⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. Genealogy research combines with an ongoing murder investigation to give us an exciting hunt to stop a serial killer.

Forensic genealogist Rowan Healy has made a name for herself by helping investigators trace the family trees of violent criminals who have eluded justice for years. But the pressure of police cases left her burned out, and she’s shifted her focus to helping adoptees find their biological parents. Austin detective Jack Bruner has spent his career successfully tracking down vicious criminals, with the notable exception of the West Campus Rapist, a meticulous offender in Texas who has never been identified. When the latest two victims come to light, Jack sees his target is escalating his violent behavior, and only with Rowan’s help does he stand a chance of cracking this case. Moved by Jack’s dedication and the brutal details of the attacks he lays out, Rowan agrees to help. When her ground-breaking DNA research sheds new light on the criminal’s background and helps them zero in on a search radius, Rowan and Jack must race against the clock to find a ruthless killer who’s growing bolder the longer he evades the law.

MY THOUGHTS

Rowan had a super interesting job doing genealogist research. She was reluctantly drawn back into using her skills for law enforcement and I just loved how that fit in with Jack’s investigation. Joy and Evelyn added interesting dimensions to the story and I enjoyed reading about their own well-developed emotional journeys.

Jack and Rowan tried to fit dating into the mix because they shared a mutual attraction, but the case also kept pulling them together in their professional capacities. Their chemistry fell a bit flat for me, but as professional partners, they meshed extremely well.

This is a standalone book and I can highly recommend it if you like thrilling police dramas, with romance and suspense mixed together. See what other readers are saying on Goodreads.

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: Romance, Suspense
Published: October 24, 2023
Sensuality Rating: Warm