The Boy – Tami Hoag

I was fortunate to receive this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.

Detective’s Nick Fourcade and Antoinette ‘Annie” Broussard are back in this newest installment from Tami Hoag.

In sleepy Bayou Breaux, Louisiana, a young boy is found brutally murdered in his own bedroom, while his mother somehow witnesses the assault, yet survives, and is able to flee the home and summon help. Detective Nick Fourcade is called to investigate the scene, while Annie Broussard heads to the hospital to connect with the surviving and grieving mother.

As the investigation begins and the team dives into the lives of Genevieve Gauthier and her now deceased son KJ, startling facts come to light. KJ’s father is in absentia, and KJ was often left with a 12-year-old daughter of a schoolmate, who is now missing, as Detectives look to interview her. With the town up in arms over the present events, the team must consider the mother as a suspect in the crime, as well as search for an elusive killer.

Meanwhile the new regimented police chief, Kelvin Dutrow knocks heads with Nick every chance he gets, threatening to fire not only Nick, but Annie from the team. And a grieving father lashes out at Fourcade and the department, convinced that his disabled daughter’s sexual assault investigation is being neglected for the murder.

Did Genevieve kill her son out of frustration and despair over single motherhood? Or is a far more sinister explanation awaiting discovery???

I have been reading books Ms. Hoag for the last 25 years, and I have to say this was one of her best yet!! She just keeps getting better!! With rich, dynamic characters, intriguing settings, and complex storylines, this book, like her others, kept me up far into the night! Un-put-downable! Whether you’re a long-standing fan, or new to Tami Hoag, this book is an absolute MUST READ!!!