Filled with suspense, this is a page turner that I couldn’t put down. I loved the characters Roman and Kate and found they were easy to engage with.
Many thanks to Compathy Press LLC and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really liked this book. The characters are fully drawn and flawed enough to be realistic. The only thing I didn’t like — and why I didn’t give 5 stars — was how childishly Kate acted towards Roman at first — the constant snapping for the smallest reason; it got on my nerves a bit. But they did work through it, so I’m hoping the next installments don’t have that pettiness. But what I really loved was the story — not only the mystery — but the back stories of Kate and Tilly. The storyline is important in highlighting the crime of human trafficking in small towns and corrupt people. The writing was excellent. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy; I truly enjoyed it.

I began reading this book expecting to not like it that much but I was wrong! I finished this book in a day. Some parts are tough and disturbing to read since the story deals with sexual exploitation (and gruesome murder) of underage, high school female students by a few powerful people in a small town of New Mexico. It is upto Kate Medina, a forensic psychologist who- after suffering a violent attack during her job working with prison inmates- has returned home and is now working as a student counsellor in the local high school and Roman Aguilar, the local senior detective and Kate's high school best friend to solve the crimes and figure out who is behind this underage sex racket which has been going on in the town for years--a task made difficult when they realise that the high profile names who are behind the crimes will go to any length to keep it all hushed up.

A fast paced thriller, this is book 1 in the series which makes sense because not everything is resolved by the end of this book but Kate, Roman and Kate's sister, who too was sexually exploited as a teenager, are ready to not back down from the fight.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Compathy Press, LLC and the author Amy Rivers for the e-Arc of the book.

Unfortunately this was a DNF. I could not get into the book or follow the characters.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for this egalley in exchange for my review

This was a tough read in many ways and probably needs a lot of content warnings. Child abuse, human trafficking, and workplace violence, for starters. Rivers handles these sensitive topics with great care, however, balancing them with deep thematic elements about going home, revisiting the past with new perspective, and moving forward after the world has shattered. Kate Medina has returned to her childhood home to heal, but working as a psychologist at her old high school in rural New Mexico re-opens old wounds, not only in Kate's personal life, but in her family and her community as well. One student is found murdered in a scene eerily reminiscent of one from Kate's own teen years, and another student goes missing. Kate is determined to get to the bottom of it, not realizing just how deep--or how close to home--the evil runs.

Rivers pulls off the amazing feat of laying everything out clearly for the reader while at the same time showcasing how Kate's personal traumas blind her to the truth and to the powerful forces that have been shaping her world for generations. Rivers also pulls the reader into the suffocating atmosphere of Kate's life as she comes to alarming realizations and is systematically stripped of all her resources. I have lived and worked in rural New Mexico myself, and as an outsider there, I could identify all too well with Kate's isolation and helplessness. I also appreciated the author's attention to detail on how public safety agencies operate in New Mexico.

I don't mean to imply that this book is unrelentingly grim. There are heartwarming moments and even some romantic elements, and all hope is not lost. This book isn't for everyone, but the hard parts are not gratuitous or prurient. At some points, they feel almost cathartic. If I don't continue with the series, it's only because Rivers has done her job too well and made me feel too much.

Although this book deals with sensitive issues like sexual assault, trafficking and rape, it is an
amazing story about a middle class woman named Kate who worked as forensic psychologist for prison inmates. After a bad experience with a prisoner, she moves back home back to her hometown where she feels safe and
she starts working as high school counselor. She is comfortable but not happy. After a student disappears, memories of her high school days start coming back to her. And she remember more than she wants to. She starts working with her ex-high school boyfriend, now a police detective named Roman, to solve this mystery.
of the student(s) who have disappeared and why and where they have gone....and eventually learns way more about her small home town than she ever wanted to know or remember.

Definitely an intriguing, well-written and absorbing story which kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the narration style, the writing and the entire plot which is engaging and reasonably fast-paced. I am definitely looking to the next book in this series!!!

I would like to start by saying, this book is one that necessitates a content warning, but if it is personally safe for the reader, it is absolutely a worthwhile read.

This is one of those books that needs a second read to really absorb it all. Rivers does a wonderful job of approaching complex and sensitive topics and the trauma they cause. Kate's journey through her own trauma while being thrust into a thrilling and traumatizing rollercoaster of a mystery pulls you in and doesn't let you go. The characters are compelling, strong, and incredibly realistic.

There are questions left unanswered, but as this is the first in a series, I do feel hopeful that we will get more answers in the future. This intense and compelling read is difficult to put down. It will certainly be getting a re-read when the next book is released.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Rivers, and Compathy Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Blow the shit out of my wigs!
This book is a fast-paced book and I can't put it down! I really really want to keep continue and don't want to stop until I know the ending!

I was pretty impressed with this story, but I can honestly say our main character started to drive me nuts with her anger issues. I will get into that later in the review.
We are introduced to Kate, who walked away from being a forensic psychologist because of something tragic we learn about what happened, I would say halfway through the storyline, and she is now a high school counselor, which is great! So when one of her students that she sees goes missing, things start to unravel, and lies that were once buried in this town come to light. With the help of her best friend, Roman, things become uncovered, but it is not easy. There will be people that will stop at nothing to harbor those secrets, and you can see just how shady this town seems to be. I really enjoyed the storyline of it all and how it came together. The only thing that really truly bothered me on it all was Kate as a character. Like she had so many issues with her. From the back and forth feelings with Roman to yelling and feeling angry because her sister was never there but then wanted to hug her in the same scene. It was just crazy. There was a part in the story that made me very curious about Kate's father. The way he acted when everything started going downhill seems sus, like what do you know, old-timer. Other than the whole character thing with Kate, it was an overall decent read that I want to read the next book to find out if anyone will be brought to justice and if Kate's idea for the home for girls will ever work.

This was... Interesting. I enjoyed the characters. The plot was if-y and could be triggering for some. I might read the next one.

I did enjoy this book even though it leaves some unanswered questions at the end (but looks like it will be part of a series so we'll find out more)! Kate returned to her hometown and must help care for her dying father. Her job as a school psychologist puts her in contact with a young girl who is quiet but eventually admits she is scared because another student has been murdered. And so the cycle of disaster begins. Kate's oldest friend, Roman is on the police force but things become dangerous when it appears there are a lot of things covered up in this small town; everyone protects each other. It's maddening as we discover the secrets many of the townspeople keep and have kept for years. Uncomfortable topics but very relevant and I look forward to reading more by Rivers

This book wasn't bad; it was just slow to me and I need something faster paced. I'm rating it 3 stars because I didn't finish it, but what I read was good; just bot my style.

I really enjoyed this book more than I expected to. The pacing was great and it gets my interest. It didn't wrap up quite as neatly as I'd hoped, but overall a good read. 3.5

Complicit is a fast-paced thriller and full of twists and turns that exposes the underbelly of human trafficking that is happening in the United States today. I literally could not put it down. The realistic characters and realization that these events could be pulled from today’s headlines is chilling.

Fast paced thriller. I very much enjoyed this book. Tons of twists and turns that kept me reading well into the night! Thanks to publisher and NetGalley!

This was an awesome read. Fast-paced but still well developed. Definitely a crime thriller. I have already recommended to friends!

I so enjoyed Complicit. A quick read that had me hooked from the very beginning. Glad to see it is part of a series and looking forward to the next books.

Kate Medina and Roman Aguilar were besties in high school, but Kate wanted nothing more than to leave her small hometown and make it big. She did. She became a forensic psychologist, working in a prison, confident and happy in her choices, until a violent attack leaves her shaken. This coincides with her mother’s death, and Kate returns to town to care for her father and work as a counselor as the local high school, keeping her distance from Roman. All has been calm for 5 years. Then a local teen goes missing and is found dead in a manner that matches a similar case from when Kate and Roman were in high school, and Kate finds herself dealing with students who are obviously afraid.

When Mandy, a girl she’s been counseling goes missing, Kate wants to help. This brings Roman back into her life–he’s the lead detective on the case. In trying to help the girl, Kate and Roman begin to uncover some really nasty stuff–trafficking of local girls, a silenced police force, and more. It begins to hit awfully close to home. When Kate’s dad is diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Kate’s sister Tilly returns home for a visit. The two aren’t close, but Kate begins to suspect that things have been going on in the town for a long time.

The further the two of them get in tracking down what has happened to the teen, the more disturbing things get. Forces move to distance Roman from the investigation, and to keep Kate from having access to her students. Can Roman and Kate keep themselves from becoming the latest victims? And will they ever actually talk about their relationship?

Complicit is a book with a message. The author is the Director for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) and has actually worked with law enforcement on similar cases. Her goal is to bring awareness and attention to the issue of human trafficking, and show how it’s happening all around us, to girls that we might have thought safe and unaffected. But at the same time, it’s an excellent story. The characters are well-developed and realistic, and though frustrating at times, they act like real people. The plot is full of twists and turns. And it’s well-written. It’s the first of a new series, and I”m already looking forward to seeing what’s next for Kate, Tilly and Roman. Highly recommended.

Quick read with a perfect title. Hooks you from the start and gives you a rollercoaster ride. Well written but does deal with some sensitive topics. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for a review

Really likes the book. I was pleasantly surprised. It does feel unfinished but I guess it’s because it’s part of a series of books. Engaging. Read it in two days.