Under Lock and Key

West Investigations #11

by K.D. Richards

The man who broke her heart…
Must now be her protector.

Maggie Scott has worked hard to become an assistant curator at the Larimer Museum. But following the theft of a rare, priceless jewel and the murder of her fellow employee and friend, Maggie is suspected of complicity. Only investigator Kevin Lombard believes in her innocence. But thanks to their shared history, he's hardly objective. In fact, this may be the second chance he never thought possible. First, though, he must prove Maggie’s innocence…and protect the woman he never forgot from whoever is out to get her.

Genres: Harlequin, Suspense, Romantic Suspense

ebook

First published October 22, 2024

About the author

K.D. is a former attorney and educator. Her books are action-packed, page-turners with strong female characters and twists that will surprise.
Follow her on bookbub https://bit.ly/2TLCA7z.

Reviews

[Paula (on hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second chance story about two MCs who met in college and haven't seen each other for years. Heroine gets into trouble and turns to Hero for help. The mystery/suspense was pretty good but the romance was lacking for me.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

[Teri-K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The strengths of this book are the unusual nature of the crime and the setting. A fabulous ruby has been stolen from a small museum and the MC's job and freedom are at risk. For such a short book I thought the setting and realities of museum work were shown well and I enjoyed reading about them There were also a good number of red herrings and leads, so I didn't know who had really stolen the ruby or committed the murder,

Unfortunately there were several elements that didn't work for me, including the solution. What a let down! Also, the characters were just people on the page, they never felt real so I found it hard to care much about them. Though I would read another by this author, all in all I can only give it 2.5 stars, rounded up because I really appreciated the different setting.

[Susie (DFWSusie)]

Quick Thoughts: Second chance romance. Maggie Scott is a curator at a small LA museum when a precious but controversial ruby is stolen on the night of the exhibition opening. Her friend/co-worker/landlord is also found dead of an apparent suicide. Kevin Lombard is Maggie’s first love in college, but he left her to pursue his NFL career and deal with family obligations. He deeply regrets his youthful choice and she is still hurt by the loss well over a decade later. He’s now the lead investigator for the private security firm hired by the museum. He will solve the case with her help and try to keep Maggie safe, while they both rediscover love and practice forgiveness.

The heist story was exciting and their investigation into the various characters kept the pace up throughout. I finished it in one sitting. Nicely twisty without being a logical stretch like sometimes happens. I’ll read more from this series and writer.
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Harlequin Intrigue (Nov 2024)
Series: West Investigations #11

LEO: He is a former LAPD officer, current with a private security firm.

Setting: Los Angeles

BIPOC Characters: yes, both main characters

Steam/Spice Level: open door, in the bed, two scenes

POV: third person, past tense, dual POV, no antagonist POV

Standalone: part of a series, but I read standalone and it was not an issue

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific book in the West Investigations series with a gripping mystery, second-chance romance, and an interesting art museum setting. It starts with a bang when the famous Vipere ruby is stolen from the Larimer Museum.

Maggie is one of the curators at the museum and the force behind the special exhibit. The night of the donor's preview, Maggie is attacked, and the ruby is stolen. Later that night, she discovers that her best friend and fellow curator has been murdered. Complicating matters, the investigator for the security company is Kevin, the college sweetheart who left her without looking back.

Kevin recently started working for West Investigations. This is his first case with them, and he's determined to excel. The last person he expects to see is Maggie, the girl he's never forgotten.

The suspense of this story had me glued to the pages from start to finish. The search for the ruby is a rollercoaster ride of promising clues and dead ends, with a twist at the end that I never saw coming. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a terrific ending.

I enjoyed the rekindling of Maggie and Kevin's relationship. Maggie still feels hurt and resentful over how Kevin walked away from her, while Kevin realized long ago that he'd made a terrible mistake. I liked how Maggie insisted on being part of the investigation, which meant spending more time with Kevin. It quickly became evident that the sparks between them were as strong as ever, but Maggie was wary of getting her heart broken again. I liked Kevin's protectiveness and his support of Maggie during the turmoil of the investigation. I liked seeing that they could talk about their past, mistakes, and hopes for the future, taking things slowly to ensure they get it right.

[Katie Mettner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the West Investigations series, and the West Coast team doesn't disappoint. Kevin Lombard is the new hire for the LA office, and he's determined to make a name for himself with the team. He doesn't expect to see a ghost from his past at one of the first jobs requiring all his expertise and critical thinking skills. Maggie Scott was the one who got away, but suddenly, she was there, and she needed his help to get her life back.

Maggie Scott has worked at the Larimer Museum for years. The Vapire Ruby exhibit was her chance to make a name for herself as a curator there until everything goes wrong. This includes coming face-to-face with Kevin Lombard, the man who left her years ago in college without a backward glance. Now, she has to rely on him to not only get her out of her troubles with the law but also save her life.

This was a twisty tale of second chances, deception, and family ties. There is a plot twist in this one that you will NOT see coming, and I absolutely loved it! You will too, so make sure to grab this one on release! It's part of the series but can be read as a stand-alone as you don't need to know any of the past investigators to read it.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

Pros: interesting behind the scenes look at museums and how they curate their exhibits. Second chance romance. Lots of possible suspects.
Cons: Romance felt forced to me, just didn't hit right. Maggie seemed immature. Kevin would never have been allowed to participate in the investigation "in real life" with his history with Maggie.

All in all, I would read more by this author. This book was a decent read but not one of my top choices.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Maggie Scott got the shock of her life when an infamous gem is stolen from her museum and she is suspect number one. Kevin Lombard, her old boyfriend who walked away from her years ago is on the insurance investigator’s team to dig into the theft. The back and forth between Maggie and Kevin was complex and worth digging through as a reader. I read this as a paperback and loved it. 🥰

[Karen Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. While it’s part of a series, it definitely can be read stand alone. It’s a second chance romance which helps make the romance more believable. The mystery is well laid out with several twists and turns. The pacing is good and keeps you reading to the end.

[Cherylbestlife · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good mystery…

This was a really good mystery. The mystery was interesting enough and kept me guessing. There was also a second chance romance between the MC’s - Kevin and Maggie. Intrigue, mystery and romance is a great combination!

[Karen Torrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never imagined the ending. Twists and turns everywhere

[Harlequin Books]

Romantic Suspense, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
West Investigations (Book #11)

[Harlequin Books]

Romantic Suspense, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
West Investigations (Book #11)

[Just Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great read I really enjoyed this book it had a great story and really got u invested in the Ruby gem! A great read for travel and very interesting read 10/10 would recommend 😊

[Elaine Martig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third Harlequin Intrigue book I read. They're getting better! Book is about a museum curator who is suspected of stealing a large precious gem ... but she didn't.

[Hsiau Wei · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this exciting installment of the West Investigations series, Kevin Lombard, a new hire at the LA office, is eager to prove himself but is unexpectedly reunited with Maggie Scott, the woman he once loved and left behind. Maggie, a curator at the Larimer Museum, faces a crisis when her career-defining Vampire Ruby exhibit goes wrong, forcing her to seek Kevin’s help to clear her name and save her life. The story explores themes of second chances, deception, and family ties, with an unpredictable plot twist. While part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.