Cold Cases and Second Chances

INTERESTING NEW SERIES

I was thoroughly entertained with “Cold Case and Second Chances” by J.M. Dabney.
I liked the relationship between two mature men, who have lived different lives and how they both have their own ideas on what constitutes a family.

Robert Kaufmann at fifty-five, still does his job as a detective. Even though he’s divorced he still has very close ties to his ex-wife, Gladys, their children and grandchildren. For Robert having family is a priority. Remy has been totally excepted by Roberts family and he’s loved by all.

Remy Bosley is forty-six and has been Roberts work partner of two years. He grew very close to Robert and his family. He’s very much an adult and extremely generous. No time is not wasted where Remy is concerned, he serves so many charities and spends as much of his time wherever there’s a need for help. He’s also made great strives to being a foster parent. In ways, he is like a big child, it’s something that he never got the chance to be and that part of his life he keeps secret. Remy could have been lost forever if it wasn’t for one caring soul. Now, he has big dreams and hopes to have a family of his own someday.

In a very short time Robert and Remy have gotten along great as partners. Not something they had with former partners. While out on an investigation, they discover a shocking discovery but it came with danger. But Remy does the impossible and saves the life of his partner and a sweet little girl named Carmen.

Fate hands Robert and Remy a new life to adjust too. When Robert returns to the force he has to take over the cold case unit and Remy is right there with him. As young people on the streets become a devastating target, it really hit’s Remy hard. Everyday of his life he knows what it’s like to be vulnerable and living on the streets, no matter the reason. As they start to dig deeper into decades old missing persons cases others start to notice the progress. A team starts to grow: Vega, Doc, Stevenson and even Graves get behind Robert and Remy to do the impossible and seek out a serial killer.

Even with all the complexity of the job, Robert and Remy have to focus on what’s happening between them. Is it possible for them to have a second chance at love?

J.M. Dabney brings a dark theme, psychological, complex mystery to readers. The suspense builds as the investigation is very in-depth, as Remy knows how the victims think, there’s nothing that can be brushed aside. There’s also many heartwarming and emotional moments between Robert and Remy. With all the drama also comes steamy moments and lots of fun banter and teasing. They also address solidarity with family and how family grows even if you are not blood related. The novel also covers the more serious problem of how society views “street kids”. Their ethnicity and social status and how they are looked at as “sex workers”.

There’s a host of secondary characters: Sweet little Carmen aka Roo and Romeo; Robert’s ex Gladys is surprisingly nice. Boss, Shine, Davian, Fran the social worker and what Remy refers to as his “crew” that live on the streets. Then the team that works the cold cases: Vega the forensic expert and her wife Cash; medical expert, Doc, who’s fifty plus and needs a boyfriend; Stevenson with the reputation of “king of gossip”; even Graves with his strange personality and a dislike for Remy.

I thought this was well written and it was a page-turner for me. Well done J.M. Dabney!