Fatal Standoff

by Ruth Douthitt

A missing teen. A deadly conspiracy. A past that won’t stay buried.

Private investigators Emma Fortier and Liam Harper take on a runaway teen case in Arizona, but their search is derailed when Emma receives a chilling her adoptive parents were murdered to cover up a medical scandal. Determined to uncover the truth, she dives into a dangerous investigation on her own.

As Liam tracks the missing teen, he uncovers a horrifying twist—she’s been kidnapped and taken to Mexico. The FBI is closing in, but the case stirs painful memories, driving Liam toward a destructive spiral.

When Emma pieces together a sinister cover-up involving Novatera, a pharmaceutical giant with deadly secrets, she discovers her mother was warned to stay silent or suffer the consequences. Days later, a fatal car crash sealed her fate. Now, someone wants Emma silenced, too.

As threats close in, Emma and Liam fight to expose the truth—before they become the next victims.

Book two in the Desert Shadows Suspense series, Fatal Standoff is a gripping thriller packed with high-stakes action, shocking twists, and a pulse-pounding mystery that won’t let go.

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2025

Reviews

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam and Emma are back, and they are in a jam! The second book in this series doesn't disappoint. I want to write so much more, but I don't want to give you much away. The introduction to new characters leads me to believe we may hear from some of them again. Join Liam and Emma in their crime fighting adventure.

This is definitely a must read!!

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Fortier and Liam Harper ,take on a runaway case in Arizona. She learns some truths a little close to home and her own history. The chilling truth about her adoptive parents end and why. Leaves her reeling with more than a sigh and haunting question, why? Why does it have to be? Why me? She could wallow in her misery ,or she can face it head on.Emma pieces together a scandal so huge in its subterfuge. Novatera a pharmaceutical giant with deadly clients and non compliant practices. She finds out that her own mother was silenced and she’s been threatened too. Keep schtum or suffer the consequences ! This is an author who I admire greatly with her ability to get under your skin and give your mind a hit of adrenaline and high energy as you read ,those reactionary thoughts and the surroundings immersive ,you feel the terror the angst alongside .Nothing hidden or set aside ,as if seeing it all play out with your own set of eyes. High stakes indeed and pulse on override. The tension is sky high and Oh my! The twists ,turns and missteps are all a smokescreen to more scenes and hidden things in her own past that’s zooming at speed to hit with an aftershock blast. This is the power this author’s pen and expertise does weave in. It’s sublime ! Worthy of your time. Very well done ,I’m undone with this one ,I don’t mind telling ,with the storytelling that’s phew 😮‍💨 so compelling! Chilling book with all the thrills and angst . Ruth Douthitt ,you know how to hit and with wit ,grit and requisite . Exquisite! I immensely enjoyed it!

[Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Gripping, Gutsy, and So. Dang. Good!"

Ruth Douthitt does not play fair, this book had me hooked from the first sentence and absolutely refusing to blink for fear I’d miss something. Fatal Standoff is everything you want in a thriller: high-stakes tension, emotional depth, a twisted web of conspiracies, and characters who feel so real you half-expect them to text you updates after the final page.

Emma and Liam are a duo you root for hard. The layers of personal trauma, suspense, and danger woven into their story? Flawlessly executed. And don’t get me started on the pharmaceutical scandal plotline, it had me yelling at my Kindle like it was a season finale cliffhanger.

Douthitt’s writing is sharp, smart, and cinematic. You can feel the Arizona heat, the tension in every conversation, and the unrelenting drive of two people desperate for justice. This isn’t just Book 2 in a series, it stands tall on its own and then makes you sprint to grab Book 1 if you haven’t already.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves a fast-paced thriller with a beating heart and brains behind the action.

[Lynn Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Standoff, the second book in the Desert Shadows Suspense series is every bit as good as the first. I have read other books by Ms. Douthitt and she has a real strength with characterization. Emma and Liam are well developed as is the tension and romance between them. This makes the decisions they make and the actions they take very believable. Another strength of this series is the well-paced plot lines where information is doled out and events happen at a rate that keeps the reader hooked. Again, Fatal Standoff does not disappoint. As a fan of Ms. Douthitt and a reader of suspense, I will be reading each book in the series as soon as it comes out. I can't wait for book 3!

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Private investigator Liam is searching for a missing teen. Private investigator Emma is investigating a conspiracy into the death of her adoptive parents at Novatera. No matter what Liam and Emma are going through personally, they are always willing to help and bring justice for the victims. This book did not disappoint. Kept my interest. Looking forward to reading Book 3 and reading more of my favorite couple. Set in Arizona.

[Kimberly Bowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth Douthitt has written a page-turner thriller with resilient characters who will do what it takes to keep themselves and others safe and figure out who is behind kidnapping teenaged girls. Without wanting to give away any of the plot, I will say this is an amazing book that keeps the reader thoroughly entertained and guessing!

I highly recommend this story to those who love Christian fiction and a thrilling read!

[Naomi Shores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two private investigators, two friends, two different cases. Liam is trying to find a missing teen and Emma is investigating information that may prove her adoptive parents were murdered. Even though they are working separate cases they have each other's backs. They will always fight for the truth and justice for the victims.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Chapters is the second book in the Desert Shadows series. The author delivered riveting suspense from beginning to end and I couldn’t put it down. Emma Fortier is chasing a scandal at a pharmaceutical company, Novatera, that had ties to her adoptive parent’s deaths. She’s determined to find the answers. Liam Harper is following a runaway case. I was engaged in this story and enjoyed the connection between the characters. They were consistently there for each other in their cases. Will they both find the answers that they’re looking for?

The author knocked this one out of the ballpark and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I especially enjoyed the background in pharmaceuticals because I work in a pharmacy. Pharmaceuticals is a big industry and bad things can happen behind the scenes that we don’t know about until it’s unveiled.