In Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux’s novel Cut and Run, a particularly nasty serial killer is on the loose in New York City. When the local police and FBI office are unable to capture the killer and when evidence begins to point to inside involvement within the FBI, Special Agents Zane Garrett and Tyler Grady are sent in as partners to investigate. Ty Grady has a reputation of being a loose cannon, and Zane Garrett is an uptight clean-cut refugee from the Cybercrime division. They detest each other at first sight and make a true “odd couple” as the investigation progresses. As the pair begins to work together, they discover that the only thread of similarity that links the killings is their randomness. They also discover that FBI agents who have worked on this case in the past have ended up dead. Soon enough, Zane and Ty find themselves to be the target of repeated attempts on their lives.

Although Zane and Ty clash at every opportunity, they also know that they must act as a team in order to catch the killer. Each of these men carries psychological baggage, and they must learn to accept and trust each other if they have any hope of resolving the case…or of coming out of the situation alive.

In their novel Cut and Run, Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux have created a fast-paced and captivating suspense that is one of the best books this reviewer has had the pleasure of reading in quite some time. The mystery that needs to be solved is very intriguing and pulls the reader into the investigation from the beginning, giving them a chance to come to their own conclusions as to the modus operandi and the identity of the serial killer as the novel unfolds. As fascinating as the story is, it is Zane and Ty who steal the show. Each of these two men can be considered an alpha male, and each has his own issues and quirks that influence their behaviors. When they collide, sparks fly in every direction. The interaction between the two is frequently hilarious, and their nonstop picking, poking and insulting of each other had this reader laughing out loud. Even as they conflict, however, an underlying fondness develops, and when they’re not trying to physically knock each other out, they are surprisingly sweet together. For it’s nonstop action, brilliant characterization, and pure entertainment value, this reviewer wholeheartedly endorses Cut and Run as a Recommended Read.

Reviewed by: Whitney