Crime novel with a heart

One Kill Away - Alex  Maclean

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I enjoyed it.   It’s really three stories in one and the author does a masterful job of pulling them all together.

 

Detective Allan Stanton has taken time off from his job to spend some much neglected quality time with his young son.  Not having read the first book in the series, “Grave Situation”, I was at a bit of a disadvantage not knowing what had brought Det. Stanton to that point but it was obvious that the events of the previous book had wrought their damage on him.  If you want the whole story, read “Grace Situation” first.  As for Det. Stanton, will he be allowed to have the time he needs with his son and to heal in the second book?

 

Lieutenant Audra Price is also trying to balance a stressful job and her family responsibilities and relationships.  There is a separate story here dealing with her daughter’s struggles with bullying in school, which is a very moving plot in its own right.

 

It’s no mystery who the killer is as he’s identified as such from the start.  His story is not as it first seems.  I wish I could say more about him but don’t wish to spoil anything for readers.  Suffice it to say that there’s an unexpected emotional twist involved.

 

The author has created a suspenseful, taut, character-driven novel that I’m sure will bring him many more fans, all who will be asking for more in this excellent series.

 

I was given this book by the author in return for an honest review.