Looks That Kill - Amanda Stevens (HI #2092 - Sept 2022)

Series: Procedural Crime (Book 3)
 
She’ll uncover the truth of her childhood
even if it gets her killed
 
Private investigator Avery Bolt has secrets -- and not just about the attempted murder she witnessed. But revealing her true identity to prosecutor Max Winter could cost her the information he has that she desperately needs. Max has no idea their investigation into a cold case kidnapping victim will lead to Avery herself. Or that the criminals are still targeting the woman he’s falling for…
 
Good conclusion to the Procedural Crime trilogy. While it can be read as a stand-alone, reading the previous books gives an added depth to understanding events and motives. Also note: in the cast of characters in the front of the book and the book's blurb, the female main character is called Natalie. However, in the book's text, her name is Avery, which is how she is referred to in my review.
 
Avery is a private investigator from Houston. She came to Black Creek looking for answers about her childhood. She gets caught up in an attempted murder and saves the life of ADA Max Winter. When she discovers he's investigating the same cold case kidnapping that drew her attention, she proposes working together. Max is a by-the-book prosecutor known for his winning record. He isn't sure he trusts what Avery tells him, but something about her draws him in.
 
I enjoyed following their investigation. Avery is more of a risk-taker than Max and gets into some tense situations though she always manages to get out of them. Max is more restrained, but as a local, he is more familiar with the subjects of the investigation. There are some interesting twists as Max and Avery uncover long-held secrets, not the least of which is a link to Avery herself. The intensity increases as it becomes clear that someone doesn't like their attention. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that I didn't see coming.
 
The romance between Max and Avery was mainly in the background. There was a connection between them from the moment they met, though trust took a little longer. Along with the connection was an attraction neither could deny, though they agreed to put it on hold until their investigation was over. I liked seeing Avery trust Max with the reason she came to Black Creek and Max's belief in her. The resolution of that reason was emotional and believable. I liked that there were no insta-love declarations between Avery and Max but a good solid plan for future time spent together.

John Doe Cold Case - Amanda Stevens (HI #2053 - Feb 2022)

Series: Procedural Crime Story (Book 2)
 
A shocking discovery just turned a cold case red-hot.
And for one detective, it strikes way too close to home...
 
The discovery of skeletal remains in a Florida cavern sends cold case detective Eve Jareau on a collision course with her past. Concealing the truth from her boss, police chief Nash Bowden, becomes impossible when the spark between them reignites. And now a killer hell-bent on keeping decades-old family secrets hidden forever is lying in wait…to bury Eve and Nash alive.
 
Good book. The suspense was excellent though I felt it was a little light on the romance aspect. At the end of the previous book in the series, Little Girl Gone, a set of remains was found in a cave. The remains were determined to be those of an adult male, and police detective Eve was assigned the case.
 
I liked Eve. Her early life was rough because the father she adored abandoned her and her mother when Eve was five years old, leaving her mom struggling to make ends meet. He left Eve with a good luck memento and the visual of him getting into a car with two other people. Other than a few postcards at the beginning, she never heard from him again. She grew up having a close relationship with her mother and an independent spirit. Eve has had feelings for her boss since she started working for him six years ago, but except for one kiss has kept those feelings under wraps.
 
Nash is still reeling from the events of the previous book. He never expected to discover that his ex-wife was capable of kidnapping a small child. He's plagued by guilt for not realizing what she was up to. He's attracted to Eve but feels he's not a good bet for a relationship because of that guilt and the PTSD he still suffers from his time in the military. He's never forgotten their kiss but buries his feelings deep.
 
The suspense of the story kept me turning the pages. The autopsy of the remains revealed a stunning link between the body and Eve, but she kept that information from Nash. She told herself she wanted to be sure first. When she and Nash are sideswiped by a car on their way home from the autopsy, they first write it off as bad driving. But as they delve deeper into their investigation, both receive warnings to stop. Each step of the investigation was fascinating, though Eve did some things I found questionable, especially for an experienced cop. I was glad when she finally came clean with Nash. There were some exciting twists in the investigation, including an almost deadly visit to the cave where the remains were found, culminating in a confrontation I did not expect. The mystery of the bones in the cave was solved. The series question of what happened to little Maya Adams became a little clearer, but there are still unanswered questions.
 
The development of the relationship between Nash and Eve didn't occupy much space in the book. Because of their work relationship, they already know each other very well. Eve feels sympathetic toward Nash and longs to comfort him but feels the attention would not be well received. But as they work together on the investigation, the feelings that have simmered under the surface come boiling up. Eve's secretiveness creates a bit of a trust issue with Nash, but they get past that once she comes clean. They acknowledge their growing feelings for each other while putting off acting on them until after their investigation is finished. Even then, their big moment is quiet rather than overtly emotional.