A murder mystery that’ll have you guessing until the very end, and suspecting almost every single character at one point to committing the grisly crime. Throw in a little sex up against a wall and you’ve got yourself a keeper.
What’s it About?
Washington, D.C., Metro Police Detective Sergeant Sam Holland needs a big win to salvage her career–and her confidence–after a disastrous investigation. The perfect opportunity arises when Senator John O’Connor is found brutally murdered in his bed, and Sam is assigned to the case. Matters get complicated when Sam has to team up with Nick Cappuano, O’Connor’s friend and chief of staff…and the man Sam had a memorable one-night stand with years earlier. Their sexual chemistry still sizzles, and Sam has to fight to stay focused on the case. Sleeping with a material witness is another mistake she can’t afford–especially when the bodies keep piling up.
First Impressions
This story grabs you right from the get-go with Nick’s discovery of a tragic murder. The detective assigned to the case is Sam Holland, who he had a one-night stand with about six years ago. The two have always wondered what might have been. The brilliance of this book is that it’s the perfect blend of mystery and romance. There’s also a decent amount of sexual tension involved between Nick and Sam. They try to control their urges, seeing as Nick is a material witness in this murder case, but neither wants to let this opportunity pass them by. So they don’t!
The Murder
The connection between Nick and the murder victim, John, really made this murder more personal. The two have been friends for years, and I think it’s this connection that is often missing in other mystery novels with a romantic aspect. Oftentimes the victim is a stranger, so the characters don’t really have an emotional link to the case. The fact that Nick and John were friends makes this murder mystery even more imperative to solve.
At times I do think there may have been some liberties with the information that Sam disclosed to Nick about the case. I mean, she even brings him along to some interviews she has with potential suspects. Seems like something he should have stayed in the car for seeing as he knew the victim? Meh, what do I know about criminal proceedings?
*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*
Series: The Fatal series, book 1. I’ll definitely be a reader of this series, especially seeing as it’s set where I live!
Should you read it? It’s a good mystery romance. I did guess the identity of our killer a little over halfway through, but it still manages to be surprising and keep your interest.
Smut Level: Throughout the book I kept hoping we would have had more insight into their one night stand years before. Well, ask and you shall receive! There’s a prequel novella at the end which discloses all the flirtatious details.
Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $2.99 Kindle Price. Carina Press. 416 Pages.
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