Cavanaugh Stakeout by Marie Ferrarella is the forty first book in the Cavanaugh Justice Series. Finn is another member of the Aurora PD with the rest of his family. He is after the car jacking that injured his uncle when he runs into a missing person's case. Nik is an insurance investigator who took a leave of absence to search for a friend's missing daughter. The two of the together their is no way they won't figure this out.

When a civilian disappears, Detective Finn Cavanaugh catches the case. His partner-in-catching-crime? Brainy and beautiful insurance investigator Nik Kowalski, whose method of pursuing people clashes with Finn’s own—and whose charms prove all too alluring. As their missing-person case heats up, Nik and Finn race to find the killer haunting their waking nightmares.
This was a pretty good book. The story was a well paced suspenseful read. I liked both characters.I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

The Cavanaugh clan is a large family living in Aurora, California, most of whom are involved in law enforcement. Seamus Cavanagh, is the 81-year old patriarch, retired robbery detective and head of a security firm, where many of his younger relatives are employed. While checking out one of the buildings his security firm protects, his is attacked, his car is carjacked and he is left for dead in the parking lot. Fortunately he is found shortly there after, by some of his relatives/employees. His car is found later with blood in the trunk and wiped down except for a fingerprint on the rearview mirror.

Seamus's grand nephew, Findley (Finn) is in the robbery division and is quickly on the case. Into the the squad room walks lovely Nikola Kowalski, insurance investigator, on "vacation" looking for the daughter of a friend. The fingerprints found on the rearview mirror belong to her, Marilyn Palmer. Nik would like to join forces with Finn to find Marilyn, but their personalities clash and Finn brushes her off- until he finds that he needs her. While working together, Finn finds that her style of "catching more flies with honey..." works in their favor- until the case becomes a search for a serial killer. They start working as a team, while the body count grows. Will they catch the murder and find Marilyn before she becomes the next victim?

Great character development, easy banter and an action packed page turning story, made this a terrific read, but because the books in the series are on the short side, I found some things lacking. There was no follow through with clues like a note in the hand of one of the victims with Marilyn fingerprint on it and why was the senator's daughter never reported missing? And this reader would like to know more of Nik's background and family. I image we will be seeing more of Finn's brother, Cullen in a future book.

I have read every single “Cavanaugh” series and this one was just okay for me. I don’t know what was missing. Perhaps I didn’t feel the chemistry or big love with these characters as I did with some of the earlier ones. It seems as if each Cavanaugh story now becomes less and less interesting for me. So if you are not jaded as me, perhaps you will like it. As it is, I felt like I read this story a thousand times already….

Another great Cavanaugh romance with all Ms. Ferrarealla's trademark humor, emotion and, of course, meddling from the elder generation. I love these books for a quick, fun read or as one author puts it, an enjoyable ride.

Nik is an investigator looking for a friends daughter who seems to have gone missing and it seems that Detective Finn Cavanaughs case might have some connection. Nik charms her way into the case as they both clash with opposing personality and the case. Both are on a mission to find out who is behind the missing girl and mounting dead bodies that are appearing more often.

I love a good mystery and enjoyed seeing the two who are so different banter. They just were such different people and it was interesting seeing how differently they were working the case. Finn was a tough, no nonsense guy, meanwhile Nik was charming and sweet to those around and it was interesting how they both communicated those who were related to the case and the different reactions they got to those around. I loved watching the mystery unfold, I loved the romance between the two and overall how this book came out. I just couldn't put it down.

Readers are going to fall in love with Nik Kowalski and her sassy attitude that will keep readers smiling as Finn is grinding his teeth. The romance happens naturally and flows well with the story. Marie Ferrarella is able to blend romance, humor, action, mystery giving readers the whole package they are looking for in a Harlequin Suspense Romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Marie Ferrarella Cavanaugh Stakeout.

Cavanaugh Stakeout
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
by Marie Ferrarella

Paperback, 288 pages
Expected publication: November 5th 2019 by Harlequin Romantic Suspense




Goodreads synopsis:
They watch the streets, scouring faces…

…To catch a killer in the shadows

When a civilian disappears, Detective Finn Cavanaugh catches the case. His partner-in-catching-crime? Brainy and beautiful insurance investigator Nik Kowalski, whose method of pursuing people clashes with Finn’s own—and whose charms prove all too alluring. As their missing-person case heats up, Nik and Finn race to find the killer haunting their waking nightmares.

***

4 Stars

This is a title in the Harlequin Romantic Suspense line from Marie Ferrarella.

The prologue starts with great uncle of Finn Cavanaugh then transitions into current day. We begin from the POV of Finn which to me is just unusual enough to set this apart. You get the impression that the Cavanaugh’s are the important thing in this book. They are a family of police officers who had been separated when the great uncle and Finn’s grandfather parted ways years ago. Now they are all back together again as a big family.

Nik Kowalski, don’t call me Nicky or Kowalski, comes in looking for the daughter of a woman who asked her for help. During her investigation she stumbles across Finn and his case. The two of them work together to solve Finn’s police case. Nik has taken a leave of absence from her job as an insurance investigator to find her missing person and her case and Finn’s are soon discovered to be very closely related.

What a great book! I enjoyed the interplay between Finn and Nik. I was surprised that Finn allowed Nik to go with him to so many places in an investigation but this is a book and what might happen in reality doesn’t always happen between the pages. I found this to have an almost cozy mystery feel since Nik was not a police officer and she was working with the police to find a serial killer who had ties to her own case.

I have loved Maria Ferrarella’s work over the years and she only seems to get better with time. If you love romantic suspense, definitely check out this book in the Harlequin Romantic Suspense line. It is one of my guilty pleasure reads for the month!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I could not finish this book. I tried to get past the terrible writing, but I just couldn't handle it. This was a DNF.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed reading this , and I recommend it to everyone.