It’s summertime in the sleepy Appalachian town of Crooked Creek, and Detective Ellie Reeves has been summoned to the scene of a wildfire, where the body of a woman has been found, surrounded by a circle of stone and burned beyond recognition. In addition to this new investigation, Ellie has some personal business to work through – she has recently learned that she was adopted.
Furious with her parents, and heartsick over the ‘lie’ of her childhood, as well the recent destruction of her family home in a fire, Ellie is trying to sort out all of her options. A call to the social worker goes unanswered – and the next day, Ellie learns that the social worker has seemingly disappeared, and a search of her home yields no clues as to where she might have gone.
The next day, a second body is found by some teenagers, also burned and surrounded by a ring of rocks. Readily identified by the teens who found her, Ellie and her team hope to make some progress in the case as they go to notify her parents. In doing so, Ellie is troubled by the family dynamics she sees and leaves the home with more questions than answers.
As the investigation kicks into high gear and another body is discovered, Ellie calls on an old friend, FBI Special Agent Derrick Fox to assist. As the investigation begins to yield more information, including some unexpected DNA findings, the team finds themselves with more questions than answers. An arrest in an unrelated assault leads to a possible break in the case, and Ellie and her team find themselves in a race against time – and a killer who will stop at nothing…
Another great new series find thanks to Netgalley & Bookouture! This novel takes off running and doesn’t let up until the last page is turned. While easily read as a stand-alone, the references to prior traumatic events have be anxious to read the preceding books of the series! I will be anxiously awaiting the next installments in Ellie’s story!
I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from #Netgalley & Bookouture in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit Netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!
Tropical Delusions...... 