Conard County: Murderous Intent

Conard County: The Next Generation #56

by Rachel Lee

As a storm rages,
can he unmask the murderer in their midst?

When a killer strikes twice in the same day, former soldier turned stockade owner Josh Healey steps in to protect the locals who’ve taken refuge across the creek. But it’s writer Krystal Metcalfe who penetrates his hardened exterior. Then, just as the investigation is truly getting underway, a savage rainstorm cuts them off from the outside world. Now Josh and Krystal must trust each other with their secrets to stop a chilling vendetta…and survive.

Genres: Romance

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 11, 2024

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Rachel Lee is a New York Times best-selling author and the winner of Six Romantic Times magazine Reviewers' Choice Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and is a five-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America's RITA® Award. She has penned a wide variety of novels in several genres including fantasy, romantic suspense, and romantic comedy. She resides in Tampa, Florida.

Reviews

[Teri-K · Rating 2 out of 5]

In school we learned that a tragic hero has a fatal flaw - some aspect of his personality that means no matter how much good he tries to do he will eventually fail spectacularly. This novel unfortunately has it's own fatal flaw. Let me explain...

This is a Romantic Suspense story about two groups of people who live across a river from each other in rural, mountainous Wyoming. They've stayed apart, each a little suspicious and unfriendly. As a terrible storm looms over them, someone is found dead, and they end up having to work together to stay alive. I really loved the first 2/3 of this book. It took a few chapters to get going, but once the storm hit I was turning pages like crazy, totally caught up in the uncertainty and confusion. The elements of the storm weren't overdone, but used in just the right amount to ratchet up the tension. Several possible killers were clear to me, but there were so many others to consider, and the details were so muddled, that I had no clue what was actually happening. I literally felt my muscles tighten and my breathing get a bit shallower as I read. Perfect for this type of thriller!

Then the author made a strange choice. She clearly told us who the murderer was, why it was taking place, and explained away all the puzzling aspects of the plot! I was so shocked I wondered for a minute if this was a red herring. But no, we were inside the killer's head for one short scene. After that the story went back to normal, but it was too late. I actually felt the tension seep away from my body when I read, and I never gained it back. This was totally unnecessary - information could have been given another way - and it ruined the rest of the book for me.

Let me be clear - there's a difference between a thriller and a mystery. In a good mystery I don't care about the above, I can still get caught up in the unfolding story. But it's difficult for a thriller to do what this author did and still keep me invested. And I wasn't invested here. I did finish reading the book, but felt so deflated it went from a 5 star to 2. I would read another book by this author, as she did a great job for a large part of this book, but I'm really sad about how it wound down. I'm relieved I got it from my library, at least. Disappointing choice by the author and editors ruined what was a super book.

[David Pyrlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely just loved the thrill of this book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book that kept me interested from start to finish. It is fast-paced, as the story takes place over a few days. Krystal and her mother own a writer's retreat in the Cash Creek area of Conard County. Krystal loves the peace and quiet of the forest retreat and is disturbed when the long-absent property owner across the creek moves in and starts building a fort. Her initial encounters with him don't go well.

Josh is a veteran turned psychologist who builds a retreat for fellow veterans who have PTSD. He is very protective of his soldiers and worries about the attitudes of outsiders toward them. They pretty much keep to themselves.

As the story starts, a group of writers is at the retreat. Some are introverted and keep to themselves as they do their writing. Others are friendlier and like to socialize. Then there is one who is highly extroverted and constantly makes himself the center of attention. Krystal doesn't like him, but he brings business to the retreat. Mason is bloviating one day when Josh bursts into the lodge, fuming mad. Someone cruelly injured a dog and left it outside the stockade. He all but accuses one of them of being the culprit.

Tension increased as people on both sides of the creek worried about what might happen next. There is a worrisome visit with the dog's owner and an interview with the sheriff, who came to investigate the shooting. The injured dog, Reject, adopted Krystal and went home with her. The day went on with a storm building, and Reject showed up at the stockade. When Josh returns him to Krystal, he senses trouble. Things get freaky when Reject intermittently howls and stares out the window. Josh trusts that the dog senses something and decides to stick around.

Things go from bad to worse when Mason and another writer are found dead. Is the killer out there somewhere, waiting to kill again? Or is it one of them, huddled in the lodge, wondering what is happening? Josh's protective instincts are aroused, and he recruits some of his soldiers to help protect the writers. The suspense is intense as Josh and Krystal attempt to keep everyone safe and figure out who is behind the murders. In an unusual step, the author reveals the killer to the reader early. I wasn't surprised by the identity, but the accomplice was a surprise. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, with a resolution that wasn't what I expected.

The relationship between Josh and Krystal happened quickly. It was a rough start, with Krystal being suspicious and Josh being uncommunicative. But under the antagonism were sparks of attraction that neither could ignore. When the trouble started, Josh couldn't fight his protectiveness. Krystal was smart enough to accept his help. Spending that much time together allowed them to get to know each other a little. It takes Krystal a while to understand Josh's prickliness about his vets, but I liked that she tried. I loved that they acknowledged their feelings but knew they needed to get to know each other better.

I liked seeing some Conard County regulars like Gage Dalton and Connie Parrish.

[Ann C. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read Rachel Lee from the beginning and really enjoy her books. The second book in the original Conard County books is one of my favorite books of all writers. However, this book did not do it for me. I thought it was boring. I finally started skimming to get through it.


What happened to Mel's wife Brady? She was mentioned once in the whole book and not again. I do remember Joan mentioning that a kitchen worker did not show. But there was no name stated. So, where did Brady go?

The ending did not end. Yes, the main characters recognized that they were supposed to be together, but nothing. No plans no whatever. I wish that Ms Lee would have an epilogue. At least a better ending.

[Karen Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Interesting juxtaposition between Josh’s vets and Krystal’s writers retreat. Also different in that the killer is revealed to the reader midway through and that didn’t detract from the story. Easily read stand alone

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! The story grabbed me from the beginning and never let up. I was so invested in these characters, I had to know how the story ended. I would love seeing more of them and the other vets in future books.

[Diane Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Rachel Lee writes a good tale. I liked these characters and the plot. I felt myself wanting to help the vets too. I was surprised by the bad guys. Good to see characters from previous stories as well. Looking forward to reading more from this talented storyteller.

[Harlequin Books]

Romantic Suspense, Crime Thriller, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
Conard County: The Next Generation (Book #59)

[Harlequin Books]

Romantic Suspense, Crime Thriller, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
Conard County: The Next Generation (Book #59)

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful. The pacing was good. The characters were engaging. I am looking for more books by Rachel Lee.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out ok. If you took the soap box speeches out, would have lost 30 pages. Didn't find the main characters having chemistry at all. 60% of the way through the book we change narrators for a couple pages to hear from the murderer. Good thing because the plot was lost and that may have been the only way to being it back.