Deadly Chase - Marie Ferrarella (HRS #2184 - June 2022)

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.

Serial Affair - Marie Ferrarella (HRS #2180 - May 2022)

Series: Cavanaugh Justice (Book 44)

She'll do anything to catch a killer.
Even use herself as bait!
 
Small-town detective Liberty Lawrence is hot on the trail of a serial killer. And this case is as personal as they come. So when the criminal's body count moves to California, Liberty follows -- and joins forces with lawman Campbell Cavanaugh. With chemistry as explosive as the danger surrounding them, though, the duo is racing against time before the killer turns on Liberty herself…
 
A terrific addition to the Cavanaugh Justice series. The story opens in the small town of Calhoun, Arizona, where detective Liberty Lawrence is looking for the man who killed her foster mother. What she finds is the trail of a serial killer. And when she links the killer's MO to a recent murder in Aurora, California, that's where she goes.
 
I enjoyed Liberty's first encounter with Campbell. She is focused and intense when she tells him about the link between cases. Cam is a little wary initially because he thought she was too obsessed to have been thorough in her investigation. But after listening to her, he realized that she was right. Meanwhile, I could see her frustration at his attitude. I liked that he apologized for not taking her seriously. She isn't used to that, and it threw her off-kilter for a few minutes. Once Cam is convinced, he's all in and proceeds to include her in his investigation.
 
The interactions between Cam and Liberty were fun to watch. Because the case is so personal to her, she is even more intense than usual. Thanks to her early life, she also doesn't trust easily and constantly questions Cam's motives. Cam finds her fascinating and is determined to get past the walls she has erected. His straightforward inclusion of her in the investigation goes a long way toward achieving that goal.
 
As in many other Cavanaugh Justice books, the prevalence of Cavanaugh family members in the Aurora PD surprises the newcomer. I enjoyed how her disbelief turned to wonder as she saw how they support each other, from her meeting with the medical examiner to their conversation with computer guru Valri. Another big shock is usually attending one of Uncle Andrew's family gatherings. It went a little differently this time, with Cam taking Liberty to Andrew's for a meal. It was still an eye-opening experience for Liberty, who was deeply envious of the size and closeness of the family.
 
I liked watching the relationship develop between Cam and Liberty. There were sparks of attraction from the start, but they buried them in favor of concentrating on the case. I liked how Cam respected her abilities as a detective. I also enjoyed seeing him work to get her to open up to him and how he began to understand what drove her. Liberty was surprised by how quickly she began to trust Cam, but it felt right, which made giving in to their attraction much easier. As they closed in on the serial killer, and Liberty proposed to use herself as bait, Cam's protective instincts took over. I felt his fear when things went south and his relief when it was all over. There was a bit of a hiccup in his expression of his feelings for her, but the Christmas Eve scene made up for it.
 
The suspense of the story was good. Part of that came from spending some time in the killer's head, giving the reader a peek at what Liberty and Cam are up against. I ached for Liberty's link to one of the victims, but it gave excellent insight into what drives her. I liked seeing the cooperation between the two detectives as they joined forces to stop the killer. Taking the work that Liberty had already done and sharing it with Cam and his partner helped move the case along. There was a surprise addition to the information that Liberty had discovered that gave them a new direction to take. The tension ramped up as the killer escalated his attacks, leading to Liberty's decision to bait a trap with herself. I was glued to the pages as Liberty wound up in mortal danger. The resolution was a nail-biter and came way too close to disaster, but it certainly kept me turning the pages. I did not see that particular ending coming, but it was satisfying. 

The Baby Trail - Marie Ferrarella (HRS #2172 - Mar 2022)

Series: Cavanaugh Justice (Book 43)

To find a kidnapped newborn
Detectives must risk everything
 
One desperate task unites detectives Korinna Kennedy and Brodie Cavanaugh: to rescue an abducted infant. As their frantic investigation proceeds, so does the partners' prickly relationship. Only when loner Korinna is drawn into laid-back Brodie's life do they become closer. And as their list of suspects grows, they put their lives and hearts on the line to bring home the missing child.
 
Good book. This book had a different beginning than most of this series, beginning when Kori was eight years old. Her father had just been shot in a hold-up when Brian Cavanaugh (then a captain, now Chief of Detectives) stopped at the store for milk. He was responsible for getting the ambulance for Kori's dad, and rather than turn Kori over to social services, he took her home to his family while her dad recovered. This began a long relationship with the Cavanaughs, leading to Kori becoming a member of the police department.
 
After that emotional prologue, the book moves to the present day. Kori, now a detective, has just lost her partner to sudden retirement. She's surprised to arrive at work to find she's already been assigned a new partner - a transfer from Homicide. In this police department, it's not an unusual occurrence for it to be a Cavanaugh. Brodie Cavanaugh looks forward to helping the living, not just coming in after the fact. Kori isn't sure what to make of the light-hearted Brodie, and their initial exchanges are awkward. Then a call comes in about an infant abducted from the hospital, and they're off and running.
 
Kori is very intense. There is little room in her life for anything outside the cases she works on and takes personally. I liked her determination to find the baby girl and reunite her with her mother, but it felt like she was on the way to burning out. With the example of his large LEO family, Brodie has a good handle on keeping some balance in his life. I loved seeing Brodie's attempts to help Kori find that balance, though she fought him every step of the way. Though Kori wasn't sure about their partnership initially, she couldn't deny they worked well together.
 
I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship between Brodie and Kori. Brodie's laid-back attitude balanced Kori's intensity. I loved his sense of humor and how he used it to break up the tension. Some sparks fly, but both try to ignore them and focus on the case. When Brodie invites Kori to a gathering that includes former missing person cops designed to give them some new ideas to pursue, she does her best to get out of it. It is one of Andrew Cavanaugh's famous get-togethers, and she has been avoiding them for years. I loved seeing Brodie keep after her until she agreed to go. Her reluctance is palpable that day, and Brodie knows her enough by now to call her out on why. He points out that she doesn't allow herself to get close to anyone because she's afraid of losing them.
 
Once again, Andrew's parties provide a catalyst for exploding feelings. I laughed as Kori and Brodie watched her dad and his aunt take to each other. I was a little worried about Kori's attitude and how she was freaking out. Brodie found an interesting way to get her to stop spiraling - he kissed her. Neither one expected the firestorm raised by that kiss, but their chemistry was explosive. Judging by relationships in earlier books, I have to wonder just what ingredients go into some of Andrew's dishes, as his parties tend to have similar results for others. I got a little vexed with Kori's morning after worries, but everything worked out okay. I liked how their relationship continued to grow as the case went on. There was no "black moment" pulling them apart, and by the end of the book, they were ready to see where it would go. The epilogue nicely answered that question.
 
The suspense of the story was good. I ached for the young mother who blamed herself for her baby's disappearance. I liked the team's determination to find the baby and felt their frustration as lead after lead were dead ends. But something that one of the retired cops said gave Kori and Brodie an idea of another path to investigate. I will admit that their new suspect had crossed my mind earlier in the book. I enjoyed seeing their pursuit of this path and how it became more apparent the further they got. I liked the happy ending, including the consequences for the kidnapper.