Against the Tide by Kat Martin

I’m no expert when it comes to police protocol, but I have a feeling it isn’t quite being followed in this small Alaska town.

What’s it About? 

Liv Chandler is running for her life, and the cops haven’t been able to do a thing to help. But there’s one man who makes her feel safe, no matter what…rugged charter boat captain Rafe Brodie. To Rafe, Liv is a beautiful mystery, one he can’t ignore. He means to unearth her secrets, and in the process, if luck is on his side, maybe the spark between them will ignite. But Liv’s past is more dangerous than Rafe could guess, and when his first mate turns up dead, she fears that she’s next. That there’s something else coming she can’t see. That even Rafe and the remote village of Valdez, Alaska can’t protect her forever…

First Impressions

After his friend and co-worker is murdered, Rafe vows to find his killer. Olivia, or Liv, offers to help him in his quest at playing detective. I’m not really sure why she offered to help, as she didn’t really know the victim, and barely knew Rafe. That being said, I can’t really complain because it does bring them together for some hot and crazy sex.

Police Drama

Valdez, Alaska has a police force consisting of a whopping 11 people. I understand they are short staffed, especially considering they now have a murder on their hands, but they’re sharing forensic information and security camera pics with Rafe! Is that allowed?! He isn’t even police or military, but ex Coast Guard. Seems a little unconventional to me, but what do I know?

We as the audience know almost immediately who the killer is, and that this crime is linked to a larger terrorist plot in the area. Rafe enlists some friends for help, and eventually they discover the ultimate target for this terrorist group, but they take some wild guesses seemingly out of left field to come to that conclusion. Eh, maybe it’s beginner’s luck at playing cops and robbers?

On the Run

Liv actually isn’t who she says she is, but is on the run and wanted for murder. Don’t worry, she didn’t do it, but she witnessed who really killed her ex-husband. Turns out it was a Congress woman that he was having an affair with, but because she’s so well liked the media decided to cover up Liv’s accusation that the politician was in fact a murderer.

Does anybody else find this extremely hard to believe? Since when do the papers not report on what could be the biggest political scandal of the century?! In my opinion, this side story of having Liv on the run was not only unbelievable, but unnecessary when considering all the other drama we’ve got on our hands. Sometimes focusing on one story line can have a better impression on the book as a whole.

*A copy of this audiobook was provided by Recorded Books for an honest review*

Series: the Brodies of Alaska, book 3. I hadn’t read books 1 or 2, and had no problems following along.

Should you read it? There were quite a few unrealistic aspects to the story, but it was suspenseful and engaging.

Smut Level: Not even an unsolved murder can squelch the simmering passion between these two.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $5.69 Kindle Price. Zebra Publishing. 400 Pages.