Series:
Sorority Detectives (Book 1)
Murder on the bayou
…forcing rivals to unite.
When a young woman is found in a Louisiana swamp, police
detective King Randolph finds his investigation hindered by private
investigator Lenore Martin. He's loath to share this murder investigation with
such a problematic person. But despite mutual distrust, they forge a combative
alliance. Soon, as more bodies drop, heat rises between the partners. And grave
danger threatens from every corner of New Orleans.
This was a gripping, frequently dark suspense story lightened
by an often humorous romance. A serial
killer is preying on high school students in New Orleans, and it is Detective
King Randolph's job to find out who it is and stop them. King is newly arrived
in New Orleans from up North and still getting used to how things are done in
the south. And nothing makes that more evident than dealing with the latest
victim.
Lenore Martin is a private investigator, the oldest of
four daughters, all working for their mother's private investigation company. She
is stubborn, controlling, and follows her own set of rules. She is also beautiful,
compassionate, and intelligent. As the book opens, a family friend contacts the
agency looking for help finding her missing granddaughter. Lenore is at Mama
Hattie's when King arrives with the news of the girl's murder.
Lenore and King notice each other, but their time is spent
dealing with Mama Hattie and King's news. There is an immediate distrust
between them. King doesn't know how to take the "family friend," who
seems more interested in the details of the murder than in comforting her
friend. Lenore distrusts a member of the police force that too often blows off calls
from members of poorer communities. An encounter later that evening adds to
King's frustration. His conversation with fellow detectives back at work is
eye-opening and makes him realize he will have to find a way to work with her
if he's going to get anywhere in his investigation.
I loved seeing these two work together. They start as
barely speaking, sharing only the minimum amount of information. Still, as more
bodies turn up, their mutual determination to stop the killer makes them more
willing to work together. Both are used to being in charge, and learning to
share had a steep learning curve. Once they made that decision, there was no
stopping them, and I loved watching their fantastic teamwork.
Simmering under the surface of their teamwork is
attraction and a fascination with each other. Lenore doesn't trust men, but it
isn't long before King slips past her barriers. He is the first man she's
encountered who she can respect and isn't driven off by her attitude,
bossiness, and volatility. I loved watching King around Lenore. He's equally
amused and frustrated by her and wholly fascinated. Even better, he understands
her. Their banter was fantastic, often providing a few moments of relief from
the darkness they faced during their investigation. They are cautious about
getting involved with each other, wary of the intensity of their attraction,
but the sparks are impossible to resist. I was impressed by their ability to separate
their personal and professional actions. I loved the ending and seeing them
able to trust each other with their hearts.
The suspense of this story was outstanding. The intensity
of the investigation sucked me in from the first pages, and didn't let go until
I finished the book. I could feel Lenore and King's frustration at the
beginning as they tried to find the connection between the victims. I liked how
they trusted their instincts as little things began to add up. Several twists
exposed the likelihood that the case was more complicated and closer to home
than expected. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with Lenore in danger
and an unraveling that blew me away.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Lenore's
family dynamics are fascinating. The four sisters are very close, with equal
parts of support and teasing. Their parents are an intriguing pair. They are
divorced but still involved in each other's lives. Claudia doesn't suffer fools
gladly and keeps iron control on everything to do with her business, including
her daughters. She trusts them, but they have no doubt who is boss. A shocking
revelation late in the book gives the girls a new perception of her. Josiah has
a background you'll have to experience for yourself. No description here would
do him justice. I especially enjoyed seeing King's meeting with Josiah and Claudia.
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