Author: Anna Hackett
Rating: 5-Stars
Seventh Book in the great Norcross Romantic Suspense Series
This series just keeps getting better and better. I think The Detective is the best so far. Part of that is the strength of the characters in the previous books reappearing. The richness of different relationships continues to grow and makes each story better.
But the other thing about The Detective is the ability to relate to the hero, detective Hunt Morgan, and heroine, artist Savannah Cole. They have jobs and lives that are easy to identify with. I liked both characters immensely.
The Detective’s Story
Hunter Morgan is ex-elite forces, who had to leave after blowing out his knee. He has found himself in his job as a detective with the San Francisco police department. His new neighbor is Savannah Cole, an artist who works all hours and plays her music too loud, causing Hunt to stop by and tell her to lower the volume. The attraction is immediate. As is the mystery as Savannah does not seem to have a history. She is a woman in trouble and on the run.
The question is if she is good or evil. Hunt needs to know and asks his friend (and soon to be brother-in-law) if he can find out.
The Relationships
I loved the relationship between Hunt and Savannah. She was in a difficult position, previously always being alone and never able to trust or seek the help of others. She was always more concerned about protecting others, and she felt the way to protect Hunt was by leaving him. Based on her circumstances, she felt letting Hunt go was the way to protect him, and never considered that he could protect her. Her need for flight to do the right thing was an ongoing and interesting dimension of her character, limiting her ability to accept that maybe Hunt could protect her. This added sustainable tension throughout the book.
But what really made the book was the larger set of relationships between the Morgan brothers and the Norcross and Morgan families. This may be true for any series that is as mature as having released the seventh book, but I loved the relationships among Hunt and the previous male heroes, and how the female characters introduced in previous Norcross books have become family and easily accepted Savannah. Savannah was a real outsider, but she was Hunt’s woman, and that was enough for them. The level of trust each of the supporting male and female characters for the others stood out.
Extra Flavoring
Savannah’s background being so mysterious added suspense from the book’s beginning. And her having to hide her artistic talent while on the run and hiding just added more mystique. I loved she could sketch, paint, and sculpt at a master’s level. Her art and talent were major parts of the book.
I also loved the frequent references to Hunt’s bourbon and one of my favorites, Blanton Gold. Hunt knows a good dram and good value when he tastes it!
A Highly Recommended Read
This is a must-read. I loved the story, the mystery, and the relationships. And add in art and great bourbon and you have it all. The book pulled me through it quickly. My only complaint is that I read it too quickly as I could not put it down!
Also, note that all the Norcross books are available in Kindle Unlimited, so you can read them at no cost if you are a subscriber!
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If you liked this review, check out my other book reviews for highly recommended reads and keeping up with my author journey on my Blog.
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