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)