Series:
Buckhorn Montana (Book 6)
In Buckhorn, roots run deep -- and so do grudges…
Deputy Jaxson Gray has found the fresh start he needed in
small-town Montana. In Luna Declan, he finds something he didn't even know he
craved. Wary of getting too close, he backs away, only to become enmeshed in a
local investigation that brings his past and present crashing together. Because
whoever killed town matriarch Vi Mullen knows about an older crime that
implicates Jaxson.
Luna has heard the rumors swirling around Jaxson, but
there's a connection between them that makes her determined to clear his name.
As the local hairdresser and a trained investigator, Luna knows a lot about her
neighbors. But as she and Jaxson get closer to the truth, they realize that
someone has secrets they're willing to kill -- again and again -- to protect…
The author hit the ground running in this romantic
suspense story and didn't slow down until it was all over. The story opens as
Johnny, a young delivery driver, all but stumbled over the dead body of store
owner Vi Mullen. I was impressed with his presence of mind as he avoided panic
and kept it together long enough to call the local marshal. That didn't last
long as he began to worry about the killer coming after him.
Next, we see Luna, a local hairdresser, and occasional
private investigator. She takes a phone call from her investigator dad, who has
cautionary words for her about Deputy Jaxon Gray, the young man she's just
started dating. The things he's told her about his past are complete
fabrications, which stuns Luna and makes her want to get at the truth. Without
a word to Jaxson or anyone else, she closes her shop and heads to his hometown,
looking for answers.
The acting marshal, Ken Yarrow, and Jaxson arrive at the
murder site to investigate. Ken is a man who believes that he is better than he
is and looks down on Jaxson as an inexperienced rookie. He has his opinions,
and not much interferes with them. He doesn't take well to Jaxson's
observations, shutting him down hard. Because of the circumstances of the murder,
a piece of the floor had to be cut out to remove the body. Ken and Jaxson were
shocked to discover another mummified body under the flooring. Jaxson feels his
world start to crumble around him as he recognizes the second body.
This began a complex investigation into two murders,
seventeen years apart. I ached for Luna, who was hurt, angry, and feeling
betrayed by the lies she uncovered about Jaxson. She thought there was a
connection between them, and now she doesn't know how she can trust him. It's
especially disappointing because it seems so out of character for the man she
knows. With the discovery of the second body, Jaxson knows it's a matter of
time before his connection to her comes out. He also knows he should have come
clean with Luna long ago, and now it may be too late.
I liked Luna and understood her wariness about trusting
Jaxson. She also wanted to trust her instincts, which told her he was not
guilty of murder. I was happy to see Jaxson tell Luna everything, including
things she didn't uncover on her own. She is determined to find the truth and
leaves no stone unturned in that pursuit. Jaxson tries to get her to back off,
but she is stubborn about finishing what she started. Neither she nor Jaxson
expects the complicated family issues that come to light.
At the same time this is happening, Jaxson is also
involved in interviewing possible suspects in Vi's murder. The problem is that
she was not well-liked by the people in town, thanks to her abrasive and
frequently cruel attitude. There were many people with the motive and
opportunity to kill her. Additionally, Vi's estranged twin sister, Vera, showed
up in town on the day of the murder, accompanied by Vi's ex-husband, Axel. Vera
is Vi's sole heir and a nasty piece of work herself.
There were multiple twists to this investigation, with one
person, then another, looking like likely suspects. Every new lead uncovered
created more questions. Then one unexpected clue started unraveling the whole
story, including a surprising link between the two murders. Luna found herself
in the wrong place at the wrong time, caught up in the desperate killer's web.
She did a great job keeping her head, hoping her message to Jaxson would reach
him in time. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I couldn't wait to
see how it turned out. The ending was neatly wrapped up with a couple of karma-driven
surprises.
I liked the relationship between Jaxson and Luna. He
cared for her but didn't feel right getting too close without telling her the
truth about himself. Once that obstacle was gone, I liked seeing their
connection grow. They are equally protective of each other, and Luna wants to
see Jaxson's questions about his past answered. I did not expect the surprising
answer to one of those questions and the effect it would have on Jaxson's future.
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