Into the Fire

The murder of a young former babysitter has another young neighbor arrested. Morgan Dane is just now two years later recovering from losing her husband in Iraq as a single mother devoted to their three young children. Having put her career as a prosecuting attorney on hold as her grief robbed her of any measured focus other than raising her daughters, she, her grandfather, and her live-in nanny Morgan rescued from addiction keep their home in working, loving order. 

Morgan knows she's going to have to pursue something to take her out of the cycle of grief and she's been offered an assistant prosecuting attorney's position. However, when the disturbing murder of her former babysitter affects the young man across the street, who plays chess with her grandfather and who her girls love, is arrested for the murder, everything changes in Morgan's life.

Lance, former cop, is recovering from a serious leg wound and taking care of his mother who suffered a psychological break when his father disappeared many years ago. The retired detective (Sharp) who worked his father's case until it went cold, and still does, runs his Private Investigator business and helps Lance with his mom. Lance has signed on with Sharp in spite of his health nut tendencies he forces on Lance.

Morgan and Lance knew each other in high school. Morgan needs the help of Sharp Investigations. The UST is on between the two lonely friends as their friendship is rekindled through the search for the truth in the murder case.

Melinda Leigh delivers a well-written murder mystery with likable characters and a psychopathic killer, solid scenes of fear, loneliness, realistic romantic tension, and intense personal pain. There is profanity but not excessive. (For me, it would be near perfect if there was a faith element which seemed to hover on the fringe of these characters and plot.)   

For general market reading from Book 1 in this series, I recommend the cleverly titled Say You're Sorry by Melinda Leigh. 

Father, thank you for the generous supply of serious talent. You know I always hope those with so much recognize the source of it all. Please continue to bless Melinda with the stories you have for her to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.