Midnight Dunes

The Texas Murder Files #3

by Laura Griffin

After a scandal derails her television reporting career, Macey Burns comes looking for a change of pace in Lost Beach, Texas. She’s ready to focus on her first passion — documentary filmmaking — and has a new job working for the island’s tourism board, shooting footage of the idyllic beachside community. Her plans for a relaxing rebound are dashed when she realizes the cottage she’s renting belonged to the woman whose body was just found in the sand dunes.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction

456 pages, Library Binding

First published May 24, 2022

About the author

Laura 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

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin is the third book in the thrilling romantic suspense The Texas Murder Files series. As with a lot of series in this genre the characters in each installment of the The Texas Murder Files series change with new lead characters and mysteries to be solved so each book can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so.

Macey Burns has come to Lost Beach, Texas trying to make a new career for herself after leaving her television reporting career after a scandal. Macey is now trying to take up documentary filmmaking which is a passion but as she moves her equipment into a rental cottage things in Lost Beach don’t seem to be quite right.

Detective Owen Breda has been called in on the case when the body of a missing woman is found right near Macey’s rental. Macey coming along the scene can’t help but be curious but when she finds out that the victim was living in the very same place she is now she definitely wants to know how and when Owen will solve the murder.

Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin is actually the first book that I have read in The Texas Murder Files series myself and so I can say first hand this reads fine as a standalone. This wasn’t my first book by the author however so I was familiar with the ease I get pulled into her writing and stories and Midnight Dunes was no exception. Loved the locale and the characters as the story flew by waiting to see how the mystery would all turn out and I will definitely return to Laura Griffin’s work again in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can always depend on a Laura Griffin book to be hot romance, a mystery that is not easy to solve and that I will be entertained. The two main characters this time around seemed to be an unlikely pair, but there is no accounting for the instalust factor, which was in abundance in this one. But each behaved themselves and it took a few days before they were ripping each other's clothes off. Both the motive for the murder and the baddie were hard to pin down and I missed all the clues.

Macey Burns has her first project for her fledgling production company. This is what she has wanted to do since her graduation from film school. Being fired from her job as a television reporter gave her the kick in the rear she needed to do it. With her life savings on the line, failure is not an option. The tourism board for Lost Beach, Texas has hired her to create an advertising campaign to promote the island and bring in more visitors. Documentaries may be her first love, but they don't pay the bills. The cottage she rented, sight unseen, leaves a lot to be desired, but it's right on the beach. It is also the former home of a woman whose murdered body is found in the sand dunes not far away this first day she is there.

For his first time as lead detective Owen Breda has caught a missing persons case that has turned into a murder investigation. At the crime scene in the dunes in the state park, he comes face to face with the woman he tried to assist the night before. That didn't work out so well and now she is trespassing on his crime scene. Not a great start. But they keep bumping up against each other all around the island and the sparks fly.

Filming around the island has brought Macey to the killer's attention and when she is attacked, Owen will do everything in his power to protect her and find the killer.
4 1/2-Stars

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining, fast paced, well-written, steamy, romantic suspense novel. It has murder, mystery, intrigue, suspense, twists and turns, and a heart warming romance. The characters are likable and engaging, and it has a vividly described, beautiful setting, with a happily ever after ending. I have read every one of Ms. Griffin's outstanding novels and she never disappoints her readers! I am looking forward to reading the next entry in this series with great anticipation. I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narrator, Ms. Teri Clark Linden, does an outstanding job depicting the characters and their personalities.

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

After listening to two of these books set in Lost Beach, Texas, I want to vacation there! Well, maybe not this summer as Texas is sweltering hot. This was a fun romantic suspense and an easy listen.

[Danielle B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Macey Burns was involved in a scandal that completely derailed her Job as a TV reporter. Macey moves to Lost Beach, Texas in an effort to start over as a documentary film maker. Her plans are soon derailed when a body is found in the sand dunes and it turns out to be the owner of the cottage that Macey is renting. Detective Owen Brenda is on the case to solve this mystery. With violent crimes on the rise in this small town, so is the pressure on Detective Brenda to solve the case.

I thoroughly enjoyed MIDNIGHT DUNES by Laura Griffin. This is book #3 in The Texas Murder Files series. I have not read the first 2 books in the series, at least not YET! This one can be read as a standalone without missing any backstory. I thought the balance between mystery and romance was perfect in this great story. The author did a fantastic job of including both genres. This book deserves each and every star!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK

Midnight Dunes is the third book in Laura Griffin's Texas Murder Files series but can be enjoyed as a standalone with no problem. This story follows Macey Burns as she starts down a new path in her life as a film maker. Starting with a tourism commercial set in the idyllic town of Lost Beach. But her inquisitive nature from being an ex-reporter is brought back to focus when the body of a local woman is found and Macey finds herself caught up in not only the mystery, but the life of lead detective Owen Breda.

Macey was a great heroine to read about and I loved the way her mind worked. Asking just the right questions about the crime without getting too involved that it distracted the actual investigators. I also really loved those moments of vulnerability from Owen about his career and the investigation. It's not often you see a hero in these types of novels show that side of their character but it really helped connect to him.

The mystery was really fun to try and solve along with these characters as well. It made for an intriguing story and I couldn't put it down once I started.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Bex | TotallyBex.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight Dunes is my fourth book by Laura Griffin and I have enjoyed each one.

Her fast-paced writing style keeps me flipping pages, her plotlines are interesting and demand attention, and her characters are strong and multi-dimensional.

Macey is a former reporter turned documentary filmmaker who is in Lost Beach to film a tourism video for the travel board. She has a bit of a rough start once she arrives and quickly finds herself caught up in a missing person’s case.

Owen is a detective on said case and when it turns into a murder investigation, he leads the force in tracking down her killer.

His attraction to Macey is immediate, but he’s good at reading people and knows that she is hiding some things about her past. Let’s just say, sparks fly in more ways than one.

I really enjoyed heading back to Lost Beach and seeing all of the gang back together again to solve another crime. Each book in this series is a standalone with overlapping characters, so there’s no fear of jumping in and being lost.

The storyline is suspenseful and I didn’t guess the twist before it was revealed. There’s a lot of action to keep the plot moving quickly, but there are also quiet and passionate moments along the way.

The scenery is beautiful and vividly described, the main characters are smart and independent while being caring and protective, and the killer is not easily guessed. That makes it a winner in my book!


▸ ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.

▸ For more reviews, visit https://totallybex.com

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Macey Burns is in Lost Beach, Texas for a fresh start after her TV reporting career derailed. She’s hired by its tourism board to film commercials to attract visitors to their beautiful island. Unfortunately, things get off to an unsettling start when a woman is murdered, and Macey finds out she’s renting the woman’s former beach cottage. Detective Owen Breda is lead in the investigation and somehow, they keep bumping into each other, their paths cross over and over.

Owen is drawn in by Macey from the start, but the murder makes pursuing her difficult, especially when they need to keep a tight lid on the investigation. However, they’re thrown together through the investigation and Owen grows more attached with every encounter, their chemistry is palpable, but he’d like to keep Macey out of harm’s way.

Even though Macey’s out of the investigative reporting gig, it seems like she’s in the middle of this murder case left and right, and she can’t shake the eerie feelings she has staying at the dead woman’s cottage. Macey’s vowed to make her film production company her priority, making a success out of the business she’s sunk her savings into, and having a romantic relationship is a distraction she doesn’t want to have, and yet… Every time Macey thinks to rebuff Owen she doesn’t. She’s so attracted to him despite her intentions.

Midnight Dunes was the perfect combination of police procedural investigation and steamy romance! One didn’t overtake the other and I enjoyed the balance. I was hooked from the first chapter as I tried to figure out the identity of the killer right along with Owen and Macey! The suspense and danger picked up in the latter half of the story and I was on the edge of my seat worried about these characters as the killer became more and more bold. I loved how it all turned out and wonder if we’ll be getting more mysteries from Lost Beach. Nicole certainly deserves her own story with Emmett, maybe? I look forward to whatever Ms. Griffin has to offer next!

A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s something very competent and procedural about this, which keeps it grounded. I think the pacing is exactly right for a procedural sort of story - not so slow that it feels like it’s inching along, but not so quick that it feels unrealistic. And yet there’s something that’s too low-key about this. Everything merits a measured, distanced response, including finding a dead body (barely described) and previous professional disgrace (mentioned in passing, never relevant to the story).

I feel like I just read a quasi-documentary about strangers. I know a nice amount about a recent murder, but very little about the characters themselves.

PS: If you’re publishing a book in 2022, don’t do this:

“They couldn’t get anything, even with PCR,” Miranda said.

“What’s PCR?” Emmet asked.

“Polymerase chain reaction,” she said. “It’s a process that can be used to amplify a DNA sample when there isn’t much material to work with…”

…Yeah, we know.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantic suspense continues to be something I struggle with a bit these days, particularly this week. But I like Laura Griffin's writing so much, and her world building and characterization is so good. Was pleased to see the continued development of the rookie cop and the guy everyone thinks she hates, I really, really do need a book about them eventually.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

MIDNIGHT DUNES
Laura Griffin

This is the second book I have read by this author, but the only one in the series. I love the setting after all I am a Texas girl. Griffin has a good mix of romance and murder suspense and great characters. I really enjoyed Macey Burns and liked how Griffin developed her with a balance of flaws and perfection, or perhaps regularness. I think adding a scandal to someone's background adds to the character because almost everyone has some skeletons in their pantry. Macey's fubar included the daily double of a job screw-up alongside a man screw-up, so that makes her super real.

In addition, I really enjoyed how Macy meets Detective Owen Breda (twice)! I found it rather humorous. Her first day in town was just crazy and who would have thought that her rent house was the one the dead lady had stayed in?

The case was interesting without many leads, but when someone attempts to break into Macey’s cottage, things heat up. Griffin weaved an interesting case with red herrings and carefully threaded clues that built up the suspense until the killer was revealed. I thought it was well done with a solid motive. The way the author placed Macey in danger felt realistic and I was engaged from beginning to end.

I thought the whole book was a slow burn, but since the crime and the hot police officer were both on fire, there was enough to keep me attentive. I do believe that I am going to mossy over to the other two books in this series and see what Griffin has done there. I found them entertaining and completely satisfying.

4 stars

Happy Reading!

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how to pinpoint exactly what works for me with this series, but Griffin's romantic thrillers really just tend to do the trick for me every time. This time around, I'll admit I was a little more invested in the mystery than the romance, BUT these are the kind of books that hit the spot for me in terms of light, easy beach reads — stories that immediately infuse you with sense of place before sending you off into the mystery full-tilt. (The romance was pretty hot too, all things considered, and I am incredibly guilty in finding the whole trope of "one of us was just in a dangerous situation and needs to FEEL something afterward" ridiculously appealing. )And I am STILL hoping we get the romance about that one female detective character and the overly flirty co-worker she can't stand; we've had them building in the background for two books now!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Manda Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Laura Griffin. I wasn't sure how I would feel about Owen Breda as a hero after he was a bit of a partier in the last book, Flight. But I should have known better. With his brother, the senior detective in the tiny Lost Beach PD, off on assignment, Owen has a chance to take control some. Too bad it's when they find the body of a missing woman during the busy season - - and that's a sure fire draw for the media. Heroine Macy, a TV journalist turned tourist board filmmaker has a hard time temping down her curiosity about the murder and soon she and Owen are trading clues and kisses while a killer watches. It's a pulse pounding mystery filled with the kind of local color and well-developed cast of characters that make Griffin one of my favorite romantic suspense writers.

[Katie Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this romantic, police investigation era and I was not disappointed with this one. My only wish is that there was some more spice but my bar has been set pretty high there LOL.

This is the third installment in this series and involves Owen Breda (Joel’s brother from book 2). Owen has been a semi party boy for the past few years and has not decided if he wants to be a true detective until the choice is taken from him. His brother Joel is now working with a task force which has opened up the lead detective role on a body that was discovered in the dunes. During the investigation, Owen finds himself running into Macey Burns. She is new in town shooting a video for the board of tourism. There is something about her that draws him to her. He wants to know more about her, but this is the worst timing for a relationship because he is working his first murder case.

Of course neither of them can resist the other and things combust so to say. Right after they do, Macey is thrown into the line of fire from the big bad guy. I liked the misdirection on the bad guy in this one. I did not see that one coming. These have been easy, enjoyable reads for me, and I am looking forward to continuing the series with book 4!

[Lindsey Ruppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading Griffin for many years and she’s never disappointed me. Giving me hot romance and some nail biting suspense. Loved Owen’s and Macey’s story. The plot was tight and unwove perfectly

[rachel, x · Rating 3 out of 5]

➸ Trigger warnings for sexual assault, murder, and stalking.

Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in Ms. Griffin's Texas Murder Files series but can be read as a standalone. A lapse in moral judgement has cost Macey Burns her job as a San Antonio television reporter. As a result, she starts her own production company, and her first contract is to film ads for the Lost Beach tourism board. She rents a beach house in Lost Beach as her on-site base. On the second day of her stay, the body of a local missing woman is discovered not far from her house. Macey slips past the police posted boundaries to snoop and makes contact with Lost Beach detective, Owen Breda who is leading the investigation. He shows up at Macey's house with a lot of questions for Macey but fails to tell her that she has rented the house in which the previous tenant was the murder victim. Owen and the Lost Beach police department are under much pressure to resolve the murder and ensure Lost Beach has a reputation as a safe vacation destination for families and tourists. Macey is under a lot of pressure to complete a successful Lost Beach ad campaign for her new company. In the course of her filming and interviewing locals for her campaign, Macey comes across information about the murdered woman that she passes to Owen but also puts her in the sights of the murderer. It's a struggle for Owen to work the investigation and deal with his attraction to Macey and his instinct to keep her safe. I enjoyed this story of Macey and Owen and the return to this location on the Texas coast.

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all of the books in this series and I was eager to jump into another one.

I really liked Macey and Owen. She's looking for something new and he's sort of struggling. They're both inquisitive, smart, and have an undercurrent of chemistry that didn't take away from the murder investigation. I really liked Nicole and I hope we get to see more of her.

Plot wise, it was good. There's a slow burn set up and the way the clues unfolded was deliciously maddening. I was double guessing everything and for me, that's always a good sign of a great story. Of course, I did want a little bit more from the ending, but the future take was satisfying and I'm probably just being greedy.

Overall, this was another fantastic story to this series and I really hope we get more.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

[Miki’s⚠️ Safety Reviews & Rants⚠️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
🔪I love these suspense romance reads and have been reading more and more. So I’m gonna break them down differently from my other reviews.
I don’t want to give any spoilers away so you can go into it it blind and enjoy all the twists and turns❤️.

Ratings 0-5 Star Scale

😮Mystery/Suspense-
4 stars
The mystery part had me guessing.
This was a good 60%mystery/ 40% Romance. I would have liked more romance but in the end I was happy with how everyone played out.

❤️‍🔥Romance/Chemistry-
3.5 stars
I would have given this a higher rating if it had a bit more passion and connection.
We get a good sexy times scene. Toward the end I felt their connection a bit more.

🚹Hero-
3 stars
At first he was a real dick lol
But he gets better and by the end he was sweet and vulnerable for her. He was a bad boy w attitude. Silent, stoic and a bit abrasive. But when he decides he likes her and wants to get to know her he is the main pursuer. And he is pretty insistent. When he messes up he acknowledges it and apologizes. In the end I liked him.

🚺Heroine-
3.5 stars
She was strong and determined. She stood up for herself when she needed to and gave in when it was right as well. Overall I liked her.

⚠️Safety-
-No talks of H past but it’s strongly suggested that he is a ladies man.
-h had a very bad and recent breakup which cost her her job and was the reason she moved.
-Condoms
-No OWD/OMD

🎧Audiobook Narration-
Good audiobook easy to listen to
3rd person told in multiple POV

🥰Overall Enjoyment-
I enjoyed book 1 & 2 of this series
But I actually like this one the beast so far. It just had me more invested and I liked seeing Joel and Miranda and knowing they are moving forward to.

[oohlalabooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Macey Burns arrives in Lost Beach, Texas for a fresh start along with friend, Josh, they have formed a tourism board filming footage around the beach town. She’s escaping a scandal back home, leaving her job as a reporter. Macey discovers her rental had belonged to the murder victim, Julia Murphy. Detective Owen Breda under pressure to solve the case or at least have a suspect. He keeps running into Macey, she has helpful information and sparks fly. This is book three of The Texas Murder Files, but can read as a stand-alone. It’s a police procedural with great character development, it’s fast paced, and suspenseful. I’ll be sure to reading the rest of the series! Thank you to the author for my winning copy.

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bel romantic suspense, non riuscivo a mettere giù l'ereader. Devo dire che non ero riuscita a capire chi fosse il colpevole sebbene avessi compreso il motivo dietro l'omicidio (beh, all'inizio pensavo che ci fosse anche altro). Mi ha fatto piacere ritrovare alcuni personaggi del libro precedente di questa serie, come era ovvio visto che i due protagonisti maschili sono fratelli. Spero che la serie continui per un po' perché ci sono altri personaggi che vorrei "sistemare"...

[Fran (with the book addiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 stars
I’m going back on myself here by reading an earlier book in the series, which was a little discombobulating.
I still love Griffin’s writing and her stellar mystery. It’s clear she researches her books well.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series.... lots of mystery and romance!

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin is coming on May 24th and it's another fantastic addition to the Texas Murder Files series! When a local resident turns up dead detective Owen Breda is on the case. Lost Beach is a small coastal town in the state of Texas and things like this don’t normally happen. Macey Burns has come to Lost Beach in hopes of starting her own publicity company. She’s been hired by the city to make a tourism video. This will be a redemption of sorts for her. After a bit of personal and professional scandal, Macey needs to do the things she loves and do it on her own terms. She’s hoping this job with the city will be a launching pad for a new business. What she doesn’t know is, she's rented a beach house where the recently deceased resident used to live. The fact that the previous tenant was murdered brings an underlying feeling of unease for Macey. The only stable thing going on is her ability to constantly run into Detective Breda. An attraction is there but is it convenient or conducive to her new plan and career path? What we do know for sure is that there is chemistry only Laura Griffin can create. A smart coupling that will help uncover a murder mystery. Griffin has a spectacular way of telling a story and this reader will forever be a fan.

~Tanja


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[Dísir · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

'Midnight Dunes' is yet another solid read of a homicidal procedural in a small town and the whodunnit-mystery solution is a process I always enjoy going through--especially when it's done with Laura Griffin's brand of writing.

As a crime/suspense book, it's a no brainer wonderful read for me. To get the bird's eye 'insider' view of small-town law enforcement scrambling to unravel the case--as fictional as it might be--is what makes the experience an engrossing one, but to call this a romantic suspense might be way too much of a stretch.

What I'm reading here is a sequence of events - with a suspenseful build done with sheer mastery - that seems to be the main focus of the book rather than the cursory and half-hearted romance. Griffin excels at the former and the mystery case that seems to elude everyone but seems to neglect the relationship/romance-part of the plot: I seem to know the protagonists only superficially, learn of their seeming attraction but not read about the angst that sometimes accompanies and deepens an emotional connection and hence, can't get a grip on whether Macey/Owen can be together past this whole episode.

Going through every Griffin novel is akin to watching a self-contained episode in a crime drama-series. Without the cliffhanger, there's that satisfying ending when the case is closed, but there's also some kind of regret that there are no hints of future couples (because Griffin's books revolve around plot rather than pairing) when there are definitely some in past books which I'd wished she would write about.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Macey Burns has come to Lost Beach, Texas looking for a new start after a scandal caused her to flee her television reporter gig. Macey is making a tourist documentary for the town of Lost Beach, showcasing it's high points. She moves her equipment and things into a rental cottage and then finds out a woman was murdered on the beach nearby . . . and she had also lived in this cottage. Detective Owen Breda is working the case of a missing woman now found dead. Macey's natural curiosity as a former reporter brings her out on the scene where she meets the detective who isn't happy about having her messing around the crime scene. Sparks fly and they feel an immediate connection. However, Owen realizes there's more to Macey than meets the eye. She's hiding something, and he needs to find out what it is.

Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin is the third book in the Texas Murder Files series, and the first book that I've read, but it's easy to fall right into this story with the author providing excellent needed backstory. This suspense thriller is highly entertaining, fast paced and twisted. The blend of romance to suspense is perfect with believable characters and a twist I didn't see coming. Griffin excels at setting a vivid scene that enhances the action from beginning to end. Highly recommended to fans of mystery, suspense and thrillers.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Laura Griffin’s books and writing style, however the last few books have lacked chemistry between the H&h. The male lead in this novel was one dimensional. He lacked emotion and there was just no connection between the two. It won’t keep me from reading the next book, but I can’t help but hope Griffin will better develop the characters and their relationship in her next novel.

[thisisabooktracker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty average. I was not really convinced by the MC’s relationship. Owen said he wanted to kiss Macey since he met her but he was just 😐 in that scene. No real clues to lead to the killer so it was a surprise in an “okay, I guess?” way. Fine entertainment but won’t be picking it up for a reread.

[Traci Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the Texas Murder Files series. Owen wasn’t my favorite leading man but I did enjoy the chemistry and mystery. I hope we get more in this series!