Crime Exploded is the eighth novel in the series by Chuck Morgan. It was a peaceful Christmas morning when everything went to hell. No one was expecting it when a series of bombs exploded in Colorado, with apparently no link. With the casualties rising, the CBI asked Agent Buck Taylor and his team to figure out why this was happening and who was behind it. However, their work was cut out for them due to the roadblocks. To make matters worse, the FBI had taken a special interest in the case, and a specific agent was hellbent on making the investigation impossible and trying to derail it. It was up to Buck and his team to make sure no one else died. Who was really behind all these bomb blasts, and why did they start attacking unsuspecting people at Christmas?

Action-packed and fast-paced, I was sucked into the story the moment I opened the novel. The author built the story to perfection. Chuck Morgan gave just the right amount of suspense, mystery, and action to keep readers’ attention on Buck and his team. There was never a dull moment in the story. The narrative ran smoothly until the end; it followed the development of the story and the pace set by the characters. I enjoyed the twists and turns. What I loved more than anything else in the plot was how calculating Buck was. He was smart; he didn’t let the FBI discourage him and kept his head in the game. The action gave me an adrenaline rush. Absolutely brilliant!

After several explosions on Christmas morning, respected and feared investigator Buck Taylor finds the perpetrator and brings them to justice. Due to a cancer diagnosis, Connor O'Connor is released from two life sentences to live his last days peacefully outside prison walls. Wronged by those he worked with as a killer before his imprisonment, Connor might have other plans for his "peaceful" last days on earth. Crime Exploded brings these two characters on opposite sides of the law together with other characters on both sides in a battle of intellect and grit. Will Buck complete his journey to discover the truth or get blown to pieces along the way? Chuck Morgan creates a greatly addictive and mentally stimulating crime narrative involving prison attacks, clashes between policemen and the FBI, intelligent and eccentric criminals, organized crime, and a tough, street-smart investigator.

A Christmas crime treasure! All the different parts of Crime Exploded fit perfectly well like a jigsaw puzzle, and I couldn't wait to unravel the plot. The protagonist is portrayed as strong and physically capable of knocking his enemies out before making a single move. I enjoyed the intensity of the scenes immensely: the possibility of exploding at a wrong turn and the tension between the different groups. Even with all these different characters, the narrative is understandable and easy to follow. It was an engaging and rewarding experience to search for clues by examining the protagonist's and the antagonists' mindsets and mental health. Finally, Chuck Morgan's use of multiple viewpoints to create one beautifully interwoven story is one of the best I've seen out there! Crime enthusiasts should grab a copy of this gem right now.