Your heart will break, rage, and finally mend in this story!
BLUFF: Great plot building, 3rd person with multiple POV, serial murder mystery with FBI in charge (obviously :) That's there job!)
I'm not going to go into a plot synopsis - I feel it would inadvertently give spoilers.
First and foremost, there's one big thing you should know about this fantastic thriller: there's 2 descriptions of SA to minor girls. The 2nd chapter, and honest to goodness one line with maybe 8 words later in the book. They're hard, they're ugly, but especially the 2nd chapter set up the depravity of and sense of urgency to find the perpetrator. So, if you're a parent (like myself!), especial of girls, this book, especially chapter 2, will hit HARD. I mean, crack open your chest and tear your heart out, hard. And you'll be absolutely cheering for the total and utter destruction of the perpetrator. You could skip chapter two entirely and still fully enjoy the story if you need to, but you do lose a little context.
This is indeed heavy subject matter, but hints of Peggy's romance background seep though this story at just the right places to let you breathe. The love story between our FMC, Kella, our former FBI agent pulled in as a consultant on the case, and her husband Sean, is beautiful. And honestly, I want to know more! Tucker, our MMC, a current FBI agent and former coworker of Kella's, is a driven, smart, capable man. It's clear throughout the book the characters support one another, acknowledge each other's strengths, and as a team, work together. There's no "super power" for any one person that seems utterly unreasonable which is refreshing. So each of the characters, main or secondary are real and relatable.
Those small points of levity throughout the book are perfectly placed. The story moves forward well, a burst of activity, and then a bit slower just a real investigation would, the sense of urgency building and building. You'll probably find yourself even reading faster as you draw closer to the climax, the big reveal. And with that, there's great hints throughout allowing you as the reading to build your own mental suspect pool - you're fully engaged and invested in figuring out this whodunit.
There are a few elements of 'romance' as I mentioned, but it's all closed door, hinted at, or a gentle flame that builds. Just enough to balance the book out.
I definitely recommend checking this book when it releases April 23, 2024
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway get absolutely nothing for my review other than the satisfaction of hopefully having more folks read her book when it comes out!