Series: The Texas Murder Files #5
on May 21, 2024
Genres: Contemporary RS
Pages: 344
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
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.
In this fifth installment in Ms. Griffin’s Texas Murder Files series, we finally see Nicole get her story. I’ve really enjoyed this series quite a bit, and this book was no exception.
This author usually starts her stories with a viewpoint from someone other than the main hero/heroines characters, and it really works. I like seeing the different characters, even if they aren’t one of the main characters. When this book starts, a woman is out for a run and she sees something unusual. A parked car. And as she gets closer, she recognizes the car. And the dead body inside. The problem is, even though she speaks with the police, she may not be telling the truth, or at least not the entire truth.
Nicole Lawson has been waiting for her day to finally be the lead detective on a case, and when she’s called from a date to go to a possible crime scene, she’s expecting to be the lead. When yet again she isn’t chosen, she’s made even more angry that Emmet is lead. It’s always Emmet with his easy smile and quick wit. Oh sure he’s hot, and smart, and everything she loves, but he’s also a womanizer and she’s not interested. At least that’s what she tells herself.
For Emmet, he’s been in love with Nicole for years, but she won’t give him the time of day. As they work on the case that seemingly has no leads, while at the same time, every witness is a liar, the two of them get closer and closer.
One thing that drove me nuts about this book is that I felt the tension way back in book 1, and yet in this book, it wasn’t as prevalent. It took over 50% of the book for Nicole and Emmet to start getting into the push/pull of even a kiss. I wanted more romance between the two of them. We’ve had 4 books leading up to this one of the two of them sniping at each other and kicking up sparks every time they got near, but in this book, it’s very much a slow burn situation. I did enjoy it, don’t get me wrong, but I wanted more.
The mystery is stagnating, the main witness is missing, the leads have dried up, and Emmet and Nicole keep dancing around each other. In order to solve this case, they’re going to have to put egos aside and work together rather than just near each other. Once a true partnership forms between the two, both in and outside of the bedroom, the case proceeds.
I really love the police procedural meets Romantic Suspense that this author has created with this series. And I love the Law & Order but make it romance feel of all of her books. If you like mysteries, Suspense, thrillers, or romance, this book is all of those. While it is book 5 in the series, I don’t think you’ll be lost or confused. You will see other happy couples and realize they must’ve been previous books (they were), but it’s not confusing in any way. But I highly recommend this full series. You’ll enjoy it!
***ARC courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley
