The First Thread An FBI Agent Daisy Adams Thriller (Book 1)

UPDATED 12/16-for audio book review:
AUDIO BOOK IS JUST AS GOOD AS READING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Narrators did an amazing job.
You will go through a whirl of emotions in this especially if you have children of your own, you will understand.
Sympathy for characters, cringe towards characters, want to ring a characters neck (or worse LOL), I felt my heart drop a few times.
FEELINGS, that's what I want in a book and this did just that!

Where to start?? If I could give more than 5 stars I sure would!
I absolutely love anything that has to do with true crime and serial killers. This was definitely a dark thriller that will make you feel chills and heartbreak all in one, very well written knowing this was based on true events. It had me on the edge of my seat gripping me to the very end. I can't say enough on how much I recommend this book and I can not wait until the next two books in the series!

Book 2: The Crimson Knot - Releases in June
Book 3: The Final Stitch - Releases in August

Knowing this story is based on true events makes it a tough pill to swallow. Kids are so innocent, born with curiosity, trust, dependent on adults to love them, teach them, and protect them. Monsters are very real in this world and pret on the innocent. This book is well written. Unfortunately I find Agent Adams to be dry, stuffy, and extremely reclusive. Her character gives me anxiety. I hope that changes in the next two books. I will certainly read this trilogy all the way through.

Set in the 1980s, The First Thread follows rookie FBI agent and single mom Daisy Adams as she’s thrown into a chilling case that hits too close to home, the disappearance of a young girl from her front yard. As Daisy juggles her career and motherhood, she becomes deeply entangled in a nightmare rooted in true events. The deeper she digs, the darker things get. With emotional stakes and psychological tension running high, this story isn’t just about finding a child, it’s about confronting every parent’s worst fear. This is the first book in a gritty true crime thriller trilogy that dares to ask how far someone will go for the truth.

Okay, listen. I live for true crime, so when I found out this was inspired by real events? You know I dove in headfirst. The author was kind enough to give me a copy which did not affect this review. The First Thread did not disappoint. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. Like white-knuckling my Kindle and forgetting I had responsibilities kind of hooked. Sorry Hubby!

This book is pure adrenaline. The pacing is fast and tight, no meandering plot here. Every chapter ratchets up the tension until you’re fully in it, heart racing, palms sweaty, side-eyeing your front door like maybe you should double-check those locks. Again.

Daisy, our main character, is so raw and real. She’s not some untouchable superhero agent. She’s a tired mom running on caffeine and grit, trying to balance work stress with mom guilt while being tossed into the most terrifying case of her life. Her emotions? Totally believable. You feel her panic. Her exhaustion. That sick feeling when the case starts mirroring her own life? Yeah, it got to me.

The writing doesn’t try too hard, and that’s what makes it hit even harder. Nadija Mujagic lays it all out in a way that’s brutally effective, no fluff, just pure gut-punch after gut-punch. I actually had to pause at one point because I forgot to breathe.

And since this is based on true events, that creepy, lingering feeling? It sticks with you. There’s something about knowing this really happened, or could happen, that makes it so much more impactful.

Now let’s talk about that ending. I am absolutely dangling off this cliff, and I need book two now. Like yesterday. Someone check on me until it drops because Nadija left me hanging in the most torturous, amazing way possible.

This book had me pacing like I was the one solving the case. If you're into thrillers with emotional depth, psychological tension, and a story that feels way too possible, The First Thread is your next obsession. Nadija Mujagic doesn’t just tell a story, she throws you straight into it and leaves you breathless. This is the start of a series that promises to be unforgettable. Grab it, lock your doors, and clear your calendar. You're not putting this one down.

The Vibes it Brings