Publisher Description
An ambitious female reporter tracks a deadly threat in Austin, Texas, in the newest riveting thriller by New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.
When a woman is found brutally murdered on Austin’s lakeside hike-and-bike trail, investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads turns up on the scene demanding access and answers. She tries to pry information out of the lead detective, Jacob Merritt. But this case is unlike any he’s ever seen, and nothing adds up. With the pressure building, Jacob knows the last thing he needs is a romantic entanglement, but he can’t convince himself to stay away from Bailey.
Bailey has a hunch that the victim wasn’t who she claimed to be and believes this mugging-turned-murder could have been a targeted hit. When she digs deeper, the trail leads her to a high-tech fortress on the outskirts of Austin, where researchers are pushing the boundaries of a cutting-edge technology that could be deadly in the wrong hands.
As a ruthless hit man’s mission becomes clear, Bailey and Jacob join together in a desperate search to locate the next target before the clock ticks down in this lethal game of hide-and-seek.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Griffin (Total Control) sets the suspenseful if flawed first romance in her Texas Murder Files series in Austin. After a woman is found dead on a hiking trail, Det. Jacob Merritt is assigned to the investigation and is impressed that beautiful investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads seems to know more about the case than he does. Though he's not one to leak to the press, he agrees to meet with her on occasion to trade information, hoping to uncover her source and eager to be near her. Bailey and Jacob spend very little time together as they each work the murder investigation separately; Bailey's research leads her to a technology company, and Jacob realizes the victim has connections to a mob case in Chicago. While the mystery is satisfyingly complex, Jacob and Bailey's relationship remains by-the-numbers. Their characters are underdeveloped, making it difficult to understand their attraction or compatibility. The investigation keeps the pages turning, but readers will hope for more spark in future installments.