A wind chime sways a sweet melody above several pairs of shoes neatly laid out on the welcome mat: two large pairs, and three small. On the door frame, a perfect crimson handprint, the color of blood…
Out on her morning run, Detective Katie Scott is stopped in her tracks when her service dog, Cisco, alerts her to something. Weaving through the towering pine trees, Katie is horrified to find a little girl alone in the woods, dressed in a white nightgown. The child sobs into Katie’s arms. She’s unharmed, but clearly traumatized. Scooping her up, Katie follows the trail to a large farmhouse. But what she finds there rips the air from her lungs: one, two, three, four bodies laid out side by side, all in matching pajamas.
The Banks family were attacked in their sleep, but how had the little girl trembling in Katie’s arms escape with her life? What twisted monster would do such a thing, and why leave no trace but a single bloody handprint on the doorframe? Katie vows to find answers for this sweet child who has lost everything and everyone.
Working night and day to piece together why this innocent family were targeted, Katie thinks she has her first lead when she discovers the family were under witness protection. Had they seen something they shouldn’t? Was the aim to silence them forever? Questions are still spinning in Katie’s mind when another family is discovered dead in their beds on the other side of Pine Valley.
With the entire department stretched to breaking point with an unprecedented body count and trace evidence stacking up, it’s going to take everything Katie has to track this twisted killer down. But as she closes in on her target, it’s clear someone close to Katie is keeping a deadly secret. How many more innocent lives will be lost before she can bring them to justice?
A completely pulse-pounding crime thriller for fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh that will have you racing through pages all night long. Prepare to start sleeping with the lights on after tearing through this gripping thriller from USA Today and Amazon bestseller Jennifer Chase!
Out on her morning run, Detective Katie Scott is stopped in her tracks when her service dog, Cisco, alerts her to something. Weaving through the towering pine trees, Katie is horrified to find a little girl alone in the woods, dressed in a white nightgown. The child sobs into Katie’s arms. She’s unharmed, but clearly traumatized. Scooping her up, Katie follows the trail to a large farmhouse. But what she finds there rips the air from her lungs: one, two, three, four bodies laid out side by side, all in matching pajamas.
The Banks family were attacked in their sleep, but how had the little girl trembling in Katie’s arms escape with her life? What twisted monster would do such a thing, and why leave no trace but a single bloody handprint on the doorframe? Katie vows to find answers for this sweet child who has lost everything and everyone.
Working night and day to piece together why this innocent family were targeted, Katie thinks she has her first lead when she discovers the family were under witness protection. Had they seen something they shouldn’t? Was the aim to silence them forever? Questions are still spinning in Katie’s mind when another family is discovered dead in their beds on the other side of Pine Valley.
With the entire department stretched to breaking point with an unprecedented body count and trace evidence stacking up, it’s going to take everything Katie has to track this twisted killer down. But as she closes in on her target, it’s clear someone close to Katie is keeping a deadly secret. How many more innocent lives will be lost before she can bring them to justice?
A completely pulse-pounding crime thriller for fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh that will have you racing through pages all night long. Prepare to start sleeping with the lights on after tearing through this gripping thriller from USA Today and Amazon bestseller Jennifer Chase!
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Author: Jennifer Chase
Series: Detective Katie Scott #12
Publisher: Bookouture
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 362
Date of Publication: August 30, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS:
Former Army and incredibly skilled, Detective Katie Scott excels when it comes to solving cold cases. Katie works well with her partner Sean McAven. However, with Katie having found a four-year-old girl all alone - and the only survivor of a family massacre - Katie’s boss assigns them to the case. With a scene providing very little evidence, Katie knew they had their work cut out for them. As always, Katie also has her canine partner Cisco to help her to scout out the area where the murdered family was found. Tragically, even before they can really search for clues, Katie is alerted of another similarly awful situation, except this time the little girl in the second family is missing.
With impeccable writing, as well as smooth style, Jennifer Chase delivers a compelling read. Having read an even dozen of her books, including Count Their Graves, I am always pulled into her stories. This book was rather chilling, especially as there was a cruel signature that connected both cases. The personal side of Katie is always evident, but with these cases, she was especially heartbroken for personal reasons. Meanwhile, her PTSD from her time in the Army is ever-present.
Like any well-written series where the reader connects with the characters, Jennifer Chase makes it super easy to connect with Katie. Her professional and personal lives were woven in flawlessly in this book. I look forward to the next book in this addictive series.
Many thanks Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells.
In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.
Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Jennifer Chase here: https://geni.us/B097H5XLDVsocial
Thank you so much for the great review!
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