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Tracers #12
Touch of Red
When crime scene investigator Brooke Porter arrives at the home of a murdered woman, the only thing more shocking than the carnage is the evidence that someone escaped the scene. But where is this witness now? A thorough search of the area yields more questions than answers, and before Brooke even packs up her evidence kit, she’s made it her goal to find the witness and get them out of harm’s way.
Homicide detective Sean Byrne has seen his share of bloody crime scenes, but this one is particularly disturbing, especially because Brooke Porter is smack in the middle of it. Sean has had his eye on the sexy CSI for months, and he’s determined to help her with her current case—even if it means putting his attraction on hold so he and Brooke can track down a murderer. But as the investigation—and their relationship—heats up, Sean realizes that keeping his work and his personal life separate is more complicated than he ever imagined; especially when the killer sets his sights on Brooke.
Homicide detective Sean Byrne has seen his share of bloody crime scenes, but this one is particularly disturbing, especially because Brooke Porter is smack in the middle of it. Sean has had his eye on the sexy CSI for months, and he’s determined to help her with her current case—even if it means putting his attraction on hold so he and Brooke can track down a murderer. But as the investigation—and their relationship—heats up, Sean realizes that keeping his work and his personal life separate is more complicated than he ever imagined; especially when the killer sets his sights on Brooke.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2017
630 people are currently reading
2658 people want to read
About the author
Laura Griffin
56 books3,849 followersLaura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Laura got her start in journalism before venturing into the world of suspense fiction. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel.
Series:
* Texas Murder Files
* Tracers
* Wolfe Security
* Alpha Crew
* Moreno and Hart Mysteries
* Glass Sisters
* The Borderline
Series:
* Texas Murder Files
* Tracers
* Wolfe Security
* Alpha Crew
* Moreno and Hart Mysteries
* Glass Sisters
* The Borderline
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
June 5, 2018
The Tracers series is what I consider to be romantic suspense at its best. For me, it was the attention-grabbing case, entwined with a magnetizing level of chemistry, that made Touch of Red one heck of a read. I don’t know how Laura Griffin manages to pull it off—to create characters I adore—each and every time, but she does.
Regardless of how hard I try, there’s no pacing myself when I have one of her books in my hand. Laura Griffin's writing is the sort I can sink into and effortlessly inhale half of the book without even realizing how much time has passed. Now that's what I consider a great writer.
As heinous as it sounds, it’s a bloody crime scene and a nearly decapitated woman, found late one night in her own driveway, that brings Sean and Brooke together. She’s the Delphi Center crime scene investigator assigned to the case and he’s the lead homicide detective; both bring their skill sets to the table in an effort to track down a witness and hone in on a suspect. It's working so closely that brings all of Sean’s feelings for Brooke to the forefront and after months of torment, he decides it’s finally time to make his move.
I have to admit, Sean turned me into a giddy, giggly girl. I know, I'm silly, but I can't help it. Sean just might be my favorite of all of Laura Griffin’s men. He took a near-death experience and turned it into an appreciation for life—he realized he wanted so much more and went after it. From the moment we meet Sean, he has an admirable level of respect for Brooke. He sees the smart and strong side of her; not the woman who feels broken after a relationship gone horribly wrong. Sean was exactly what Brooke needed him to be—patient, supportive and confident in who he was, but not driven by ego or the need to be in control. Talk about a genuinely nice guy, but a badass in his own right.
It's the buildup to any relationship that's the best and most important part of the story for me. No worries here—the tension between Sean and Brooke is deliciously thick and intense. Skeptical of people’s motives, Brooke makes Sean work for it; making the payoff for the two of them and the reader nothing short of stellar.
I get that romance isn’t a genre that works for everyone, but this is so much more than just a love story. It's also a fast-paced and intelligent investigation—one that's unraveled piece by intricate piece. The fact that the author can take two genres and mesh them into one compelling storyline—need I say more?
*Thank you to Gallery/Pocket Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Regardless of how hard I try, there’s no pacing myself when I have one of her books in my hand. Laura Griffin's writing is the sort I can sink into and effortlessly inhale half of the book without even realizing how much time has passed. Now that's what I consider a great writer.
As heinous as it sounds, it’s a bloody crime scene and a nearly decapitated woman, found late one night in her own driveway, that brings Sean and Brooke together. She’s the Delphi Center crime scene investigator assigned to the case and he’s the lead homicide detective; both bring their skill sets to the table in an effort to track down a witness and hone in on a suspect. It's working so closely that brings all of Sean’s feelings for Brooke to the forefront and after months of torment, he decides it’s finally time to make his move.
I have to admit, Sean turned me into a giddy, giggly girl. I know, I'm silly, but I can't help it. Sean just might be my favorite of all of Laura Griffin’s men. He took a near-death experience and turned it into an appreciation for life—he realized he wanted so much more and went after it. From the moment we meet Sean, he has an admirable level of respect for Brooke. He sees the smart and strong side of her; not the woman who feels broken after a relationship gone horribly wrong. Sean was exactly what Brooke needed him to be—patient, supportive and confident in who he was, but not driven by ego or the need to be in control. Talk about a genuinely nice guy, but a badass in his own right.
It's the buildup to any relationship that's the best and most important part of the story for me. No worries here—the tension between Sean and Brooke is deliciously thick and intense. Skeptical of people’s motives, Brooke makes Sean work for it; making the payoff for the two of them and the reader nothing short of stellar.
I get that romance isn’t a genre that works for everyone, but this is so much more than just a love story. It's also a fast-paced and intelligent investigation—one that's unraveled piece by intricate piece. The fact that the author can take two genres and mesh them into one compelling storyline—need I say more?
*Thank you to Gallery/Pocket Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2017
3.95 stars
Plot: 4/5
Writing style: 4/5
Likability of characters: 5/5
Steamy scenes: 3/5
Intensity: 3/5
Darkness: 0/5
While I enjoyed this story, there wasn't anything unique about the characters that really set this book apart from others. Would still recommend.
*NetGalley arc kindly provided by Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books in exchange for an honest review.
Plot: 4/5
Writing style: 4/5
Likability of characters: 5/5
Steamy scenes: 3/5
Intensity: 3/5
Darkness: 0/5
While I enjoyed this story, there wasn't anything unique about the characters that really set this book apart from others. Would still recommend.
*NetGalley arc kindly provided by Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2021
Exciting, fast paced, and steamy romance! I haven't been reading enough Laura Griffin's Tracers series. They are well written with compelling characters. What's great is I can read them in any order. Different books have different MCs, with at least one character working for Delphi Center crime lab.
Touch of Red is a police procedural, suspense and romance in one with Brooke working for the crime lab and Detective Sean with San Marcos PD. A woman has been murdered with her throat slit. What Brooke found at the crime scene are fingerprints of a child, a possible witness. As the clock ticks, they need to find the child before the killer does.
Touch of Red is a police procedural, suspense and romance in one with Brooke working for the crime lab and Detective Sean with San Marcos PD. A woman has been murdered with her throat slit. What Brooke found at the crime scene are fingerprints of a child, a possible witness. As the clock ticks, they need to find the child before the killer does.
October 30, 2017
Enthralling, adrenaline pumping, and menacing!
Touch of Red is a riveting tale that immerses you into the evidence collection and investigation into the violent homicide of a young woman, the pursuit of a missing witness and the hunt for a ruthless killer.
The writing is effortless and crisp. The characters are relentless, hard-working, determined, and patient. And the story starts off with a bang and never lets up as it quickly spins through well-timed twists, unexpected turns, red-hot chemistry, steamy liaisons, corruption, brutality, and murder.
Laura Griffin's Tracer series is like watching CSI only better, and Touch of Red is no exception. From the very first page I was hooked. And even though Touch of Red is the twelfth book in the series and has a few nice appearances from characters in the previous novels, it can definitely be read as a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially Pocket Books, for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Touch of Red is a riveting tale that immerses you into the evidence collection and investigation into the violent homicide of a young woman, the pursuit of a missing witness and the hunt for a ruthless killer.
The writing is effortless and crisp. The characters are relentless, hard-working, determined, and patient. And the story starts off with a bang and never lets up as it quickly spins through well-timed twists, unexpected turns, red-hot chemistry, steamy liaisons, corruption, brutality, and murder.
Laura Griffin's Tracer series is like watching CSI only better, and Touch of Red is no exception. From the very first page I was hooked. And even though Touch of Red is the twelfth book in the series and has a few nice appearances from characters in the previous novels, it can definitely be read as a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially Pocket Books, for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
October 31, 2017
This was such a good read! The heroine is a crime scene investigator and the Hero is a homicide detective. That right there was enough to keep me engrossed in this story. Laura Griffin did a fantastic job of creating a story that was exciting, while adding some spice into the mix with a love interest between Brooke and Sean, as they worked together to solve a murder.
I was fascinated with Brooke's job. There were several scenes describing what her job entails to help investigations. I didn't know I would find that so intriguing. I actually enjoyed the parts about her job more than I did Sean's. I did enjoy Sean's pursuit of Brooke though. I loved these two as a couple. Brooke was a bit standoffish due to a bad break up previously but Sean handled it perfectly. It never got to a point that I was annoyed by the pushing away.
This is book 12 in the series and it can be read as a standalone. I never felt like I was jumping into the middle of a series. I have not read any of the previous books but I did look at a few of the blurbs in previous series books to see if the side characters have their own books and they do. You can bet I will be going back and reading the rest of the series.
I was fascinated with Brooke's job. There were several scenes describing what her job entails to help investigations. I didn't know I would find that so intriguing. I actually enjoyed the parts about her job more than I did Sean's. I did enjoy Sean's pursuit of Brooke though. I loved these two as a couple. Brooke was a bit standoffish due to a bad break up previously but Sean handled it perfectly. It never got to a point that I was annoyed by the pushing away.
This is book 12 in the series and it can be read as a standalone. I never felt like I was jumping into the middle of a series. I have not read any of the previous books but I did look at a few of the blurbs in previous series books to see if the side characters have their own books and they do. You can bet I will be going back and reading the rest of the series.
November 1, 2017
Brooke Porter is a CSI working a particularly brutal murder with Detective Sean Bryne; one where she suspects there’s a young eyewitness in danger. The time spent together tracking down clues, and figuring out evidence, just intensifies the attraction that’s been simmering between them. But Brook is hesitant to get involved with Sean, because of a recent bad breakup. Doesn’t matter how reluctant Brooke is, though, because they’re thrown together as the case heats up, forcing relationship concerns to take a backseat.
Laura Griffin’s romantic suspense stories never fail to entertain. Touch of Red is a meld of crime procedural, mystery, and romance combined into one addictive read! The romance in mysteries are hardly ever filled with frustrating angst, which make them perfect for me. Urgency and danger usually clarifies the important things in life between characters and the back and forth drama is minimal. I can understand Brooke’s concerns, especially when her controlling ex was having trouble letting go, and some of that certainly creeped me out. Sean’s admired Brooke from afar for a while, and I loved that he was patient and didn’t push. Their steamy physical encounters and time spent together slowly melted away Brooke’s reservations.
As with her previous I always find the investigative technology and forensics super interesting. I used to be a major Forensic Files junkie, before books completely consumed my life, and I’m always amazed by the information gleaned through the sciences, leading to the capture of suspects.
This was a wild, tension filled ride in the end, but the story wrapped up nicely! I can’t wait for the next mystery!
A copy was kindly provided by Pocket Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
Laura Griffin’s romantic suspense stories never fail to entertain. Touch of Red is a meld of crime procedural, mystery, and romance combined into one addictive read! The romance in mysteries are hardly ever filled with frustrating angst, which make them perfect for me. Urgency and danger usually clarifies the important things in life between characters and the back and forth drama is minimal. I can understand Brooke’s concerns, especially when her controlling ex was having trouble letting go, and some of that certainly creeped me out. Sean’s admired Brooke from afar for a while, and I loved that he was patient and didn’t push. Their steamy physical encounters and time spent together slowly melted away Brooke’s reservations.
As with her previous I always find the investigative technology and forensics super interesting. I used to be a major Forensic Files junkie, before books completely consumed my life, and I’m always amazed by the information gleaned through the sciences, leading to the capture of suspects.
This was a wild, tension filled ride in the end, but the story wrapped up nicely! I can’t wait for the next mystery!
A copy was kindly provided by Pocket Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
October 17, 2017
Fabulous read with plenty of suspense, action and steam.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love this series. As I mentioned earlier, it has the perfect blend of so many aspects that there’s no way you could be bored while reading it. A word of warning on this story. The crime is quite heinous and not for the faint of heart. However, the plot is fabulous and definitely part of the reward!
The story and character development is thorough with masterfully crafted details that drags you right into the action. Plus, I have to say our hero, Sean, is mighty fine. He had me swooning! You can bet there is plenty of sexy heat along with heart racing suspense to keep you reading as fast as you can in this awesome story.
Even though this book is part of a series, you don’t feel like you have missed anything if you just choose read any book. I have happened to read many of them in order, and I feel they all stand alone even though many characters crossover.
Laura Griffin has a wonderfully detailed mind that brings you plenty of fabulous plot twists, the intense romantic suspense that we crave, with enough crime and forensics detail to suck you into the story. She is a true master of her craft in the romantic suspense genre. This is one author who will remain a one click, must have read for me.
Touch of Red is a fabulous story full of action, crime, steamy romance and SEAN. Yum! Not to be missed. Going on my Best Of 2017 list!
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - http://amidlifewife.com/touch-of-red-...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love this series. As I mentioned earlier, it has the perfect blend of so many aspects that there’s no way you could be bored while reading it. A word of warning on this story. The crime is quite heinous and not for the faint of heart. However, the plot is fabulous and definitely part of the reward!
The story and character development is thorough with masterfully crafted details that drags you right into the action. Plus, I have to say our hero, Sean, is mighty fine. He had me swooning! You can bet there is plenty of sexy heat along with heart racing suspense to keep you reading as fast as you can in this awesome story.
Even though this book is part of a series, you don’t feel like you have missed anything if you just choose read any book. I have happened to read many of them in order, and I feel they all stand alone even though many characters crossover.
Laura Griffin has a wonderfully detailed mind that brings you plenty of fabulous plot twists, the intense romantic suspense that we crave, with enough crime and forensics detail to suck you into the story. She is a true master of her craft in the romantic suspense genre. This is one author who will remain a one click, must have read for me.
Touch of Red is a fabulous story full of action, crime, steamy romance and SEAN. Yum! Not to be missed. Going on my Best Of 2017 list!
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - http://amidlifewife.com/touch-of-red-...
March 11, 2018
Brooke Porter, Delphi Center crime scene investigator, is called to work a brutal murder that on the surface seems to yield few clues. However, she’s known for her doggedness and tenacity at a crime scene and sees some critical things here, providing valuable leads for Sean Byrne, one of the detectives assigned to the case. He’s intrigued not only with her skills, though, causing some discomfort for them both.
Sean was gravely wounded in the last story and is back after months of rehab. It affected him profoundly and he’s taken stock of his life in a good way. Brooke is not long out of a troubling relationship and definitely not interested in beginning a new one so there’s that. Both are really good at what they do and they’re taxed with this case that’s a puzzler. It’s primarily a procedural, which I prefer, and following the clues had me turning the pages. There’s other drama in the background involving Brooke that felt like more of a distraction than an important element of the story. And, Brooke’s intensity had her crossing lines throughout the investigation, sometimes creating more issues and some TSTL moments.
I liked this story primarily for the forensic elements and procedurals. The romance actually worked well, too. However, a lot of Brooke’s actions were more like the unrealistic CSI television series where the techs served the roles of detectives and that didn’t work for me (FYI, I liked the show). This series has always felt authentic and it didn’t in this story. It was interesting but more cliched than I’ve come to expect. Still good storytelling, just weakened by these issues.
Sean was gravely wounded in the last story and is back after months of rehab. It affected him profoundly and he’s taken stock of his life in a good way. Brooke is not long out of a troubling relationship and definitely not interested in beginning a new one so there’s that. Both are really good at what they do and they’re taxed with this case that’s a puzzler. It’s primarily a procedural, which I prefer, and following the clues had me turning the pages. There’s other drama in the background involving Brooke that felt like more of a distraction than an important element of the story. And, Brooke’s intensity had her crossing lines throughout the investigation, sometimes creating more issues and some TSTL moments.
I liked this story primarily for the forensic elements and procedurals. The romance actually worked well, too. However, a lot of Brooke’s actions were more like the unrealistic CSI television series where the techs served the roles of detectives and that didn’t work for me (FYI, I liked the show). This series has always felt authentic and it didn’t in this story. It was interesting but more cliched than I’ve come to expect. Still good storytelling, just weakened by these issues.
October 31, 2017
This is my favorite romantic suspense series - I'm a huge fan of suspense in general. Almost 100% of what I listen to is suspense (not necessarily romantic) and the darker the better. (Shout-out to Karin Slaughter). Touch of Red is not the creepiest or grittiest of Lauren Griffin's work, but it's still enjoyable, even with a slightly annoying heroine.
Brooke Porter works for the world-renowned Delphi Center, a leader for forensic evidence research. She is a crime scene investigator, meaning she goes to crime scene and finds the most minuscule evidence, and can hopefully process it which leads to some sort of arrest - or at least helps out the detectives to determine which direction to go. When she gets called to a murder of a woman in her early twenties, who had her throat cut outside her door, Brooke notices something very interesting inside this woman's pantry - cookie crumbs and fingerprints which belong to a child. But this woman lived alone!
Sean Bryne is a detective called out to this murder. He has worked with Brooke in the past and has a thing for her. Sean plays by the rules though - both in his career and in his love life. But working with Brooke in close proximity gets his blood flowing again. When he asks her out, Brooke is very hesitant. She has ended a relationship recently with a guy who is still lurking around. Following her to places - using his old key to get into her house. Brooke doesn't have the energy to start-up a new relationship - but Sean is such a good guy...and a patient guy...he finds a way to woo her.
The murder in this one revolves around a dead woman and a child who may have witnessed the entire thing before fleeing. One of my favorite parts of this series is the way the author can present all the evidence surrounding the crime scene, and make it so interesting. I love reading about the Delphi Center and all of their state of the art technology. And, she never forgets the police side and the details of their investigation. She makes it all work and gives us a romance to boot.
Brooke did annoy me a bit in this one. She becomes so overly protective of the child who witnessed the horrible murder - instead of letting the police and the boy's mother do their job, Brooke sticks her nose in and then predictably there is fall-out. I wish she would have stuck to her forensic skills and left the boy alone.
The romance progresses nicely in this one. I hate when the hero and heroine are making out when there is horrible danger lurking nearby, but that didn't happen in this one. The pacing was well done.
Not my favorite of the series, but still a solid addition.
Grade: B
Brooke Porter works for the world-renowned Delphi Center, a leader for forensic evidence research. She is a crime scene investigator, meaning she goes to crime scene and finds the most minuscule evidence, and can hopefully process it which leads to some sort of arrest - or at least helps out the detectives to determine which direction to go. When she gets called to a murder of a woman in her early twenties, who had her throat cut outside her door, Brooke notices something very interesting inside this woman's pantry - cookie crumbs and fingerprints which belong to a child. But this woman lived alone!
Sean Bryne is a detective called out to this murder. He has worked with Brooke in the past and has a thing for her. Sean plays by the rules though - both in his career and in his love life. But working with Brooke in close proximity gets his blood flowing again. When he asks her out, Brooke is very hesitant. She has ended a relationship recently with a guy who is still lurking around. Following her to places - using his old key to get into her house. Brooke doesn't have the energy to start-up a new relationship - but Sean is such a good guy...and a patient guy...he finds a way to woo her.
The murder in this one revolves around a dead woman and a child who may have witnessed the entire thing before fleeing. One of my favorite parts of this series is the way the author can present all the evidence surrounding the crime scene, and make it so interesting. I love reading about the Delphi Center and all of their state of the art technology. And, she never forgets the police side and the details of their investigation. She makes it all work and gives us a romance to boot.
Brooke did annoy me a bit in this one. She becomes so overly protective of the child who witnessed the horrible murder - instead of letting the police and the boy's mother do their job, Brooke sticks her nose in and then predictably there is fall-out. I wish she would have stuck to her forensic skills and left the boy alone.
The romance progresses nicely in this one. I hate when the hero and heroine are making out when there is horrible danger lurking nearby, but that didn't happen in this one. The pacing was well done.
Not my favorite of the series, but still a solid addition.
Grade: B
October 29, 2017
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
This is one of my favorite series by an author that delivers a great plot and an hot romance. Every. Single. Time. The unique Delphi Center takes a prime spot again but never overshadows the crime or the romance. It just sets up what I hope will be the next book with a romance between Delphi sharps specialist, Trevor, and Detective Callie. Should be fun. Anyway, "Touch of Red" does indeed deliver on the great plot and the hot romance. But . . . it wasn't the best I've read in this series. Brooke, the heroine, came off to me as a martyr with moments of TSTL. She has had two failed relationships, yet jumps back in after only 4 months of being guyless. Sean, the hero, is just fantastic. After surviving a life threatening shooting, he has reconsidered what he wants from life and he wants Brooke. He's a patient man and he'll need every ounce of that to deal with Brooke.
Samantha is attacked and murdered at her backdoor. Brooke is the CSI and Sean is the detective on the case. Brooke knows there is a young witness, yet no one will take her concerns seriously. So . . . she just does some investigating on her own, much to the displeasure (to say the least) of Sean. Her instincts are spot on, but all Sean sees is the danger she has put herself in and he is apes--- over that. As Sean and Brooke grow closer, Brooke continues to put herself in his investigation and Sean is sacred to death that the killer will make her a target too.
This is one of my favorite series by an author that delivers a great plot and an hot romance. Every. Single. Time. The unique Delphi Center takes a prime spot again but never overshadows the crime or the romance. It just sets up what I hope will be the next book with a romance between Delphi sharps specialist, Trevor, and Detective Callie. Should be fun. Anyway, "Touch of Red" does indeed deliver on the great plot and the hot romance. But . . . it wasn't the best I've read in this series. Brooke, the heroine, came off to me as a martyr with moments of TSTL. She has had two failed relationships, yet jumps back in after only 4 months of being guyless. Sean, the hero, is just fantastic. After surviving a life threatening shooting, he has reconsidered what he wants from life and he wants Brooke. He's a patient man and he'll need every ounce of that to deal with Brooke.
Samantha is attacked and murdered at her backdoor. Brooke is the CSI and Sean is the detective on the case. Brooke knows there is a young witness, yet no one will take her concerns seriously. So . . . she just does some investigating on her own, much to the displeasure (to say the least) of Sean. Her instincts are spot on, but all Sean sees is the danger she has put herself in and he is apes--- over that. As Sean and Brooke grow closer, Brooke continues to put herself in his investigation and Sean is sacred to death that the killer will make her a target too.
November 17, 2017
Ms. Griffin is a favorite author of mine and I love her Tracers series. This book was good and was a really quick read as I loved the suspense elements of the story. In fact I wanted more suspense and more Sean and less Brooke who seemed to be the main character of the book.
And although I really like Sean and how getting injured had changed his priorities, I did have major problems with Brooke. She was definitely the "know it all" that started to grate on my nerves. She made the comment that her ex liked to be right and in control and yet those were exactly her faults too. She however was not a stalker. And her ex was. There was a subplot of his stalking her that didn't seem to really go anywhere and I kept thinking more would happen. It was more a tool for her being "off" men, and it just felt superficial.
Cameron is a little boy who may have witnessed the murder they are investigating. Brooke has really gotten involved (obsessed) with him. I'm not sure if I were Cameron 's mother if I would like how Brooke attached herself to Cameron. In some ways it was a bit stalkerish itself. And apparently when it came to Cameron, only Brooke knew best.
And although she was part of the case she was always pushing her position past its perimeters which in police investigations can cause problems and harm to herself, others or the case. And it made her character a little TSTL. Well actually a lot TSTL. She was definitely not one of my favorite characters, more like one of my least favorite as she really decreased my reading enjoyment of this book. What should have been a 4 star read started really feeling like a 3 star read.
And although I really like Sean and how getting injured had changed his priorities, I did have major problems with Brooke. She was definitely the "know it all" that started to grate on my nerves. She made the comment that her ex liked to be right and in control and yet those were exactly her faults too. She however was not a stalker. And her ex was. There was a subplot of his stalking her that didn't seem to really go anywhere and I kept thinking more would happen. It was more a tool for her being "off" men, and it just felt superficial.
Cameron is a little boy who may have witnessed the murder they are investigating. Brooke has really gotten involved (obsessed) with him. I'm not sure if I were Cameron 's mother if I would like how Brooke attached herself to Cameron. In some ways it was a bit stalkerish itself. And apparently when it came to Cameron, only Brooke knew best.
And although she was part of the case she was always pushing her position past its perimeters which in police investigations can cause problems and harm to herself, others or the case. And it made her character a little TSTL. Well actually a lot TSTL. She was definitely not one of my favorite characters, more like one of my least favorite as she really decreased my reading enjoyment of this book. What should have been a 4 star read started really feeling like a 3 star read.
December 4, 2017
4 stars - Romantic Suspense
Another smart, suspenseful Tracers read.
Another smart, suspenseful Tracers read.
December 12, 2017
I've only read a handful of the Tracer books, but every time I do I kick myself for not having read them all. Griffin is a terrific storyteller. She combines romance with compelling cases sprinkled with procedural detail that I devour.
Brooke Porter is a crime scene investigator who has an uncanny ability to see the scene and piece together clues. Her job requires a white lab jacket and sterile environment, but in Touch of Red the unusual crime scene and a potential eye-witness have her doing unauthorized field work. I liked Brooke, her career is one I find fascinating, and in fact was one I would have enjoyed pursuing. Brooke is smart and a bit tenacious, but she also has some hangups. They stem from a relationship turned sour that she had the good sense to end.
Homicide detective Sean Byrne has his hands full with this case. He's glad Brooke is the investigator at the scene, as he respects her abilities. It also gives him an excuse to spend a little time with the tantalizing tech. Sean has a thing for the sexy CSI but has never made a move. His attraction to her scares him a little. She is different from his usual dates. Sean was sweet, smart and protective without going all alpha. There were times Brooke reacted based on past situations, crossed the line and unnecessarily bit his head off. He was firm, patient and downright swoon-worthy.
Griffin's cases are always compelling, and this murder mystery delivered complications and twists. An unknown witness, unexpected evidence and the possibility of a cover-up kept me flipping the pages. Suspects, evidence, and clues were well placed and will keep the reader guessing. A little danger, seemingly untouchable suspects and a demanding DA added to the suspense. In the end, the story felt entirely plausible and could have been ripped from current headlines.
If you are a fan of well balanced, meaty romantic suspense, like Karen Rose's Romantic Suspense series you will appreciate the Tracer series. Griffin's stories are perfectly balanced and tightly woven delivering the perfect escape. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Brooke Porter is a crime scene investigator who has an uncanny ability to see the scene and piece together clues. Her job requires a white lab jacket and sterile environment, but in Touch of Red the unusual crime scene and a potential eye-witness have her doing unauthorized field work. I liked Brooke, her career is one I find fascinating, and in fact was one I would have enjoyed pursuing. Brooke is smart and a bit tenacious, but she also has some hangups. They stem from a relationship turned sour that she had the good sense to end.
Homicide detective Sean Byrne has his hands full with this case. He's glad Brooke is the investigator at the scene, as he respects her abilities. It also gives him an excuse to spend a little time with the tantalizing tech. Sean has a thing for the sexy CSI but has never made a move. His attraction to her scares him a little. She is different from his usual dates. Sean was sweet, smart and protective without going all alpha. There were times Brooke reacted based on past situations, crossed the line and unnecessarily bit his head off. He was firm, patient and downright swoon-worthy.
Griffin's cases are always compelling, and this murder mystery delivered complications and twists. An unknown witness, unexpected evidence and the possibility of a cover-up kept me flipping the pages. Suspects, evidence, and clues were well placed and will keep the reader guessing. A little danger, seemingly untouchable suspects and a demanding DA added to the suspense. In the end, the story felt entirely plausible and could have been ripped from current headlines.
If you are a fan of well balanced, meaty romantic suspense, like Karen Rose's Romantic Suspense series you will appreciate the Tracer series. Griffin's stories are perfectly balanced and tightly woven delivering the perfect escape. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
September 6, 2017
Delphi Center CSI Brooke and homicide detective Sean have a bit of history, having worked together on previous cases. This makes for a smoother segue into the romance without detracting from the plotline. Brooke gets personally involved in this case, however; sticking her nose in a little too far, and in a way that's just a little unrealistic. Still, this is a very strong, interesting entry in a fantastic series.
"Tracers" is great RS that depends on a strong storyline, relationship building, and a solid suspense plotline; rather than overloading the reader with sex scenes, which I tend to skim anyway. Really like this series and author. This is Romantic Suspense the way it should be written.
"Tracers" is great RS that depends on a strong storyline, relationship building, and a solid suspense plotline; rather than overloading the reader with sex scenes, which I tend to skim anyway. Really like this series and author. This is Romantic Suspense the way it should be written.
June 25, 2024
Review from 2018
I've given this an A for narration and a B for content at AudioGals, so 4.5 stars
Touch of Red is the twelfth book in Laura Griffin’s Tracers series of standalone romantic suspense novels, and is one of only four titles in the series available in audio (the others are books one, two and eight – I have no idea why those in particular). While that’s rather frustrating for anyone wanting to embark upon a long-running series, it could actually turn out to be a good thing, because if the publisher is planning on recording the other books, there’s the chance that they’ll use the same excellent dual narrator team of Tavia Gilbert and George Newbern to perform them.
When a young woman is murdered outside her own back door, Delphi CSI Brooke Porter is one of the team called in to undertake the forensics work at the scene. For such a vicious killing – the victim’s throat was slit, ear to ear – there is very little evidence; the killer didn’t enter the house (which is pristine), there appear to be no witnesses, no prints and there is no sign of the murder weapon. But Brooke is nothing if not meticulous and determined; and when a combination of keen observation and strongly honed instinct lead her to suspect that there was a witness, she very quickly follows up on her hunch, and her findings – gleaned from a series of very specific, complicated tests – show that a child was in the house and very likely saw the murder.
Brooke imparts the news to the detectives working the case, who begin the process of locating him or her, even though they have very little to go on. But things aren’t moving fast enough for Brooke, who is very concerned for the safety and well-being of a traumatised child who could, if the murderer knows they were seen, become a target. She decides to try to find the kid herself, but her actions bring her into direct and sometimes heated conflict with detective Sean Byrne, who is furious when he discovers what Brooke is doing. Not only could her well-meaning but misguided interference jeopardise the case when it comes to court, but she could well be putting herself in harm’s way – and Sean isn’t about to sit around and watch someone he cares about get hurt.
Sean Byrne is one of San Marcos PD’s most experienced detectives, but he’s had a tough time of it ever since he was shot in the line of duty (in book eleven, At Close Range). He has returned to work after months of convalescence and gruelling physical therapy, time he also spent looking back on his life and making some major reassessments to his ambitions and outlook, learning patience and the importance of never taking anything – or anyone – for granted. He’s had a thing for Brooke for some time and senses there’s interest on her side, too, but she’s skittish and guarded around him and he can’t quite work out why. But whatever it is, he’s prepared to bide his time and let her take the lead, something which surprises Brooke, who has recently got out of a relationship with a guy who, she realises now, was becoming increasingly controlling and possessive. The contrast between him and Sean, who clearly wants and expects Brooke to make her own decisions and be her own person, is vast – and maybe a little scary – and although she knows Sean is a good guy, there’s a small part of her than can’t help second guessing her instincts when it comes to men and she finds it hard to let her guard down completely.
Ms. Griffin has created an intense and compelling suspense plot that twists and turns as we head towards a high-stakes finale, and I also very much enjoyed her explanations of some of the highly complex forensics procedures used along the way. I did, however, have issues with the aspect of the plot that saw Brooke crossing boundaries to become involved in aspects of the investigation that she should not have been involved in. It’s a common enough happening in police procedurals, but I couldn’t help thinking she should have known better, and was more sympathetic towards Sean, whose anger and frustration at Brooke’s lack of concern for her own safety – she does veer dangerously close to the TSTL once or twice – and his worry that she could damage the already fragile case they’re building is completely understandable. On the plus side, though, the author doesn’t just sweep their differences of opinion aside – they’re part of the story and the developing relationship between the couple. Sean and Brooke have strong chemistry and the fact that they have been attracted to each other for some time helps to ground their romance so that their progression from colleagues to something more unfolds at a sensible pace.
I’ve been reviewing for AudioGals for several years now, but incredibly, this is the first time I’ve listened to Tavia Gilbert. She’s a favourite with the Gals, and it’s easy to understand the reasons why – she’s exceptionally skilled in terms of both technical ability and creativity. She narrates the parts of the story written in Brooke’s PoV, which sometimes switches between chapters and sometimes between sections within chapters. Her voice is attractive, her enunciation is clear and her character differentiation is extremely effective across the board; there’s never any question as to who is speaking in any one scene, and her male voices, in particular, are very good indeed. Her pacing is spot on in both narrative and dialogue and she’s a terrific vocal actress, imbuing her performance with the right degree of expression and picking up all the right emotional cues. George Newbern is, likewise, a new-to-me narrator, although a quick Audible search reveals almost two hundred titles across a variety of genres to his credit. He’s a good match for Ms. Gilbert here – there are no glaring differences in pacing that would make the transitions between narrators jarring, and I could apply the same comments to his work as I have to his co-narrator’s – pacing, differentiation, enunciation and emotional nuance are all excellent. Mr. Newbern’s female voices are nicely judged, a softening of tone and lightening of timbre used to portray the various women in the story.
While I had some small quibbles with certain aspects of the book, Touch of Red is sure to appeal to fans of well-conceived, well-written romantic suspense novels. The top-notch narration is a definite plus, and I really hope we might see some of Laura Griffin’s other Tracers novels make it into audio – preferably with Tavia Gilbert and George Newbern narrating.
Each book in the series boasts a self-contained suspense plot and a romance that reaches an HFN or HEA by the end, so there is no need to worry about cliffhangers; and although characters from earlier books do make an appearance – par for the course with series books – the author gives the listener enough information to explain how they relate to the current story and its characters, so it’s not strictly necessary to have listened to or read the previous books. Linking the books together is the Delphi Center, a high-end, high-tech forensics facility that is usually called in by the San Marcos PD to help with their biggest and most difficult cases.
You can read the rest of this review at AudioGals .
I've given this an A for narration and a B for content at AudioGals, so 4.5 stars
Touch of Red is the twelfth book in Laura Griffin’s Tracers series of standalone romantic suspense novels, and is one of only four titles in the series available in audio (the others are books one, two and eight – I have no idea why those in particular). While that’s rather frustrating for anyone wanting to embark upon a long-running series, it could actually turn out to be a good thing, because if the publisher is planning on recording the other books, there’s the chance that they’ll use the same excellent dual narrator team of Tavia Gilbert and George Newbern to perform them.
When a young woman is murdered outside her own back door, Delphi CSI Brooke Porter is one of the team called in to undertake the forensics work at the scene. For such a vicious killing – the victim’s throat was slit, ear to ear – there is very little evidence; the killer didn’t enter the house (which is pristine), there appear to be no witnesses, no prints and there is no sign of the murder weapon. But Brooke is nothing if not meticulous and determined; and when a combination of keen observation and strongly honed instinct lead her to suspect that there was a witness, she very quickly follows up on her hunch, and her findings – gleaned from a series of very specific, complicated tests – show that a child was in the house and very likely saw the murder.
Brooke imparts the news to the detectives working the case, who begin the process of locating him or her, even though they have very little to go on. But things aren’t moving fast enough for Brooke, who is very concerned for the safety and well-being of a traumatised child who could, if the murderer knows they were seen, become a target. She decides to try to find the kid herself, but her actions bring her into direct and sometimes heated conflict with detective Sean Byrne, who is furious when he discovers what Brooke is doing. Not only could her well-meaning but misguided interference jeopardise the case when it comes to court, but she could well be putting herself in harm’s way – and Sean isn’t about to sit around and watch someone he cares about get hurt.
Sean Byrne is one of San Marcos PD’s most experienced detectives, but he’s had a tough time of it ever since he was shot in the line of duty (in book eleven, At Close Range). He has returned to work after months of convalescence and gruelling physical therapy, time he also spent looking back on his life and making some major reassessments to his ambitions and outlook, learning patience and the importance of never taking anything – or anyone – for granted. He’s had a thing for Brooke for some time and senses there’s interest on her side, too, but she’s skittish and guarded around him and he can’t quite work out why. But whatever it is, he’s prepared to bide his time and let her take the lead, something which surprises Brooke, who has recently got out of a relationship with a guy who, she realises now, was becoming increasingly controlling and possessive. The contrast between him and Sean, who clearly wants and expects Brooke to make her own decisions and be her own person, is vast – and maybe a little scary – and although she knows Sean is a good guy, there’s a small part of her than can’t help second guessing her instincts when it comes to men and she finds it hard to let her guard down completely.
Ms. Griffin has created an intense and compelling suspense plot that twists and turns as we head towards a high-stakes finale, and I also very much enjoyed her explanations of some of the highly complex forensics procedures used along the way. I did, however, have issues with the aspect of the plot that saw Brooke crossing boundaries to become involved in aspects of the investigation that she should not have been involved in. It’s a common enough happening in police procedurals, but I couldn’t help thinking she should have known better, and was more sympathetic towards Sean, whose anger and frustration at Brooke’s lack of concern for her own safety – she does veer dangerously close to the TSTL once or twice – and his worry that she could damage the already fragile case they’re building is completely understandable. On the plus side, though, the author doesn’t just sweep their differences of opinion aside – they’re part of the story and the developing relationship between the couple. Sean and Brooke have strong chemistry and the fact that they have been attracted to each other for some time helps to ground their romance so that their progression from colleagues to something more unfolds at a sensible pace.
I’ve been reviewing for AudioGals for several years now, but incredibly, this is the first time I’ve listened to Tavia Gilbert. She’s a favourite with the Gals, and it’s easy to understand the reasons why – she’s exceptionally skilled in terms of both technical ability and creativity. She narrates the parts of the story written in Brooke’s PoV, which sometimes switches between chapters and sometimes between sections within chapters. Her voice is attractive, her enunciation is clear and her character differentiation is extremely effective across the board; there’s never any question as to who is speaking in any one scene, and her male voices, in particular, are very good indeed. Her pacing is spot on in both narrative and dialogue and she’s a terrific vocal actress, imbuing her performance with the right degree of expression and picking up all the right emotional cues. George Newbern is, likewise, a new-to-me narrator, although a quick Audible search reveals almost two hundred titles across a variety of genres to his credit. He’s a good match for Ms. Gilbert here – there are no glaring differences in pacing that would make the transitions between narrators jarring, and I could apply the same comments to his work as I have to his co-narrator’s – pacing, differentiation, enunciation and emotional nuance are all excellent. Mr. Newbern’s female voices are nicely judged, a softening of tone and lightening of timbre used to portray the various women in the story.
While I had some small quibbles with certain aspects of the book, Touch of Red is sure to appeal to fans of well-conceived, well-written romantic suspense novels. The top-notch narration is a definite plus, and I really hope we might see some of Laura Griffin’s other Tracers novels make it into audio – preferably with Tavia Gilbert and George Newbern narrating.
Each book in the series boasts a self-contained suspense plot and a romance that reaches an HFN or HEA by the end, so there is no need to worry about cliffhangers; and although characters from earlier books do make an appearance – par for the course with series books – the author gives the listener enough information to explain how they relate to the current story and its characters, so it’s not strictly necessary to have listened to or read the previous books. Linking the books together is the Delphi Center, a high-end, high-tech forensics facility that is usually called in by the San Marcos PD to help with their biggest and most difficult cases.
You can read the rest of this review at AudioGals .
April 16, 2018
This one will keep you up at night trying to finish. Who needs sleep? I loved Sean--so honest in his feelings--and Brooke worms her stubborn way into your heart. Laura Griffin never disappoints, and I can't wait for the next one.
October 14, 2017
It's so crazy good going back into the Tracers' world!
Laura Griffin has a talent for romantic suspense and police procedure description that keeps my interest from start to end. Sometimes when a book is too descriptive about the investigation associated with a case, my eyes glaze over but it's never the case with her stories.
The main couple is composed of Brooke Porter and Sean Byrne. We have met them in other books and now it's their time to shine.
Brooke is a CSI with the Delphi Centre who's called to the murder of a young woman. Brooke gets there before the police arrive. She knows something doesn't add up with the crime scene. Something big is missing. Brooke is very good at her job but not so much with her personal life. Her relationships have never worked and her latest one with a cop is still affecting her since she doesn't seem to be able to shake him. That's why she's taking a break from men except Sean makes her want to break her own rules.
Sean is the homicide detective assigned the case Brooke is on. Sean has been watching Brooke for a while and he's very interested in getting to know her but he knows he has to be patient. He can tell something is going on with her but when she keeps on making the case personal and he believes she's attracting the killer's attention, he won't be able to keep his distance any longer.
I like this couple. The romance was smooth and it was easier to believe since they have known each other for a while. They each have respect for the other's jobs. There was only one instance when I thought Brooke was taking the wrong path. I was screaming in my head: you have no weapon, no training, no self-defense moves, quit jumping the gun!
Laura also gives us a look into a future couple and I'm already liking them together. Callie needs someone strong for her and I think "weapon guy" is just what the doctor ordered.
I love the Tracers series and I can absolutely recommend it. Pick up Touch of Red, it won't disappoint you.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Pocket Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
November 24, 2017
Laura Griffin's Tracer remains one of my favourite series in romantic suspense, even when I have mostly given up on this genre I used to love back in the days when I started reading romance. What keeps me going with this series is not just the suspense and the nifty ways the clues are interpreted but also how real all her characters are, with flaws and all. She shows how slow investigations can be, how boring a cop's job can be: hours on a stake-out. Now, this book follows up on the threads of chemistry planted in the previous book.
The heroine works at Delphi and gets overly involved in a case, which is being led by a cop she doesn't want to get involved with because she has been burnt before. Now as usual in the Tracer series the romance takes the back-seat but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment of this book. I deducted one star because the heroine took some stupid chances which I didn't like.
ARC through Netgalley.
The heroine works at Delphi and gets overly involved in a case, which is being led by a cop she doesn't want to get involved with because she has been burnt before. Now as usual in the Tracer series the romance takes the back-seat but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment of this book. I deducted one star because the heroine took some stupid chances which I didn't like.
ARC through Netgalley.
August 24, 2017
Laura Griffin’s ‘Tracers’ series is such a unique one, or at least, the premise of her stories mirrors the TV series ‘Bones’ so much that it’s hard not to like the way the action unfolds. Griffin’s masterful writing, her deft handling of characters and the intricate details of forensic anthropology and crime investigation don't hurt either, though it always takes me by surprise that secondary characters who pop up early on in the series (that I’ve long forgotten about) actually do get their own stories much later on.
That said, some of her books have admittedly been a hit or miss for me, and few are true standouts because the plots are tried-and-tested formulas that have worked well, though sometimes quite forgettably so after the ride is over. Like many of Griffin’s other books in the series, ‘Touch of Red’ starts with a murder by the way of a hapless victim brutally murdered in a way that gets everyone reeling, with clues pointing every which way until several keys are unearthed to the point where the whole story makes sense.
In this case, I was more absorbed by the clues and the investigation as detail after chilling detail unfolded than I was by Brooke/Sean’s developing relationship, not because they didn’t have chemistry, but because that perhaps, had to do with the fact that Griffin’s Delphi employee/Cop pairings started to look interchangeable after a while.
Nevertheless, what makes ’Touch of Red’ enjoyable is that Griffin hardly ever writes just a whodunnit book. It’s part-police procedural, part-thriller and romantic suspense where the romance develops by way of the investigation, though it never really is quite the focus of the book. The delicate balance is handled well though, and that mix will probably satisfy both romance-seeking and crime-loving readers.
*ARC by Netgalley and the Publisher
(always grateful, mind)
That said, some of her books have admittedly been a hit or miss for me, and few are true standouts because the plots are tried-and-tested formulas that have worked well, though sometimes quite forgettably so after the ride is over. Like many of Griffin’s other books in the series, ‘Touch of Red’ starts with a murder by the way of a hapless victim brutally murdered in a way that gets everyone reeling, with clues pointing every which way until several keys are unearthed to the point where the whole story makes sense.
In this case, I was more absorbed by the clues and the investigation as detail after chilling detail unfolded than I was by Brooke/Sean’s developing relationship, not because they didn’t have chemistry, but because that perhaps, had to do with the fact that Griffin’s Delphi employee/Cop pairings started to look interchangeable after a while.
Nevertheless, what makes ’Touch of Red’ enjoyable is that Griffin hardly ever writes just a whodunnit book. It’s part-police procedural, part-thriller and romantic suspense where the romance develops by way of the investigation, though it never really is quite the focus of the book. The delicate balance is handled well though, and that mix will probably satisfy both romance-seeking and crime-loving readers.
*ARC by Netgalley and the Publisher
(always grateful, mind)
December 19, 2017
3.5/5
A good basic romantic suspense. Not one of the best in the series but pretty entertaining. One thing this author does, a lot, is make her heroine do reckless (borderline TSTL) acts of bravery near the climax of the story. She toned it down a bit in this book but it was still there. That kind of gets on my nerves but in this case a kid was at risk so it was a bit more believable.
A good basic romantic suspense. Not one of the best in the series but pretty entertaining. One thing this author does, a lot, is make her heroine do reckless (borderline TSTL) acts of bravery near the climax of the story. She toned it down a bit in this book but it was still there. That kind of gets on my nerves but in this case a kid was at risk so it was a bit more believable.
September 5, 2017
I love this series and loved this book!!
December 24, 2017
I liked the relationship here, but the heroine drove me a little batty. I got it--but continually putting yourself in harm's way when it isn't your job and you're not trained for it, well, it isn't a good look. Especially when you almost end up dead because of it!!!
April 19, 2025
3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, the balance between romance and suspense, and the H.
The Not-So-Good: The h's pushing away got a little too much for me.
The Bad: The ending. Yes, they but that wasn't nearly enough!
Overall: This was enjoyable. I liked the balance between romance and suspense, which is usually my biggest issue with this subgenre. If only we got more closure for the couple in the end! I feel like since this is part of a much bigger series we might see them and get some more closure in a later book, but if you follow my reviews you know I'm too impatient for that!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Brooke and Sean's story. Brooke is a crime scene investigator and Sean is a detective that have worked together for months. Through a mutual case that both of them are probably way too invested in, they spend more time together and Sean decides to finally pursue her. Brooke has some ex baggage that makes her want to remain single, but she can't deny the pull she feels towards Sean. There is some suspense with the big case they work on, some secrets revealed, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing mainly on Brooke and Sean in 3rd person narrative (with a few parts that focused on his partner Callie)
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, but some feelings were already there when this book started.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Sean. I liked him. I appreciated how he was protective but also didn't cross the line into controlling.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Brooke. I liked her and understood her hesitation, but I also didn't like that she assigned her ex's bad traits to the H when he didn't do anything to warrant it.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in an alright place but with what I would call a HFN ending
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, the balance between romance and suspense, and the H.
The Not-So-Good: The h's pushing away got a little too much for me.
The Bad: The ending. Yes, they but that wasn't nearly enough!
Overall: This was enjoyable. I liked the balance between romance and suspense, which is usually my biggest issue with this subgenre. If only we got more closure for the couple in the end! I feel like since this is part of a much bigger series we might see them and get some more closure in a later book, but if you follow my reviews you know I'm too impatient for that!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Brooke and Sean's story. Brooke is a crime scene investigator and Sean is a detective that have worked together for months. Through a mutual case that both of them are probably way too invested in, they spend more time together and Sean decides to finally pursue her. Brooke has some ex baggage that makes her want to remain single, but she can't deny the pull she feels towards Sean. There is some suspense with the big case they work on, some secrets revealed, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing mainly on Brooke and Sean in 3rd person narrative (with a few parts that focused on his partner Callie)
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, but some feelings were already there when this book started.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Sean. I liked him. I appreciated how he was protective but also didn't cross the line into controlling.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Brooke. I liked her and understood her hesitation, but I also didn't like that she assigned her ex's bad traits to the H when he didn't do anything to warrant it.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in an alright place but with what I would call a HFN ending
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
December 18, 2017
I read my first
Tracers
book by Laura Griffin late last year – book eleven in the series, At Close Range – and thoroughly enjoyed the tightly plotted, edge-of-the-seat story and the steamy romance woven through it, so I eagerly jumped into Touch of Red, the twelfth book. Once again, a member of local law-enforcement joins forces with one of the Tracers – a team comprised of experts in the various areas of forensic science – this time to investigate the brutal and savage killing of a young woman outside her home. It’s a very well-written, cleverly put-together story with plenty of twists and turns and the sort of high-stakes finale typical of many a police procedural; throw in a romance between two people who have faced difficult – and in the case of the hero, life-altering – situations in their recent pasts, and you’ve got a thoroughly entertaining and very readable romantic suspense novel that had me engrossed from beginning to end.
The crime scene to which CSI Brooke Porter is called late one Wednesday evening is among the more problematic she has observed. A young woman has been viciously murdered – her throat has been cut literally from ear to ear – outside her house, and there is no immediately discernible evidence at the scene. The interior of the house is neat, orderly and practically spotless, the victim lived alone and there were no witnesses to the murder… or so it appears. Keen eyed observation and strongly informed intuition lead Brooke to suspect that there was a witness, a suspicion borne out after she performs some very specific and complicated tests that prove there was a child in the house who very likely saw the killing.
Brooke imparts her findings to the team of detectives working the case, and they begin the process of locating him or her, even though there’s little to go on. But they are moving slowly, so Brooke decides to do some investigating of her own, her concern for the safety of the witness causing her to step outside her area of expertise and become involved in aspects of the investigation which aren’t within her remit. This brings her into conflict with the lead detective on the case, Sean Byrne, whose frustration at her actions is two-fold; one, he has to make sure that any evidence uncovered during the investigation is admissible in court and two, he is worried that by branching out on her own, Brooke may be placing herself in danger.
I admit that this aspect of the story didn’t sit all that well with me; I’m no expert, but even I know (from watching TV police shows!) that Brooke’s activities could have had a detrimental effect on the investigation. That said, however, I recognise that it’s the sort of thing that happens regularly in police procedurals (I mean, Castle has a novelist investigating crimes!) so I chalked it up to artistic license and decided to go with the flow.
And it’s a very good flow. Brooke’s methods may not be by the book, but she does help Sean and his team to make a number of important connections that enable them to narrow down their list of suspects, and is instrumental in identifying and making contact with the child witness, a ten-year old boy named Cameron. That doesn’t excuse her occasional recklessness (she veers dangerously close to TSTL once or twice) but it does make for a thumping good story and, of course, enables her to interact with the lovely Sean more frequently than she could have done had she been stuck inside a lab all the time!
Detective Sean Byrne was shot in the line of duty some months earlier and has discovered that almost dying causes one to make all sorts of re-evaluations and reassessments of one’s way of life. He had plenty of time while recovering to work out what really matters to him, to learn patience and the importance of appreciating people and experiences more than ever before. He’s dedicated to his job, but as Brooke observes, pretty chilled when it comes to his personal life – which is a good thing for her, because it means he’s prepared to bide his time when it comes to the relationship he hopes will develop between them. Sean has had a thing for Brooke for some time and senses there’s interest on her side, too, but she’s skittish and guarded around him and he doesn’t know why. He’s determined to get to the bottom of it, however; whatever is holding her back from giving into the strong mutual attraction buzzing between them, he will give her the space and support to work it out. This willingness to let her set the pace sort of unnerves Brooke, who has recently got out of a relationship in which – she now realises – her ex had become increasingly more possessive and controlling. Having a guy around her who is not only prepared, but wants Brooke to make her own decisions and be her own person is a heady thing – but also a little scary because while she knows, deep down, Sean is a good guy, there’s a small part of her that can’t stop second-guessing her instincts when it comes to men and is reluctant to let down her guard completely.
I was as intrigued by this more personal aspect of the story as I was by the main suspense plot, and the author does a terrific job of balancing the two. Brooke and Sean have strong chemistry and given that they have known and ‘like’ liked each other for a while, their progression towards a more romantic relationship doesn’t feel rushed. The murder-mystery is gripping and I really enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the intricacies involved in certain aspects of the forensics, such as Brooke’s explanations of the difficulties involved in lifting childrens’ fingerprints, or the problems inherent in the use of familial DNA.
I would definitely recommend Touch of Red to fans of well-written, strongly-plotted romantic suspense novels, although a couple of things did bring my grade down a notch. Firstly, there seemed to be rather a big leap of logic at one point in the case when the detective team zeroes in on their main suspect; and secondly, in spite of the fact that it’s quite commonplace in these types of stories, I never quite accepted the level of Brooke’s involvement in the investigation. She and Sean clash a number of times over her refusal to leave the detecting to the detectives, and while I understood that she was motivated by her concern for the well-being of a child, I found Sean’s frustration over her lack of concern for her own safety and his worry that she could damage the integrity of the case to be more compelling and understandable. The good thing though, is that Ms. Griffin doesn’t ignore or gloss over these differences of opinion; they’re part of the story and the relationship.
Even with those reservations, I still raced through Touch of Red in a couple of sittings and was bleary-eyed one morning because I’d stayed up way past my bedtime so I could finish it. It works perfectly well as a standalone, although there are cameo appearances from some characters from earlier books, and fans of intelligent, strongly-written romantic thrillers are sure to enjoy it.
The crime scene to which CSI Brooke Porter is called late one Wednesday evening is among the more problematic she has observed. A young woman has been viciously murdered – her throat has been cut literally from ear to ear – outside her house, and there is no immediately discernible evidence at the scene. The interior of the house is neat, orderly and practically spotless, the victim lived alone and there were no witnesses to the murder… or so it appears. Keen eyed observation and strongly informed intuition lead Brooke to suspect that there was a witness, a suspicion borne out after she performs some very specific and complicated tests that prove there was a child in the house who very likely saw the killing.
Brooke imparts her findings to the team of detectives working the case, and they begin the process of locating him or her, even though there’s little to go on. But they are moving slowly, so Brooke decides to do some investigating of her own, her concern for the safety of the witness causing her to step outside her area of expertise and become involved in aspects of the investigation which aren’t within her remit. This brings her into conflict with the lead detective on the case, Sean Byrne, whose frustration at her actions is two-fold; one, he has to make sure that any evidence uncovered during the investigation is admissible in court and two, he is worried that by branching out on her own, Brooke may be placing herself in danger.
I admit that this aspect of the story didn’t sit all that well with me; I’m no expert, but even I know (from watching TV police shows!) that Brooke’s activities could have had a detrimental effect on the investigation. That said, however, I recognise that it’s the sort of thing that happens regularly in police procedurals (I mean, Castle has a novelist investigating crimes!) so I chalked it up to artistic license and decided to go with the flow.
And it’s a very good flow. Brooke’s methods may not be by the book, but she does help Sean and his team to make a number of important connections that enable them to narrow down their list of suspects, and is instrumental in identifying and making contact with the child witness, a ten-year old boy named Cameron. That doesn’t excuse her occasional recklessness (she veers dangerously close to TSTL once or twice) but it does make for a thumping good story and, of course, enables her to interact with the lovely Sean more frequently than she could have done had she been stuck inside a lab all the time!
Detective Sean Byrne was shot in the line of duty some months earlier and has discovered that almost dying causes one to make all sorts of re-evaluations and reassessments of one’s way of life. He had plenty of time while recovering to work out what really matters to him, to learn patience and the importance of appreciating people and experiences more than ever before. He’s dedicated to his job, but as Brooke observes, pretty chilled when it comes to his personal life – which is a good thing for her, because it means he’s prepared to bide his time when it comes to the relationship he hopes will develop between them. Sean has had a thing for Brooke for some time and senses there’s interest on her side, too, but she’s skittish and guarded around him and he doesn’t know why. He’s determined to get to the bottom of it, however; whatever is holding her back from giving into the strong mutual attraction buzzing between them, he will give her the space and support to work it out. This willingness to let her set the pace sort of unnerves Brooke, who has recently got out of a relationship in which – she now realises – her ex had become increasingly more possessive and controlling. Having a guy around her who is not only prepared, but wants Brooke to make her own decisions and be her own person is a heady thing – but also a little scary because while she knows, deep down, Sean is a good guy, there’s a small part of her that can’t stop second-guessing her instincts when it comes to men and is reluctant to let down her guard completely.
I was as intrigued by this more personal aspect of the story as I was by the main suspense plot, and the author does a terrific job of balancing the two. Brooke and Sean have strong chemistry and given that they have known and ‘like’ liked each other for a while, their progression towards a more romantic relationship doesn’t feel rushed. The murder-mystery is gripping and I really enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the intricacies involved in certain aspects of the forensics, such as Brooke’s explanations of the difficulties involved in lifting childrens’ fingerprints, or the problems inherent in the use of familial DNA.
I would definitely recommend Touch of Red to fans of well-written, strongly-plotted romantic suspense novels, although a couple of things did bring my grade down a notch. Firstly, there seemed to be rather a big leap of logic at one point in the case when the detective team zeroes in on their main suspect; and secondly, in spite of the fact that it’s quite commonplace in these types of stories, I never quite accepted the level of Brooke’s involvement in the investigation. She and Sean clash a number of times over her refusal to leave the detecting to the detectives, and while I understood that she was motivated by her concern for the well-being of a child, I found Sean’s frustration over her lack of concern for her own safety and his worry that she could damage the integrity of the case to be more compelling and understandable. The good thing though, is that Ms. Griffin doesn’t ignore or gloss over these differences of opinion; they’re part of the story and the relationship.
Even with those reservations, I still raced through Touch of Red in a couple of sittings and was bleary-eyed one morning because I’d stayed up way past my bedtime so I could finish it. It works perfectly well as a standalone, although there are cameo appearances from some characters from earlier books, and fans of intelligent, strongly-written romantic thrillers are sure to enjoy it.
November 27, 2017
I have quibbles (to be fair, when don't I?) but this series is somehow both formulaic and good. It's a weird combination: I am impressed.
So! Brooke! She's a good character - has a really interesting conflict with feeling like she isn't confident anymore and wants more time but also likes Sean - but she's also inconsistent? The stuff with Matt didn't really go anywhere, and for that level of EXTREME CREEPINESS, I almost feel like it should have? (I'm glad it didn't, because that would have pushed this book over the top, but. Too much buildup for absolutely no payout.)
Sean - also interesting! Works better in the context of the previous books in the series, because his growth as a character does not take place on the page at all. That said: super compelling when talking to Brooke.
The case - well. Grace needs to talk to me about the actual legal ramifications, but if even I'm kinda nervous about chain of evidence, there's some not-great stuff going on, right? I kept waiting for Sean to realize that he was Rachel in the fight he kept having with Brooke about collecting evidence for the case; alas, the book stops at the "It's dangerous! Bad bad bad!" point. (Which, uh, it is? There could be more nuance, though - the parallels practically write themselves.)
The series has moved from individual serial-killer type crimes to systemic corruption, which is a good approach, I think. (There shouldn't be that many serial killers in one midsize town.) That said, there comes a point where even the widespread corruption feels like too much, and the series is getting to that point.
Which is why the preview at the end of this book is so exciting: there's going to be a spinoff series! Of my faaaavorite book of the series, Shadow Fall! With Liam and Jeremy (and Tara, please, have Tara)! And doing security means more settings and more storytelling opportunities and I AM EXCITED.
PS: I spent this entire book convinced that Travis Cullen was already the hero of an earlier novel. Whoops.
So! Brooke! She's a good character - has a really interesting conflict with feeling like she isn't confident anymore and wants more time but also likes Sean - but she's also inconsistent? The stuff with Matt didn't really go anywhere, and for that level of EXTREME CREEPINESS, I almost feel like it should have? (I'm glad it didn't, because that would have pushed this book over the top, but. Too much buildup for absolutely no payout.)
Sean - also interesting! Works better in the context of the previous books in the series, because his growth as a character does not take place on the page at all. That said: super compelling when talking to Brooke.
The case - well. Grace needs to talk to me about the actual legal ramifications, but if even I'm kinda nervous about chain of evidence, there's some not-great stuff going on, right? I kept waiting for Sean to realize that he was Rachel in the fight he kept having with Brooke about collecting evidence for the case; alas, the book stops at the "It's dangerous! Bad bad bad!" point. (Which, uh, it is? There could be more nuance, though - the parallels practically write themselves.)
The series has moved from individual serial-killer type crimes to systemic corruption, which is a good approach, I think. (There shouldn't be that many serial killers in one midsize town.) That said, there comes a point where even the widespread corruption feels like too much, and the series is getting to that point.
Which is why the preview at the end of this book is so exciting: there's going to be a spinoff series! Of my faaaavorite book of the series, Shadow Fall! With Liam and Jeremy (and Tara, please, have Tara)! And doing security means more settings and more storytelling opportunities and I AM EXCITED.
PS: I spent this entire book convinced that Travis Cullen was already the hero of an earlier novel. Whoops.
August 23, 2017
Touch of Red
Laura Griffin
5 stars
what is it about:
When crime scene investigator Brooke Porter arrives at the home of a murdered woman, the only thing more shocking than the carnage is the evidence that someone escaped the scene. But where is this witness now? A thorough search of the area yields more questions than answers, and before Brooke even packs up her evidence kit, she’s made it her goal to find the witness and get them out of harm’s way.
Homicide detective Sean Byrne has seen his share of bloody crime scenes, but this one is particularly disturbing, especially because Brooke Porter is smack in the middle of it. Sean has had his eye on the sexy CSI for months, and he’s determined to help her with her current case—even if it means putting his attraction on hold so he and Brooke can track down a murderer. But as the investigation—and their relationship—heats up, Sean realizes that keeping his work and his personal life separate is more complicated than he ever imagined; especially when the killer sets his sights on Brooke
my thoughts:
I loved it, loved everything about it, how it pulled me and wouldn't let go, love the characters, with that said I would love to say thinks to Netgalley for letting me find another series I want to read .
September 9, 2017
Laura Griffin has found a winning formula with her Tracers series, and the latest is no exception. Touch of Red is a fast-paced romantic suspense that I read in one sitting. Characters from previous books make cameo appearances, but the main plot is driven by crime scene investigator, Brooke Porter and homicide detective, Sean Byrne. The two have been crossing paths frequently, but when Brooke gets more embroiled in the case of a murdered woman than she should, the two are given the chance to grow closer. Yes, this formula has been used in the previous books in the series, but it just works.
The mystery was compelling and it was balanced well with the romance between Brooke and Sean. There was also more meat to their romance than the crime; both characters had their hang-ups, more so with Brooke, which added some complexity to the romance instead of it becoming a superficial aspect of the mystery. The mystery itself evolved into something that became rather dark and heartbreaking, again demonstrating that Griffin pushes past the formulaic to something with more meat, which will appeal to the mystery readers out there.
Touch of Red is another excellent addition to Griffin's series and its clear that there's lots of life left for future books (hopefully a lot of them).
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
The mystery was compelling and it was balanced well with the romance between Brooke and Sean. There was also more meat to their romance than the crime; both characters had their hang-ups, more so with Brooke, which added some complexity to the romance instead of it becoming a superficial aspect of the mystery. The mystery itself evolved into something that became rather dark and heartbreaking, again demonstrating that Griffin pushes past the formulaic to something with more meat, which will appeal to the mystery readers out there.
Touch of Red is another excellent addition to Griffin's series and its clear that there's lots of life left for future books (hopefully a lot of them).
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
June 4, 2018
Laura Griffin has a new book, Desperate Girls, coming out August 7th, but in the meantime, you can read Touch of Red! I loved this one so much!!!!
It's been out awhile so I won't say much other than you need to read it too if you haven't already.
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It's been out awhile so I won't say much other than you need to read it too if you haven't already.
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September 20, 2017
Another great read by author Laura Griffin. If you have not read any of these books in this series, you are missing out. I can't stop reading these books fast enough.
The relationship dynamics between Brooke and Sean was good. I don't often say this about relationships in my thriller books but in this case, I actually wanted more. I wanted Brooke and Sean to interact more as a couple. It was like they would take one step forward and two steps back. Yet, Sean is perfect for Brooke. He respects her space but at the same time would do anything to protect her. Brooke needed that as she put herself in dangerous situations with her push forward attitude. Although, I liked this about her as she didn't really show fear.
When it came to the storyline as a whole, I liked the vibe. The story moved at a great pace with plenty of intensity. Which picked up towards the end. Laura Griffin brings the intensity and packs a strong punch with Touch of Red!
The relationship dynamics between Brooke and Sean was good. I don't often say this about relationships in my thriller books but in this case, I actually wanted more. I wanted Brooke and Sean to interact more as a couple. It was like they would take one step forward and two steps back. Yet, Sean is perfect for Brooke. He respects her space but at the same time would do anything to protect her. Brooke needed that as she put herself in dangerous situations with her push forward attitude. Although, I liked this about her as she didn't really show fear.
When it came to the storyline as a whole, I liked the vibe. The story moved at a great pace with plenty of intensity. Which picked up towards the end. Laura Griffin brings the intensity and packs a strong punch with Touch of Red!
October 31, 2017
Three and a half stars. I wanted to give this book three stars but I was comparing this to Laura's other books, compared to the genre she is still streets ahead of the others.
Brooke Porter is a crime scene investigator with the Delphi Centre, incredibly dedicated she is almost OCD in her attention to detail and commitment to catching the guilty. She is brought to a crime scene where a young woman was brutally murdered just outside her front door. Immediately Brooke senses that there is something 'off' about the scene which leads her to discover that there may have been a witness.
Sean Byrne is a homicide detective. After being shot recently he has had a 'come to Jesus' moment and realised that his life was fairly meaningless and he could have died without ever making a real connection or creating a legacy. He's attracted to Brooke, he finds her intriguing and wants to know her better.
I haven't read the previous Tracers book so I don't know the backstory with Sean and Brooke (if there is any). While I enjoyed the investigative aspects of this novel I felt that the romance overtook the plot about halfway/ two-thirds of the way through and I lost interest a bit. The Brooke, the OCD investigator decides that she will ignore protocol and the rules of evidence and just investigate on her own. Whilst describing her as TSTL might be harsh she definitely has those tendencies.
I have reviewed another series that Laura has started and commented that it felt as though she was being pushed into a direction that she wasn't comfortable with and sadly I feel as though the same is happening with Tracers. This is a series of romantic suspense/ thriller romances. There are scary psycho serial killers everywhere and geeky women who investigate. This started that way and I was L.O.V.I.N.G. it, then, as I said, just after half way through it felt like I was reading one sex scene after another and the investigation was shunted into the background. In the end, I didn't feel the murderer was all that exciting and I had serious doubts about the detective skills that identified the murderer.
If you haven't read any of the Tracers novels before you will find this enjoyable and educational (who knew that about children's fingerprints?) but IMHO lovers of Laura Griffin's novels will find this a little disappointing. Please dial back the sex/ romance and up the mystery quality in the next one Laura.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Brooke Porter is a crime scene investigator with the Delphi Centre, incredibly dedicated she is almost OCD in her attention to detail and commitment to catching the guilty. She is brought to a crime scene where a young woman was brutally murdered just outside her front door. Immediately Brooke senses that there is something 'off' about the scene which leads her to discover that there may have been a witness.
Sean Byrne is a homicide detective. After being shot recently he has had a 'come to Jesus' moment and realised that his life was fairly meaningless and he could have died without ever making a real connection or creating a legacy. He's attracted to Brooke, he finds her intriguing and wants to know her better.
I haven't read the previous Tracers book so I don't know the backstory with Sean and Brooke (if there is any). While I enjoyed the investigative aspects of this novel I felt that the romance overtook the plot about halfway/ two-thirds of the way through and I lost interest a bit. The Brooke, the OCD investigator decides that she will ignore protocol and the rules of evidence and just investigate on her own. Whilst describing her as TSTL might be harsh she definitely has those tendencies.
I have reviewed another series that Laura has started and commented that it felt as though she was being pushed into a direction that she wasn't comfortable with and sadly I feel as though the same is happening with Tracers. This is a series of romantic suspense/ thriller romances. There are scary psycho serial killers everywhere and geeky women who investigate. This started that way and I was L.O.V.I.N.G. it, then, as I said, just after half way through it felt like I was reading one sex scene after another and the investigation was shunted into the background. In the end, I didn't feel the murderer was all that exciting and I had serious doubts about the detective skills that identified the murderer.
If you haven't read any of the Tracers novels before you will find this enjoyable and educational (who knew that about children's fingerprints?) but IMHO lovers of Laura Griffin's novels will find this a little disappointing. Please dial back the sex/ romance and up the mystery quality in the next one Laura.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
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