Touch of Red by Laura Griffin – a Review

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Description:
When crime scene investigator Brooke Porter arrives at the home of a murdered woman, the only thing more shocking than the carnage is the evidence that someone escaped the scene. But where is this witness now? A thorough search of the area yields more questions than answers, and before Brooke even packs up her evidence kit, she’s made it her goal to find the witness and get them out of harm’s way.

Homicide detective Sean Byrne has seen his share of bloody crime scenes, but this one is particularly disturbing, especially because Brooke Porter is smack in the middle of it. Sean has had his eye on the sexy CSI for months, and he’s determined to help her with her current case—even if it means putting his attraction on hold so he and Brooke can track down a murderer. But as the investigation—and their relationship—heats up, Sean realizes that keeping his work and his personal life separate is more complicated than he ever imagined; especially when the killer sets his sights on Brooke.

Review:

Touch of Red by Laura Griffin is the 12^th book in her terrificTracers series, which is romance suspense at its best.  This series reads very well as a standalone, as in each book, the heroes are different members of the Delphi Center (forensics lab) and usually a detective working on the latest murder case.  It is always fun to get glimpses of some of the characters we have met previously. 

Touch of Red starts off with a violent murder, and we meet our heroine, Brooke Porter, who arrives on the gory scene to investigate for any clues.  Sean Byrne, our hero, is a homicide detective who also arrives on the scene.  Sean has been eying Brooke for awhile, and now they will be working on the same case.  Both are appalled at the scene in front of them, and soon Sean notices that Brooke left in a hurry to bring some evidence to the Delphi Center lab.  She discovers that there may have been a witness to the murder, and surmises by her forensic tests that it is a young child.  The race is on to find the witness before the murderer finds out that someone was watching.

What follows is a very exciting adventure with so many twists and turns, it was important to not miss anything.   Brooke and Sean’s relationship escalated into a sizzling romance, with their chemistry together off the wall.  However, despite this sexy romance, the murder investigation is always the main focus of the story.  Sean becomes unnerved when he finds Brooke taking a personal approach to find the child, and he tries to tell her it is his job to investigate, and she should stay only with deciphering the evidence.

Brooke despite Sean’s warnings continues to get herself into situations that are not her job description, and puts herself in danger.  The last half of the book is an edge of your seat thriller that will not allow you put the book down. To tell too much more would be spoilers, which I do not want to do.   I loved Brooke and Sean together, and did think that Brooke went too far, and Sean was such a great hero, and perfect for Brooke.

I am a big fan of the Tracers series, which has a bit of everything; intricate mystery, murder, suspense, exciting,  great couple & secondary characters, as well as a sexy romance in the background.  But the best thing about this series is how Griffin uses her knowledge of forensic anthropology and police procedural throughout her books.  It is amazing to see how they can use different things for the clues they find; on just about anything.

Touch of Red continues the Tracers series with an amazing intense mystery that has you on the edge throughout the entire book.   If you enjoy a fast paced romance suspense, a murder mystery, with lots of action, intense situations and a touch of romance, then you should be reading Laura Griffin’s Tracers series. This is a wonderful series you should not be missing.

Reviewed by Barb

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