Tag Archives: Mystery

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager – a Review

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The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager – a Review

 

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Description:
Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple who live in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is rich; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.

One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage is not as perfect and placid as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey becomes consumed with finding out what happened to her. In the process, she uncovers eerie, darker truths that turn a tale of voyeurism and suspicion into a story of guilt, obsession and how looks can be very deceiving.

 

Review:

The House Across the Lake is another fantastic novel by Riley Sager. I have read a number of books by Sager, and in each book, he continues to surprise and shock us with many twists we never expect. 

Casey Fletcher, our heroine, is a well-known actress, who in the past year lost her husband to drowning.  She hides out from the press, at the family lake house in Vermont, spending her time constantly drinking a number of bottles of liquor a day; as she continues to grieve.  Casey uses her binoculars daily to look at other houses around Lake Green, and becomes obsessed with watching a famous couple, former model Katherine Royce and her husband, Tom, who have recently purchased the house across the lake. 

One day, Casey sees Katherine struggling in the lake, and she comes to her rescue; with both of them becoming fast friends.  Both Katherine and Tom visit Casey, to thank her for saving Katherine.  During the evenings, Casey continues to overdo her drinking and spy on the Royce’s, until she continues to notice that something is not right in their marriage. 

When Katherine suddenly disappears, Casey is obsessed with finding out what happened to her; as she suspects the husband.  Casey will confide in a friend living next door, who has a police detective friend; but there is no evidence of wrong doing; in her determination, she uncovers strange and darker truths.  Will the police investigate or ignore her claims due to her excessive drinking?

The House Across the Lake was an amazing exciting thriller, that had me on the edge of my seat throughout; with a journey that is filled with many shocking twists and turns.  To say anything more would be spoilers, and this is a story that needs to be read to the end.   Riley Sager once again gives us another wild, crazy and surprising, not to mention entertaining ending.  If you love intense and exciting thrillers, you can do no wrong reading Riley Sager.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

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Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

 

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Description:
A boyfriend who’s missing. Or was. . . Or is. . . A boat full of old bones. A community ice cream social. A friend in trouble, a spiteful witch, and an angry villain. The mysteries and fun abound in Destiny Falls. Hayden, Latifa, and their family and friends are up for the excitement and adventure.

Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones follows the series format of combining two stories that blend into one. A murder mystery and the island mystery.

The Island Mystery: Hayden’s boyfriend Han is missing. But she swears she saw him zoom by in his car. She’d thought it was a surprise, and that he was home early from his secret service case. She was wrong. The surprise is that his signal isn’t pinging, and no one knows where he is. There appears to be black magic behind his disappearance. Can they learn who’s responsible and bring Han safely home?

The Murder Mystery: A pile of old bones is found in an ancient fishing boat. They could be tied to the disappearance of two young women years ago, back when many of the Destiny Falls people where in high school. Many of the citizens had bad history with the students. Do the bones belong to them, and what happened? Were they murdered? And could the murderer be living among them?

Hayden and Latifa’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this fun and intriguing series.

 

 

Review:

Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones by Elizabeth Pantley is the 6th book in her fun Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic series.  Refresher: Hayden, who now fully lives in Destiny Falls with her talking cat, Latifa, and is happy in her new magical world, being a member of her powerful Caldwell family, as well as many new friends, and boyfriend, Han. 

Hayden’s boyfriend, Han is missing at the start, and she calls in her friends to help find him; he suddenly reappears, not remembering where he had been.  Hayden and family recognize that Han’s disappearance was the work of black magic, especially with his appearance having changed, making him stronger and built. When Han continues to disappear and reappear, Hayden learns he has been cursed by the evil Lazarus, and she must find a way to save Han.

There is another mystery that revolves around a pile of old bones found on an ancient boat. During the investigation, it is confirmed that it ties to the disappearance of two young girls thirty years ago.  Hayden is in the middle of both investigations, as she uncovers dark secrets of the past, as well as her friends and family helping support her in finding how to pull Han from control of the evil Lazarus; she learns what is necessary from both Gasper and Bob (the Olm).

Hayden and her brother Axel have settled into their role of being conduits on Destiny Falls.  I love Hayden’s wonderful family and friends who are always there for her, and of course our wonderful Latifa (her cat) and the Secret Cat Society.  It is always fun to watch and listen to the cats, Latifa, Chanel, Marshmellow and Lola.  Cute.

Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones was another delightful lighthearted mystery, in the magical and charming enchanted realm, Destiny Falls. This is a fun cozy murder fantasy whodunit, that was intriguing and kept our attention from start to finish.  The characters are all interesting and unique, especially the cats who help solve the crimes. I look forward to the next book by Elizabeth Pantley, that is always fun to read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

 

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Beyond the Moonlit Sea by Julianne MacLean-a review

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BEYOND THE MOONLIT SEA by Julianne MacLean-a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 14, 2022.

Olivia Hamilton is married to the love of her life, Dean, a charismatic pilot who flies private jets for the rich and famous. But when he vanishes over the Bermuda Triangle, Olivia’s idyllic existence unravels. After years of waiting, Olivia must eventually let go of the fragile hope that her beloved husband might still be alive.

Melanie Brown is a particle physicist who spends late nights studying the Bermuda Triangle. But her research interests falter when her mother dies in a tragic accident. Struggling to reboot her life and career, Melanie begins a forbidden love affair with her therapist.

When a shocking discovery shows Olivia’s and Melanie’s paths are intertwined, it casts Dean’s disappearance in a new light. The two women’s strange connection threatens to unlock secrets that will change everything Olivia thought she knew about her marriage, her husband, and most importantly, herself.

•••••••••

REVIEW: BEYOND THE MOONLIT SEA by Julianne MacLean is a story of mystery and suspense; a women’s historical fiction focusing on the intersecting lives of Olivia Hamilton, Dean Robinson, and Melanie Brown.

Told from three first person perspectives (Olivia, Dean, Melanie) following several timelines from 1986 to 2017, BEYOND THE MOONLIT SEA follows Olivia Hamilton in the weeks, months and years after the disappearance of her husband Dean Robinson. Dean Robinson’s life was quickly spiralling out of control, and with it the possibility of losing it all. Restless and consumed by the dysfunctional family dynamics that continue to control every aspect of his life, Dean crosses a line, several lines, from which he can never go back. Meeting Olivia Hamilton brought with it the potential for a new life and a new future, a future from which there would be no return. Leaving everything behind in New York, Dean and Olivia would make their new home in Florida until the fateful day Dean’s plane would disappear near the Bermuda Triangle, a plane piloted by Dean himself. Years would pass, Olivia would move on with her life, falling in love with a man from her past but long awaited news was about to shake up Olivia’s world when two detectives bring information that will shock them all.

BEYOND THE MOONLIT SEA is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, obsession and anger, love and letting go. Julianne MacLean pulls the reader into an intriguing tale of deception, delusion, destiny and fate wherein the secrets and lies of one man are about to affect everyone, going forward.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton – a Review

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Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton – a Review

 

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Description:
Elise King is a successful and ambitious detective–or she was before a medical leave left her unsure if she’d ever return to work. She now spends most days watching the growing tensions in her small seaside town of Ebbing–the weekenders renovating old bungalows into luxury homes, and the locals resentful of the changes.

Elise can only guess what really happens behind closed doors. But Dee Eastwood, her house cleaner, often knows. She’s an invisible presence in many of the houses in town, but she sees and hears everything.

The conflicts boil over when a newcomer wants to put the town on the map with a giant music festival, and two teenagers overdose on drugs. When a man disappears the first night of the festival, Elise is drawn back into her detective work and starts digging for answers. Ebbing is a small town, but it’s full of secrets and hidden connections that run deeper and darker than Elise could have ever imagined.

 

 

Review:

Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton is another one of her standalone suspense novels.  I have read a few books by this author, which were very good.  I did like Local Gone Missing, but thought it was very slow in the beginning with the last third of the book exciting. 

Elise King, our heroine, is currently on medical leave from her job as a police detective (inspector) in Ebbing; planning on returning to work soon. Elise learns about the disappearance of a local man from the music festival, as well as two teenagers overdosing on drugs.  Elise, being bored, decides to investigate on her own, with her neighbor friend, Ronnie; she was a hoot (who loved being an amateur detective).  Elise will uncover many secrets revolving around the missing man, Charlie Perry, who had made a number of enemies in town, that not only goes back many years, but also in the present. Charlie’s body is found a few days later, and Elise will discover that a number of people were after him, as he owed a lot of money from his investment schemes. Halfway through the book, Elise is called back to work taking over the police investigation

There was so much going on, with a lot of suspects, that made more than half the book a bit slow and somewhat confusing, as well as being hard to keep track of everything; especially with all the subplots.  The time line did go back and forth from the past and the present. I really liked Elise, she was a great detective, as we got to see the inner workings of police procedurals (interviews & investigations).  The last third of the book was very exciting, with Elise in the forefront, with her staff and the many suspects.

Local Gone Missing was a cozy busy mystery that was interesting, and a very exciting at the end. Local Gone Missing may have started a slow, but was well written by Fiona Barton.   

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Cult of Darkness (Alex Scholfield 1) by DW Whitlock-a review

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CULT OF DARKNESS (Alex Scholfield 1) by DW Whitlock-a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 9, 2022

A seaside paradise. An endless war. Everyone pays in blood.

The cartels in Mexico have splintered, triggering violent conflict over control of the illicit drug trade. One has risen to power above all others with its brutal methods: The Riviera. Led by a shadowy figure known only as Kukulkan, this powerful cartel has become the main source of Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid fifty times more potent than heroin. As mutilated bodies appear on the pristine white sands of local beach communities, investors fear for the worst…their time of peaceful prosperity has come to an end.

When the only son of a wealthy family goes missing in the heart of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Alex Schofield is sent in to find him. A highly trained ex-Delta soldier, he’s the best man for the job. There’s only one catch: he has sworn to never kill again.

Amid the escalating conflict, a darkness grows among the dense forests and Maya ruins. As the search brings Schofield closer, he must confront his own violent past and decide if bloodshed is once again, the only way.

In this riveting adventure thriller, D.W. Whitlock explores the darker aspects of the human soul and the struggle to do what’s right in a shadowy world defined by violence and death.

••••••

REVIEW:  CULT OF DARKNESS is the first instalment in DW Whitlock’s contemporary, adult ALEX SCHOLFIELD suspense thriller focusing on former US Delta soldier Alex Scholfield.

Told from third person perspectives, following several intersecting paths, CULT OF DARKNESS follows former US Delta soldier Alex Scholfield as he is tasked with locating Jordan Forsythe, the missing son of a wealthy heiress. Jordan was last seen near the Yucatan Peninsula, working with a group of religious zealots but Alex has a personal stake in his search for Jordan, a search that will bring Alex up close and personal with the Mexican Cartel. Working as protection for an American television crew, Alex finds himself facing off against an American ex-pat with a questionable affinity for drugs and young girls, as well a monster disguised as the mythological Kukulkan, a deity that leaves behind the drug addled corpses of his unwilling sacrifices.

CULT OF DARKNESS is a detailed, complex and suspense filled thriller focusing on the Mexican Cartel and the illegal drug trade in and around the Maya Riviera; power and control, sacrifice and loss. CULT OF DARKNESS reads like a lesson in history, georgraphy, anthropology and sociology in which the troubling power of the Cartels, controls and destroys everything and everyone within its’ reach.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Her Frozen Cry by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Her Frozen Cry by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

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Description:
The moon shines through the open window, bathing the woman in pale light. Blood-red wine from a shattered glass soaks into the cream blanket beside her, and her dull eyes stare vacantly at the framed photograph in her hand.

When beautiful wife and mother Alicia Gordon is found dead in a remote woodland cabin, Detective Amanda Steele is shocked to discover that she knows the husband. Amanda hasn’t spoken to Tony since she lost the love of her own life seven years ago, and seeing tragedy tearing her old friend’s family apart brings back so many painful memories.

Alicia was alone when she died, but she was so young, and Amanda can’t help feeling suspicious. Then she discovers that Alicia’s sleep medication had been tampered with, slowly poisoning her over several days. Amanda wants to trust that the sorrow on Tony’s face is real, but the more she digs into his marriage, the more it seems that he had opportunity, and motive…

Interviewing one of Alicia’s old colleagues, Amanda is shaken to her core when the woman suddenly collapses in her arms, dying in seconds from a lethal dose of the same poison that killed Alicia. But what could link this woman to Tony?

With her partner blaming Amanda for not arresting Tony immediately, she needs to prove that he isn’t the killer, or accept that the second woman’s death could be on her hands. She’s running out of time and leads when she discovers threatening messages sent to both victims. It’s the final clue to unmasking the most twisted killer Amanda has ever come up against, and to stop them she’ll have to risk everything…

 

Review:

Her Frozen Cry by Carolyn Arnold is the 5th book in her fantastic Detective Amanda Steele series. I have noted this many times, that I am a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her series, and I love this series, which continues with another great addition.  Her Frozen Cry was fantastic, with me unable to put the book down.

Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department.  When a woman is found dead in a remote woodland cabin, Amanda and her partner, Trent are called to the scene.  Amanda is shocked that the dead women, Alicia Gordon is married to an old friend, whom she hasn’t seen since the tragedy of her husband and child.   She is suspicious, if this was murder or possible suicide; but in a short time, they will discover that Alicia was slowly poisoned

Tony Bishop, an old friend of Amanda, is devastated by the news, but both her and Trent suspect that he is hiding something.  Can Amanda be able to handle being objective dealing Tony? 

Alicia Gordon was the wealthy owner of a successful business, with Amanda and Trent interviewing many of Alicia’s colleagues; which had me constantly guessing who is the killer.  Another death escalates the investigation, as this person was also murdered by the same poison, and the suspect list increases.

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing, tense mystery that kept me unable to put the book down. There were so many suspects, and even surprises at the end. Amanda and Trent were at odds, when he suspects Tony, and feels she is not looking at the big picture; but with time running out, Amanda looks more carefully at the threatening letters sent to both women. To say too much more would be spoilers, and this was a great good story that needs to be read from start to finish, especially with so much going on that keeps us glued to the book.

Her Frozen Cry was a very good excellent crime thriller that was suspenseful, intense, and kept us guessing who was the murderer to the end. Amanda is a great heroine, and a fantastic detective.  Her Frozen Cry was so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

 

 


CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

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A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong-Review and Giveaway

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A Rip Through Time (A Rip Through Time 1) by Kelley Armstrong-Review and Giveaway

 

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 31, 2022

In this series debut from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, a modern-day homicide detective finds herself in Victorian Scotland—in an unfamiliar body—with a killer on the loose.

May 20, 2019: Homicide detective Mallory is in Edinburgh to be with her dying grandmother. While out on a jog one evening, Mallory hears a woman in distress. She’s drawn to an alley, where she is attacked and loses consciousness.

May 20, 1869: Housemaid Catriona Mitchell had been enjoying a half-day off, only to be discovered that night in a lane, where she’d been strangled and left for dead . . . exactly one-hundred-and-fifty years before Mallory was strangled in the same spot.

When Mallory wakes up in Catriona’s body in 1869, she must put aside her shock and adjust quickly to the reality: life as a housemaid to an undertaker in Victorian Scotland. She soon discovers that her boss, Dr. Gray, also moonlights as a medical examiner and has just taken on an intriguing case, the strangulation of a young man, similar to the attack on herself. Her only hope is that catching the murderer can lead her back to her modern life . . . before it’s too late.

Outlander meets The Alienist in Kelley Armstrong’s A Rip Through Time, the first book in this utterly compelling series, mixing romance, mystery, and fantasy with thrilling results.

••••••

REVIEW:A RIP THROUGH TIME is the first instalment in Kelley Armstrong’s adult A RIP THROUGH TIME time travel, mystery series focusing on thirty year old, Vancouver, Canada Police Detective Mallory Atkinson, and undertaker/investigator Dr. Duncan Gray.

Told from first person perspective (Mallory) A RIP THROUGH TIME follows Detective Mallory Atkinson on a journey through time. In the spring of 2019 while visiting her ailing grandmother in Edinburgh Scotland, thirty year old, Vancouver British Columbia, Canada police detective Mallory Atkinson is attacked in an alley only to wake up as a nineteen year old housemaid in the year 1869, a housemaid who was also attacked and left for dead in the same alley where Mallory was found. Not only has our heroine time travelled back one-hundred and fifty years but she is no longer physically the same woman she was just minutes before. Working as a housemaid for Dr. Duncan Gray and his sister Isla, realizing life as she knew it was no longer under her control, Mallory must assume the position of nineteen year old Catriona Mitchell, a young woman whose history is questionable and dark. A serial killer has set his sights on Edinburgh Scotland, and ‘Catriona/Mallory’ has been targeted for sins of the past but more importantly, targeted for sins of the future. As the investigation begins to unfold, Catriona’s knowledge of investigative procedures stirs the interest of Isla and Duncan, an interest such that Mallory is going to have to explain the circumstances surrounding Catriona’s new insights and change in personality.

We are introduced to Dr. Gray’s sister Isla, their housekeeper Mrs. Wallace, stable hand Simon, housemaid Alice, as well as Inspector Hugh McCreadie and Constable Findlay.

A RIP THROUGH TIME is a fascinating story of mystery and suspense with a little bit of paranormal, time travel added to the mix. Having worked most of her adult life in the Vancouver police department, Mallory aka Catriona is the perfect foil for Dr. Gray, an undertaker and amateur investigator, who with the help of our heroine, begins to break down the clues and mystery surrounding a potential serial killer. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the characters are dynamic; the romance is virtually non-existent. My only complaint, is the easy and immediate acceptance, by the main characters, of time-travel and physical possession of some one else’s body but such is the nature of the paranormal/time travel story line.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers’ dismay. All efforts to make her produce “normal” stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She’s the author of the NYT-bestselling “Women of the Otherworld” paranormal suspense series and “Darkest Powers” young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Kelley Armstrong’s publisher ST. MARTIN’S PRESS is graciously offering a paper copy of A RIP THROUGH TIME to ONE (1) 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.

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