ABOUT THE BOOK:
The woman panics as the thick smoke starts to curl under the locked door. She can’t breathe and desperately tries to open the window, but it’s been sealed shut. Falling to the floor, she finally accepts there’s no way out of this room alive. And as her vision starts to fade, she prays she dies before the flames find her.
When human remains are discovered behind a dumpster in Woodbridge, Virginia, Detective Amanda Steele rushes to the scene. Her heart drops when she arrives and is hit by the unmistakable stench of gasoline. Soon, her worst fear is confirmed: the victim was burned alive.
With only an engraved gold wedding band surviving the blaze, Amanda knows it could be days before they have a confirmed ID. But when her partner Detective Trent Stenson arrives, he pales at the sight of the ring, recognizing it as belonging to his Aunt Gertrude’s husband, Don.
Trent is convinced his aunt isn’t involved, but as more is unearthed about her troubled relationship with her husband, and she fails to provide an alibi, Amanda isn’t so sure. Desperate to prove his aunt’s innocence, Trent soon discovers someone from Don’s past is back in Woodbridge—someone who wants revenge. But Amanda and Trent are shaken to their core when that person is discovered brutally murdered.
Convinced the cases are linked, Amanda knows she has to find the cold-blooded killer before they strike again. And as Trent becomes even more emotionally entangled in the case, she’s terrified he could become the next victim…
A completely edge-of-your-seat and gripping crime thriller, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Buy Link(s):
https://geni.us/B0CVQB68W2social
MY REVIEW:
I was immediately sucked into this book from the first mysterious chapter where a woman is trapped in a burning room. You are left wondering what just happened. Never fear. It will make sense later on.
When Detective Amanda Steele and her partner, Detective Trent Stenson, are called to a gruesome scene in an alley, they find human remains that have been burned beyond recognition. They realize that identifying this individual will be difficult. That is until Trent recognizes the wedding ring. He is fairly certain the ring belongs to his aunt’s husband, Don. They always say that the spouse is the first suspect, and this is certainly true in this case. Trent does not believe his aunt is capable of murder, but he knows that their marriage was troubled and turbulent, which does not look good for her.
As they dig deeper into the investigation, they realize that Don had many enemies, which means the suspect pool just got a little deeper. The stakes are higher than ever as Trent tries to remain objective in this investigation. He is fighting his professionalism as an investigator following the clues and loving his aunt.
This was a masterpiece of intrigue, suspense and mystery with many layers. As each layer was peeled back, my jaw dropped a little further to the floor. I was shocked to my core when I realized what was going on. The entire book was intense and completely addictive. I was burning the midnight oil to finish it. This is another great police procedural/crime thriller starring one of my favorite fictional detective duos. I also enjoy that the author shows us a personal side to the characters. They are more than just detectives. They have a home life. This makes the characters more realistic for me. I would give this book more than five stars if possible. It is that good.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Author Bio
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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 cozy mysteries, police procedurals, 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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