02/14/2020
Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggert receives a cryptic phone message from her younger sister, Erin. When she can't reach Erin, Bree drives through the night to her hometown of Grey's Hollow, NY. Despite bad memories associated with the town owing to the murder-suicide of her parents several decades ago, Bree is dedicated to Erin and her two children. Upon arrival, Bree discovers that Erin has been murdered, and Erin's estranged husband, Justin, is the prime suspect. A manhunt is underway to apprehend Justin, who has fled the scene. Bree has her doubts about Justin's guilt. She teams up with Justin's best friend, Matthew Flynn, a local retired cop, and his canine companion, Brody, to investigate. The closer that Bree and Matthew get to the truth, the more danger they encounter, and more chemistry builds between them. VERDICT This romantic suspense tale thrusts readers into the action, with one heart-racing, adrenaline-filled scene after another. Leigh's ("Morgan Dane" series) vulnerable yet strong lead characters add depth to an exciting new series.—Mary Todd Chesnut, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights
01/06/2020
Leigh (Whisper of Bones) launches a promising series featuring Philadelphia detective Bree Taggert with this tense mystery, inexplicably being marketed as a romance, centered on the ubiquity of domestic and workplace violence against women. Bree returns to her hometown of Grey’s Hollow, N.Y., to take care of her niece and nephew after her sister, Erin, is murdered. Erin was found shot to death in the home of her husband, Justin, from whom she had separated. The crime brings up painful memories for Bree, whose father murdered their mother and then himself when she and Erin were children, but she is determined to solve the mystery. Bree teams up with Justin’s best friend, ex-deputy Matt Flynn, for a back-channel investigation. Each of the terrible men in Erin’s life—her ex, her boss, and a stalker, to name just a few—remain convincing potential suspects right until the thrilling climax. Though the working relationship between Bree and Matt is effortlessly amiable, their chemistry is weak and any hints at a brewing romance are minimal and unresolved. This satisfying mystery will disappoint readers hoping for a love story. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Mar.)
This romantic suspense tale thrusts readers into the action, with one heart-racing, adrenaline-filled scene after another. Leigh’s (Morgan Dane series) vulnerable yet strong lead characters add depth to an exciting new series.” —Library Journal
“Leigh, (Whisper of Bones, 2019, etc.) has a genuine talent for creating believable, appealing characters and realistic dialogue…With a clear setup for future adventures, this novel promises to become a likable series.” —Kirkus Reviews
“From the first page in this gripping mystery, we are hooked…Start with Cross Her Heart, and keep reading as Leigh produces more installments of her series. You won’t regret it.” —Bookreporter
“Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh is action-packed. The mystery is full of twists and turns that leave the reader on the edge of their seat.” —Crimespree Magazine
“A gripping thriller, Cross Her Heart is fast paced and riveting, with the complex and compelling lead homicide detective, Bree Taggert. The first in a destined to be a hit series.” —Karin Slaughter, international bestselling author
“Melinda Leigh has topped herself—and goes to the top of my must-read author list. Cross Her Heart is everything I love in a thriller, and Bree Taggert is everything I love in a heroine. READ THIS BOOK. You won’t be able to put it down.” —Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of The Third to Die
“Masterful! Melinda Leigh knows just how to blend poignant family drama with edge-of-your-seat suspense. As the heroine of this thrilling new series, Bree Taggert will capture your heart.” —Laura Griffin, New York Times bestselling author
2019-12-09
Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggert is a tough, fair, and unemotional professional, but when her younger sister is murdered, Bree must confront demons past and present.
When Bree was a child, her abusive father killed her mother and then himself. Bree's sister and brother were sent to live with one relative, Bree to another. But when Bree gets a panicked call from her sister, Erin, she rushes to their upstate New York hometown, where Erin is still living, only to find that Erin has been murdered—and Erin's husband, Justin, is missing. Complicating matters is Matt Flynn, Justin's best friend and a former cop and K-9 handler of his dog, Brody. Matt, who was forced to retire after being injured, firmly believes Justin is innocent. He, Bree, and Brody join forces to find out the truth, dealing with everything from suspicious characters to Bree's own traumatic past—a past that includes a very sound reason for her fear of dogs. And just when Bree realizes she will upend her own life to care for Erin's two children, the children's scheming biological father shows up in town. Leigh, (Whisper of Bones, 2019, etc.) has a genuine talent for creating believable, appealing characters and realistic dialogue. These characters deserve a stronger plot, though readers will probably be content enough to hang out with Bree, Matt, and Brody.
With a clear setup for future adventures, this novel promises to become a likable series.
