The girl looked so peaceful, she could have been asleep. Except her eyes were open, blankly reflecting the flickering flames spreading towards her…
When firefighters discover the body of a teenage girl at an abandoned house, Detective Amanda Steele hurries to the scene. Dumfries, Virginia is a small town, yet no one seems to have any idea who the dead girl is until Amanda finds a dragonfly pin with the name Crystal engraved on it.
Working tirelessly, Amanda traces the pin to Crystal Foster, a thirteen-year-old who disappeared three years ago from her wealthy parents’ home. Breaking the news to the distraught parents won’t be easy, but the loss of her own daughter still haunts Amanda, and she knows this will bring them closure. But when Amanda goes to see the Fosters, they do not recognize the girl. She isn’t Crystal.
Before Amanda can react to this new development, she gets an urgent call. A fire has consumed another vacant house, and the remains of two more girls have been found. Who are these girls, and why are they being picked off? Amanda must stop this killer before the pattern continues, and the death toll climbs.
When Amanda receives a taunting note from the killer, she realizes that she holds the missing piece of this puzzle. The victims are connected to Amanda’s past, to a case she can never forget, and which almost claimed her life. As she follows the clues to their deadly conclusion, can she save more innocent lives… even if it risks her own?
An unputdownable, pulse-pounding mystery. Fans of Rachel Caine, Lisa Regan and Robert Dugoni will be gripped.
My Thoughts!
Amanda Steele is fresh out of a difficult case dealing with human trafficking as well as dealing with her own mother's pending case. She's tossed into an inferno of a new case that has similarities with her previous one. With human trafficking being a hot-button current issue, I was pulled in and couldn't put this title down until I learned who was killing and taunting Amanda.
I enjoyed the relationship growth between Amanda and her family despite the harrowing circumstances that opened that door back up. We also see Amanda begin to trust her partner, Stenson. Even if their relationship doesn't turn romantic, I enjoy seeing them entrust one another, covering for the other when need-be.
Amanda's growth is inspiring and I'm looking forward to following her journey. The addition of FBI's Brandon Fisher was a nice surprise. I haven't read his entire series, but a familiar face helps bring a comfortable familiarity to this series.
Excellent follow-up book - definitely deserving of 5 stars! I recommend reading the first book in the series to understand the backstory. It's worth it!
I received a complimentary copy for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Where to Buy the Book!
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Paperback – 5.06 x 7.81 inches Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | Indie Bound | AbeBooks | Book Depository
About the Detective Amanda Steele Series
Gritty. Raw. Unapologetic.
Immersive crime fiction for fans who love their mysteries set in a small town and hard-boiled to perfection. From the murder scene to the morgue, interrogation of suspects and following down leads, you’ll feel like you’re part of the investigation. Realistic and complex characters, accurate police procedures and forensics paired with tight, serious writing make these books read more like true crime than fiction. Meet Homicide Detective Amanda Steele with the Prince William County Police Department in Woodbridge, Virginia. She’s smart, motivated, and real. Her tragic past has her claiming to be no one’s mentor, but she’s more hero than she thinks.
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