Danger in Big Sky Country - Kimberly van Meter (HRS #2213 - Jan 2023)

Series: Big Sky Justice (Book 1)
 
To catch a killer
…will she risk a life?
 
When a childhood friend and her family are killed on their Montana ranch, Detective Luna Griffin finds it especially gut-wrenching. To solve the case, she must work with the victim's brother, Benjamin, who'll do anything to get justice for his sister. But the by-the-book cop must bend the rules­ while not falling for the ex-Marine. Until one bullet -- and long-buried secrets -- threatens everything…
 
Terrific book that sucked me in from the first pages and kept me hooked to the end. It all started when police detective Luna did a wellness check at her childhood friend Charlotte's house, only to discover that Charlotte and her entire family had been brutally murdered. She is grief-stricken at the loss of her friend, feels guilty that they had drifted apart, and is determined to find the person guilty of the heinous crime. The last thing she needs is for Charlotte's brother, Ben, to interfere in her investigation.
 
Ben and Charlotte's childhoods were miserable, and he left town as soon as possible, rarely returning. He feels even more guilty now that there is nothing he can do to repair his relationship with his sister. All he wants is for the killer to be brought to justice, and he has no confidence that the local police are up to the job.
 
The first meeting between Ben and Luna was rough. Both are attempting to deal with their grief over Charlotte's death, and Ben's accusations of incompetence don't go over well. Luna realizes it is better to have Ben working with her than going off on his own. Neither expected or wanted the sparks of attraction that flared between them. I enjoyed how they connected over their shared grief and determination to catch the killer. They try to resist their growing feelings for each other. Luna feels guilty about being happy with her dead friend's brother. Additionally, Ben has no desire to live in Cottonwood again, and Luna's roots run deep there. There is a lot to overcome if they are going to find a way to be together.
 
The suspense of the story was great. I was glued to the pages from the discovery of the bodies to the end of the book. I felt Luna and Ben's frustration at the lack of clues. Those they did find were rife with contradictions that made it difficult to discern the truth. A twist at the end and an unexpected connection finally set Luna and Ben on the right track. A tragic confrontation and its aftermath answered some questions but left others hanging, likely to be addressed in subsequent books.
 
There is a secondary mystery happening that involves Luna and her sisters. Their biological parents died in an explosion that is now raising questions in the girls' minds. The book ended with them having no answers. I expect that this will continue to be a theme in this series.