Into the Fire

Smoldering Lies by L.T. Ryan and C.R. Gray is Book 5 in A Maddie Castle Thriller Series. 

When Maddie accepts an arson case for a real estate developer (Brandon Adams), she knows immediately that he's an arrogant snob with a lot of enemies. Just how many and how significant they prove to be doesn't take long to discover. Someone is setting his properties on fire. His first suggestion for her is to check out his only child, an environmental attorney and activist. After speaking with her, Brandon's flawed character is partially filled out while providing another link to the potential arsonist. 

Within this story, Maddie and her former best friend (Harper) have repaired the damage to their friendship and are working side by side to bring justice to her case, one in which the FBI has a deep interest. Harper is still a detective with the police force and knows that Maddie can take certain liberties that she cannot while still providing information quickly that Maddie might not be able to access. Just as in the past when Maddie was a cop, they work well together, and they both realize how much the renewal of their friendship means to both of them. 

When Maddie winds up in the hospital due to one of the arsons, Brandon fires her with a hefty check he assumes is hush money because he realizes she has learned too much about him in her investigation. 

In the middle of all of this, Maddie is still trying to find Daisy, her boyfriend Bentley's young sister-in-law and aunt to his 14-year-old daughter Grace, who disappeared after going down a very destructive path. Clues have been showing up as to her whereabouts on an unexpected website, and what they're piecing together has them hopeful. In order to get even the slightest bit of information, Maddie insists on visiting Daisy's old boyfriend, a meth addict and runner who got Daisy addicted and into prostitution. In order to do that, she asks Simeon (a former classmate who's a wealthy and well-known drug kingpin) to go along when she visits with him. Nobody wants to run afoul of Simeon in the drug arena. Reluctantly, Simeon agrees to go insisting that Maddie owes him now. 

There's a lot of investigating going on in this story with all kinds of characters who have been victimized by Brandon Adams. Maddie's moral code is questioned but not maliciously, and her explanation is a practical one ascertained by what has happened in her life. Real justice is what she pursues.

Maddie is a hardcore character, brash and outspoken, with a tender heart and good instincts under all the protective layers. I gotta say it's hard not to like Simeon in spite of him. And Bentley is always trying to do his best but is challenged by the teenage drama his daughter provides. 

This one ends on a cliffhanger as they search for Daisy. Not fond of cliffhangers, but it is what it is. 

(Plenty of profanity.)

Father, you know everyone's hearts, minds, desires, and the talents and gifts you've provided for each one. May each one know from whom their talent comes. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.