Great Series Starter

When Janie finds a lot of money under Samson’s, her younger brother, bed and follows him into the woods near a motel. She hears a shot and sees a man with a gun coming out of those woods. When she investigates, her brother is dead. The next morning, she tries to commit suicide in front of 2 police officers. She accuses Tommy, 1 of them, of being the killer and pulls him with her to his death. On the corpse of Samson are 2 playing cards, a supposed link to a white supremacist killer that’s already in jail. That killer tells them that he had nothing to do with the assassination of the Vietnamese boy but that he heard that he was a police informer. This is but the first of several threads; Emma, the ex-girlfriend of the killed policeman is co-director of a new pre-school. When the granddaughter of California’s governor is violently abducted from the premises. There’s also a creepy old high school admirer that wants to run for the senate and has very serious romantic plans for her.



I have the habit to ask for books because I like the blurb or review by a friend and then read them in order of when they’re getting published. So, it does happen that I start a book and don’t have a clue anymore as to what it’s about. That was the case here. With all those different threads it was a bit difficult to establish what exactly is going on. What’s relevant and what not? Who are the key players? That made it extra suspenseful.

With all those different threads it was a bit difficult to establish what exactly is going on. What’s relevant and what not? Who are the key players? The incertitude about the real intentions and nature of certain characters make this a nail-biting experience. And there are several fights with and without guns and a chase, all while the clock is ticking.

Emma is a very engaging and likeable character. She’s sometimes a bit too perfect. She’s got a brilliant career at the ethical commission, has a great relationship with the teenage son of her best friend and is involved in the preschool. Alibi Morning Sun is another original character. I don’t know where or why the author found this name, but it’s great. He’s a bit strange and sees ghosts at some moments. I’m not sure if it’s his subconscious that calls them forth or if they’re real. He doesn’t really interact with them but they make him think about the crimes in which they died.

Luke is another great character, his bravery and courage are an example for anyone, not just teenagers. I can only hope that my own sons would show the same loving care and strength in similar circumstances (which I hope will never occur).

This is the first book in a new series and if the author can keep up this quality and so writing style and strong plots, it’s a winner. I certainly will read the next one. I hope that there will be some romantic developments between Emma and Alibi. Despite his help with finding Luke which put him in a slightly better light, I still don’t trust Dylan’s intentions with her.

I thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest and unbiased review of it.