Dead Drift – Dani Pettrey – Chesapeake Valor #4 – Bethany House Publishers – Published 3 July 2018

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Synopsis

Private Investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving Luke Gallagher after he disappeared. Now he’s back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal while on the brink of a biological disaster that will shake America to its core. Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist’s next target?

My thoughts

Dead Drift is the thrilling fourth (and sadly last) book in the Chesapeake Valor series by Dani Pettrey. Dead Drift concludes the series in stunning style, with touching romance, non-stop action and life and death tension that will keep you guessing and hanging on the edge of your seat.

Kate has always believed -hoped- that the love of her life, Luke Gallagher was alive and out there somewhere. Meanwhile, Luke has spent the last seven years with one mission – bring a major criminal and terrorist to justice and finally return home to Kate. Now, Kate knows Luke is alive, but his being back in her life and the lives of their friends threatens them all. Luke and Kate must team up as the terrorist threat to US soil increases and overlaps with FBI Agent Declan Grey’s case. As danger looms ever closer, Luke, Kate and the whole gang will have to push harder than ever before to find answers and justice.

The Chesapeake Valor series has so far brought this loveable group of friends through heartache, murder cases, near-death experiences and ever closer to the answers they seek about what happened to their friends, Luke and Jenna, so many years ago. The threads of mystery that have woven throughout the entire series all start to weave together in this final book. The action starts from the first page and literally doesn’t stop. While most of the gang work with Luke to prevent a bioterrist attack and bring to justice the man Luke has been chasing these past seven years, Finley and Griffin work to solve the cold case of Jenna, Griffin’s sister, who was murdered eight years ago. While the terrorist case brings non-stop action and big dramatic scenes, I enjoyed the detective legwork that Griffin and Finley engage in to bring a serial killer to justice.

The story jumps perspective between a number of the main characters, predominately Luke, Kate and Griffin, which enables the readers to stay fully immersed in the enfolding action. Of course, Dani Pettrey leaves one perspective just when major intel is about to be revealed or a character’s life hangs in the balance, only increasing the already high suspense and making Dead Drift impossible to put down.

I have really loved the Chesapeake Valor series and Dead Drift is the perfect conclusion. It celebrates the friendship this talented group share, and their dedication to finding justice. I enjoyed Kate and Luke’s story of reunion and the opportunity they have to rekindle their romance. There are a lot of pent up emotions surrounding anger, passion, grief and betrayal they must work through while juggling the enfolding case and constant attempts on their lives. There is no doubting their connection, and the sweet moments of competition and trust they share are very enjoyable. I also loved the celebration in Dead Drift of each of the other romantic relationships that have been forged throughout the series. I loved Griffin and Finley’s support for one another as they face the difficult task of finding Jenna’s killer, and their enjoyment of married life, and treasured the moments of new-found closeness between Tanner and Declan. Avery and Parker take more of a backseat, but their relationship and the conclusion of Parker’s history with Jenna are also wonderful parts of this story.

If you have not yet read the Chesapeake Valor series, I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to devour Dani Pettrey’s next series which is sure to be just as brilliantly written, engaging and loveable as this one has been.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Fiction

Genre: Christian suspense.

Themes: Bioterrorism, murder, cold cases, friendship, romance, FBI, CIA, detective, mystery, terrorism. 

Advisory: References to murder, rape and torture.

Published: 3 July 2018 by Bethany House Publishers.

Format: Hardcover, paperback, ebook. 352 pages.

ISBN: 9780764231926

Find it on Goodreads