Outstanding series, fantastic characters
This is my first time reading a trilogy compilation on Kindle and I’m absolutely sold on the format. It especially suits me as someone who loves to binge read a series.
The trilogy , which consists of Ground Zero, Devil’s Hour, and Zero Divergence , is well suited for this format in that the stories flow almost seamlessly, one into another. Had it not been for the title and brief description inserted between the books, it would read like one huge novel. A fantastic one at that.
I’m not going to rate individual stories. One doesn’t excel or deserve a lesser rating than another. They are all exceptional.
The trilogy tracks the relationship, both professionally and personally, of Detectives Sawyer Key and Royce Locke, starting from the moment Sawyer Key joins the MCU of the Savannah PD and becomes the unwanted partner of Royce Locke.
Locke, is still grieving the loss of
a partner who was his best friend , and who committed suicide. A tragedy that’s still having major ramifications for Locke and his partner’s family.
They meet on the crime scene of a sensational murder with little time to adjust to the new situation or each other.
Walker immediately gives us an intense situation and two incredibly complicated men. And let’s the sparks fly. For three books.
Each man has a realness to him. Sawyer is a widower who is still coming to terms with the loss of a beloved husband to cancer. His grief is visceral. And yet very private. It works so well to pair him with Royce who has not come to terms with his grief and confusion over the death of his friend and partner. That issue will take him three books to work through.
Neither man stands alone. They are surrounded by incredible family members, dynamic characters from their precinct, and people we will come to know and love even more dearly in the series Sinister in Savannah.
Here we see Royce and Sawyer meet and introduce Rocky, Jonah, and Felix to each other. We meet Kendall Blakemore for the first time as well as Avery and see how he was pulled into Jonah’s orbit. Even the Marshals make their appearances here. This trilogy is our roadmap to all the series and single stories that come afterwards.
But the best and heart of the books is the growing relationship between Sawyer and Royce. The developing feelings, the situation about their relationship on the job, Royce’s closeted status, so much that evolves over the course of three complex cases and engrossing storylines.
Walker’s got the police procedural down, the hard work, the questions and paperwork. The long hours and the excitement when it looks like it might pay off. The author had me on the edge so many times here , the suspense was overwhelming!
However the joy of reading all the books right through is that you get your payoffs . You see the characters evolve, the relationship grow and deepen. And then become utterly gratified when at the end, you’re as happy as they are when the author writes The End.
Plus you have the added satisfaction of knowing there’s a second trilogy called Matrimony to come.
Be still my heart.
Are you a binge reader like me? Or just like to have all your books ready to go? This is a must have, must read! I’m definitely recommending this trilogy! And the author if you haven’t found her already!