Notorious by Carey Baldwin – a Review

Amazon / Barnes & Noble/ Kobo / BAM

Description:
The woman everyone loves to hate is dead.

Dallas socialite Cynthia Langhorne is infamous for her beauty, her philanthropy, and her home wrecking–until she’s found shot through the heart and posed nude at a fundraising ball. The case is high profile, and there’s a bigger problem: Cindy is the wife of a decorated FBI special agent–the prime suspect in her murder.

“But in truth, the crushing weight of her charmed life made each demure step as torturous as a death march.”

You know the saying about not knowing someone unless you’ve walked in their shoes? Meet Cindy, the wife of Dutch, living a life of excess…to the untrained eye. Someone murdered Cindy and there are a bevy of suspects, including Dutch himself. Carey Baldwin takes us through the memories (and regret) of an unknowing husband. Dutch was aware of Cindy’s infidelity, but the extent is a hard pill to swallow. Dutch sucks up his pride, painfully aware that his indifference contributed to Cindy’s demise, and remains fiercely protective; at the ready to find her killer. Spense and Caity try their best to remain detached as they navigate through the layers of proof and compromise in an effort to exonerate Dutch (diaries, the perfect confidante). Interesting wrench in the collaboration process is that Spense and Dutch don’t really care for each other. Ms. Baldwin volleys witty banter and outright jabs between the alpha men to elicit hearty laughs and big smiles. Caity’s pulling double duty keeping her keen eye on their tension and recognizing their similarities (they’re too arrogant to see it, lol).

While Caity, Spense and Dutch are on the brink of discovery, the real killer is mirroring their steps, dangerously close, and his intrigue is nefarious in nature; he intends to beat them to, and with, the proverbial punch.

They were no longer just looking for a fugitive. They were now on the run from a cold-blooded killer.

Profiling is where Caity and Spense meet, and excel, and Carey Baldwin displays her badassness (even when our beloved leads have become the prey). From the exciting profiling to the intriguing subplots, Ms. Baldwin writes engaging characters that matter to us. When Spenser handed off his Rubik’s Cube to the kid, there was an instant reaction; it was an undeniably sweet gesture, but where’s the nearest Target — Spenser functions better with it! When lines blur for Caity, to tell Spenser or not to tell Spenser, we cringe and recognize that it is delicate ground she walks; indecision so out of character, we fear for what can be jeopardized. These connections are special because we have come to love our unique heroes.       

Spense and Caity continue to grow and inspire; a dynamic duo who doesn’t feel intimidated by the other’s prowess. Their steadfast professional camaraderie enhances their evolving personal relationship. It’s what my 13 year old daughter refers to as “goals”.

For as much notoriety as the killer earned, he left one too many job jobs undone. Shotty work makes you a target. I had a suspicion early on as to who the killer was, but the story unfolded, details cleverly doled out, purposeful and designed, to grip you until the actual revelation. Loved it! I have enjoyed every installment, every development of this series.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Author