.

About Desperate Creed

In this installment, Ryder and his dogs are in Alabama, assisting in the search for bodies after a deadly tornado.

Meanwhile, Frankie — a lifelong friend of Ryder’s partner Hannah — witnesses the murder of a coworker via a cell phone video. The coworker and a friend had hacked into the computers of a major U.S. cereal manufacturer and uncovered information that could threaten a major international deal.

As a favor to Hannah, Maggie agrees to meet Frankie at a restaurant in Alabama. But soon, both a tornado and a hitman are heading directly toward Maggie, Frankie, and Ryder. Which one will cause the most damage? And can they survive the wrath of both man and nature?

The Bottom Line

I read both the Ryder Creed and Maggie O’Dell series not only for the strong, suspense-driven plots but also for the way Kava has developed her characters over time. Both Ryder and Maggie have endured personal tragedies that have shaped them and made them stronger.

For Ryder, it’s the disappearance of his younger sister from a Florida rest stop — a loss that drove him to create his K9 search-and-rescue business. This thread runs throughout the series and adds depth to his character.

While Desperate Creed works as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the earlier books first to fully appreciate the relationships and backstories.

So check out Desperate Creed — and as for me, I’m on to book #6, Hidden Creed, to see what Ryder and Maggie face next.

Explore More About Alex Kava:
Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Wikipedia

Silent Creed – Alex Kava

  By ,

Silent Creed – Ryder Creed #2 – Alex Kava

In the middle of all the chaos last week, I still managed to finish my second book of October — Silent Creed by Alex Kava. It helped that this one was a real page-turner!

This is the second novel featuring K9 handler Ryder Creed, and once again he teams up with FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell. Their first pairing was in Breaking Creed, and it’s been a thrill watching this partnership evolve — Maggie has been one of my favorite characters through eleven thrillers.

The Story

Ryder and Maggie are both called to a government research facility in Haywood County, North Carolina, after torrential rains trigger a massive landslide. Creed is tasked with searching for survivors, but when one of the recovered bodies turns out to be a scientist who was shot, Maggie is brought in to investigate.

Under perilous conditions — from unstable terrain to people desperate to keep their crimes hidden — Maggie and Ryder soon find themselves fighting for their lives.

Real-Life Inspiration

Alex Kava is a self-described news junkie, and she weaves real-world events into her novels. In Silent Creed, she draws from actual search-and-rescue deployments by the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, whose teams have responded to disasters around the world — from the 2015 Nepal earthquake to the 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado.

Kava also incorporates fascinating historical facts, including U.S. government testing on unsuspecting soldiers, citizens, and even schoolchildren during the 1950s and ’60s. These details add depth and intrigue to the story.

And yes, I still have a soft spot for Grace, Ryder’s little Jack Russell Terrier — she’s as tenacious as ever.

The Bottom Line

Silent Creed delivers an engaging storyline, high stakes, and great characters. The chemistry between Maggie and Ryder continues to intensify, adding another layer to the action and suspense.

If you haven’t yet met Ryder and Maggie, you can start here, but I recommend beginning with Breaking Creed to get the full impact of their partnership. And if you just want to stick with Maggie, her solo series is well worth exploring — she’s faced some of the most dangerous criminals (and situations) in the genre.

Book 41 of 2015

Breaking Creed -Alex Kava

  By

Breaking Creed – Ryder Creed #1 – Alex Kava

Alex Kava has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read A Perfect Evil, the debut Maggie O’Dell novel. That was one helluva way to start a series. Over the years, Kava wrote 10 more Maggie O’Dell books, each one a wild ride.

In Breaking Creed, Kava introduces a brand-new character to her fans: Ryder Creed. Like Maggie’s debut, Ryder’s first outing is a gripping, well-crafted thriller that pulls you in from the start.

Introducing Ryder Creed

Ryder Creed is a retired Marine who rescues homeless dogs and trains them to sniff out contraband and track down criminals. In this case, Ryder is called to search the Choque Azul, a ship suspected of carrying drugs. Working with his fearless Jack Russell Terrier, Grace, Ryder searches the hold beneath the ship’s fish catch. What he finds isn’t drugs — it’s something far worse: children being trafficked. The discovery upends Creed’s life and puts him in the crosshairs of dangerous people.

Enter Maggie O’Dell

Meanwhile, Maggie and the FBI receive a gruesome package: a body floating in the Potomac, accompanied by a promise of more to come. When Ryder is called in to help Maggie locate the murder scene, sparks fly — both professionally and personally.

The pairing of Maggie O’Dell and Ryder Creed feels natural, much like Karin Slaughter blending her Grant County and Will Trent series. The chemistry between the two suggests this won’t be their only case together — and fans will be glad for that.

Why It Works

One of Kava’s trademarks is giving her characters unique, high-stakes challenges — from Ebola exposure (years before the 2014 outbreak) to tangling with violent cartels. That carries over here, with Creed and O’Dell facing off against ruthless criminals while relying on the specialized skills of Creed’s dogs. Grace, in particular, is a standout character you can’t help but root for.

The Bottom Line

Breaking Creed earns 4 stars from me. Ryder Creed is a welcome addition to the thriller genre — a memorable, compelling character with a unique skill set. As author Gayle Lynds put it:

“Creed is special, a memorable character — he trains homeless dogs to sniff out contraband and hunt criminals. When he teams up with Kava’s iconic FBI forensics specialist Maggie O’Dell, you’ll discover the most exciting crime-solving duo of the year.”

And with Grace at his side, he’s even harder to beat. So check them out — this is the start of something special.

Book 11 of 2015015

 

 

 

 

 

A Trip to the Library-no books, except maybe an Alex Kava

  By

So I had to take books back to the library yesterday — mine and my daughter Elizabeth’s. On the way, I told myself: “You are not getting any books out of the library. You’re already reading four or five!”

My counter-argument: “Well… maybe if I find something by someone I really love. Like Alex Kava.” I figured I was safe because her books usually come out in the summer.

I browsed the new-release shelf — nothing that called out. I moved on to the regular stacks, but someone else was blocking the aisle, so I jumped ahead to the end of the alphabet. At S I found Locked In by John Scalzi.

“Hey, I like this guy… and I’ve been meaning to read this one.”

Maybe I’ll just get this one book… And so it begins.

Back to the start of the alphabet — A…B…C…D…E… maybe I escape with just the Scalzi?

Then I reached the Ks.

And there it was.

NO!!! YES!!!

Breaking Creed - Alex Kava

Breaking Creed — a new book from Alex Kava. Released in January? What’s with that? Maggie doesn’t usually show up until the summer! From Amazon:

New York Times– and internationally bestselling author Alex Kava’s thrilling new series introducing Ryder Creed, ex-marine turned K-9 search-and-rescue dog trainer, as he teams up with fan-favorite FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell.

Well, that did it. New series? I have to get it.

And since I already had two books in hand… I circled back to something I’d seen under G — Green-Eyed Lady by Chuck Greaves. I don’t know Greaves, but an author I do know and read, Douglas Preston, says this about the book:

“The wickedest read of the year: smart, real, vivid as hell. I loved this book.”

How do you walk away from that? Exactly — you don’t.

Luckily they’re all four-week loans, so now I just need to finish the four books I already started. OK, enough — I need to read before I head to work at Target!

Post Update (2025): Since I first wrote this library-adventure post, a few things have changed — and a few haven’t! While I’ve read several other John Scalzi books over the years, I still haven’t read Locked In. I did finish Green-Eyed Lady, but never continued the series, which only ended up with three books total. As for Alex Kava, I’ve kept up better there — I’m now up to Book 9 in the Ryder Creed series!

No comments

[Title]

 

[Author -Series]

 

[Background about Author and Series]

 R[ip-roaring action that only builds with intensity…the mark of a true thriller!”~Tess Gerritsen

“Alex Kava knows the psychology of evil.”~John Philpin, Forensic Psychologist and Author

“Twisted plots, shocking characters, breakneck pacing. Guaranteed to keep you up all night!”~Lisa Gardner

Main Characterr: Maggie  O’Dell
Occupation: FBI Profiler
Location: Washington D.C., various crime scene locations around US.

Links for the Further Exploration of the Books of Alex Kava

Website
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon
Wikipedia

[[smoothslider id=’5′]

[books read by author]

[Books Read}

[Current RElease]

{standalone books]
[past posts]

 

Fireproof – Alex Kava

  By

 

Fireproof – Maggie O’Dell #10 – Alex Kava

Book 6 for the year was the latest Maggie O’Dell novel I’ve read — Fireproof. This is book #10 in Alex Kava’s excellent series, and over the course of these books, Maggie has faced just about everything: serial killers, teenage suicide bombers, even exposure to the Ebola virus. Along the way, she’s also learned about her father’s affair and discovered she has a stepbrother.

The Story

In Fireproof, Maggie — along with her partner R.J. Tully and D.C. homicide detective Janet Racine — is on the trail of a serial arsonist. She’s still dealing with lingering effects from a head wound sustained in her last case (Hotwire), but the investigation quickly becomes more than just arson when the body of a brutally beaten man is found behind a dumpster near one of the fires.

Is the arsonist also the killer? Maggie doesn’t think so.

As the fires grow in number and deadliness, the team can hardly keep up — but investigative reporter Jeffrey Cole and his cameraman Samantha Ramirez always seem to be on the scene first. Jeffrey’s curiosity isn’t limited to the case; he begins digging into Maggie’s personal life, and soon the investigation seems to be headed straight toward her.

Final Thoughts

When I read a book, I don’t tend to overanalyze. My questions are simple:

  • Did I like the characters?
  • Was the action fast-paced?
  • Did the suspense build?
  • Did the story hold my interest?
  • Did I enjoy the ride?

For Fireproof, the answer to all of these is a resounding yes. While there’s less profiling than in some earlier books, it’s still a gripping, well-paced story. The ending hints at a possible sequel, but for me that was just icing on an already satisfying thriller.

I’ve always enjoyed Maggie’s mix of strength, vulnerability, and determination as she faces both dangerous criminals and her own personal demons (including her complicated relationship with her mother). The great thing about this series is that you don’t have to read the books in order to enjoy them — so feel free to jump in here, then go back and catch up on Maggie’s life.

Damaged – Alex Kava

  By

 

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.