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Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin – a Review

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Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin – Review & Excerpt

 

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Description:
Two homicide detectives must separate the puzzling truth from a growing web of lies while investigating a murder victim’s friends and lovers in Lost Beach, Texas.

Detective Nicole Lawson is fed up with her job and nonexistent love life. Her first date in months gets cut short by an urgent call from the chief of police. A body has been discovered at Lighthouse Point, and the medical examiner finds an array of strange clues. When the death is ruled a homicide, the news quickly reverberates through Nicole’s beachside hometown.

The Lost Beach police department swings into high gear. Leading the investigation is Emmet Davis, a veteran detective who is Nicole’s fiercest rival at work and also the man she has secretly harbored feelings toward for years. With Emmet calling the shots, Nicole sets out to search for leads, starting with the enigmatic yoga instructor who first discovered the body. Nicole is certain the witness knows more than she’s revealing and may even hold the key to unlocking the case.

When another person turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Nicole sees a bizarre pattern, but no one believes her theory. Under the gun to solve the case, Nicole must put aside her tumultuous feelings and work closely with Emmet to figure out who is targeting her beloved hometown . . . before she becomes a target herself.

 

 

Review:

Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin is the 5th book in her fantastic Texas Murder Files series; which was another exciting mystery thriller in this series. I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, as she is one of the best at murder, mystery, thrillers, and romance suspense. Detective Nicole Lawson, our heroine, is not too happy these days, as her boyfriend, a medical examiner, is always on the job; and she is always second fiddle to Emmett Davis, her rival on cases.  Her chief sends her to Lighthouse Point, where a body was discovered in a car, in their town of Lost Beach, Texas.  Nicole interviews the woman who discovered the car, who also knows who the victim is. Emmett is given the lead on this case, with Nicole working with him.

At first, they suspect it is suicide, but the medical examiner finds a few clues, and the case is changed to homicide. Nicole is very smart, independent and has no problem speaking her thoughts. She respects Emmet, and he also respects her, but there is a layer of tension between them, as Nicole feels because she is a woman, she is never the lead.  Both Nicole and Emmett know that they each have feelings for each other, but not really allowed on the force; though as the case escalates, Emmett is determined to protect Nicole from possible danger. 

The plot changes when another yoga instructor is found dead. Nicole is convinced that the instructor who found the body is a harboring secret, with a different pattern that the police team doesn’t think anything into her theory. When Nicole is hit by a car, that seemed to be aiming at her, Emmett decides to watch over her, as well as help solve the crime together.  In a short time, Nicole and Emmet succumb to their feelings, with great chemistry between them.   I also loved Nicole, who was doing an excellent job of getting clues, as she learns more during her investigations. I also loved Emmett, who knew he was falling hard for Nicole, and was determined to protect her.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax. The last half of the book was extremely tense, I could not put the book down. 

Liar’s Point was another excellent mystery in this series, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin. The last half of the book was very exciting, as Nicole while unable to move around, discovers clues that will lead to the truths revealed by the yoga instructor, and the real murderer.

Laura Griffin once again, gives us a fantastic exciting suspenseful mystery, with a great romantic couple and wonderful secondary characters. If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

                 LIAR’S POINT by Laura Griffin
            Berkley Paperback | On sale May 21, 2024
                                      Excerpt

Nicole Lawson felt naked.

It wasn’t the minidress or the strappy sandals. It wasn’t even the weird slit that left the entire side of her thigh on display.

It was the Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol-or absence of it-that was making her feel exposed. She was so accustomed to those twenty-nine ounces riding on her hip, and the lack of weight was making her antsy as hell.

She checked her phone, then flipped it over.

Nicole glanced around the restaurant, which was wall-to-wall couples, of course. She’d never been in here before, and the decorations grated on her nerves. They were going for elegant, she knew-this was the Nautilus, after all-and it wasn’t like the place was covered in pink balloons. The bloodred rosebuds on every table looked nice, actually. Ditto for the votive candles that emitted a soft glow. Really, it was the glitter that was giving her hives, all those tiny gold hearts sprinkled across her table like pixie dust. Just the sight was making her feel even stupider than she already did in this ridiculous dress.

She checked her phone again.

For the first time ever she had a date on Valentine’s, and not just any date. Tonight was the date. She and David had gone out three times already. The last time had ended with intense kissing in his car, which definitely would have continued if he hadn’t been called into work. Nothing like being summoned to an autopsy to kill the mood.

He wanted to make it up to her, though. Those were his exact words when he’d invited her to this expensive restaurant. And so Nicole had squeezed herself into a low-cut black dress that gave her the illusion of boobs, borrowed her sister’s stilettos, and come here to meet him for dinner.

“Are we still waiting?”

Her server was back again with that pitying look that was almost as annoying as the glitter.

She smiled up at him. “We are.”

“And would you like some wine, perhaps? Maybe a cocktail?”

“I’m good.” She nodded at her half-finished water. “Thanks.”

He walked off, leaving her to her silent phone. No text, no voice message. She’d even checked her email, but zip.

Nicole looked around, sure people were staring at her. God, the white-haired couple behind her was already paying their bill.

Her phone vibrated on the table, and she snatched it up.

“Hello?”

“Where the hell are you?”

Not David. She closed her eyes.

“I’m out. Why?”

“Didn’t you get the call?” Emmet asked her, and she pictured him at the police station surrounded by the typical Saturday-night chaos.

“I’m off tonight.”

“Not anymore.”

Her phone beeped with an incoming call, and she checked the screen.

“Listen, that’s Denise. I have to go.” Nicole got off with Emmet and took the call.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“The chief asked me to reach you. He needs you at a scene.”

Damn it.

Nicole pushed her chair back and grabbed her purse. “Does he know I’m off tonight?”

“Yep.”

She unzipped her little black clutch and left a ten on the table. They were going to have to bus it, even though she hadn’t ordered anything.

“Well, what’s going on?”

“One sec,” Denise said, and cut over to another call. When things were busy, the Lost Beach PD receptionist doubled as a dispatcher. She was also the chief’s right hand, doing everything from managing his calendar to deflecting reporters who called in from time to time.

The front of the restaurant was packed with waiting couples. Nicole scanned the bar and the area around the hostess stand but didn’t see any tall, handsome doctors looking around for their date. It was 7:32. She’d officially been stood up.

“Nicole?”

“I’m here.” She squeezed past the people and pushed open the door. A cold gust hit her, and she stepped back.

“He needs you at Lighthouse Point right away. And keep it off the radio.”

“What’s going on?” she asked again.

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, what did he say?”

“He said, ‘I need Lawson at Lighthouse Point ASAP. Keep it off the radio.’ That’s all I have.”

Nicole hunched her head down, wishing for her leather jacket as she strode across the parking lot. It had filled in since she’d arrived.

“What’s your ETA?” Denise asked.

“I’ll be there in five.”

“Roger that.”

Excerpted from Liar’s Point by Laura Griffin Copyright © 2024 by Laura Griffin. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.


 

 

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The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin – Review and Excerpt

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The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin – Review and Excerpt

 

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Description:
A talented genetic analyst and a detective who’s haunted by an elusive cold case team up in the new standalone romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

Forensic genealogist Rowan Healy has made a name for herself by helping investigators trace the family trees of violent criminals who have eluded justice for years. But the pressure of police cases left her burned out, and she’s shifted her focus to helping adoptees find their biological parents.

Austin detective Jack Bruner has spent his career successfully tracking down vicious criminals–with the notable exception of the West Campus Rapist, a meticulous offender in Texas who has never been identified. When the latest two victims come to light, Jack sees his target is escalating his violent behavior–and only with Rowan’s help does he stand a chance of cracking this case.

Moved by Jack’s dedication and the brutal details of the attacks he lays out, Rowan agrees to help. When her ground-breaking DNA research sheds new light on the criminal’s background and helps them zero in on a search radius, Rowan and Jack must race against the clock to find a ruthless killer who’s growing bolder the longer he evades the law.

 

 

Review:

The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin is a standalone mystery thriller. I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, as she is one of the best at murder suspenseful mysteries, police procedurals and a bit of romance. 

Detective Jack Bruner is a dedicated cop who continues to be consumed for many years by a serial predator called the West Campus Rapist, who was never found, as he disappeared. 5 Years later, Jack is concerned that the rapist is back, with a similar attack, as well as a murder. Stumped, as he is at a dead end, unable to find any DNA or evidence; he learns about a former police genetic genealogist, who walked away from the job.

Rowan Healy is considered the best in helping investigators trace violent criminals who have eluded justice, which put too much pressure on her, being burned out; and leaving the police force.   She now focuses her ability to help adoptees find their biological parents.  Rowan meets Jack Bruner, who asks her if she would help him track down the rapist. At first, Rowan turns him down, saying she can’t go back; but a few days later, she learns the case Jack is working on, is something she cannot turn down (she had a friend who was attacked by the rapist years ago). Rowan uses her forensic genealogist skills to investigate the case, going back in time to find a possible suspect, who was given up for adoption by a 16-year-old woman.

They both work closely together, even if Jack wasn’t sure that Rowan would be able to help. In a short time, both begin to struggle to fight the attraction they have for each other.  I really liked Rowan and Jack together; they were very likable characters, dedicated to their job, and you can’t help root for them to find the villain, as well as find a way to be together. Though each had different aspects of their work methods, they were both driven to find the villain.

What follows is an exciting, fantastic mystery suspense that keeps our attention from start to finish, with a bit of romance. The Last Close Call was a gripping and chilling thriller, with many twists along the way. Laura Griffin once again gives us a wonderful thriller, with a great romantic couple and wonderful secondary characters. If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

                               Excerpt

A chime emanated from Rowan’s purse. She pulled out her phone and read a text from the Austin lawyer whose client Rowan had been working for all week.

Got your email. Omg TY!!

The words were followed by three halo emojis, and Rowan felt a swell of pride.

Anytime, she texted back. So glad I could help.

This attorney had sent her three referrals over the past six months, and now there would likely be more on the way. Rowan’s anemic bank account was finally getting a boost. It couldn’t come soon enough. Her December credit card bill had just come in, and she hadn’t even wanted to look at it.

“Rowan Healy?”

She jerked her head up as a man stepped over. Tall, broad-shouldered, dark hair. He wore a black leather jacket with droplets of rain clinging to it. Rowan darted a glance at Lila. Her friend didn’t look up, but she lifted an eyebrow in a way that told Rowan she’d sent this guy over here.

“Who’s asking?” Rowan responded, even though she had a sneaking suspicion she knew, based on his deep voice. Not to mention the super-direct look in his brown eyes.

“Jack Bruner, Austin PD.” He smiled slightly. “Mind if I sit?”

She sighed and nodded at the empty seat across from her.

He slid into the booth and rested his elbows on the table. He looked her over, and she managed not to squirm.

“You’re a hard woman to reach.”

Ha. He had no idea how true that was.

“How’d you know to find me here?” she asked.

“Ric Santos told me you hang out here.”

She couldn’t hide her surprise at the mention of Ric. She hadn’t known they were friends. But she probably should have guessed. Law enforcement was a tight-knit group.

She gave him what she hoped was a confident smile. “Look, Detective, I appreciate you coming all the way out here, but I’m afraid you’ve wasted your time.”

“Just listen.”

Two words.

A command, but not. When combined with that slight smile, it was more like a statement. Something she was going to do, even if she didn’t realize it yet.

Rowan felt a surge of annoyance. But again, she gave him a nod.

Sasha appeared at the table and rested her cocktail tray on her hip. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked the detective.

“A Coke, please.”

She nodded. “Rowan?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

She walked off, her cascade of blond hair swinging behind her.

Rowan settled her attention on the detective.

“I’m with APD’s violent crimes unit, as I mentioned on the phone,” he said.

With every call, he’d politely identified himself and given a callback number. Rowan had called the number once and-equally politely-left a message with her response. But he’d stubbornly ignored it.

“I’m working on a case,” he said, “and I could use your help.”

Rowan nodded. “Like I told you before-“

He held up his hand and gave her a sharp look. Listen.

“It’s a serial offender,” he continued. “Eight sexual assaults.” His dark brows furrowed. “This guy’s careful. We’ve only recovered one DNA profile, the second attack in the series.”

“If you’ve only got one profile, how do you know it’s the same guy?”

“Because-“

Sasha was back already with a flirty smile. She placed the detective’s soft drink in front of him, and he nodded his thanks.

“Because we know,” he said after she left.

Rowan looked the man over. He had an athletic build, but not the steroid-infused look she was used to seeing with young cops. Then again, he wasn’t that young. The touch of gray at his temples told her he was maybe ten years older than she was, probably late thirties. Or maybe it was the wise look in his eyes that told her that.

She sipped her drink and waited for more.

“A while ago we had the sample analyzed by a genetic genealogist,” he said. “Spent a lot of money and time on that. They ran into some kind of wall, and the results were inconclusive, they said.”

“What’s ‘a while’?”

“Come again?”

“How long ago did you have it analyzed?”

He hesitated a beat.

“Four years.”

Rowan’s breath caught. In terms of DNA technology, four years was like four decades. A lot had changed in that time-new techniques, new tools, new profiles in the databases.

But she tried to keep her face impassive as she folded her hands in front of her.

“I appreciate your effort to track me down,” she said. It told her a lot about what kind of detective he was-precisely the kind that had prompted her to shift careers. “But unfortunately, I don’t do police work anymore. You could say I’m retired.”

“That’s not what Ric told me.”

She gritted her teeth. Damn it, she’d known doing him a favor would come back to bite her.

“Ric said you’re selective, not retired.” He paused, watching her. “He told me you gave him an assist recently and that your help was invaluable.”

“I know what you’re doing,” Rowan said. She was immune to flattery, even from smooth-talking detectives who liked to play head games. “And I can appreciate the pressure you guys must be under with a serial case. But I’m not in that line of work anymore.”

He leaned forward, and she eased back slightly.

“Let me be straight, Rowan.” His eyes bored into hers. “I need your help right now. Not next month or next year. Not whenever you get bored with what you’re doing and decide to come out of retirement. I don’t care if I sound desperate. I’m on a ticking clock here.”

Her stomach tightened at his words. And his prediction that she would backtrack on her career change irked her.

But he held her gaze across the table, and she felt that inexorable pull that had turned her life upside down too many times to count.

Excerpted from The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin Copyright © 2023 by Laura Griffin. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

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Deep Tide by Laura Griffin – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Deep Tide by Laura Griffin – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
An undercover FBI agent and an independent coffee shop owner must team up when a local barista is found dead and danger circles their coastal Texas town.

With two brothers on the police force, Leyla Breda is well aware of the rising crime in her small beach town, but she never expected it to show up on her doorstep. When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she’s deeply shaken, and as a new law enforcement officer in town begins to circle her place of business, her instincts only sharpen.

Sean Moran is on an undercover mission: The seaside community of Lost Beach may look like a picturesque postcard, but his team suspects it’s a point of intersection for several crime syndicates that the FBI has been investigating for years. Even so, when the brash and beautiful Leyla Breda starts bossing him around, he’s immediately intrigued. He knows her brothers want him to back off, but every time he sees her, he feels more of a spark.

Leyla’s connections in the local community and Sean’s skills allow them to go deeper into the case together than they would be able to go alone. But when a single crime spirals into something much darker, Sean’s carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn.

 

Review:

Deep Tide by Laura Griffin is the 4th book in her wonderful The Texas Murder Files series.  I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, as she is one of the best at murder suspenseful mysteries, police procedurals and a bit of romance.  We meet our heroine, Leyla Breda, who runs two shops in Lost Beach, The Island Beanery, a popular coffee and pastry shop on the island, and The Windjammer. Leyla is catering the wedding of her brother, Joel and Miranda (previous heroes), with help from her assistant, Sienna; and meets Sean Moran, an old friend of Joel.  The following morning, with the happy couple away, she enters her coffee shop and to her dismay, finds the dead body of one of her employees. 

Sean, our hero, is an FBI agent, who is also in town on a secret mission; though he finds himself very attracted to Leyla; who tries her best to not allow herself to fall for the handsome hunk. Leyla knows what its like to have two brothers on the police force, and even when she questions him, she gets no answers. 

Nicole is a detective on the police force, and she is assigned to take the lead on the case of the murder at the coffee shop; especially with Joel away on his honeymoon, and Owen (previous hero with Macey), and neither of the brothers are allowed to participate in the murder mystery. Nicole does a good job in trying to find clues, and with help from her co-worker, Emmett, they manage to discover that the murder could very well be part of the secret mission Sean is on.

Sean knows there is an enemy in Long Beach, and he worries that Leyla during her catering, will put herself in danger. Leyla accepts a catering job for a wealthy Tech millionaire, and decides when she has a moment, to take a peek in his office, and snaps a picture of a map.  Though, Sean was happy to have that information, her meddling was too dangerous; and Leyla continued to learn more about the victim possibly dating the millionaire. Sean’s skills allowed him to take Leyla’s information to dig further in this case.    

In a short time, Sean and Leyla succumb to their feelings, with great chemistry between them.   I also loved Nicole, who was doing an excellent job of getting clues, as she learns more during her investigations. 

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax. The last half of the book was extremely tense, I could not put the book down.  I do not want to give spoilers, so you need to read this book to discover what happens.

Deep Tide was another excellent mystery in this series, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin. The last third of the book was very exciting, as Leyla finds herself in danger, and Sean, with help from the brothers, needs to find a way to save her.  

Laura Griffin once again, gives us a fantastic exciting suspenseful mystery, with a great romantic couple and wonderful secondary characters. If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

DEEP TIDE by Laura Griffin
Berkley Romance | On sale April 25, 2023

                                Excerpt

Sean Moran slipped away from the party. The bride and groom had left under a shower of rice, but people were still milling around beneath swags of white lights, drinking the couple’s booze and enjoying the breeze off the water. Sean would have liked another drink, but he needed to get back to his condo. As he crossed the wooden bridge spanning the sand dunes, he spied a woman on the beach with a champagne flute in hand.

Leyla Breda.

Her formfitting dress looked silver in the moonlight, and it shimmered against her body as she strolled toward the surf. Nearing a piece of driftwood, she dropped her shoes to the sand and sat down. She nestled the flute at her feet, then lifted her arms and twisted her dark hair into a knot at the top of her head.

Sean stopped at the end of the bridge. He had about a hundred things left to do tonight, including contacting his boss.

Instead, he walked over to Leyla.

“How’s the champagne?”

She jumped and turned around. Recognition flickered across her face, and her shoulders relaxed.

“It’s good.” She held up her glass. “You didn’t have any?”

“Nope. Can I get you a refill?”

She smiled. “What, are you a waiter now, too?”

He stepped closer. “I’m Sean Moran, by the way.” He held out his hand. “We never actually met.”

“Leyla Breda.” Her handshake was brisk and businesslike, but the warm look in her eyes gave him hope.

“Joel’s little sister,” he said.

“That’s me.”

He turned toward the water so he wouldn’t be tempted to stare down the front of her dress.

“I didn’t get a chance to thank you earlier,” she said. “Things got really hectic.”

“Looked like you had your hands full.”

“So, are you here for Joel or Miranda?”

He looked at her. “Joel.”

She tipped her head to the side as she gazed up at him. “And you know him from . . . ?”

“Work.”

She frowned. “Here?”

“No. We go way back. We were in the same academy class in Houston, spent some time at HPD together.”

“Oh. That was a while ago.”

“Yeah.”

“So . . . the vice squad, then?”

“Yeah. Mind if I sit down?”

“Not at all.”

Sean lowered himself onto the other end of the sandy log. He didn’t like the direction the conversation had taken so he steered it back to her.

“So, how long have you been a caterer?” he asked.

“Hmm . . . let’s see. I guess it’s been about three weeks now.” She turned and smiled at him, and he felt a hot jolt of attraction. “Why? Can you tell?”

“Not at all.”

“Right.”

“Well, the timing seemed a little bumpy.”

“Just a little.” She rolled her eyes. “We had several staffers no-show. It happens a lot in this business. People are flaky. Despite all my planning, you could say we were a bit rushed.”

Rushed was right. No woman had ever clapped at him before. He’d discovered it was a turn-on.

Excerpted from Deep Tide by Laura Griffin Copyright © 2023 by Laura Griffin. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and the daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. When she and her dog, Huck, discover an abandoned campsite on a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, she’s perplexed, but she carefully photographs it all the same.

All Grant Wycoff can see when he looks at Ava is a city slicker–with her designer jeans and shiny car–who has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. But when she tells him of her findings on the trail, he sees there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Ava’s discovery reminds Grant of the unsolved case of a young woman who went missing two years ago. As they look into the campsite further, another woman disappears under odd circumstances. With time running out, Ava and Grant must work against the brutal heat from both the Texas sun and their own electric chemistry to solve the case.

 

 

Review:

Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin is another one of her fantastic standalone mystery suspense novels.  I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, as she is one of the best at murder suspenseful mysteries, police procedurals and a bit of romance.

We meet our heroine, Ava Burch, who has recently moved to Cuervo, and she and her friend open their own law firm. Ava also volunteers for SAR missions, as her wonderful dog, Huck is fully trained to be a search and rescue dog.  When a child is missing, Ava and Huck join the search and Huck manages to find the missing boy; and Ava also notices an old abandoned campsite, which she takes pictures of. Ava reports her findings to the local sheriff, who ignores her; but she meets deputy Grant Wycoff, who is interested in Ava’s findings.  The next day, she goes with him to the site, only to find the spot is cleared, with someone having removed it.  Huck will find a gravesite, with the remains of a missing girl from two years ago.  Molly Shaw was the missing girl, but Ava finds out that more girls have been missing over the years (Deanna Moore, Brittlyn Spencer are two of the missing).

Grant finds himself attracted to Ava, but worries about her, since she is active in trying to get more information on the missing girls. He tries to get her to not continue to investigate, as he is concerned about her safety. This is escalated when Ava and Huck find a rattlesnake in the back of her car, managing to escape the poisonous snake.  She also tells Grant about footprints under her window. Grant tries to get Ava to stay in his secured house to protect her.  Grant and Ava’s relationship begins to sizzle, though Grant is not happy about Ava taking more chances, which does complicate their romance.

I really loved Ava and Grant together, as the chemistry between them was hot. I adored Huck, who was simply amazing. Jenna (her friend) and Connor (Grant’s partner) were wonderful secondary characters. I thought the Sheriff was unlikeable for the most part.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax.   Griffin gave us a great couple, wonderful secondary characters and an excellent suspenseful story.  The last half of the book was extremely tense, I could not put the book down.  I do not want to give spoilers, so you need to read this book to discover what happens.

Vanishing Hour was another excellent mystery in this series, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin.  If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

                                      Excerpt

Missing children are an emergency. Always. Their little bodies are less able to regulate temperature, so they’re especially vulnerable to exposure. And in a place as vast and rugged as Silver Canyon State Park, additional hazards abounded: rattlesnakes, coyotes, hundred-foot cliffs. Even the anemic little creek that Ava had been following was terrifying. A child Noah’s size could drown in a bathtub.

Ava glanced up at the relentless sun that sucked moisture out of everything beneath it. She looked ahead at Huck, who trotted back and forth in front of her in his zigzag pattern. He was working the wind, as he’d been trained, tirelessly sniffing the air with his powerful nose, which could pick up anything with human scent on it, from a candy wrapper to a dropped article of clothing.

So far, nothing.

Ava checked her watch. Two long hours since she’d left the trailhead. Sweat stung her eyes, and she wiped her forehead with the back of her arm. She paused beside a boulder and dropped her pack on the dusty ground to retrieve one of her water bottles. Huck needed some, too, but right now he was intent on his work.

She took a lukewarm sip and scanned the scrub brush lining the canyon wall. Young children had a tendency to wander aimlessly until they found a place to curl up for a nap. Some would even hide from search teams, afraid of getting in trouble for being lost. So Ava had been incessantly scanning pockets of brush.

Huck halted in front of her, his nose lifted in the air. Ava froze and watched. But then his head dropped down and he resumed his zigzags. Ava tucked the water bottle away and pushed off the boulder to continue her trek.

She watched Huck, amazed by his energy. Even in this heat, he loved working, and when he had his vest on, he didn’t have an off switch. As he bounded around in front of her, she thought of the other teams, especially the canine one. She was surprised they hadn’t found something close to camp.

Of course, the parents had been there, which might have been a problem. Frantic parents threw off a lot of scent, which could have overpowered Noah’s smell and possibly confused the dog. Also, the temperature rising in the canyon could have wafted the scent up, well above the dog’s nose. Yet another challenge here was that young children didn’t throw off as much scent as adults. And still bodies-ones that were either asleep or unconscious-threw off less scent, too.

So there were all kinds of factors in play, especially in a park this size.

Ava checked her watch again and sped up her pace, unable to shake the feeling of dread that had been settling in her stomach as the hours ticked by. Scanning the canyon wall, her gaze caught on something beige and triangular.

A tent? No.

A tarp. She climbed onto a boulder for a closer look. About halfway up the slope of the canyon was a sand-colored canvas tarp that had been stretched taut to create a patch of shade. It looked like a primitive fort-just the sort of thing that would attract a kid’s attention, and her pulse quickened as she climbed closer. Nearing the tarp, she spied a small yellow tent tucked in the shade beneath it.

She glanced around for Huck, but he was sniffing along at the base of a rockslide.

Grabbing hold of a juniper tree, Ava levered herself onto the ledge. She ducked under the tarp and paused a moment for her eyes to adjust. The little tent was unzipped. Hope ballooned in her chest as she pulled back the flap and poked her head inside.

Her hope disappeared as she scanned the interior. No sleeping child curled up in the dimness. The air was utterly still, and everything was coated with a thin layer of dust, as though no one had been there in weeks, maybe months. A pile of gear in the corner included a cookstove, a hiking boot, and a blue bedroll with a carabiner clipped to it. Attached to the carabiner was a black key fob.

A chill snaked down her spine. Who would leave their car key out here? The fob seemed odd. Ditto for the hiking boot. Where was the other one? And where was its owner?

On impulse, Ava took out her phone and snapped a couple of pictures. As part of her SAR training, she’d learned to document crime scenes. She couldn’t pinpoint why, exactly, but that was what this felt like. She ducked out and snapped a shot of the exterior. A faint bark pulled her attention back to the mission. She couldn’t afford to get sidetracked, even though this place felt creepy. She put her phone away as she skimmed the surrounding area for the missing boot, or any sign of the boot’s owner. She glanced up the canyon, looking for evidence of a fire pit or any other camping equipment.

A soft whimper had her turning around.

Huck sat beside a rock pile, his ears pricked forward and his gaze fixed on hers. Ava’s heart skittered. This was his sit alert letting her know he’d found something.

“Show me,” she commanded, and he sprang into action, bounding across the creek bed. She climbed down the rocks and jogged after him, frantically searching the clumps of trees. Huck darted around a giant prickly pear cactus and behind a line of mesquite trees. Amid the fluttering green leaves, she caught a flash of red.

“Please, please, please,” she murmured.

Huck disappeared beneath the brush and barked. Ava spied a small white sneaker and a pudgy leg.

Huck danced in a circle, drunk on success and eager for his reward.

“Good boy, Huck! Good boy! Good boy!” She filled her voice with praise, even though her heart had lodged in her throat. The little body wasn’t moving. Oh God.


 

 

Laura Griffin’s publisher Berkley is graciously offering a paper copy of  VANISHING HOUR to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin – Review & Giveaway

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Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin – Review & Giveaway

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Description:
After a scandal derails her television reporting career, Macey Burns comes looking for a change of pace in Lost Beach, Texas. She’s ready to focus on her first passion–documentary filmmaking–and has a new job working for the island’s tourism board, shooting footage of the idyllic beachside community. Her plans for a relaxing rebound are dashed when she realizes the cottage she’s renting belonged to the woman whose body was just found in the sand dunes.

Detective Owen Breda is under intense pressure to solve this murder. Violent crimes are rising in his small town, and he can’t stand to see anyone else hurt…especially not the beautiful documentarian who keeps showing up at the precinct.

With the clock ticking, cameras rolling, and body count climbing, Macey and Owen must use all their resources to find the killer without getting caught in the crosshairs.

 

 

Review:

Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin is the 3rd book in her The Texas Murder Files series.  I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, as she is one of the best at murder suspenseful mysteries, police procedurals, and romance.

Macey Burns, our heroine, comes to Lost Beach, Texas to spend the summer working on her new job, filming a documentary at the beachside community for the Island’s Tourism board. Macey’s job as a tv reporter ended up in a scandal, but she is determined to go back to her love of documentary filmmaking and Lost Beach was her starting point. Macey rents a cottage for the summer, and is shocked to learn that a woman who was found dead in the dunes, was actually the person who lived in her cottage previously. 

Owen Brenda, our hero, is the lead investigator in the case of the dead girl, and the police department is under a lot of pressure to solve the case.  Owen met Macey the night she arrived in town, and questions her if she saw anything, until he realizes that she wasn’t even in town for weeks after the murder.  During her filming of the documentary, she runs into Owen and few times, asking about the case, which he cannot reveal; until she gets attacked outside her cottage, and Owen begins to listen to some things Macey has seen. 

Their relationship begins to escalate into a slow burn romance, with Owen deep into the case, and his worrying about Macey.  The chemistry between them was great, and I really liked them together. 

I also liked the other detectives that were working with Owen, in the race to find the killer before they strike again. Macey does come up with some clues for Owen, but that will also place her in danger. 

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax.   Griffin gave us a great couple, wonderful secondary characters and an excellent suspenseful story.  The last third of the book was very exciting, as I could not put the book down.  I do not want to give spoilers, so you need to read this book to discover what happens.

Midnight Dunes was another excellent mystery in this series, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin.  If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, and romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Laura Griffin’s publisher Berkley is graciously offering a paper copy of  MIDNIGHT DUNES to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE Laura Griffin on Facebook

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9. Giveaway runs from May 25 to 29, 2022

 

 

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Last Seen Alone by Laura Griffin – a Review

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Last Seen Alone by Laura Griffin – a Review

 

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Description:
Up-and-coming attorney Leigh Larson fights for victims of sexual extortion, harassment, and online abuse. She is not afraid to go after the sleaziest targets to get payback for her clients. Leigh is laser-focused on her career–to the exclusion of everything else–until a seemingly routine case and a determined cop turn her world upside down.

Austin homicide detective Brandon Reynolds is no stranger to midnight callouts. But when he gets summoned to an abandoned car on a desolate road, he quickly realizes he’s dealing with an unusual crime scene. A pool of blood in the nearby woods suggests a brutal homicide. But where is the victim? The vehicle is registered to twenty-six-year-old Vanessa Adams. Searching the car, all Brandon finds is a smear of blood and a business card for Leigh Larson, attorney-at-law.

Vanessa had hired Leigh just before her disappearance, but Leigh has no leads on who could have wanted her dead. Faced with bewildering evidence and shocking twists, Leigh and Brandon must work against the clock to chase down a ruthless criminal who is out for vengeance.

 

 

 

 

Review:

Last Seen Alone by Laura Griffin is another one of her fantastic murder suspense mysteries.  I am a big fan of Griffin, as she always gives us exciting stories that are suspenseful, with police procedurals and a bit of romance.  The story starts with a bang, when we meet Vanessa, who is running from someone; but shortly thereafter, the police find her vehicle with blood, and she is missing, with her phone, purse still in the car.

Brandon Reynolds, our hero, is a homicide detective in Austin, Texas, and on the scene of the missing girl, with his rookie partner Antonio Pena.  He finds a business card for Leigh Larson, an attorney; and decides to pay her a visit.  Leigh Larson, our heroine, represents women stalked and harassed by exes.  At first, she does not remember who Vanessa Adams is, but the same day that Brandon visits her, she receives in the mail a retainer for her services.  Brandon and Leigh get off on the wrong foot, as he thinks she is keeping secrets, and she feels he doesn’t give her information; but in a short time, they start working together and a romance will begin.  Brandon isn’t happy that Leigh continues to investigate on her own, but she feels she can get more information since she knows how to question people, as it is her line of work regarding threats from stalkers.

When Leigh is attacked at her job, but manages to escape, Brandon is determined to protect her, and find the culprit, since he suspects this has something to do with the missing girl. The chemistry between them escalated, with Brandon more concerned that Leigh was putting herself in danger.  I do not want to give spoilers, so you need to read this book to discover what happens.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax.   Griffin gave us a great couple, wonderful secondary characters and an excellent suspenseful story.  The last half of the book was extremely tense, with some twists; especially as the danger for our heroes escalates.  I could not put the book down. 

Last Seen Alone was another edge of your seat adventure, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin.  If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Flight by Laura Griffin – a Review

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Flight by Laura Griffin – a Review

 

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Description:
When former forensic photographer Miranda Rhoads moves to the seaside town of Lost Beach, she’s decided to make her living as a wildlife photographer and put crime scenes behind her. But her plans are quickly upended when one morning, she comes across a couple sleeping in a canoe, entwined in an embrace. Looking closer, she realizes the man and woman aren’t asleep–they’ve been murdered.

Detective Joel Breda sets out to find answers–not only about the unidentified victims in the marshy death scene, but also about the aloof and beautiful photographer who seems to know more about his investigation than he does.

As they begin to unravel the motivation of a merciless serial killer, Miranda and Joel must race against the clock to make an arrest before the killer can find them first.

 

 

Review:

Flight by Laura Griffin is the 2nd book in her Texas Murder Files series.  I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, as she is one of the best at murder suspenseful mysteries, police procedurals and a bit of romance.  We meet our heroine, Miranda Rhoads, a former CSI forensic photographer, who left her job (she was burned out) and moves to Lost Beach, a peaceful seaside town, in hopes of moving on.  Miranda now does wildlife photography, content to not be involved in her ex-world of CSI; until she is taking pictures of the sunset and a unique bird.  Miranda comes across a canoe, and two dead bodies, and now that she is a witness, Miranda will meet the detectives in the towns police force.

Joel Breda, our hero, is the detective in charge of the murder, and when he learns that Miranda was a former CSI, he wants her to help them investigate the murder.  Especially since she takes amazing photos of the crime scene, and finds many clues to help the team; which will turn into the possibility of a serial killer.

Though Miranda wanted to escape the life she led before, she finds herself unable to step away, and continues to help Joel and his team.  As more similar older cases begin to show up, the case becomes more complex.  In a short time, both Miranda and Joel find themselves very much attracted to each other; the chemistry between them was great and I loved them together.

Joel, was a strong hero, and a great detective; and together with Miranda they managed to find clues that changes the game.  Joel becomes concerned that Miranda is putting herself in danger, as the murderer maybe too close. The whole Lost Beach Police force was very good, especially Nicole, who was also a very good young detective.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax.   Griffin gave us a great couple, wonderful secondary characters and an excellent suspenseful story.  The last half of the book was extremely tense, I could not put the book down.  I do not want to give spoilers, so you need to read this book to discover what happens.

Flight was another excellent mystery in this series, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin.  If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five books and novellas. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura is a two-time RITA® Award winner (for Scorched and Whisper of Warning) as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award (for Untraceable). Her book Desperate Girls was named one of the Best Books of 2018 by Publishers Weekly. Laura lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel.

 

 

 

 

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Hidden by Laura Griffin – a Review

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Hidden by Laura Griffin – a Review

 

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Description:
When a woman is found brutally murdered on Austin’s lakeside hike-and-bike trail, investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads turns up on the scene demanding access and answers. She tries to pry information out of the lead detective, Jacob Merritt. But this case is unlike any he’s ever seen, and nothing adds up.

Bailey has a hunch the victim wasn’t who she claimed to be and believes this mugging-turned-murder could have been a targeted hit. When she digs deeper, the trail leads her to a high-tech fortress on the outskirts of Austin where researchers are pushing the boundaries of a cutting-edge technology that could be deadly in the wrong hands.

As a ruthless hit man’s mission becomes clear, Bailey and Jacob must embark on a desperate search to locate the next target before the clock ticks down on this lethal game of hide and seek.

 

 

Review:

Hidden by Laura Griffin is the first book in her new The Texas Murder Files series.  I am a big fan of Griffin, as I have read most of her books, especially her fantastic Tracers series.   The story starts off with a bang, as a young woman is running in the park, her usual morning exercise, when she begins to suspect that someone is following her and runs for her life. 

Jacob Merrit, our hero, is an Austin Texas detective, who is on the scene trying find some information on a dead woman that was stabbed to death.  She has no identification on her, until he finds a phone belonging to the woman, and comes across the name, Dana Smith. Unfortunately, Dana Smith does not exist and in a short time, the FBI steps in to handle the case.  Jacob is determined to work on this alone, as he suspects there is something more than the FBI is telling them.

Bailey Rhoads is an investigative reporter, and quickly jumps in on the murder scene.  But no one will tell her anything, it is all secretive.  When Bailey tries to get information from Detective Merrit, he too refuses to tell a reporter anything.  Bailey refuses to stop, and uses her own contacts to get whatever information she can, and at some point, she offers Jacob some info she finds, if he will share his with her.  The two of them at first don’t trust each other, especially Jacob, who never trusts reporters.   But in a short time, they will both begin to feel the attraction to each other, as a slow build romance begins, though mostly in the background. 

Both Bailey and Jacob find their own evidence that this victim was in the witness protection system, and somehow someone who wants her out of the way discovered her and killed her.  There is a second person from the same case who is also in the witness protection and Bailey is willing to do all she can to find and save that woman.  Jacob starts worrying, as he knows Bailey’s investigations could put her in danger, but she refuses to back down.

I liked Jacob, as he was a strong hero, and a great detective, though in the romance department, it took him awhile to allow himself to have feelings for Bailey.  I loved Bailey, as she was determined to finish her story, even to the point of putting her own life in danger.   Jacob’s partner, Kendra was also a good detective who worked well with him. 

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept us on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax.   Griffin gave us a great couple, and secondary characters.  The last half of the book was extremely tense, I could not put the book down.  I do not want to give spoilers, so you need to read this book to discover what happens.

Hidden was an excellent mystery that was very well written by Laura Griffin.  If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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