Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker

January 22nd, 2018 Kimberly Review 24 Comments

22nd Jan
Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker
Keep Her Safe
by K.A. Tucker
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne Flame

Making a Murderer meets Scandal in this story of police corruption, family secrets, and illicit affairs from bestselling author K.A. Tucker, celebrated for her “propulsive plot twists and searing seduction” (USA TODAY).

Noah Marshall has known a privileged and comfortable life thanks to his mother, the highly decorated chief of the Austin Police Department. But all that changes the night she reveals a skeleton that's been rattling in her closet for years, and succumbs to the guilt of destroying an innocent family's life. Reeling with grief, Noah is forced to carry the burden of this shocking secret.

Gracie Richards wasn't born in a trailer park, but after fourteen years of learning how to survive in The Hollow, it's all she knows anymore. At least here people don't care that her dad was a corrupt Austin cop, murdered in a drug deal gone wrong. Here, she and her mother are just another family struggling to survive...until a man who clearly doesn't belong shows up on her doorstep.

Despite their differences, Noah and Gracie are searching for answers to the same questions, and together, they set out to uncover the truth about the Austin Police Department's dark and messy past. But the scandal that emerges is bigger than they bargained for, and goes far higher up than they ever imagined.

Complex, gritty, sexy, and thrilling, Keep Her Safe solidifies K.A. Tucker's reputation as one of today's most talented new voices in romantic suspense.

SUSPENSE Small-town Southern mystery

I have enjoyed K.A. Tucker’s stories since she first began writing and have watched her transition from contemporary romances to romantic suspense. Each book has been more powerful than the next.  Keep Her Safe delivered a suspenseful mystery thriller with a side dish of romance that finished out my 2017 reads with a bang!

Noah Marshall, the son of Austin’s highly decorated chief of police, is grieving while trying to accept his mother’s late-night confessions. Determine to fulfill her final wishes and hoping for answers he sets out to find his childhood friend.

Gracie Richards lives with her drug-addicted mother in the Hollows, a beaten down trailer park. They left Austin years ago when her father died and was fingered as a dirty cop. Tucker takes us on a suspenseful, heartwarming and engaging journey as we investigate the past and present.

The story started off slow for me but quickly picked up as Gracie and Noah connected. The tale shares both present and past perspectives giving us insight into events that occurred some fourteen years ago. While the majority of the story is told from Noah and Gracie’s POV,  We get chapters from the past featuring Jackie, Noah’s Mom then chief of police and those of Abe, Gracie’s father as he becomes entangled in something that will forever alter Gracie’s course in life.

Police corruption, secrets, missing persons and unanswered questions soon have both Noah and Gracie facing danger and wondering who to trust. With a one-eyed dog by their side will they be able to clear Gracie’s father and what will it cost Noah?

Tucker does give us a romance, but it is served on the side as the mystery and investigation take center stage. Tucker did a great job of revealing what happened and tying it into events and characters in the present all while building up the suspense. She did so without sacrificing the characters, and I love that she fleshed them out and allowed me to know them. I enjoyed seeing Noah and Gracie’s relationship grow from unease into something more.

Keep Her Safe is a standalone story that delivered a dark, gritty and suspenseful tale. Tucker threw in twists, powerful villains, and a tenacious FBI agent that kept me on edge. While the story is entirely fictional and inspired by news stories, Tucker made it seem very plausible. The plots threads were developed and tightly woven into a fantastic tapestry that delivered a powerful, believable conclusion.

Keep Her Safe is a standalone story that delivered a dark, gritty and suspenseful tale. K.A. Tucker threw in twists, powerful villains, and a tenacious FBI agent that kept me on edge. Click To Tweet
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

24 Responses to “Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker”

  1. Adriana @ BooksOnHerMind

    I’ve read K.A. Tucker’s Ten Tiny Breaths and it was heavy with romance/lust so it’s nice to see this one focus more on something different – mystery. I do like Tucker’s writing so I wouldn’t mind giving Keep Her Safe a try especially since I want know the mom’s secrets.

  2. Debbie Haupt

    Oh wow I just saw this reviewed some place else and I just know I need it. I loved her last novel, it was my first by her. Thanks Kim

  3. Bookworm Brandee

    *sigh* I have so much Tucker to read and although that excites me because she’s an incredible storyteller, it’s kinda overwhelming. Ha! I may pick up this one since it’s standalone and seems to be a well crafted thriller. Great review, Kimberly! I’m happy you enjoyed it. 🙂

  4. Sophia Rose

    Amen, Sister! You said so much about what I feel about her progress as a writer and about this latest. This one will likely be one of my favorite reads this year. Such a great combo of suspense and characterization down to this irascible dog. 🙂

  5. Tyler H. Jolley

    Excellent review, Kimba. And is it just me, or do you kinda get Blair Witch vibes from the cover?

  6. Angela Adams

    Love these plots that find the hero and heroine working together to solve a mystery. Thanks for the post. Hope you’re feeling better.

  7. Nadene

    I have read one book for this author so far. I so badly want to read this one. Adding it to my wishlist.

  8. Lorna

    I am 59% done with this one right now. She’s one of my favorite authors as well and has been since her paranormal days. I had a slow start as well and only last night realized that this was coming out tomorrow! I need to get to reading and write a review. I’ve only had the book for about ten days though. Great review!

  9. sherry fundin

    This sounds right up my alley. I am familiar with Tucker’s name, but I don’t think I have read any of her work. Have to check my Kindle and see if I have something.

  10. Stefanie

    Good morning. I haven’t heard of this author. It’s always nice to be exposed to new ones. Thanks for the rec and I’ll check her out. Have a good Monday.

  11. Tanya @ Girl Plus Books

    So excited to see such a great review for Keep Her Safe! Tucker is one of my handful of favorite authors so every new release gets me excited. 🙂 I already like the sound of Noah and Gracie and can’t wait to dive into the mystery.

  12. Melliane

    I confess that I haven’t tried a book by this author yet but I keep hearing amazing things about her books so I confess that I’m curious!