AUTHOR: Lynn H. Blackburn
DATE: 2018
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****
After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston needed a change. She thought she'd left her troubles behind when she moved home to Carrington, North Carolina, and took a job in the emergency department of the local hospital. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her into the present. She reaches out to her high school friend turned homicide investigator, Ryan Parker, for help.
Ryan finds satisfaction in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff's Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer--one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all.
Wow! What a ride! The intricate plot and thrilling danger in this story kept me reading without pause until the satisfying end. The villain? I guessed once, well maybe three times, but was still surprised at the outcome.
Leigh and Ryan are both appealing lead characters, struggling with their faith because of heartbreak. They’ve resisted the strong attraction pulling them close for years, thanks to Leigh’s brother’s protective demands. But big brother Kirk cannot protect Leigh from the danger stalking her, so homicide investigator Ryan steps up to find the culprit—at least he tries. Faith plays a crucial role in this story in a realistic and compelling way. I could identify with the questions plaguing both Ryan and Leigh, and their efforts to deal with the unanswerable resonated in my heart and mind.
While the plot twists kept me guessing, the supporting cast kept me enthralled. No cardboard characters here; I’m already anxious for the next book in this series.
Beneath the Surface is the best romantic suspense I’ve read this year, and it easily earns five stars. Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.