Close Her Eyes by Lisa Regan

 

 As a super fan of Lisa Regan's from way back when, I couldn't wait to read this one, #17, though I had not finished every book in the series yet. As others read it and gave it glowing reviews, I knew I couldn't wait to finish her whole series to get to this one. I am so glad that I did because this was my absolute favorite of all the Lisa Regan books and I inhaled it in 2 sittings (I'm not a fast reader anymore so that means a lot). I will still definitely go back and fill in with the titles I haven't gotten to yet.

In #17, Josie and the team are pushed to their limits when the discovery of a young woman dumped by the riverbank holds a shocking clue. A cattle brand seared into the deceased woman's hip is identical to the one that their own M.E. carries on her own hip. This disfigurement points back to a past abusive relationship that their medical examiner, Anya, had gone through and her co-workers didn't know. Following up with her ex, who is part of a wealthy family of cattle ranchers in a nearby county, they get tangled up in more family secrets, leading to other identical murders. All the crimes seem to be related, but unless people start talking, the Denton team of Josie, Noah, and Mett is stymied and Anya will need their protection. The more that Josie learns about the dysfunctional family relationships of her suspects, the more she begins to dwell on the troubling abuse she suffered as a child.

This story is a fast-paced, intriguing, and emotional installment in the Josie Quinn series and is highly recommended! This author writes realistic dialogue and intricate plots that I can't figure out until the end. Josie's inner circle of family, friends, co-workers, and found-family members remains fluid over the course of the books, so the dedicated reader is able to form bonds with the characters as they grow and change. If you haven't read any of these books you can still pick this one up and have a great reading experience. But I'm sure that you will want to revisit Josie, though, and luckily you'll have 16 more to read!
5/5 stars, recommended! (TW: domestic violence)

Next Girl Missing by LA Larkin

 

 I didn't know exactly what to expect, starting a new series off by an author I hadn't read from before. However I saw on Goodreads that she is a prolific crime fiction author with very good reviews left for her, so that pulled me in. And getting in at the beginning of a series is always fun.

Before I go further, TWs to consider: [serial killer, crimes against children, a suicide, and an abusive, gaslighting husband/ex-husband (who is a police officer) (hide spoiler)].

Sally used to be a police officer but now advocates for victims. She becomes emotionally wrapped up in the Missing Poster Killer case and gets actively involved. The killer puts up Missing Child posters before they are taken and there was one with Sally's face also.She is now worried about her own safety as well as the last girl taken, who might still be alive.

Without giving too much away, the plot is suspenseful and kept me reading to get answers. I will definitely be on the lookout for more LA Larkin stories, as crime fiction remains my favorite genre and this story put a new twist on kidnapping/murder plots. I read so many that it is refreshing to read one that puts a different spin on the situation.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read a digital copy of this for an honest opinion. Recommended!

Helpless by Annette Dashofy

 

 I have to admit that I've only read the first 4 installments in the long-running Zoe Chambers "cozy-ish" series. I gravitate toward grittier and darker mysteries than most cozy mysteries can provide but I'm fond of stories that can straddle the line between cozy and suspense mysteries. Anyway, I don't pay as much attention to series that I consider too mild/humorous/slow-moving but when I saw Helpless by Annette Dashofy offered by the publisher, I remembered why I started the series in the first place!

Helpless works well because it keeps the suspense ratcheted and the atmosphere intense. Zoe, by the way, is a paramedic & county coroner married to the PA small town's police chief. I don't think I've ever read a series featuring an EMT or paramedic first responder, and that is what pulled me in a few years ago. Somehow I lost track of this series but I'm excited to go back and read more of the books and see what I missed.

Helpless features a massive storm system barreling up the coast and hitting rural PA at the same time that Zoe and Pete are trying to solve the mystery of who killed their friend's wife and kidnapped their little daughter. They are tasked with doing this while the area floods out roadways, knocks down trees and power lines, and cuts phone service. This book is a bit different than those in the beginning of the series, at least in my opinion, by taking the suspense level up a few notches. I look forward to more of this series! Recommended!
thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance digital copy