When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer’s boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits.
When investigative reporter — and Finn’s boss’s sister — Gabby Rowley arrives, her unrelenting questions complicate an already volatile situation. Now that she’s back, the tug on Finn’s heart is strong, but with the risks she’s taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.
Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can’t ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?
Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).
Her Alaskan Courage series and Chesapeake Valor series have received praise from readers and critics alike and spent multiple months topping the CBA bestseller lists. Dani has also been honored with multiple awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award finalist, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award.
From her early years eagerly reading Nancy Drew mysteries, to paging through Agatha Christie novels or watching on-the-edge-of-her-seat adventure movies, Dani has always enjoyed mystery and suspense. She considers herself blessed to be able to write the kind of stories she loves–full of plot twists and peril, love, and longing for hope and redemption. Her greatest joy as an author is sharing the stories God lays on her heart. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland, where she lives with her husband. Their two daughters, a son-in-law, and two adorable grandsons also reside in Maryland. For more information about her novels, click here.
My Impressions:
The Killing Tide, the first book in Dani Pettrey’s new romantic suspense series, is just what fans of Pettrey have come to expect — fast-paced action, complex characters, an ensemble cast, and spark-filled romance. From the opening chapter to the last page, the reader is fully engaged in this twisting, turning novel. I never knew what to expect as the author kept me and the characters on edge. This one is definitely a recommended read!
The North Carolina coast is the setting of The Killing Tide. Many of the characters are members of a US Coast Guard investigative team that participates in ocean rescues, retrieval dives, and investigations of criminal cases. Among the investigators is Finn Walker who is enlisted to keep journalist Gabby Rowley safe following an attempted hit by a drug dealer. Gabby is good at her job, and soon inserts herself into the CGIS investigations. She is not, however, good at keeping out of trouble! 😉 Finn and Gabby have a past and unresolved relationship issues, and their chemistry is still firmly in place. Fans of romantic suspense will love their interactions and the tough spots in which they find themselves. The cases being investigated seem unrelated, but soon a common thread emerges. I liked the ways the group worked together to piece the puzzle together. I also liked that I was kept guessing and was surprised by just whodunit. The faith element in The Killing Tide is strong. Main characters Gabby and Finn are believers, yet have struggles common to the Christian life — guilt, feelings of not being good enough, and superimposing desires over God’s will. The two encourage each other to silence the accusing voices in their heads and find God’s truth and purposes.
The Killing Tide is a great start to the Coastal Guardians series. I can’t wait for more!
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
To purchase, click HERE.
(Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
I came home with this one from FRS. Can’t wait to read it!
You will love it!