About the Book
In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name–but no one knows your secret. At least that’s what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.
Lane must work with Walton’s newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she’ll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.
Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.
Excerpt
The dense woods grew darker the deeper she went, making the path difficult to see—if she was even on a path. Too dark to tell. Large roots climbed out of the ground and forced her to slow to avoid tripping over them. Humidity thickened the air and Lane’s chest squeezed with each breath. As she passed beneath a low branch, a vile odor washed over her. She jolted to a stop.
What was that? The odorous assault made Lane’s head swim and her stomach rebel. Was it a dead animal? She didn’t want to find out. Forcing herself to breathe through her mouth, Lane searched for a way out of the overgrown brush surrounding her.
Where was she? She pressed forward, guessing the direction of escape. What if she was heading back to the river or deeper into the trees? A noise spooked her and she spun around. Her eyes searched the darkness for the source of the sound. A squirrel? A twig snapped and Lane’s gaze swung to the right. Was the man from the bridge following her? You’re being paranoid.
Rain began to penetrate the canopy of branches overhead and run into rivulets, churning the ground into sticky mud. Lane covered her mouth and nose with both hands and backed up, but something grabbed her foot and pitched her backward onto the ground.
Ouch. She scowled at the tangle of thick roots stretching from the massive tree next to her and adjusted the straps of her backpack, thankful she hadn’t landed on it. Trying hard to not to breathe in the toxic air, Lane used the tree to steady herself and free her foot but stopped when her hand landed on—a shoe? Lane froze. It was a tennis shoe. Laces untied. Attached to a foot and then a leg and then a body.
“Aghhhh!”
Blank eyes on a bluish-green face stared up at her. Lane scrambled, digging her fingers into the mud to get away from the body. A swarm of black flies buzzed around her head. Angry. Like she had interrupted their mobid feast. Bile choked Lane’s ability to scream again.
Run. Move.
Lane clawed at the tree next to her, ignoring the way the bark cut into her palms as she yanked herself up. Finding her footing, she backed away from the lifeless body and ran.
Review
Look sharp, romantic suspense fans. There’s a new kid on the block! And she had me hooked from the first page of this story, invested not just in uncovering a murderer, but also in the lives of primary and secondary characters alike.
First, the suspense. Great plot! Some good, old-fashioned (with the help of technology) detective work, some high-stakes moments, but also some moments that raised the hairs on the back of my neck, even though I wasn’t quite sure whether there was anything sinister in it or not. That feeling of sensing but not knowing is such a great tension builder!
Second, the characters. There were some great secondary characters here, including Deputy Frost (who I’ve noticed will be the hero in the second book in the series—yay!) and Miguel, a reclusive Vietnam vet who’s suffering from PTSD. Deputy Frost I loved because he’s a little bit awkward and unsure of himself, a little bit nerdy, but really comes into his own as the investigation progresses. Miguel added a really strong layer of emotional tension to the story, but I can’t explain why if I want to avoid spoilers, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.
Finally, the main characters. I heartily applaud the author for the authenticity of Lane’s characterisation as a woman struggling with depression. Having struggled with it myself since my late teens, I found Lane’s emotional state of mind—her fears, her doubts, her weariness, even a certain flatness to her personality—were spot on. And I loved that there were people in her life who loved her where she was at. The way this issue was addressed in the story was really well done.
And Charlie? Well, he’s definitely the kind of hero I like to see in my romantic suspense novels. Genuine, personable, protective, and being a little bit rugged didn’t hurt any either. I thought the attraction between Lane and Charlie felt a little over-emphasised in the first part of the story, often in their thoughts (I prefer sensing the undercurrents over having lots of references to the characters’ mutual attraction in the early stages of a developing romance), but I enjoyed the way their relationship developed overall—especially the way Charlie responded to Lane’s struggles.
If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, you should definitely check this author out!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
About the Author
Natalie Walters is a military wife of 22 years and currently resides in Hawaii with her soldier husband and their three kids. She writes full-time and has been published in Proverbs 31 magazine and has blogged for Guideposts online. In addition to balancing life as a military spouse, mom, and writer, she loves connecting on social media, sharing her love of books, cooking, and traveling. Natalie comes from a long line of military and law enforcement veterans and is passionate about supporting them through volunteer work,
races, and writing stories that affirm no one is defined by their
past.
Connect with Natalie: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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