Dockside Danger - Carol Ericson (HI #2116 - Jan 2023)

Series: Lost Girls (Book 3)
 
With innocent lives on the line
Trusting each other is their only chance…
 
LAPD detective Jane Falco knows a recent murder is no open-and-shut case. She doesn’t need FBI agent Tim Ruskin back in her life to complicate the investigation—and reignite still-dangerous sparks between them. But to stop a vicious human trafficking ring, Jane and Tim must gamble on each other—and an endgame impossible to survive…

Terrific continuation of the series. Here we have Jane, a recent transfer into this division of the LAPD. An unpleasant reputation has followed her to her new position, and she is stuck dealing with "domestic" situations instead of sinking her teeth into meatier cases. Having a partner, Damon, who is rarely there, doesn't help. When she suspects her latest case is not the open-and-shut one everyone thinks it is, she's determined to find the truth. Matters become complicated when FBI agent Tim Ruskin intrudes on her investigation.
 
Jane and Tim have a history. They met and had a relationship when he was undercover, and she didn't react well when she discovered his deception. Once someone has broken her trust,  it isn't easy to get it back. But when she learns that her murder victim may be tied to a Russian-mob-backed human trafficking ring, she'll take a chance on working with him.
 
I liked watching the rekindling of the relationship between Jane and Tim. He has missed their closeness and chemistry and wants to be together again, and Jane is wary and prefers to keep him at arm's length. Working with each other to solve the case allows Tim to show Jane how he feels and to earn her trust again. Jane is reluctant to risk her heart on him again, but the sparks between them are hard to deny. It doesn't take long for Jane to realize that her feelings for Tim had never died, despite the betrayal she felt. But they must survive their investigation before they can see what the future holds for them.
 
The suspense of the story was excellent. It started slowly as the background developed, but it took off when Jane and Tim began working together. There are questions about whether the victim was a pawn or a player and her link to the trafficking ring. Every clue they uncover seems to lead to more questions and an unexpected development. As their investigation narrows in on the ringleader, the danger to them intensifies. Flying bullets and being run off the road indicate they are on the right track. I liked the teamwork Jane and Tim exhibited and their respect for each other's abilities. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with its twists and turns as they raced against time to save a group of women destined to be shipped out of the country.
 
I also enjoyed seeing characters from previous books make appearances. JMac from the Kyra and Jake series encourages Jane, and Billy also gets his two cents in. I'm looking forward to the final book in this series as Billy finally gets his story and his dearest wish.

Lakeside Mystery - Carol Ericson (HI #2088 - Aug 2022)

Series: Lost Girls (Book 2)
 
He'll have to trust a woman who knows too much
To solve his biggest homicide case yet
 
LAPD detective Denver Holt doesn't know what to make of true crime blogger Ashlynn Hughes -- no matter how attracted he is to her. The stubborn writer has inside information that can help him crack his biggest homicide case yet. But as anonymous tips carry them further into danger, Denver wonders if he can keep a target off Ashlynn's back…or if she'll be silenced for good.
 
Good book that sucked me in from the start and kept me hooked to the end. Ashlynn is the sister of murdered crime blogger Sean Hughes (The Bait) and is determined to keep his blog going. She receives a tip about a submerged car with a body in the trunk and investigates. When she finds the car where her tipster said it would be, she calls the cops. LAPD detective Denver Holt is the one who is sent to investigate.
 
Denver wants to make the Homicide/Robbery division. He's not too happy to be stuck looking into a submerged car or dealing with the pushy woman who discovered it. But when her insistence that he check the trunk turns up a dead body, he has a lot of questions. Something about her story doesn't add up. When he is assigned to investigate the case, she's the first one on his list to interview.
 
Denver was not happy to discover that Ashlynn is not only a true crime blogger but the sister of Sean Hughes. He and Sean had a history, and he believes Ashlynn is cut from the same cloth. But he also can't help worrying about her safety. Denver follows her when she goes to meet her contact and is there to save her when she is attacked. At that point, they decided it would be best if they worked together. Neither expected the attraction that flared between them. Denver was protective of Ashlynn and frequently frustrated by her fearlessness. They grew closer as they worked together. I liked how Denver began to respect Ashlynn's capabilities and understand what motivated her. I also liked how Ashlynn started to see her actions through Denver's eyes and think about their effects. I enjoyed how Denver caused Ashlynn to think about her future. Though there are no big declarations at the end, there is a clear intention to see where their relationship goes.
 
The suspense in the story was excellent. Most of their leads came from tips from Ashlynn's blog. Her determination and fearlessness make her take chances while investigating those tips. As she and Denver get deeper into the investigation, Ashlynn's actions put a target on her back. There were multiple twists in this story that kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. The final confrontation kept me glued to the pages until it was all over.

Canyon Crime Scene - Carol Ericson (HI #2084 - July 2022)

Series: Lost Girls (Book 1)

His sister is missing and only one person can help
 
Cade Larson needs LAPD fingerprint expert Lori Del Valle to help track down his troubled missing sister. But he can't deny the sparks still between them…nor the secret Lori is keeping. When fingerprints link Cade's sister to another missing woman -- and a potentially nefarious treatment center -- Lori volunteers to go undercover. Will their dangerous plan bring a predator to justice or tragically end their reunion?
 
Good mix of second chance romance and suspense. Lori works for the LAPD as a fingerprint specialist. One day she's startled to find her high school boyfriend there to report his younger sister missing. Cade is told it is too soon to report an adult missing, and his frustration is evident. When Lori suggests that she and Cade check Summer's house for clues, she discovers a disturbing similarity to a crime scene she recently worked.
 
Dissatisfied with the police response to the things they found, Lori and Cade begin investigating on their own. I was hooked when Lori decided to go undercover to investigate the questionable drug rehab center that linked the two women. The tension ramped up as Lori risked discovery by searching for the missing women, and Cade met with one of Lori's police friends about the drugs they found. The final confrontation had me glued to the pages as they uncovered the truth about the rehab center and its owner. The underground scene was a nail-biter with a close call for Lori and Cade and a just-in-the-nick-of-time rescue. The epilogue filled in some blanks for a satisfying ending.
 
I liked the rekindling of the relationship between Lori and Cade. They had been high school sweethearts, Cade from a wealthy family and Lori from a poor one. It didn't matter to them, but Cade's family disapproved. When Cade left for college, Lori broke things off, telling him he needed to be free to experience everything. There was another reason also that came out later in the book. When they meet again, it's clear that the sparks between them are still there. I enjoyed seeing them reconnect and realize that the old feelings are still there. Though he respected Lori's abilities, he still felt protective when danger threatened. Lori felt the same protectiveness toward Cade, which led to some of her past choices. There is some angst when she shares her secret, but understanding and forgiveness follow quickly. If they are going to move forward together, Cade has some decisions to make. Those decisions didn't surprise me, as they were hinted at earlier in the book. The epilogue was terrific.
 
I liked seeing some of the characters from the previous series make appearances in this one. Lori made a brief appearance in that series, and Kyra and Jake appear in this book. I'd like to see more of Jake's partner Billy and his search for his sister.