RATING: 3.5 STARS
2018; Penguin Group/Dutton

I liked this novel, but at times I did find the story a bit slow. Frankie Sheehan has great potential for a flawed character, but still just remains sort of an interesting character. Frankie returns to the police force too soon, and finds herself a bit over her head. As this is a debut book, and I can see the series getting better, I rated it 3.5 stars and will read the next book.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

After the suspected suicide of Eleanor Costello, Detective Frankie Sheehan is up in arms by the fact that she's pretty sure this is a homicide, not a suicide. In Too Close to Breathe, by Olivia Kiernan, the scary serial killer may still be on the loose, a killer that Frankie may know little too close for comfort. The killer may be the same one who tried to murder her months before.

The leads are getting Frankie and her team no where, the suspect list is crumbling, and now mysterious phone calls have begun. Then, when another woman is found dead, Frankie knows the two are linked, and that the killer is as close as ever.

For a debut novel, this was a really suspenseful and atmospheric book. I enjoyed the character of Frankie, sometimes I feel that detectives in books can come off cold and hard to connect with, but Frankie was relatable and a joy to read.

Sometimes, I felt like there were parts of the story that sort of just dead-ended. Like the phone calls. They went no where, and in the end it was quite easy to decipher who was behind it all. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. I give it 4 out of 5 stars, a perfect crime book for those looking for a new author to dive into.

Having never read this author before, I was unsure of what I would think of her work. I have to say, I was very impressed right off the get-go. Her characterization and prose pulled you in. Frankie was a likeable and believable main character, a good leader of her division and a protagonist you could follow the story through. I also found myself really enjoying the suspense of this. I wasn't sure until the very end who the killer was and I really enjoyed not knowing. It was a masterful ride to go along and not actually be sure, to have it so up in the air for so long. Not many authors can keep it under wraps like this and I appreciated Kiernan's ability to do so.

Too Close to Breath by author Olivia Kiernan is a gripping novel with a plot so thick, it’ll pull you in quickly. Nail biting twist and turns and a great “whodunnit” vibe, the book is perfect for crime/thriller lovers!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of Too Close to Breat in exchange for an honest review.

DCS Frankie Sheehan is a good Detective. Unfortunately she had a little set back when she was attacked while investigating a prior case. Now back on the job, she needs to find out who murdered Dr. Eleanor Costello. This case is sort of a make it or break it situation for her. She needs to prove that she is still a very capable Detective and able to really handle work again. Plus stop a killer before they possibly strike again.

I like Frankie. She is very good at what she does. She is tough as nails and isn’t afraid to make hard decisions that others might not be comfortable with. Plus she uses common sense...for the most part. Apart from the investigation though, I felt like I didn’t really connect with her character much.

There were a couple of scenes where Frankie got crank calls (silence on the end). I was expecting the killer to start taunting Frankie as if they were too smart for their own good. Maybe some cat and mouse type games. There was some taunting, but it wasn’t that much. I was a little disappointed by that.

The author, Olivia Kiernan has such a way with words. She knows how to create a well written mystery. I know I’ve mentioned this a thousand times before, but I hate being able to guess the ending or killer in a story. I was not able to do that with Too Close to Breathe. It kept me guessing from beginning to end. There are several red herrings and seemingly guilty parties. I thought I knew what direction the story was going, but I am happy to say that I was wrong. I would never have guessed who the killer was. That one really surprised me. I’m curious to see what’s next for Frankie.


RATING: 3 out of 5.

Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan has barely had time to recuperate from a case that nearly got her killed when she is called to the scene of what appears to be a suicide of Eleanor Costello, but how odd that there is no suicide note.

Eleanor was a respected lecturer at the local university but as Frankie starts to look into the case she notices there are a lot more questions, first and foremost is where is Eleanor’s husband? As many cases of married couples the first thing Frankie wants to do is locate him. As the investigation starts to pick up, another body is found bearing similarities to Eleanor’s cause of death so this has now picked up even more urgency.

As the case starts to send Frankie and her team into the dark web the plot does get a bit convoluted but nevertheless it keeps the reader engaged. Not only that but Frankie’s past case may be catching up to her and will she be emotionally strong to handle that? Her superior cautions her but Frankie is not going to back down from this case.

A really great debut. The author did a good job of setting the scene, introducing potential suspects and reasons but kept me guessing. Even when there were parts that got a bit convoluted, I didn’t want to stop reading this one. I will definitely be looking forward to the next case led by Frankie Sheehan.

This was a fantastic police procedural, highly entertaining, and the case was complex enough to always keep me guessing. Very fast paced. I'm glad to know this is the first in a new series and it's a great option for those who love Tana French and Susie Steiner.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

There's just something about a flawed protagonist that I just love. Frankie is certainly that. After dealing with a horrible experience from her past case, she's back and what should be a run of the mill suicide case turns into a murder case that puts her right back into the danger she was hoping to avoid coming back into the force.

A solid debut series but doesn't really give you anything different from most procedurals out there. The author does showcase PTSD and the lasting effects of a traumatic event and how it impacts every part of a person's life. And I do love the mention and incorporation of anything dark web. I'm so curious about this, by the way. Does it really exist? (I'm sure it does.) Would I ever be curious enough to go delving in? (Doubtful... very doubtful!) The book does provide solid detective work over some out of the ordinary solving of a case that we tend to see and I appreciate the authenticity of this.

I will say that while I enjoyed the story line, I did feel that it dragged in some places and the incorporation of Frankie's past could have been a bit more seamless. For a minute I was confused on whether I was reading about a new victim and where that came from... and then it began to make more sense.... and then it got darker and I DO LIKE DARK. Frankie has been through the wringer and I fear for her safety for any future entanglements that may come with other cases.

Lovers of police procedurals will be drawn to this new series. Let's see where the author takes Frankie on her journey, shall we?

Loved this book. Didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend.

Love love love. Incredible book. Fabulous book club pick too

Lately I’ve been trying to branch out and read more thrillers, especially more modern thrillers. They are usually quick reads for me and I sometimes get stuck in the ‘past’ reading a bunch of historical mysteries that I think it’s 1880 rather than 2018 so, breaking things up is a good thing for me.

This one came up and it’s from an author that I have never heard of but I saw that the book was set in Dublin which I thought made the book sound different and interesting. I have also seen it compared to IN THE WOODS, I’ve not read IN THE WOODS yet, but I’ve heard great things about it and I was excited to see read something that was similar but yet uniquely it’s own and maybe a little more off the radar.

In a quiet Dublin suburb, within her pristine home, Eleanor Costello is found hanging from a rope.

Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan would be more than happy to declare it a suicide. Four months ago, Frankie’s pursuit of a killer almost ended her life and she isn’t keen on investigating another homicide. But the autopsy reveals poorly healed bones and old stab wounds, absent from medical records. A new cut is carefully, deliberately covered in paint. Eleanor’s husband, Peter, is unreachable, missing. A search of the couple’s home reveals only two signs of personality: a much-loved book on art and a laptop with access to the Dark Web.

With the suspect pool growing, the carefully crafted profile of the victim crumbling with each new lead, and mysterious calls to Frankie’s phone implying that the killer is closer than anyone would like, all Frankie knows is that Eleanor guarded her secrets as closely in life as she does in death.

As the investigation grows more challenging, Frankie can’t help but feel that something doesn’t fit. And when another woman is found murdered, the same paint on her corpse, Frankie knows that unraveling Eleanor’s life is the only way to find the murderer before he claims another victim . . . or finishes the fate Frankie only just managed to escape (summary from Goodreads).

I was surprised that this was the author’s debut novel. I knew it was the first in a new series but I guess I didn’t realize it was her first novel all together. I had never heard of her but that’s not surprises since thrillers are a little new to my review genre so I just thought this was a new series, but after reading the book I was impressed by this new author’s ability to tell a twisty tale. She writes like an old pro with all kinds of interesting plot dynamics and interesting threads to hold the reader’s interest.

This had a lot of police procedural elements and it was clear that either Kiernan had a background in police work or she spent a TON of time researching everything so that she could get it right. It was seamless and felt natural so however she came about her knowledge was impressive.

The main character clearly has some deep issues with PTSD which makes her a fascinating protagonist. Frankie clearly has some things that she needs to work through but getting to do that with her as a reader keeps things interesting and adds depth to her character.

The plot itself had a lot to hold my interest. There is some graphic content in this book and some deeply disturbing elements but I think fans of the genre will enjoy how well put together this thriller is. It has an interesting lead character, a complex plot that is rich in details and darkness, but the police procedurals elements made the book for me.

I haven’t really read a lot go books within the subgenera of police procedurals so for me this book stood out because of that, however I have read a few other reviews from people who are big fans of that subgenera and they said this book didn’t bring anything new to the genre of police procedurals. So it sounds like fans of the subgenera will likely find this book just ok, but for me I found it excellent! I loved the darkness of the plot, the complexity of Frankie, and the details of the procedural. I did wish though that Dublin had been featured more in this book and that she would have capitalized on the setting and culture more.

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: Too Close to Breathe: A Novel (Frankie Sheehan #1) by Olivia Kiernan

Kindle Edition, 304 pages
Published April 3rd 2018 by Dutton
ASIN B075CBT63D
Review copy provided by: Publisher/Author in exchange for an honest review.
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 4 out of 5

Genre: crime fiction, mystery, thriller, police procedural

Memorable lines/quotes:

''There is an unsettling truth to be learned when profiling a killer. That is: how incredibly alike all humans are; how worrying similar our desires, our drives, our fears."

DCS Frankie Sheehan, recently severely injured in the course of a case, has big problems at hand in Dublin. She's preparing for the court case regarding the murder of Tracy Ward (when Sheehan was stabbed) as well as investigating the deaths of Eleanor Costello and Amy Keegan. Their chief suspect is nowhere to be found. What follows is an excellent police procedural that deals with a very unsavory subset of people -- those who enjoy pain, seek it out, revel in it. What secrets lie behind the faces of those that others see and interact with everyday? And what is the meaning of the main clue -- Prussian Blue paint found on the victims. Frankie intends to find out through dogged police work with her team and they work every lead as they attempt to discover the identity of the killer before another murder takes place.

Frankie Sheehan is an interesting character but one whom readers of this genre will be quite familiar with. Of course she doesn't follow orders from superiors, she's messed up and work is her life. Since this is the first in a new series, I see there is room for character development as several hints about her past are dangled in front of the reader. I'd definitely be interested to read more.

I enjoyed this debut and the unusual aspects of this particular case. Technology and the Dark Web prove to be an integral connection, especially a site called the Black Widow. The site allows those with some dark fantasies to interact with others also interested in various forms of BDSM.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: An intricately developed mystery filled with unlikable victims, a serial killer, and an investigator who will not give up.

I cannot think of anything better than giving a debut author's new release a read and completely loving it. This recently happened with the new thriller TOO CLOSE TO BREATHE by Olivia Kiernan. Let me tell you all, it was a page-turner.

In its truest form, TOO CLOSE TO BREATHE is a crime novel. It follows Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan in her hunt to capture a serial killer. However, there are so many layers to this book that I soon realized what I thought I would be getting was only the surface. The way that the author developed the narrative was perfection. She carefully revealed bits and pieces of the characters, including the victims, to tease and add tension to the book.

Though the story was complex, I never once felt confused or that the author lost the flow. In fact, I think that the intricacies and nuances she brings to her work propelled the mystery forward. This was a great read that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Olivia Kiernan has opened the door to Frankie Sheehan's world and I for one, cannot wait to go back!

Thanks to Dutton Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I'm always excited to see new thriller debuts and the beginnings of a new crime series. Olivia Kiernan's debut, TOO CLOSE TO BREATHE, did not disappoint! Most of the police procedurals can feel repetitive and dry at times, well this one is here to shake things up. It was refreshing to have something a little different and more disturbing.

Dr. Eleanor Costello is poised, polished, and pretty perfect. The highly respected scientist is found dead in her home - it has all the hallmarks of a suicide. DCS Frankie Sheehan is on the case, and she begins to spot signs of foul play. This quickly goes from suicide case to catching a killer. She begins to gather information to paint a dark and vivid picture of the killer - how were the killer and victim connected? Is this bigger than just this isolated crime?

I was incredibly impressed with this debut. The characters were well developed and we got just enough background and flashbacks of Frankie that I can tell she has more growing and flushing out coming in future novels! Dark imagery and some disturbing twists and turns, Kiernan will keep you guessing until the end. There were some bits and pieces I can see being a little on the confusing side, but they're all worth it in the end. Kiernan brings the reader on this journey and slowly gives you the pieces to put together.

Overall, I'm excited for another crime series to come from this. If you want a police procedural that doesn't follow the same pattern as most, then this will be one to add to the TBR. I'm anxious to see where Olivia Kiernan takes Sheehan in future novels!

I give this one 4.5/5 stars - rounded up for rating

Well this was a twisted bit of crazy! This book really brought home just what I love about a strong police procedural. I've been reading a lot of cozy mysteries lately and while I love the warm quirky community, the humor and the general coziness of the read I sometimes miss just a straight up gritty mystery and this book delivered that in spades. The book opens with DCS Frankie Sheehan observing an autopsy of what appears at first glance to be a suicide but at second glance not so much. It's clear that Sheehan has been on leave for something traumatic and is still trying to find her way back to the way she was before though it does take some time for what exactly happened to be revealed. Normally the slow hints would drive me crazy but since it has nothing to do with the actual investigation and more with the character development of Sheehan it worked for me.

I really enjoyed just how this mystery developed. It starts out looking incredibly simple and slowly becomes more and more complicated. Nothing is as it appears. The pacing was solid throughout and I never felt that the detectives were just spinning their wheels. The progress may have been slow at times but there was always progress. Not only did the book take place through Frankie's eyes but I felt like I was really inside her mind. I liked seeing how she thought things out and seeing not only how she fit things together but also her coping techniques and she struggles to deal with some pretty gruesome stuff but also a traumatic past incident.

The book isn't flawless. At times I felt I was a bit too much in Frankie's head and while for the most part I enjoyed it there were times the internal monologues went on a bit too long. As well, the story was told in present tense which always takes me a bit of time to get used too reading but that's purely a personal issue.

Overall, I enjoyed this dark and twisty police procedural. I enjoyed the Dublin setting, the way the mystery came together, and am really looking forward to what investigation Frankie lands in next.

A Dark Intricately Plotted Murder Set in Ireland

Detective Superintendent Frankie Sheehan is back at work after a severe injury sustained while pursuing a ruthless killer. In spite of her PTSD symptoms Frankie needs to be back working a case. She draws the death of a young microbiologist, Eleanor Costello. Eleanor was found hanging from a tree. It could be suicide, but after examining the body Frankie thinks it’s murder. Eleanor has old injuries and a recent cut is covered with blue paint.

Eleanor’s husband, the logical suspect, is missing. When another woman is found murdered with the same blue paint is on her body, it appears that a serial killer is loose. The investigation carries the officers into the murky depths of the dark web. It’s clear that Eleanor had secrets, but it’s not easy to unravel them even after her death.

This murder mystery is filled with details that keep leading the investigators in new directions. At times the crime seems almost impossible to solve. However, at the end the author skillfully weaves all the bits and pieces together to solve the murders.

The lead investigator, Frankie Sheehan, is the victim of a tragic history as well as recent events that are difficult for her to deal with. She’s a complex character unwilling to give in to her fears. It makes you like her and want her to succeed.

If you enjoy police procedurals, this is a well plotted one set in the city of Dublin. As a first novel, it is promises more for the future.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

Fans of police procedurals such as The Killing, The Fall, and most especially Prime Suspect will find a lot to love in Olivia Kiernan’s Too Close to Breathe. A tale of a cat and mouse game between an embattled Detective Chief Superintendent and a clever, psychotic killer it is exactly the kind of novel I can picture being made into a program like those listed above.

Four months earlier, she nearly died. Answering a call of suspected foul play, Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan found herself in a life and death struggle in a darkened room as a madman with a knife attempted to murder her. Luck and her backup arriving on the scene moments after the altercation are all that saved her.

Now she’s back at work, shakier than she will ever let anyone know. When Frankie is handed a case of a woman found hanging in the bedroom of her pristine Dublin home, she is more than eager to go through the motions and declare it a simple case of suicide. Unfortunately, the facts quickly reveal that isn’t the case. Bruising on the fingers show the victim obviously tried to stop the event but her hand was found dangling at her side; the nature of hanging would have ensured the hand had stayed within the loop it had tried to loosen.  The autopsy results are a catalog of horror, filled with poorly healed bones and old stab wounds. There is a mysterious paint covering one of the cuts. All of this points to second party involvement and the victim’s missing husband looks like the likely culprit.

But the investigation proves harder than first glance would have one expect. The body count is growing, the suspect pool is widening, and the victim is proving to be a ‘riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma’ as Winston Churchill would have said. It’s a race against the clock to stop the terror gripping Dublin and it looks like the killer may just have time on their side.

Originating in the early part of the Twentieth Century, the hardboiled detective is a familiar character to fans of crime fiction. Recent iterations have replaced the relationship-challenged, murky-moralled, world-weary, street-savvy male of yore with a relationship-challenged, murky-moralled, world-weary, street-savvy female. The change hasn’t exactly been noticeable unless you’re a die-hard misogynist. If you’ve seen any of the shows I’ve listed above or read any books that feature a hardboiled detective character, male or female, you’ve met Frankie. She doesn’t waver from the mold.

The people who surround her tend to be straight from central casting as well. Her supervisor, Jack Clancy, is a curmudgeon who acts as a buffer between her and ‘the system’, ensuring that her genius is given the leeway it needs to get the job done. And of course, there is the beloved sidekick, Detective Baz Harwood; more than just a colleague, he’s a true friend. There is also Steve, the tech guru who will come up with just the right piece of evidence at just the right time and Helen, the only other female on her team whom Frankie is trying to raise to be just like her.

The story follows expected paths as well, as everyone talks over ‘startling’ new evidence and doggedly chases down each dead-end lead. Suspects and victims alike behave according to the pattern. If you are acquainted with the genre at all, the whole thing will feel comfortably familiar.

This is, according to the publisher’s blurb, a début novel and that will show on occasion in the language. A few lines, such as “On our yellow brick road the tin man doesn’t want a stinking fucking heart; he wants an AK-47.” managed to pull me out of the text while my brain tried to process the image the author was trying to create. However, the prose is mostly smooth and is written in a manner that balances well with the story. I did feel the identity of the killer came a bit out of left field, but this is less a mystery book than it is a suspense novel. We aren’t building a scenario where reader and detective figure out the puzzle but are taking a walk through a fun house where each corner is laden with new surprises.

My one quibble, which did not affect the grade but that I feel is worth mentioning, is the way the book is marketed. It is labeled as a psychological thriller. Readers might pick it up expecting a Gone Girl or something as chilling as Lisa Gardener’s Right Behind You, or a novel like those Fiona Barton writes. It is none of those things. It’s a noir detective tale, with a creepy atmosphere and a look at the darker side of humanity.

Too Close to Breathe is an ideal book for fans of that genre and it will meet a good number of your expectations. I’ll add that while the author might be considered to be painting by numbers, she does so with enough sophistication and talent that the work she produces is above average. That said, it is too predictable to reach DIK territory, so I have graded it accordingly.

Buy it at: Amazon/iBooks/Nook/Kobo

Too Close to Breathe is dark, gritty, and at times, deeply disturbing. The story takes us on a chilling journey through the world of BDSM, abuse, self-harm, and the dark web. The hunt for the killer did draw me in and kept me reading to see how it would all play out, but the drawback for me was a lack of connection with Frankie. She's just returning to work and still dealing with an attack during a previous case. We do get bits of pieces of that case throughout the book, so I can understand and empathize with her, but for whatever reason, there was that lack of connection that kept me from getting fully immersed in the story. The author does have talent and I'll be interested to see her growth as the series progresses.

Actual Rating: ★★★.5

DCS Frankie Sheehan has just returned to work after a short medical/psychological leave from being attacked at a murder scene. Upon her return, she is handed a case that I'm sure her superiors expected to be an easy transition back into the field--a seemingly cut-and-dry suicide by hanging.

However, when Frankie discovers evidence that this may not have been a suicide, more murders and additional evidence begin to quickly unravel, with one of the biggest players being Prussian Blue. Prussian Blue is an artisit's paint and has strangely been found in odd placements of multiple crime scenes.

The team has to dig into the victim(s) dark secrets and habits in order to make connections and discover witnesses/suspects. There's a dark, overlying mystery--Who was the abused and the abuser? Who was the victim.. and who was the murderer?

★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★

This was a very interesting concept for a police procedural. You get little tidbits of information about Frankie's most recent case--one in which she was injured badly by the man they apprehended as the killer. Plus, you get a super intriguing new case that has multiple suspects, multiple victims, and a very strange signature to the crime scene(s).

The last 25% of this book went very quickly.. I was so into it and exciting to see how it turned out. The ending did not disappoint. It was one of those Ah-HA endings where I wasn't completely blindsided by an unexpected conclusion, but yet it wasn't what I had been suspecting either... There were definite clues along the way, in hindsight, so the conclusion didn't 'come out of left field' and I was very satisfied with the ending.

So here's a little fun game you can play during this novel that highlights something that is quite funny but also was highly annoying.
Heres How You Play:
Step One: Pick a Buddy Read Partner
Step Two: Grab your adult beverage of choice
Step Three: Everytime you read the word F*ck, throw it back.
Enjoy and Good Luck....

Wanna know how many shots you would have thrown back if you read the novel in one sitting?
One Hundred and Twenty-One shots! So you're going to need roughly four handles of your favorite beverage.
(And I know I had to have missed highlighting some of them)

And we had a nice little variety of the use of the word, such as....
"but for f*ck's sake"
"right f*cking answer"
"roads are gone to f*ck"
"you couldn't wait five f*cking lousy minutes"
"murdering f*cker"
And my personal favorite...
"and thank f*ck for that"

^^This little characteristic of this book was the only reason this did not have a much higher rating from me. To be honest, there were several times where I rolled my eyes and almost called it quits in order to move on to another novel on my TBR. I am very glad I stuck with it, but I just felt this was very nonsensical and unnecessary to the story line. Some language adds character and can demonstrate a relaxed disposition between two characters.. but at the rate that is shown in this novel.. it just almost feels silly.



Thank you to Olivia Kiernan and Dutton for providing me with a DRC of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing is as it seems in the new top-notch thriller Too Close to Breathe by debut Irish novelist Olivia Kiernan.

Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan is back to work after being stabbed in the line of duty. Frankie is placed in charge of a large team looking into the death of Professor Eleanor Costello. One small forensic finding makes Eleanor’s hanging not a suicide but a murder. There are indications that Eleanor may have been a victim of physical abuse. Eleanor’s husband has also disappeared. As the body count rises, it appears that a serial killer is at large in Dublin. I won’t say more as the fun is trying to follow the twisty plot.

Frankie’s PTSD is almost another character in Too Close to Breathe. The case against her assailant is going to trial soon. Frankie’s back story is slowly unveiled through flashbacks.

Too Close to Breathe was a thrilling read until the last 15%. I wasn’t happy with the end. It didn’t necessarily play fair with the amateur detective reader. Or maybe I’m just upset because I didn’t guess who did it. It was also rather abrupt. There were also many coincidences toward the end. However, this book still deserves 4 stars for the innovative structure of a detective with PTSD and some of the other surprising aspects of the crime not often used in thrillers. I hope this is the start of a long and productive series.

Thanks to the publisher, Dutton, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

A woman is found hanging in her home. Is it suicide or murder? Soon, there is another murder, some disappearances, and a cast of suspicious characters tied to the underworld of the Dark Web and BDSM.

Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan leads the investigation for the Bureau for Serious Crime. She has just returned from a leave of absence after being attacked while working another case. There are frequent referrals back to this case, initially giving snippets of details about the earlier incident. At first, I thought this was the second novel in a series and wished I had read the first one for better background. But, this is a debut novel and in time all was revealed.

This police procedural focuses quite a bit on Frankie’s inner thoughts and especially the impact of her recent trauma. This is a quick, compelling read, well written with a fairly tight storyline. An excellent debut; I hope it will become a series.