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Detective Sarah Burke #3
Too Close to Kill
Please note this book was previously published as Kissing Arizona.
The perfect couple — or the perfect murder?
The perfect house, a beautiful lawn, a huge pool and a state-of-the-art kitchen.
Frank and Lois’s housekeeper arrives for work as normal. But once inside something’s clearly gone very wrong.
She finds her wealthy employers lying in the hallway with their faces blown off.
They always seemed so good together. But did Frank shoot Lois and then turn the gun on himself?
Detective Sarah Burke isn’t convinced. Which means there may be a killer on the loose . . .
That’s not Sarah’s only concern. A chopped-up body is found in a box on the other side of town.
Sarah has just one question — who’s in the box?
The perfect couple — or the perfect murder?
The perfect house, a beautiful lawn, a huge pool and a state-of-the-art kitchen.
Frank and Lois’s housekeeper arrives for work as normal. But once inside something’s clearly gone very wrong.
She finds her wealthy employers lying in the hallway with their faces blown off.
They always seemed so good together. But did Frank shoot Lois and then turn the gun on himself?
Detective Sarah Burke isn’t convinced. Which means there may be a killer on the loose . . .
That’s not Sarah’s only concern. A chopped-up body is found in a box on the other side of town.
Sarah has just one question — who’s in the box?
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2010
128 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Gunn
32 books54 followersA one-time innkeeper with a taste for adventure, Elizabeth has been a private pilot, sky diver, SCUBA diver, and liveaboard sailor. Extensive travel in the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe led to a second career as a free-lance travel writer, during which she began writing a series of police procedural mysteries set in southeast Minnesota, where she grew up. Her books contrast the sometimes gritty routine of police work with the idyllic rural scenes around a mid-size city in the upper Midwest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 8, 2022
Another enjoyable book though I did prefer the previous 2 books in the trilogy. Although the story was good I felt it was rushed towards the end.
May 20, 2011
I lived in Tucson for many years so it was nice to revisit it. I thought the book was a nice balance of police work and personal lives, and there were even a few chuckles here and there. I did find Vicki's story and character a little tedious. The writing is quite workmanlike, so nothing out of the ordinary. Just a pleasant, fast read. And the typo of "Smith & Wessen" for "Smith & Wesson" irritated me -- it was only spelled correctly once and it was a fairly important plot point.
February 25, 2011
I enjoyed this because in addition to solving the mystery the plot involved the central character's personal life making the plot rich and fulfilling. I enjoyed the peripheral characters as much as the protaganist. I found it interesting and since it involvled illegal immigration, topical.
May 30, 2014
Cool in Tucson, the first in this series, has plot and characters reminiscent of Elmore Leonard. The books that follow are less tight and suffer slightly from seriesitis -- some characters are worth knowing better than others -- but are still good reads. In Kissing Arizona, third in the Sarah Burke series, the strongest character is a 14-year-old young woman who is Mexican by birth, but raised as a daughter of Tucson. The novel describes the plight of DREAMers through her eyes, adding value to the workmanlike police procedural/family balancing act that comprises the rest of the novel.
January 13, 2013
The setting for this book is Tucson, which is sort of local for me as a part time resident. The plot relates to problems typical of the area with illegal border crossings etc. It is interesting to recognize local landmarks as the author moves her characters through the tale.
February 13, 2022
Surprised
This is a good story with many twists and turns. The box of bones was interesting and Freddy O and his group were a surprise. The whole story was nicely woven together.
This is a good story with many twists and turns. The box of bones was interesting and Freddy O and his group were a surprise. The whole story was nicely woven together.
February 22, 2022
Sarah Burke
Good series. Lots of action, responsibility, and intrigue. Would like to have had some closure on Denny's situation. Enjoyed these books!
Good series. Lots of action, responsibility, and intrigue. Would like to have had some closure on Denny's situation. Enjoyed these books!
March 12, 2022
Very Good Detective Mystery
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and the central story a solid who done it. I recommend it highly
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and the central story a solid who done it. I recommend it highly
June 5, 2022
Best yet
Sarah is working to solve several murders which becomes complicated by family circumstances going sideways. Very good book and I recommend reading it.
Sarah is working to solve several murders which becomes complicated by family circumstances going sideways. Very good book and I recommend reading it.
October 17, 2022
Great
A lot of twists and turns. Definitely kept me turning the pages, I was anxious to see what was next.
A lot of twists and turns. Definitely kept me turning the pages, I was anxious to see what was next.
August 7, 2023
Best book of the series, but again a rushed ending has cut 1* from my review.
October 20, 2025
A fun read. I'm enjoying seeing the changes in the family.
November 10, 2025
A very good whodunnit murder mystery with plenty of twists and a good insight into the lives of the main characters. Highly recommended.
July 16, 2023
Every summer, I attempt to (1) get current with at least two of my favorite mystery series, and (2) continue one or two that, for some unknown reason, became abandoned along the path of my reading life. Elizabeth Gunn's Sarah Burke series is one of those abandoned ones, and for the life of me, I don't know why. I love the Tucson setting, I enjoy the mysteries that Gunn creates, and I certainly like the character of Sarah Burke. So as I sank into the pages of Kissing Arizona with a pleasurable sigh, I mentally kicked myself for taking so long to pick up this third book in the series.
The apparent murder-suicide of the prominent Tucson couple, although not difficult to solve, was still interesting as it navigated through a quagmire of family dynamics, and the drug case highlighted some of the problems all border states in this country deal with on a daily basis. What really grabbed my attention were two young girls: Sarah's twelve-year-old niece Denny and Vicky, a fifteen-year-old illegal immigrant.
Sarah's sister is a drug addict incapable of caring for her child; consequently, Sarah has become her niece's guardian. Since Sarah is an incredibly busy police detective, this only works with the help of Sarah's mother and Sarah's boyfriend. Seeing the world through Denny's eyes ("It was worth doing a lot of chores to live with Aunt Sarah.") can be heartbreaking, funny, and illuminating. Watching Sarah, her mother, her boyfriend, and Denny work together to make themselves a family is one of the best parts of Kissing Arizona.
The other "best part" is fifteen-year-old Vicky's story. Vicky was born in Mexico while her younger sister was born in Arizona; therefore, when Vicky's mother is deported, so is Vicky while the younger sister gets to stay in Tucson. At first, readers may not feel much sympathy for Vicky. She's the mouthy, rebellious one who fights all authority while the younger sister is studious and obeys all the rules. But as the story unfolds, Vicky's true character emerges. No matter what it takes, this young girl is determined to get back across the border to her Tucson home. How she deals with the trials and tribulations along her path makes her very special indeed.
If you like mysteries in which the lives of the characters are every bit as important as the mysteries themselves, do yourself a favor and pick up Elizabeth Gunn's Sarah Burke mysteries. Due to the character development, I would suggest beginning with the first book, Cool in Tucson (one of my Best Reads of 2010).
The apparent murder-suicide of the prominent Tucson couple, although not difficult to solve, was still interesting as it navigated through a quagmire of family dynamics, and the drug case highlighted some of the problems all border states in this country deal with on a daily basis. What really grabbed my attention were two young girls: Sarah's twelve-year-old niece Denny and Vicky, a fifteen-year-old illegal immigrant.
Sarah's sister is a drug addict incapable of caring for her child; consequently, Sarah has become her niece's guardian. Since Sarah is an incredibly busy police detective, this only works with the help of Sarah's mother and Sarah's boyfriend. Seeing the world through Denny's eyes ("It was worth doing a lot of chores to live with Aunt Sarah.") can be heartbreaking, funny, and illuminating. Watching Sarah, her mother, her boyfriend, and Denny work together to make themselves a family is one of the best parts of Kissing Arizona.
The other "best part" is fifteen-year-old Vicky's story. Vicky was born in Mexico while her younger sister was born in Arizona; therefore, when Vicky's mother is deported, so is Vicky while the younger sister gets to stay in Tucson. At first, readers may not feel much sympathy for Vicky. She's the mouthy, rebellious one who fights all authority while the younger sister is studious and obeys all the rules. But as the story unfolds, Vicky's true character emerges. No matter what it takes, this young girl is determined to get back across the border to her Tucson home. How she deals with the trials and tribulations along her path makes her very special indeed.
If you like mysteries in which the lives of the characters are every bit as important as the mysteries themselves, do yourself a favor and pick up Elizabeth Gunn's Sarah Burke mysteries. Due to the character development, I would suggest beginning with the first book, Cool in Tucson (one of my Best Reads of 2010).
March 2, 2011
Gunn ratchets it up a notch in this third novel in her series regarding her Tucson based police detective Sarah Burke as she takes on the nefarious world of people smuggling. “Kissing Arizona” is two stories blended together by Gunn’s immaculate style of writing. In a timely message for Tucson, she examines the world of the illegal,Mexican immigrants and brilliantly diagrams the problems from both sides of the border, delving into how pick-ups are made once the illegal alien reaches Arizona and discusses the underlying issues of the underworld of stowing these undocumented, migrant workers.
Young Vicky lived in Tucson as a small child coming over the border as an infant. When her father leaves and her mother gets busted and deported, Vicky is torn from her baby sister who was
born in the States and so is a citizen. The younger child stays with an aunt while Vicky and her mother are sent home to Mexico. Vicky is not satisfied with her lot in life and uses her teenage wiles to get a boyfriend to aide her return to Tucson and tells him America is so grand she cannot wait to kiss the ground once she gets back to Arizona.
Meanwhile, Detective Sarah Burke has found a collection of human bones: a broken body deposited in concrete and has to hunt for the head. She and her crew of police detectives are also investigating the bloody deaths of a long-time business owner and his wife, their bodies arranged in what could be a murder-suicide until the forensic's report comes back. With two murderers to track down, Burke attempts to juggle her career, as well as the lives of her displaced niece and mother, both who reside with her, until they decide to pool resources and with help from her police
officer boyfriend, all move in together. Of course, they will need the assistance of a local cleaning firm, one that Vicky’s aunt owns and so the taut story twists in the shimmering, summer heat of Arizona.
Young Vicky lived in Tucson as a small child coming over the border as an infant. When her father leaves and her mother gets busted and deported, Vicky is torn from her baby sister who was
born in the States and so is a citizen. The younger child stays with an aunt while Vicky and her mother are sent home to Mexico. Vicky is not satisfied with her lot in life and uses her teenage wiles to get a boyfriend to aide her return to Tucson and tells him America is so grand she cannot wait to kiss the ground once she gets back to Arizona.
Meanwhile, Detective Sarah Burke has found a collection of human bones: a broken body deposited in concrete and has to hunt for the head. She and her crew of police detectives are also investigating the bloody deaths of a long-time business owner and his wife, their bodies arranged in what could be a murder-suicide until the forensic's report comes back. With two murderers to track down, Burke attempts to juggle her career, as well as the lives of her displaced niece and mother, both who reside with her, until they decide to pool resources and with help from her police
officer boyfriend, all move in together. Of course, they will need the assistance of a local cleaning firm, one that Vicky’s aunt owns and so the taut story twists in the shimmering, summer heat of Arizona.
February 27, 2012
In this, her third installment in the Sarah Burke homicide detective series, Gunn tries to follow too many threads that are not really interwoven. While this may accurately depict the life of a homicide detective, in this case it comes across to the reader as rather disjointed. In particular the thread following the story of Vicky doesn't really fit within the other two story arcs and seems to be included simply because Gunn wanted to raise questions about illegal immigrants and justice. Even in this though she doesn't really make a clear statement. The book is still an enjoyable read but falls short of the author's potential.
March 4, 2011
Homicide detective Sarah Burke has multiple heavy=duty cases, but must also find time for her niece and her ill mother. Meanwhile, illegal immigrant Vicky is determined to get back to her old life in Tucson, whatever the cost. Sarah's main case is what appears to be a murder-suicide by a prosperous couple who ran several businesses. But the medical evidence says no, and Sarah gradually finds out how dysfunctional the family was. Other cases revolve around the drug trade that plagues Arizona.
September 6, 2014
Elizabeth Gunn's third Sarah Burke mystery, all set in Tucson, Arizona. Burke is a homicide detective, and the box of bones she's got to investigate lead to illegal immigration and drug smuggling. A satisfying love and family narrative, Burke decides to throw her lot in with a fellow cop, and they set up housekeeping along with Sarah's mother and adopted daughter.
--Ashland Mystery
--Ashland Mystery
March 6, 2013
Kissing Arizona brings to light the problems faced by children brought to this country by their parents.The children are victims who had no say in the decision to come. They become completely Americanized. They are then faced with deportation to a country they no longer consider "home." The story was interesting. sad. and told the story of this current problem with compassion and sympathy.
May 28, 2013
Exceptional. Elizabeth Gunn does her research. She presents a complex social issue from all sides not accepting the easy answers. She wraps the story of the hardships of the illegal immigrants with a gritty murder mystery, while juggling the complex life of Sarah Burke's extended family, and of course Sarah's love life.
April 26, 2023
There are four separate stories intertwining in this relatively short book, with none rising to the top as the main focus. It makes for rather disjointed reading, even though the stories all touch upon one another at certain points. Main character Sarah Burke is a gutsy heroine but comes across a bit too boilerplate for me; I would have liked to see deeper characterization.
March 6, 2014
An enjoyable read. At first I struggled with it as it was so similar to JA Jance' s Joanna Brady series. Ended up I like Sara Burke et al ot better. Interesting crime along with family crisis with a minor character being developed kept me interesred and wanting more.
October 10, 2015
Gunn, Elizabeth: KISSING ARIZONA: #2 in “the Sarah Burke Series”; only read because there was a cliff hanger at end of #1 (see #27/2015) and this one was not as good; via Rita purchase; unknown # of pgs.; 2 out of 5 stars;
April 15, 2011
This series has a nice take on the diverse population of Southern Arizona and the problems of law enforcement there.
May 20, 2011
I think I have found another new author I like.
September 11, 2012
Pleasant read, but if you like details on police procedures, this is not the book for you.
November 25, 2012
Enjoyable. Love to read about a "local" story.
July 12, 2015
Like her Jake Hines series, this series features solid plots in each book, plus satisfying developments in the continuing characters' lives and relationships.
On to #4.
On to #4.
February 24, 2016
Funny and interesting 3rd of the series.
February 12, 2024
Won this book at Book Bingo. Not a bad read. But you think the characters are going to be bad-ass, and they aren't...not by a long shot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews