Dark Deception – Nancy Mehl – Defenders of Justice #2 – Bethany House Publishers – Published 2 May 2017
♥♥♥
Synopsis
Kate O’Brien has been leading a quiet life in small-town Shelter Cove, Arkansas, for the past four years when her past suddenly comes roaring back to life. Four years ago, she and her twin sister were attacked by an elusive serial killer. Only Kate survived, and it was her drawing of the attacker–along with some last-minute evidence–that convicted the suspect.
She’s been in witness protection ever since, but new evidence suggests the convicted man isn’t the murderer and she’s been subpoenaed to testify in the new trial. Nervous about the risk, she’ll only agree if the same marshal who protected her during the original trial escorts her to St. Louis.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Tony DeLuca accepts the assignment to bring Kate to the trial, remembering how her strength impressed him. While in Shelter Cove, however, he gets a call from his chief, advising them to stay in Shelter Cove until a new development in the case can be straightened out. But when Kate’s safety is threatened, Tony must race against the clock to keep her alive and put this ugly case to rest before anyone else gets killed.
My thoughts
Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed with this novel. Dark Deception didn’t live up to the same standards as book one in the series, which combined romance with lots of suspense and good mystery solving. While Dark Deception combined the same three components, I was frustrated by this story that I thought predictable and lacking in romantic development.
Kate O’Brien survived a brutal attack that killed her sister. Kate’s testimony helped put a serial killer in jail. Now, new evidence suggest that Kate might have been wrong and her attacker has been released. U.S. Marshal Tony DeLuca is tasked with returning to Kate and convincing her to stand as a witness once again. But when Kate is kidnapped, Tony will have to uncover the truth about the Blue-Eyed Killer once and for all if he is to save her life.
