Series:
Kansas City Crime Lab (Book 4)
History is repeating itself…
With deadly consequences.
Discovering a bloody knife from two unsolved murders
reunites theater professor Reese Atkinson with criminalist Jackson Dobbs. And
the murder victims? Jackson's own parents. But the shy orphaned boy from her
childhood is now an army veteran and fierce protector…of the evidence and of
Reese. But just who is weaving a deadly web that not only threatens their
reunion…but their lives?
This was a terrific conclusion to the Kansas City Crime
Lab series. I've been intrigued by the quietly intense Jackson since the first
book, so I was thrilled to see him get his chance at love. I ached for him as I
learned about his past - his parents were murdered when he was twelve, and his
cold and mean uncle took him in. He was constantly put down by that uncle,
leaving him feeling that he'd never be loved. After high school, he left for
the military and spent time boxing, resulting in a beat-up appearance. He's
also rather shy, resulting in moments of social awkwardness that exacerbate the
problem. All of that begins to change when he reunites with a childhood friend.
Reese was a child actress who performed in plays at the
university theater where Jackson's parents were active. She was an outgoing
child who never had trouble making friends. She was drawn to the boy who used
to sit in the theater and read while his parents worked. Years later, she is a
theater professor and the director of the latest production at that same
theater. When she finds a bloody knife in a box of donations, she takes it
directly to the crime lab, where she reunites with Jackson.
I loved their first meeting. Bubbly Reese shows up at the
crime lab, and the first person she encounters is the taciturn criminalist. I adored
his initial shock that she was talking to him, then the confusion as she told
her story, followed by the flare of hope that this could be a clue in his
parents' unsolved murders. As quickly as she appears, Reese is gone again.
After briefly consulting with his coworkers, Jackson is off to the theater to
investigate. There is a lot of intensity in that section, from Reese's dealings
with students and the dean to Jackson's unexpected arrival and reactions to what
he observed. I loved seeing him and Reese interact as she quickly learned how
to interpret his grunts and comments. His protective instincts are aroused when
he learns of the disturbing things happening to her.
The twists and turns of the investigation kept me reading
far into the night. Several possible suspects kept me guessing to the end. I
loved the teamwork between Jackson and Reese as they suspected a link between
her stalker and his parents' murders. The ramping up of the intensity and a few
looks into the perp's mind kept me glued to the pages until it was over. I was
impressed by Reese's ability to think clearly while threatened and by Jackson's
creative method of coming to her rescue.
I loved watching the relationship develop between Reese
and Jackson. One of the things I adored about Reese was her willingness to be
straightforward with Jackson. He has some issues with picking up on social
clues, so it makes things much easier for him. He becomes better at reading her
as they spend more time together. I loved his ability to see when she needed
comfort or support and how he thought of her as "a breath of sunshine in
his dark, distrustful soul." There were some delightful scenes of them
together as the days went on, and I loved seeing the changes in Jackson. His
big moment at the end was sweet in his unique communication style. Reese had no
trouble figuring out what he was trying to say.
I loved the inclusion of the other members of the crime
lab team. Their friendship and acceptance of Jackson just as he is gives him
the semblance of family that he craves. I liked how they absorbed Reese into
their group and treated her as part of their family. I enjoyed their surprise
and approval of the difference Reese makes in Jackson's life.
The author's love of and involvement in theater shines in
this book. Including small details brings the story an extra layer of reality
and authenticity, making me feel like I was part of the production.
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