Series:
Cavanaugh Justice (Book 45)
A deadly case…
That's purely personal.
The Moonlight Killer has robbed LA detective Gabriel
Cortland of everything. So when the murderer begins to prey on his new
hometown, the lone-wolf cop is hot on the criminal's heels. Dismayed to be
paired with unfailingly upbeat Shayla Cavanaugh on this case, Gabriel is
surprised to discover how well they work together on and off duty. Together,
can they finally bring the terror to an end?
Good book that hooked me from the beginning and kept me
engaged to the end. Gabriel just transferred to Aurora from LA. He previously
worked on the Moonlight Killer case until his wife became one of the victims. After
trying to drown his grief, he pulled himself together, determined to find the
man responsible. After months of inactivity, Gabriel is convinced that the killer
has relocated to Aurora, "the safest town in the state," and it's
only a matter of time before he strikes again.
Shayla is the youngest of the Cavanaugh-O'Bannon branch
of the family and a brand new addition to the detective branch of the Aurora
PD. She is well-known in her family for her upbeat personality and tenacity. The
first thing she notices about Gabriel is the sadness in his eyes, and she feels
compelled to try to help him. She asks the Chief of Detectives to partner her
with Gabriel.
I enjoyed seeing Gabriel and Shayla together. Gabriel is
a loner, consumed by his need to bring the Moonlight Killer to justice and guilt
over his wife's death. The last thing he wants is a partner, especially one always
so cheerful! Every time he tried to shut her down, she simply changed
directions and kept up the positive outlook. I liked watching Shayla wear him
down on everything from eating to taking a break and getting some rest. She
also knew the importance of their investigation and was with him when work needed
to be done. Neither one expected the attraction that flared up between them. Gabriel
was stunned to discover that he could have feelings for someone else. I liked
that there was no "insta-love" between him and Shayla, just an acknowledgment
that they wanted to see where their relationship would go.
The suspense was excellent. The killer struck again
almost as soon as Gabriel arrived in Aurora. His frustration over the lack of
clues was evident as he and Shayla looked at current and past cases. Then one
piece of evidence opened the door to a new line of investigation. I was surprised
that Gabriel didn't make one significant connection, but I chalked it up to his
mind being on another part of their questioning. Shayla caught it, though; she
and Gabriel were convinced they had the right guy. The final confrontation was
a nail-biter but had a great resolution. I was incredibly proud of Gabriel and
his self-control.
One of the things I always enjoy about the Cavanaugh
books is the closeness of the family. Their love for each other is evident in
the teasing and support they provide. With so many Cavanaughs scattered
throughout the APD, it is always fun to see a partner's reaction when a
Cavanaugh picks up the phone and calls this cousin or that sibling for a quick
answer to a question. Gabriel was no different. Also, with Gabriel having no
family, he has no concept of what a group such as the Cavanaughs is like. His
nervousness as he and Shayla arrived at Andrew's was adorable, and I loved
watching him become part of them.
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