Nothing to Hide

A Roland March Mystery #3

by J. Mark Bertrand

The Stakes Have Never Been Higher for this Homicide Cop
"Publishers Weekly" calls J. Mark Bertrand's writing "gritty and chilling." He returns once more to the streets of Houston for another twisting mystery featuring Detective Roland March. This time, a new case is launched by the discovery of a headless corpse...only the investigation quickly becomes complicated when a blood sample analysis brings a phone call from the FBI.
The body was an undercover agent working to bring down Mexican cartels. The feds want the case closed rather than risk exposing other agents in the field, but March can't abide letting a murder go unsolved. And he doesn't have to dig long to figure out something isn't right. Someone is covering something up, and it seems that everyone has something to hide. Maybe even March, as the case soon intersects, unexpectedly, with the murder that led him to become a homicide cop, all those years ago.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Christian Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Christian

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

J. Mark Bertrand is the author of Back on Murder, Pattern of Wounds, and Nothing to Hide, crime novels featuring Houston homicide detective Roland March. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston and lived in the city for fifteen years. After one hurricane too many, he and his wife moved to South Dakota.

Reviews

[Dave Milbrandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy J. Mark Bertrand because he can write gritty stories and complex characters without profane language and excessive violence or sexual content. He really is helping to redefine storytelling in the faith fiction market. Other than some confusion about the romantic loyalties of the protagonist, the rest of this story is excellent. The first-person POV is well-crafted, and the flashbacks that I normally am not keen on, work well here.

[Dennis Wales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still love reading books set in my hometown. Though I no longer live there it is still special to me. It’s also fun to read a book that takes me places I have been before. Most books I read take me places that are exotic like The French Riviera or the Alps, but this one took me to a diner on Yale street that I may have eaten at in the past. So cool. Well written too. Thanks, Mr. Bertrand. It was fun.

[Kathy Togliatti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me forever to read, but it's the last of the series so I wanted to get through. Gets exciting at the end. I like the main character, but it needs to be read quicker (I kept forgetting who the characters were!).

[Zan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without giving away the plot, I'll say that this book is ambitious for a detective novel. That is, it was more expansive than the police procedurals I'm accustomed to reading. Did Bertrand pull it off? I think he did. The author has crime lit skills for sure. Bertrand reminds me of Michael Connelly with the way he lays out one detail after another like you're there. His descriptions of settings and characters are thorough without being overbearing. It helps to know specific Houston geography because the protagonist is an HPD officer. As an aside, I'm curious to see how Bertrand's writing would change if he had the freedom of a non-Xian publisher. This is definitely cleaner than most other detective novels I'm accustomed to reading (i.e. no bad language). I want to say more about this book, but the author is a FB friends and I don't want to blow the plot publicly. So read his books yourself and hit me up with your take and I'll elaborate on mine. One final thing: I've read Back on Murder but somehow skipped to installment #3 before reading #2. So I need to go back and read Pattern of Wounds.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received from Bethany House Publishers: the third Roland March mystery. Detective Roland March has to solve yet another murder, but this time it involves the CIA, a Mexican drug cartel, and people from his military past. If you're into paranoia-infused thrillers then this is the book for you.

Also, I'm a little bit concerned that I have the same taste in music that a middle-aged man from Houston does. Leave me to wallow over that for the next few days.

for a more thorough review

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel really "meh" about this one. I liked the story, lots of twists and turns, but it felt like it ended pretty abruptly, like there should be at least one more book after this one. A lot of March's personal stuff was left up in the air.

[Elizabeth Maddrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad I stuck with the series after the second book - this one is SO much better.

[Rebekah Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a series, these books are excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them and getting to know the characters. Bertrand has a spot on telling of the human race, made up of individuals with hurts and goals and weak/blind spots. I would love for the March mysteries to continue, but seeing as it’s been over a decade since the final one came out, it’s not likely that’ll happen.

As the third book in the series, I found this one to be weaker in the story. Another reviewer mentioned that this was ambitious for a detective novel, and I have to agree with that. It also seemed like the “detective” side of things was lacking, that most of the clues and links came through conversations rather than figuring it out, though there is still plenty of action. It is satisfying in that it closes a particular story left open earlier.

All that said, I enjoyed them all and am glad to have read the series. I definitely recommend to someone interested in dipping their toes into mystery/crime novels.

[Candee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will hold to what I said about book 2 in this series; it's the better of all three. This one got good in the last quarter of it, but it was terribly anticlimactic. It left too many loose ends, unanswered questions. It, like the first of the series, is full of unnecessary details that do not lend to the story. If you're a speed-reader, you learn to skip these parts. I got the whole story without reading all the unnecessary details. However, it is well-written, mostly. I leave it to you to decide for yourself.

[Jackie Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like this detective in Nothing to Hide. Roland March goes after the bad guys and nothing gets in his way. In this novel there is a headless victim with skinned hands. Some parts are gruesome, but worth the read. March stays in trouble with the higher ups and still gets the job done. Is injured in this novel. You will like this detective.

[DK · Rating 3 out of 5]

3rd book in Roland March series; always entertaining and well-developed characters, new and old intertwined; only concern was the long chase at the end seemed unlikely (the bad guys couldn't tell they were being followed?); I'll read more though!

[Greg Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Ops and Drug Cartels; Federal Agents and Gun Shipments

I different battle calls Roland March away from home and into the bowels of Dante's Inferno. Pass paced psychological thriller.

[Vanessa Armijo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice wrap-up to the trilogy. I enjoyed it but think it could have been a little bit better. I think the second book was the best one out of this trilogy.

[Jan Norton]

This book was difficult for me to keep reading. I did finish it. It wasn't a bad story, it just didn't hold my attention.

[Patricia L Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same pattern as book two

Only this time he trusts complete strangers instead of long standing friends I thought he was learning. He needs to retire. Go fishing.

[Jen Dodrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the Roland March series, even though I get mixed up by the characters!

[John Majors · Rating 3 out of 5]

an entertaining and clean murder mystery series. worth mixing into your reading lineup.

[Renn Shearin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grisly homicide.
An international threat.
The stakes have never been higher for Detective Roland March.
The victim's head is missing, but what intrigues Detective Roland March is the hand. The pointing finger must be a clue--but to what? According to the FBI, the dead man was an undercover asset tracking the flow of illegal arms to the Mexican cartels. To protect the operation, they want March to play along with the cover story. With a little digging, though, he discovers the Feds are lying. And they're not the only ones.
In an upside-down world of paranoia and conspiracy, March finds himself dogged by injury and haunted by a tragic failure. Forced to take justice into his own hands, his twisting investigation leads him into the very heart of darkness, leaving March with nothing to lose--and nothing to hide.

Nothing to Hide by J. Mark Bertrand is the third novel in the Roland March Mystery series which follows the cases of Roland March, homicide detective. It is not critical to read the books in order, as I had not read the first two novels, but if you plan to read all three, then you should read them in order so that the results of the first two mysteries are not spoiled by the third. The plot line of Nothing to Hide was well crafted and contained many unexpected twists as March raced to discover the truth of what had happened. This novel contains an incredible mystery and I was hooked from beginning to end. The storyline is graphic and grisly at times, but it clearly displays the tough case that March has to deal with. At intervals throughout the book the story goes back almost thirty years to when March was in the army and was dealing with corruption and the CIA. The first few times that the novel goes back into March's memories, it seems unrelated to the case at hand, but it is eventually drawn brilliantly into the overall storyline. The story is told from the perspective of Roland March and is set primarily in present tense which engages the reader and really pulls them into the story.

The characters were gritty and realistic. Roland March was a complex and flawed character who was open in his struggles. He is not a Christian, but he is surrounded by others, such as his wife and a close friend, who are Christians and live their lives honestly and show him Christlike love. I got the feeling that March has grown significantly through the series in his spiritual journey, and I was able to see his continued progress through Nothing to Hide as secrets were laid bare and as he had to decide between the right choice and the wrong. The other supporting characters were significantly less complex than Roland, but they were still interesting and added to the story's depth. There were even surprising twists in certain characters as their true colors were revealed.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and cannot wait to read the first two novels in the Roland March Mystery Series. The plot line was gripping and intense, the narrative style and flashbacks interesting, and the characters complex, flawed, and realistic. I enjoyed seeing March's growth as a character even as he struggled against the reality of a loving God at work in his life.

I received this novel for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this first book in a Roland March series we get off to a slow start. While there are some admirable approaches from J. Mark Bertrand there is also some pace issues that don't seem conducive to the fact this is supposed to be a suspense. Since he also publishing with a Christian company he has to squeeze in some sort of faith based subject matter in his book, and while it seems to be a good approach to get people thinking it isn't wrapped in obscurely enough to be creative.

When a victim is found decapitated it is up to March to investigate the roots of this crime. Interestingly Detective March finds that the body is a high profile undercover asset in watching over the movement of illegal arms from Mexican cartels. After beginning his investigation he finds the Feds are feeding him lies though, and that he must risk his own life to discover the truth behind the body that he seeking to find answers about.

Unless you are a hardcore fan of suspense novels this will be a difficult read to get through. It gets slow in a lot of areas, and the characters seem to ramble to fill space. The good thing was that the novel was easy to keep up with for the most part, and at firs the mystery around the body was interesting, but as you grow deeper into the world of the government it just doesn't interest. Government novels are probably just something mostly for that audience. On top of that there were times that the character's relationships to each other just seemed confusing.

Unlike many that tackle some Christian subjects it does try to get a little deeper except it relies on another book to explain the questions being tackled without delving too much into itself. March is often told of carrying around The Foxhole Atheist, but there were never many moments his conversations on the subject captured me.

Also, many might disagree but I always get confused about why novels published by Christian companies can be okay with violence, but they aren't realistic about the words, and actions of people that would occur in these situations. It's okay to find a body left a mess in a murder, but it's not okay to discuss a married couple having sex. These things just have some sort of contradiction to them. Since this novel is easy to keep up with you never fully drift off and put the book down for good though.

Nothing to Hide tries to tackle some more complex subjects, and the writing is good. Something about the characters don't really catch though. Hilda and Bea seemed the more interesting of the characters featured, but they were a ploy for the man that was being searched for. March lacked something though, and hopefully in the rest of the series he will continue to grow as a character into something more complex. There were a lot of things that seemed absent about him though, and nothing romantic was even felt between him and Charlotte.

Rating 2 of 5.

This book was provided by Bethany House in exchange for a review.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bertrand delivers a great story, excellent writing, and dimensional characters! Why such a lousy rating? Keep reading.

The story is fast paced and includes whole new scenes that provide depth. All the gun talk was great; accurate and fun to read about. Beware, this is not a sugary sweet story. It is gritty and gets dirty with the betrayals and killings.

The author can write. The attention to detail is spot on. I don’t mean pages and pages of wallpaper descriptions. I mean nuggets of color that nail a personality or event.

I love detective March. He is honest, flawed, hard-working and dedicated. He makes mistakes and moves on. He knows who he is, and he doesn’t beat himself up when he’s wrong.

So, what’s wrong with “Nothing to Hide”?

It reads like the author raped the Christian genre. He took what he wanted, what he could get out of it, and didn’t give anything back. He met the very bare minimum requirements to meet the Christian genre standards to get himself published in the big leagues. I wonder if this series was written for the secular audience and then at the very last minute a few faith words were thrown in to qualify for attention in the Christian market.

I am totally ok with a main character not being a believer. I think it was a refreshing take. I’m even ok with the MC never accepting Christ and becoming a Christian. But I think in the very least he should have gotten to the point where he questioned his stance and considered the possibility of a higher being. To the end, even when he had a near death experience, he never wavered on his non-belief. To the argument that the author was just scattering seeds: holy cow, every stinking seed fell on the path, the rocks or the among the thorns! Not a single seed found good soil. That was frustrating and what made me rate this so harshly. And shame on BethanyHouse for letting this wolf in sheep’s clothing get away with using (abusing?) the Christian genre for his personal gain.

So,

If you are a non-believer: read this book! The whole series is great. There is no Bible thumping, no preaching. The author will not try to convert you.

If you are a believer just looking for an exciting, but clean book: read this book! There is no foul language, no sex. There is some violence and graphic murder scenes, but that’s par for the course.

If you are anyone hoping to find a story that inspires you along the way. Or gives you the joy that comes with witnessing someone make a life changing decision. Or just want to read a few nuggets of Truth. Or experience the mighty and mysterious ways God can work in someone’s life. Nope. Put this book back on the shelf and keep looking.

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing to Hide is the latest novel from J. Mark Bertrand where the reader is once more following the detective Roland March who has been called to the scene of a grisly murder. This time its a decapitated body where all visible signs of identification have been removed, no tattoos, no skin left on either hand and no head, with any possible dental record identifications long gone. Only one clue remains on the body, a finger pointing into the woods. Is that where the head is? Is that the direction Detective March must begin this investigation? Or is there something someone really wants to hide?

As he launches into a confusing investigation that turn up more questions than answers, Detective March injures himself while trying to cross a gully and resolves to self medicate himself over seeing a doctor, even though this injury seems to cause him immeasurable pain. A meeting with FBI leads him to Agent Bea Kuykendahl who informs him that she knows who his John Doe murder victim is, but insists on keeping his identity a secret to prevent another undercover agent from being murdered in the process of an ongoing sting operation.

She provides him with a folder filled with false information she requires him to investigate to ensure whoever has murdered John Doe, feels that they made a huge mistake. She believes it's only with March's help, that together they can bring this case to a close. However when the information that March begins to uncover doesn't make sense, he can only conclude that someone else besides the murderer has something to hide, something they will do anything to prevent from being revealed.

I received Nothing to Hide from J. Mark Bertrand compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. This one was a bit confusing for me to understand. Having read the prior Roland March mystery's, I was determined to follow this one through to the end. I have to say however that this one did not resonate with me like the ones before, and with so many various leads that Roland spent chasing, encounters with the FBI, people from his past with ties to the Mexican cartel, and the time spent at the Gun Club, left me wanting so much more from this one. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and for those of you who love crime/mystery novels, then you will undoubtedly will want to pick up this series.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not for the faint of heart! It’s gruesome and torturous in places. But within the world Roland Mark finds himself in, these horrors become the norm to the men and women who work to get drugs and illegal arms to the cartels when they want them.

Bertrand’s characters are well-developed, but there are definitely some you would not want to get involved with. The camaraderie between Lorenz and Roland as partners is genuine as police officers. The interactions between the police department, the FBI, and the CIA are true to form–no one wants to give up information that might hinder any of their activities that are ongoing. It’s a book of secrets, manipulations, and betrayal all within the confines of the main characters dealing with the murder and the cartels. The multiple twists and turns that take place seem monumental at times. There’s confusion as to who is on whose side.

If you are the thriller type reader, you will find that Bertrand’s book delivers and then some! The gruesomeness of the headless victim portends to what is to transpire as the book progresses. Though it’s grueling and gruesome, the author overrides some of the horror and hardships of the job by depicting Roland’s loving marriage relationship. And you’ll need it for a respite!

This story will make you wonder if you really want to contend with a job in the police department, CIA or FBI. Are you the gritty type to find the truth regardless of the consequences or one to let some of the evidence slide by as requested by your chief in charge? These are the people who put their lives on the line to keep our lives safer.

Though I did find some references to faith, it’s was not as well-defined in the context I’m used to. It is tested to the max in the heat of the action, however, but in a wondering way of what’s ‘out there.’

Because this book was inspired by a true life story, it made the book even that much more interesting to me, as I enjoy working through the criminal mind. But do be prepared for the gruesomeness of the story. It’s unfortunately real life for some people. I found that the innocent ones who are trying to do their job are the ones that my heart goes out to.

This book was provided by Noelle Buss of Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was exchanged.

[Bill Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTHING TO HIDE, by J. Mark Bertrand, is the third book in the series featuring Det. Roland March. I love the series, love the author, and can't wait for the next book, but this one is probably my least favorite. The great thing about this series is the gritty realism and detail. You know that Bertrand knows what he's talking about from page one. He understands police work and procedures. He gets how the characters work and interact with each other. Reading books by Bertrand make you realize how far off some authors are in their portrayal of police procedure. I compare Bertrand with Steven James in the ability to craft a compelling thriller with heroic but flawed good guys and capable, but layered villains.

In this novel, Det. March and his partner are investigating a crime scene where the victim is headless and his hands have been arranged to point to a clue. March discovers the victim may have ties to the Mexican drug cartels, and after he is temporarly suspended for an officer involved shooting, he discovers a much deeper conspiracy. At its core, this is a conspiracy thriller. March is facing forces much larger than normal killers. He must deal with CIA, FBI, Mexican Cartel, and assassins that all have different agendas and suspect motives.

The plot is ultimately what made me not like the novel as much. Bertrand has already shown he's a complex plotter. This one had so many twists and turns and I just didn't by into it as much. Then he brings villains from previous novels back into play. I always worry when authors do that. Often, they are much more tied to their characters than readers are. I know I could remember nothing about the character brought back, even though he was a major player in Bertrand's excellent last novel

Like I said, my least favorite of the three. But, I really like this book and recommend you start with the first and read the series. Roland March is a strong character, a mid-40s detective rebuilding his life after career struggles and personal tragedy. This is a Christian novel, but "Christian" element is minimal and certainly not overt. I received a copy from the publisher for review purposes.

[Adam Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing to Hide begins with Roland March investigating a murder where the victim was beheaded and skinned. An FBI Agent gives him the name of the victim but then he sees the supposed victim at the same spot where his partner is gunned down, Marsh knows he's on to something bigger.

On Administrative leave while the police investigates his shooting of the man who killed his partner, March continues a quiet investigation into a dark world of ex-CIA men, and drug and gun running, where no one is quite what they seem and no one can be trusted.

The book is a major departure from previous books with its emphasis on clandestine intelligence and Mexican gun running, it reads more like a spy novel at points rather than a police procedural.

Unlike in previous books where Marsh's personal life with supporting characters is a subplot, here it feels more like background or characterization. The book spends less time on his current relationships and more time on his past when he was a Marine lieutenant who encountered a mysterious man who offered him an entirely different path.

From a character standpoint, this is a fascinating story. The flashbacks tie into the main storyline. It also gives us a picture of who Roland March is and why he does what he does. This is an important question. March's beloved Captain is forced out by politics and replaced by his old boss, a woman whose leadership style is to make a cult of personality around her. His administrative leave is drug out by the Internal Affairs division despite evidence that he did nothing wrong. I found myself wandering whether March would ride off into the sunset to spend more time with his oft-traveling wife.

By the end of the book, I realized that wasn't going to happen and this book revealed why. Nothing to Hide paints a portrait of a man whose dedication to justice sometimes borders on fanaticism. He walks a fine line between tenacity and vigilante madness. Arguably he goes slightly over the line in this book before coming back.

March is the type of guy that George Orwell had mind when he said, "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Nothing to Hide is a book that left me admiring Roland March and slightly scared for him at the same time.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Nothing to Hide, Roland March is a Houston detective who discovered a man who had his head sadistically removed and the skin on his hands was de-skinned as well. The killer committed manslaughter with hope and belief that the police wouldn't be able to identity who the victim was and who killed him. The FBI had to get involved in the case and they claim that the victim was a secret representative working undercover. The agent was assisting and trying to put an end to the Mexican cartels. Roland is insisted in finding out the truth and the identity of the victim. The FBI is supplying him with a made up cover story to protect the other surreptitiously agents working towards bringing down the Mexican cartels. They are persuading him to stop digging up the truth and the facts and accept the lies they are telling him. Roland will be tested beyond his limits to search for the hidden darkness.

I would recommend this mystery novel to anyone who enjoys reading and investigating the life of a detective and a gigantic cover up with deceptions lurking around every corner. I immensely found interesting is that the author based his book on actual parts of events that occurred. I felt I was living through the pages of this book and I wanted to cease the Mexican cartels along side Roland. He was a likeable character who had the odds stacked up against him and he also was a loner who needed support and a team to back him up. He had to numerous times stand in opposition to injustice that surrounded him, wherever he seemed to travel. He fought for the truth to be revealed and the captives to be caught and charged by the justice system. The Mexican cartels resisted him and tried to attack him but he still fought the good fight. If you enjoy a magnificent packed filled mystery novel then this is the series to devout to reading!

"I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House Publishers book review bloggers program."

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First posted on my blog, Legacy of a Writer.

Out of all three books in the Roland March Mystery series, this newest one, Nothing to Hide, is probably my favorite. J. Mark Bertrand does a very good job of keeping his characters realistic and giving you a glimpse into what being a Homicide Detective is really like. Not all that glamorous or easy, that’s for sure!

I won’t pretend to like Roland—he was okay in Back on Murder and barely tolerable in Pattern of Wounds—though in Nothing to Hide I will admit he was a tad better. That said, it wasn’t a surprise to me when I began growing attached and more interested in other characters within the book. Namely, Terry Cavallo and Jeff. I always perked up when either of these two entered the scene. Needless to say to those who’ve read this book…I was in for some major surprises concerning them!

The whole mystery/intrigue/conspiracy was great, even if I did get confused a few times. But I pushed on through and experienced a great adventure alongside Roland. The things that take place and are touched on in Nothing to Hide are very mature in nature—description of mutilated corpse, rape, torture—so I wouldn’t recommend this series to younger teens.

I’m not sure if Bertrand has more in store for Roland, but I would read them. True, Roland is a pretty rough and cold guy, but he’s blessed to be surrounded by some great friends who love him anyway—and the mysteries are always sure to be great! For all you mystery readers out there…read this series!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roland March is called to the scene of a gruesome murder. He finds the body of a male, but the head is missing and there is a strange clue , which March cannot quite figure out.
"Nothing To Hide", by J. Mark Bertrand, a a fast passed crime story in what appears to be a series of mysteries dedicated to Roland March. As I have not read any of the others, I can only assume the above. In any case I found this story intriguing and captivating. March appears to be a old timer in the annuls of police work and he is fighting to both keep his job and deal with his past.
This novel will keep you guessing throughout. There are some chapters which relate to March's' past. Can these chapters provide an insight into the murder he is now trying to solve, or is it just an background of March himself. I'm certainly not going to spill the beans.
Once March gets going he finds himself confounded by outside pressures. The FBI is throwing monkey wrenches into his investigation, but why? At one point in this story, March's partner and friend is murdered. This sends March into a frenzy which may end his career. the search for answers takes March from Houston to Mexico and along the way, he encounters some seedy characters and maybe some seedy law enforcement officials who may not want the crime solved.
I'd like to thank Bethany House for the opportunity to both read and review this selection. "Nothing To Hide", by J. Mark Bertrand is sure to be a hit. Crime drama readers and enthusiasts will be clamoring for more. Once you open this book, you will not want to put it down, until you know Who Done It.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I thought the first two books in the series, Back on Murder and Pattern of Wounds, were really good. I like the author's voice and his use of words. Each and every sentence seems to be carefully thought out. The writing is brilliant, really.

A word of warning, the initial murder is a little gruesome, but the book is so well written, if you can stand a little gore, it's WELL worth it!

I did figure out the killer A little over halfway through the book, but was left guessing as to how the plot would come together.

Mr. Bertrand definitely has a gift for character development. I really enjoy each and every character in these books. There's so much depth and emotion to the characters, they come across as real people you might know or come across in day-to-day life.

Roland March is such a great character. I appreciate the fact that while he's a tough cop, he has a soft, compassionate side. Sometimes authors get so wrapped up in giving us a gritty, tough cop character, they forget that that doesn't come across as 'real'.

I thought it was interesting that while March might not always follow the rules, everything he does seems smart. He makes educated decisions and only disobeys the rules if he has no other choice, while still realizing what he's doing is wrong.

I think this is the last book in the series, and while it's disappointing to see a great series end, I would have to say this is one of the best series I've ever read.

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing to Hide continues the story of Detective Roland March, as begun first in "Back on Murder" and then "Pattern of Wounds", and it does so in a tremendously satisfying manner. Now, as I've warned with other similar suspense books, not all readers will be comfortable with the occasional grisly scene. However, readers who enjoy a good suspense novel are going to find this book to be completely entertaining, well-written, and sure to leave you thinking as you ponder the ethical dilemmas March finds himself in. The conspiracy underpinning this book makes for an absorbing read, and I greatly enjoyed the occasional "Interludes" which take the reader back a couple of decades to where everything began for Detective March, providing valuable insight into who March is as a character and what he stands for. The plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you riveted to the pages, and I honestly found the book impossible to put down. And I have to say, I was completely surprised when the murderer was revealed, something that doesn't happen all that often! Well done Bertrand!

I highly recommend not only Nothing to Hide, but the entire series, which is definitely one I will be reading again in the future. Bertrand has earned a permanent place on my "must read" list. 5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a body is found without a head and the hands de-gloved, Houston Detective March is called into work undercover to help track the arms sales from the Mexican Cartel. What he finds is more twisted than he could imagine with the corruption reaching the FBI and the cover-up going back to the first crime that pulled March into detective work.



Switching back and forth time periods, this book requires your full attention to keep up with the characters, crimes, and adventures. However, it is worth the effort. While complex, the plot moves along quickly and will keep you guessing. I was just as surprised as March when the final twist was revealed.



Readers of the first two books will enjoy the most complex development of March to date with the insight into why he does what he does. There are a lot of great murder mysteries out there, but this one has better character development than most that I've read.



Bertrand definitely saved the best for last. This epilogue is amazing and demonstrates the growth of March as a character and Bertrand as a writer. I can't explain what exactly what makes it so special other than it resonated with me more than I expect from a mystery novel.



Fans of suspense will love this book. It's labeled Christian fiction, but it's light on the preaching and heavy on the action, which is how I like my mysteries.



I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.