The Unknown Man (Zalla Bennbett Mystery #1) by Natalie Hanson-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 31, 2021

It took just a tiny bit more matter than antimatter for the big bang to produce the entire universe. Born with an abnormality that manifests through her body, imbalance is something Zalla Bennbett understands. Her ability to sense out lies gives her an advantage on FBI investigations, but sixteen years in, both her marriage and career are on the rocks.

Zalla is assigned to work the kidnapping of an FBI informant’s young twins. With no evidence or leads, her suspect is deemed ‘The Unknown Man’. She’ll have to fight against her instincts to find the girls before time runs out.

•••••••

REVIEW:THE UNKNOWN MAN is the first instalment in Natalie Hanson’s contemporary, adult ZALLA BENNBETT MYSTERY mystery, suspense thriller series focusing on FBI agent Zalla Bennbett.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the storyline premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from third person perspective THE UNKNOWN MAN follows Seattle FBI agent Zalla Bennbett on her latest assignment when a CI’s (confidential informant) children have been kidnapped in the small town of Almeda. Under investigation for something she did not do, Zalla believes the case in Almeda is punishment for sins of the past but not all is well in Almeda, and with it, Zalla begins to piece together a case that goes back a number of years. As the truth is slowly revealed, our heroine finds herself and her husband the target of a twisted mind, resulting in a possible future without the man that she loves. What ensues is the search for a pair of eight year old twins, and the fall-out as our heroine discovers too late, the who, how and what of the people involved.

THE UNKNOWN MAN is an intense and dramatic story of mental illness, murder, torture and abuse; a story of obsession and betrayal, of vengeance and control, of secrets, lies, revelations and loss. The colorful and dynamic secondary characters are mysterious and the perfect foil for our story line heroine. Natalie Hanson pulls the reader into a dark, gritty and haunting story as one woman battles time and law enforcement in her hunt for two small children, and a potential killer who has set their sights on Zalla Bennbett.

I want to emphasize the potential for triggers as some of the scenes are graphic, although not unexpected under the circumstance, but may be upsetting and difficult to read.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy