At Close Range by Laura Griffin (spotlight)

One of my favorite genres is romantic suspense. I am a big fan of authors such as Catherine Coulter, Iris Johansen, M.L.Buchman and many others, and I have the pleasure to edit for a talented author named Stanalei Fletcher. I love that pulse-pounding excitement and the race to see who is going to triumph! For this reason, I am always delighted to discover a new title from Laura Griffin, adding to her entertaining 'Tracers' series. I am still working on the review, but I definitely give it high recommendations!









At Close Range

by Laura Griffin


Blurb:
When a lakeside tryst ends in a double murder, police detective Daniele Harper arrives on the scene determined to get answers. Clues are everywhere, but nothing adds up. Dani turns to the Delphi Center crime lab for help, but soon regrets it when her secret attraction to their chief firearms examiner threatens to distract her from the most important case of her career.

As a ballistics expert and former Navy SEAL, Scott Black knows firearms, and he knows he can help Dani unravel her case. Scott has managed to hide his interest in his best friend’s younger sister for years, but when her investigation brings them together, the sparks between them quickly burn out of control. Scott resolves to keep his hands off Dani and his eyes on the goal—identifying a killer. But when that killer zeroes in on her, all bets are off. There isn’t a line Scott won’t cross to convince Dani to trust him so that he can help her take down a ruthless murderer who has her in his sights.


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Excerpt:

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Dani watched him. Scott stood beside the car, his back to the victim as he skimmed his flashlight over the ground. The firearms expert was tall and broad-shouldered, with the super-ripped body of a former Navy SEAL. Instead of his usual tactical pants and combat boots, he wore jeans and a leather jacket tonight, so maybe he’d been out when he’d gotten the call. Dani knew from experience that his jacket had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the Sig Sauer he carried concealed at his hip.

Something glinted in the grass, and Scott crouched down to tag it with a numbered marker. Two minutes on the scene and already he’d discovered a piece of evidence. He stood and squared his shoulders, and Dani felt a pang deep inside her as he approached.

He stopped and towered over her, and for a moment they just stared at each other.

“Was the passenger door closed when you got here?” he asked.

“That’s right.”

“Where’s the girl?”

“No sign of her.” She nodded at the woods. “One of our officers is searching near the lake with Travis.”

He watched her for a moment with those cool blue eyes. His gaze shifted to the woods. “You need a K-9 team.”

She bristled. “I know.”

He strode over to his truck and opened the toolbox again. He took out a metal detector, which would help him locate shell casings or bullets, and maybe even the second victim if she was wearing jewelry or a belt.

Then again, the killer might have taken her somewhere else. Dani glanced back at the road and got a queasy feeling in her stomach. Where was she? She turned her attention to the lake, visible just beyond the trees. It was a scenic spot, usually--a tranquil little oasis for couples. But not tonight.

She glanced at Scott again, and he was watching her closely--so closely it made her wonder what he was thinking.

“You coming?” he asked.

She nodded at the body. “I’ll stay with him until the ME shows.”

Scott walked off, and Dani let her gaze follow him until he disappeared into the woods.

The medical examiner’s van rolled up, followed closely by Ric, and Dani’s stomach tightened as she thought of everything she didn’t like about this case. And it wasn’t even an hour old yet.

Ric walked over, his expression grim as he took in the scene. “The media has it.”

“That didn’t take long.”

“It was all over the scanner,” he told her. “I give us ten minutes, tops, before they roll in here with their cameras. We need to barricade the road.”

“Daniele.”

She turned toward the sound of Scott’s deep voice calling her from the woods. He was a tall silhouette at the edge of the trees, and from his tone Dani knew it was bad.

“What is it?” she yelled back.

“I found her.”

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Copyright 2017 by Laura Griffin

 Amazon link

Deep Dark by Laura Griffin (VBT, excerpt, review and GIVEAWAY) TBT

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DEEP DARK

Tracers #10

Laura Griffin

Releasing May 24th, 2016

Pocket Books

A gripping new romantic thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laura Griffin...

The moment detective Reed Novak steps onto the crime scene, he knows the case is going to rock his world. A beautiful young woman murdered at home. No sign of forced entry. No motive. She’s obviously not the killer’s first victim, and Reed’s instincts tell him she won’t be his last. Reed’s first clue comes via a mysterious text that links to a dating profile, but even more intriguing than the clue is the person who sent it.

As a white-hat hacker in the Delphi Center’s cyber investigation unit, Laney Knox sneaks into some of the deepest, darkest corners of the Internet looking for predators. Laney would prefer to stay away from Austin PD’s most recent murder case, but she can’t ignore the chilling similarities between that crime and her own brutal attack years ago. Laney offers to help the sexy lead detective, but he wants more from her than just a promising tip—Reed wants her trust. Laney resists, but as their relationship deepens she’s tempted to reveal the closely guarded secrets that could make her a key witness…or the killer’s next victim.

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Excerpt

Reed watched her, and she had that frustrated look in her eyes again. Every time she started to open up to him, he did something to tick her off. She shook her head and glanced away.

“Laney?”

“What?”

“I’m a detective. It’s my job to ask questions. To push.”

She looked at him again and her expression softened. “No, you’re right.” She glanced down at her beer bottle and picked at the label. “I’m glad she has you.”

“Who has me?”

“April. You seem--” She paused, like she was searching for the right word. “--committed.”

He didn’t answer. It wasn’t really a question, but the way she looked at him gave him the feeling she wanted a response.

She drained her beer and plunked down the bottle. “I should get home.” She stood up.

Reed stood, too. He left a tip on the table and followed her through the throng of people. The bar was packed, and the music had gotten louder since they’d first walked in.

They stepped into the warm, muggy air. It was dusk now, and a neon Lone Star Light sign cast a blue-and-red glow over the sidewalk. As they walked in silence, he thought of what she’d said about her job being meaningful. It was refreshing. Maybe he’d been a cop too long, but he didn’t know anyone who talked about things being meaningful anymore. If they thought about work in those terms, they kept it to themselves.

Maybe he was jaded.

No, he definitely was jaded. But it had more to do with his failed marriage than anything he’d seen on the job.

Reed spotted her little white car and felt a twinge of regret. He’d enjoyed talking to her, enjoyed being near her. And he couldn’t remember the last time that had happened with a woman. Having a beer with Laney had been the highlight of his crap week. Hell, the highlight of his month.

She looked around. “Where are you parked?”

“Around back.”

She gazed up at him. He couldn’t read her expression.

“Thanks for the drink,” she said.

“You bought it.”

He couldn’t read her tone either. The thrum of music seeped through the thin walls of the bar as they stood there in the light of the beer sign.

She stepped closer, and a jolt of heat went through him. She looked up at him with those bottomless brown eyes, and he knew he was in trouble. It was a bad idea to involve this girl in his investigation. Whatever useful info she might have was outweighed by the fact that she was young, and edgy, and he wanted her. And she must have seen something in his face because her eyes sparked.

She went up on tiptoes and kissed him.  

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If you want to start the Tracers from the beginning...
UNTRACEABLE (Book 1)

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author LAURA GRIFFIN started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense. She is a two-time RITA Award winner (for the books Scorched and Whisper of Warning) as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award (for Untraceable). Laura currently lives in Austin, where she is working on her next book.

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My review:


4.5 stars

Deep Dark by Laura Griffin is a romantic suspense novel that is part of the ‘Tracers’ series and centers around Laney Knox, a white-hat computer hacker who works at the Delphi Center. Her unconventional investigation techniques bring her to the attention of Detective Reed Novak who is investigating the murder of a friend. The unlikely pair have a common goal but vastly different techniques which bring them into opposition and is further complicated by the unwilling attraction that blossoms between them. Danger escalates and Reed must discover not only what the killer’s motive is, but what secrets Laney is hiding, before it is too late…for the next victim who may be all too familiar.

The action is immediate and draws one into the web that this author weaves. I love that she has capable heroines who are just as active and adept at their jobs as the deliciously hunky males they are attracted to. I found Laney a little irritating, possibly because of her youth and stubborn insistence on doing things her way, and thought her chastened regret to be all too fleeting when things don’t quite pan out for her the way she wanted them to. Despite that, I was delighted with her bravery, intellectual prowess, and deductive abilities although a little dismayed by her blithe disregard of the consequences of her actions on Reed and herself.

The intense heat between the main characters is a little awkward for me at first although I adored Reed’s protective nature, and I wish I had more of a connection to both of these workaholics. Despite this, the rising intensity as the investigation unfolds, the red herrings, and the occasional light moments such as the comments by one character about the shoe print size on the foot that kicked her door in make this another fun and enthralling read and I hope several of the secondary characters show up in a future story. This author always provides an intense and exciting story and this is another enjoyable example of her talent.

A copy of this title was provided for review, which has been submitted to Night Owl Reviews

Shadow Fall by Laura Griffin (Spotlight, excerpt, review and GIVEAWAY) TBT

Shadow Fall
The Tracers #9

By: Laura Griffin

Releasing September 22, 2015

Pocket Books  

Blurb

In the ninth romantic suspense novel in the New York Times bestselling Tracers series, author Laura Griffin brings back her elite cadre of forensic experts as they hunt down the most brutal serial killer yet.

Special Agent Tara Rushing arrives at a grisly murder scene and quickly discovers she’s got a serial killer on her hands. The killer is meticulous, making sure to wipe up even the smallest traces of evidence…but the Delphi Center experts are on the case.

The local sheriff has a suspect all picked out—ex-Marine and current security expert Liam Wolfe. Despite all her digging, Tara knows very little about Liam when she shows up at his sprawling Texas compound, which serves as headquarters for Wolfe Security, and she’s surprised by her intense physical reaction to him.

As she and Liam grow closer, Tara finds herself depending on his skills and expertise to help her track a killer. But when another body turns up, Tara must decide if she can trust the man who’s quickly stealing her heart.

The ninth novel in the Tracers series that combines gripping plot twists with spine-tingling romance, Shadow Fall once again proves that “Laura Griffin gets better with each book” (The Romance Reviews).

Excerpt

Tara looked out the window again and realized her pulse was still thrumming. He unnerved her. It wasn’t just his size, it was his attitude. Maybe she was self-conscious because he’d caught her off guard. She was definitely embarrassed that she’d pulled her weapon on him.

She adjusted the vent and got a waft of hot air. His attitude bothered her, but she liked his truck. It smelled like leather and earth and felt deliciously warm. She forced herself to ignore the flutter of nerves generated by being alone in the dark with him. The nerves weren’t from fear but something else. And she wondered which was worse, being afraid of a man she was investigating or being attracted to him?

“You shouldn’t come out here alone.”

She looked at him. “Why not?”

“We’ve got more than a few meth heads around here. You don’t want to walk up on something, not without backup.”

She watched his face in the dimness, uneasy with the protective tone of his voice.

“We confirmed the ID today,” she said.

“I know.”

That ticked her off.

“Won’t be long till the media has it,” he added.

“Where are you getting your information?”

He didn’t answer.

“And the other day,” she said, “how’d you know we were here, me and M.J.? Are you having us tailed?”

Even if he was, he’d probably never admit it. But she at least needed to ask and get his reaction. Shadowing investigators could definitely be considered suspicious behavior.

Although she had to be honest with herself. She didn’t consider him a real suspect. Despite his links to the victim, she simply didn’t feel it.

“I’m guessing you filmed us approaching your property and ran my plate,” she said.

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Nothing that cloak-and- dagger.” He glanced at her. “I’m friends with Crystal.”

“Who’s Crystal?”

“She waited on you at the Waffle Stop. Bright red hair, eyebrow ring.”

She turned to face the window. “Small-town grapevine. And here I’ve been all impressed with your spying abilities.”

“You should be.” He pulled up to her Explorer and parked. “We’re the best there is.”

She looked at him in the darkness, so confident it bordered on arrogance. And the crazy thing was she believed him. She bought into it completely—he was that good.

His eyes locked on hers, and the air between them felt charged with electricity. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her heart skittered. Was he going to kiss her? He eased closer, watching her, making her heart pound.

GoodreadsLink

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Author Info

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author LAURA GRIFFIN started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense. She is a two-time RITA Award winner (for the books Scorched and Whisper of Warning) as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award (for Untraceable). Laura currently lives in Austin, where she is working on her next book.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Link to Follow Tour

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My review:
5 out of 5 stars


Shadow Fall by Laura Griffin is part of the ‘Tracers’ series and follows FBI Special Agent Tara Rushing who is thrust into a murder investigation that threatens to spiral out of control.  She must deal with not only the hostility and lack of cooperation by the local law enforcement, but also with the uncomfortable feelings evoked by a potential suspect, Liam Wolfe.  The quest to solve the case necessitates that she work with all kinds of resources, and involving the experts at the Delphi Center gives her a wealth of information, but she must rely on her instincts and her guts to catch a killer and distinguish between those who would help and those who would harm, and lives depend on her making the right call.

This exciting romantic suspense story is one of those that captures the attention immediately and ratchets up the tension to keep one enthralled throughout the entire journey.  The characters are revealed with the author’s usual dexterity, with additional layers gradually added to give them depth and charisma.  I love that the heroine is a warrior driven to protect, unique in her inclusion on a SWAT team, and capable of impressing and surprising the hero.  Her tenacity and ferocity make her a perfect addition to the series and the mystery and quiet competence that surround the hero makes him a wonderful foil for her.  I also appreciate that some of the secondary characters manage to be distinctive and I hope that they get larger roles in subsequent stories as I would love to learn more about them.  Sadly, some of those in the background are almost stereotypical but I get the feeling that this is intentional, in order to confuse the issues in places.  One should be forewarned that there is a fair degree of violence but this is one of those stories that keeps the reader captivated and a little jumpy in the best way and compelled to lose sleep in order to see what happens.  This is a great addition to an excellent series and I look forward to reading addition stories featuring these fascinating folks.

© Night Owl Reviews

I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.

 The first four in the series...

                     



 My review for Snapped is at this link


The next four in the series...


                      

My review for Twisted is at this link
My review for Scorched is at this link
My review for Exposed is at this link
My review for Beyond Limits is at this link

(can you tell I like the series?)

Shadow Fall by Laura Griffin (excerpts)

I had the wonderful opportunity to read Shadow Fall the upcoming addition to the Tracers Series by the very talented Laura Griffin, one of my favorite romantic suspense authors.  I am hosting a tour for her on September 30, 2015, so I hope you come back to see all of the info and my review…but until then, here are a few excerpts to whet your appetite.  I am most found fond of this author’s heroines because they are just as competent and effective as the heroes…and the suspense is always hair-raising.

I love these next two passages because they show the heroine’s competitive spirit and the attraction she feels.

She gazed up at him, heart pounding now.  She knew what he wanted. She’d known since the very first day.  And she’d steadfastly resisted him, at first because he was a suspect and later because he was so involved with the case.  He was even more involved now.

…

She loved sparring.  But as Liam climbed into the ring, she felt a hot flood of apprehension, because he wasn't like any sparring partner she’d ever had.  He was dark and intense, and she was about to have all that intensity focused solely on her.  His sheer size caused a flurry of nerves in her stomach.  He outweighed her by probably eighty pounds, so she’d have to rely on speed and strategy.

And this gives a glimpse of her steely determination but vulnerability…

Tara had never led a task force, but she’d been on a few and knew the importance of projecting confidence to the team.  So she didn’t mention to anyone, not even M.J., that she’d started her day with ten minutes of retching in the shower.

 The first four in the series...