⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Definitely. Kit and Sam follow the bits of evidence down a dangerous rabbit hole in this thrilling tale of family and murder.

As an infant, Kit McKittrick’s foster sister Akiko was abandoned at a firehouse. Now 32, Akiko has received an unsettling phone call from a woman who says that she knew her birth mother but refuses to divulge any details except in person. Akiko is nervous but also thrilled at the prospect of finally learning about her blood relations. Kit has a bad feeling about this and insists on accompanying Akiko to meet the woman. Sure enough, as they stand on Mary Sherman’s doorstep, shots are fired and Kit is hit… and inside the house is a corpse: Mary Sherman herself. Although she’s on medical leave and forbidden to work the case, Kit cannot rest. With police psychologist Sam Reeves, she undertakes a covert investigation into the mysterious Mary Sherman. Was she Akiko’s birth mother? Why did she reach out after all these years? And who had a motive to kill her? As more bodies pile up, Kit starts to put together the pieces of the frightening puzzle that is Akiko’s birth family, and she’ll come to wonder whether some secrets should stay buried after all.

MY THOUGHTS

Keeping track of Akiko’s intricate familial connections was challenging, that’s for sure. In this case, it was a good thing that Kit eschewed following the rules to help her sister. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have known what was happening and we wouldn’t have seen Kit in action (LOL). All jokes aside, Kit’s devotion to her sister was admirable and gave her the determination and focus she needed.

Sam was right there by her side all the way with his quiet presence and insightful questions. Kit opened her heart to him incrementally, and their budding romance was somehow strong and fragile at the same time. Harlan and the rest of the family continued to be Kit’s rock-solid foundation and source of support.

Clearly, there were plenty of interesting twists as Kit ventured further into the tangle of Akiko’s family tree. The plot flowed fairly fast and the constant tension had me at the edge of my seat. I can highly recommend this entire series if you like police investigations and suspense with a very slow burn romance. It is better to read the books in order to follow the development of Kit and Sam’s relationship.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Suspense, Romance
Publication Date: March 31, 2026
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Series: Book 33 of Romantic Suspense