When her stepsister disappears, Charlotte teams up with a private investigator to find her only to discover years worth of deception and secrets.Charlotte Sawyer is pretty boring, so much so that her fiance left her days before their wedding. Focusing on her job as activities director at an active-retirement community and her strong relationshipsespecially with her stepsister, Jocelynhas helped get over the betrayal, but she still feels inadequate as a woman. Everything changes, however, when Jocelyns friend Louise turns up dead and Jocelyn disappears. Charlotte is taking care of her stepsisters mail and plants while shes ostensibly away on a retreat, so when a mysterious package comes from Louise and Charlotte follows up, she meets Max Cutler, a former FBI profiler who is starting his own private investigation business and has been hired to look into Louises death, which the police have ruled a drug overdose. Louises cousin thinks it might be murder, and Max is inclined to agree, especially when Charlotte shows up and they realize the retreat was a cover for Jocelyn to go off-grid. As they begin to dig into Jocelyns past, they find a file that indicates Jocelyn and Louise had been trying to track down a possible rapist and serial killer. Complicating matters, the two friends were part of a womens investment club which may be on the cusp of a big payout, and at least one member may be capable of committing murder in order to increase her own financial gains. Life is anything but boring with Max around, and his attraction to Charlotte soothes her feelings of inadequacy, but as they drill down on clues and danger rises at every turn, its not only Jocelyn they have to save. Krentz returns with an intricately plotted romantic suspense novel that satisfies on every level, includes some clever twists with the senior community, and may open the door for a sequel. A terrific read by a stellar author. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* Private investigator Max Cutler doesn't believe in coincidences. Daniel Flint has hired Max to investigate the suspicious death of his cousin, Louise. Max is just beginning to go through Louise's apartment when Charlotte Sawyer calls to see if she might drop by. Before she died, Louise mailed a package to Jocelyn Pruitt, Charlotte's stepsister. Since Jocelyn is away on a retreat, Charlotte has been taking care of her apartment, and when she finds the package, Charlotte wonders if it might shed some light on Louise's death. What Max and Charlotte discover after opening the package about Louise's death makes them fear that Charlotte's stepsister, Jocelyn, may be in grave danger. With its fast-paced plot spiked with unexpected twists and plenty of danger, snappy writing infused with tart wit, and a captivating pair of protagonists who could give Bogart and Bacall a run for their money when it comes to creating sexual sparks, Krentz's latest superbly written tale ticks off every box on a romantic-suspense fan's wish list.--Charles, John Copyright 2016 Booklist

With this slow-paced book, Krentz (Secret Sisters) launches a romantic suspense series set in Seattle, where Max Cutler, a former profiler turned PI, moved to start his life over after burning out on the job. While investigating the mysterious death of Louise Flint, who belonged to a women's investment club, he encounters Charlotte Sawyer, whose stepsister, Jocelyn, another investor, also disappeared. Working together, they hope to both find Jocelyn and identify the culprit behind a decade-long rape and killing spree that started with a violent assault on Jocelyn while she was in college. The suspense story suffers from Krentz spending too much text introducing investment-club members in lieu of building ties between Charlotte and Max. It's also a setup for future books featuring Max's foster brothers, all of whom have a collective score to settle. Fortunately, the suspense picks up when Max and Charlotte realize they need to trust each other and work in close proximity to bring down the privileged villain. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Fearing the worst when her stepsister's best friend is found dead and her stepsister, Jocelyn, can't be found, Charlotte Sawyer joins forces with FBI profiler-turned-PI Max Cutler. Max is investigating the crime for the dead woman's cousin, while Charlotte tries to make sense of a mystery that gets more complicated with every step. They are certain it was murder, no matter what the police think, and as the clues begin to mount, a pattern emerges that goes back years and is more deadly and convoluted than they'd thought. A cryptic message, an investment club with a secret agenda, a decades-old abuse scandal, and some seriously shady characters ramp up a fast-paced story with more than enough villainy to go around. VERDICT With her classic flair and skill, Krentz has crafted another intriguing, complex, humor-laced romance that will lure new readers and captivate her fans. Krentz (-Secret Sisters) lives in Seattle. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.