Under Suspicion - Bonnie Vanak (HRS #2163 - Jan 2022)

Series: Colton 911: Chicago (Book 12)

He'll uncover the truth
No matter the cost…
 
Since losing his family, Detective Harry Cartwright lives for the job. So when he's assigned to investigate the murder of Axel Colton, the hard-boiled cop goes all in… But one distraction stands in his way. Sara Sandoval is the victim's secret illegitimate daughter -- and Harry's prime suspect. Can Harry resist his unprofessional feelings for Sara…and protect her from a vengeful killer?
 
Terrific conclusion to the series. The Colton family has dealt with murders, kidnappings, stalkers, and other problems for the past year. The most recent was Axel Colton's murder and the attempt to frame Nash Colton for it (Secret Alibi). Detective Harry Cartwright was assigned to investigate the case and has his work cut out for him. Everyone is a possible suspect, even (especially?) family members. Then one person jumped to the top of Harry's suspect list.
 
Sara moved to town six months earlier and got a job at the nursery owned by Axel's ex-wife and her husband. She had recently found out that Axel was her father and hoped to use the time to get to know the family before revealing her secret. Axel's death was a blow to her dream of having a real father.
 
Harry and Sara met briefly at the end of the previous book, and the sparks were evident. Harry had no plans to pursue them. The deaths of his wife and son several years earlier still haunt him, and he buries his grief in his work. When he discovers Sara's connection to Axel, his suspicions of her are aroused. That her fingerprints are also on a mug in Axel's house adds to the look of guilt. I could feel Sara's frustration with Harry's aggressive questioning of her after their brief connection when they met. I felt a little bad for Harry, whose suspicions were fighting with his desire for her to be innocent. I liked how Sara stood up to him, refusing to let him believe things that weren't true. As they spend more time together, cooperating in the investigation, the connection and attraction continue to grow. Harry fights hard against his feelings, believing that he can no longer fully give his heart. I ached for Sara when she told Harry how she felt, and she watched him pull away. A life-threatening situation opened his eyes, and a difficult conversation helped him let go of the past. I liked the ending and seeing Harry and Sara come together at last.
 
The suspense of the story was fantastic. Harry's determination to solve the murder showed in the thoroughness of his investigation. It didn't look good for Sara when her fingerprints were on a mug in Axel's house or when several suspects had connections to her mother, Regina. Regina's disappearance was also suspicious, with another layer of complications added when she was found. An unexpected twist came close to killing Sara but opened up a new path of investigation. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Sara faced an unexpected foe. I was surprised by the number of things this person had their fingers in, though it did tie up some loose ends.
 
I ached for Sara and her desire to know her father's family. I could see how much she wanted to be part of them while she feared what their reaction would be if they knew. Axel's murder accelerated the reveal and increased Sara's worry about their reactions. I liked her courage and determination in revealing the truth and was not surprised by the response she received.