DESCRIPTION:
The woman panics as the thick smoke starts to curl under the locked door. She can’t breathe and desperately tries to open the window, but it’s been sealed shut. Falling to the floor, she finally accepts there’s no way out of this room alive. And as her vision starts to fade, she prays she dies before the flames find her.
When human remains are discovered behind a dumpster in Woodbridge, Virginia, Detective Amanda Steele rushes to the scene. Her heart drops when she arrives and is hit by the unmistakable stench of gasoline. Soon, her worst fear is confirmed: the victim was burned alive.
With only an engraved gold wedding band surviving the blaze, Amanda knows it could be days before they have a confirmed ID. But when her partner Detective Trent Stenson arrives, he pales at the sight of the ring, recognizing it as belonging to his Aunt Gertrude’s husband, Don.
Trent is convinced his aunt isn’t involved, but as more is unearthed about her troubled relationship with her husband, and she fails to provide an alibi, Amanda isn’t so sure. Desperate to prove his aunt’s innocence, Trent soon discovers someone from Don’s past is back in Woodbridge—someone who wants revenge. But Amanda and Trent are shaken to their core when that person is discovered brutally murdered.
Convinced the cases are linked, Amanda knows she has to find the cold-blooded killer before they strike again. And as Trent becomes even more emotionally entangled in the case, she’s terrified he could become the next victim…
A completely edge-of-your-seat and gripping crime thriller, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Author: Carolyn Arnold
Series: Detective Amanda Steele #11
Publisher: Bookouture
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 358
Date of Publication: June 20, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
MY THOUGHTS:
When a burned body is discovered, Detective Amanda Steele wonders how long it might take to identify the body. However, when her partner Detective Trent Stenson takes a look, he knows exactly who the body belongs to. Identification of the remains might have been immediately difficult to see, if not for a ring the victim was wearing. In fact, the ring unmistakably belongs to his Aunt Gertrude’s husband, Don. And, since marriage mates are fairly well looked at as possible suspects, Trent immediately fights for his aunt’s innocence.
Meanwhile, another murder has taken place, and the cases could possibly be linked. But there is something that Trent must work out. Trent’s Aunt Gertrude was a victim of domestic violence, and there is more about Don’s past that is revealed. This connection might indeed prove the innocence of Gertrude, but the fact that her alibi proves weak creates more work for Amanda and Trent. There is also something else going on when it comes to Amanda. Work has been interfering her home life, and there is something deeper affecting Amanda that plays into both work and home.
The seriousness of the recent crimes never loses traction. Then, considering Trent’s personal involvement in the case, and a growing tenous involvement between him and Amanda, these things all play veery well in this eleventh book in the Detective Amanda Steele series.. Carolyn Arnold flawlessly weaves in both professional and personal aspects of the lives of her both Amanda and Trent. They are excellently written characters and this goes a long way when it comes to Ms. Arnold creating a compelling story in each book of this series. I have loved each and every book in this series, and this latest installment definitely does not disappoint.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.
She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.
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