Deep Tide by Laura Griffin is her latest standalone romantic suspense novel in the Texas Murder Files. Coffee shop owner and caterer, Leyla Breda and Undercover, FBI Agent Sean Moran’s paths cross when her barista is found murdered. Suspense & romance await you in this coastal tourist town.
by Laura Griffin
Series: Texas Murder Files #4
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
An undercover FBI agent and an independent coffee shop owner must team up when a local barista is found dead and danger circles their coastal Texas town
With two brothers on the police force, Leyla Breda is well aware of the rising crime in her small beach town, but she never expected it to show up on her doorstep. When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she’s deeply shaken, and as a new law enforcement officer in town begins to circle her place of business, her instincts only sharpen.
Sean Moran is on an undercover mission: The seaside community of Lost Beach may look like a picturesque postcard, but his team suspects it’s a point of intersection for several crime syndicates that the FBI has been investigating for years. Even so, when the brash and beautiful Leyla Breda starts bossing him around, he's immediately intrigued. He knows her brothers want him to back off, but every time he sees her, he feels more of a spark.
Leyla’s connections in the local community and Sean’s skills allow them to go deeper into the case together than they would be able to go alone. But when a single crime spirals into something much darker, Sean’s carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn.
All the novels in the Texas Murder Files can be read as standalone and feature a suspenseful case and romance. Here, we meet Leyla Brenda. Her brothers are police officers in their coastal tourist town and one is getting married. She first meets Sean Moran at her brother’s wedding.
After having watched her brother tie the knot and take off for their honeymoon, she enters her coffee shop to discover it in a state of disarray. It appears the barista who shut down didn’t clean up. As she takes the trash out to the dumpsters in the alley, she makes a grizzly discovery.
Undercover Agent Sean Moran may have attended the wedding, but he is here on an undercover assignment. He thinks the recent murder might be related. The suspenseful mystery thread was interesting and involved Lost Beach PD and the FBI. Sean can’t disclose what he is working on, not even with the local cop in charge, because his suspect has deep pockets.
Leyla gets involved mostly because of an opportunity, and it soon places her in danger. The romance is served on the side and despite their initial chemistry; it had a slow burn vibe.
While this wasn’t my favorite in the series, mostly because the pacing felt off, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next one. Griffin writes stories I love to slip into with just enough intrigue and mystery to engage me.
Fans of romantic suspense, crime fiction and well-written characters should check out this series and Griffin’s other series as well.
About Laura Griffin
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laura Griffin started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of writing romantic suspense. Her books have won numerous awards, including a RITA Award (Whisper of Warning) and a Daphne du Maurier Award (Untraceable). Laura currently lives in Austin where she is working on her next book.
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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. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Rolé @ Hooked By That Book
I liked this one too, also looking forward to more.
Kimberly
Glad to hear you enjoyed it as well.
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
I rated it the same, Kimberly. Love this author and the series has been fun, but it wasn’t my favorite in the series. Still, it was entertaining. A solid read.
Kimberly
Agreed my friend!
Katherine
I’ve had mixed results with Laura Griffin’s books. When I enjoy them I end up really loving them but otherwise I find myself slogging through them. I might pass on this one.
Kimberly
I was entertained and at no point wanted to set it aside.
Sophia Rose
As usual, I am intrigued by her books when I see your review for one, but I still need to try my first Laura Griffin romantic suspense.
Kimberly
Oh wow…yeah you do.
DEBBIE HAUPT
I love this author and the series too
my review posts tomorrow
Kimberly
Yay, I look forward to it.
Anne - Books of My Heart
I have had some trouble with this series and thought I would do better if I had read them all and in order. I’ve only read the first one and this one.
Kimberly
Glad you are reading them.
Nadene
The story sounds solid despite the issues you had with the pacing.
Kimberly
Yeah, they cannot all be five stars. It was entertaining.
Lover of Romance
I have been very curious about these books. Sounds like this one was a bit lackluster in certain aspects for you though. Do the books in this series more romantic suspense or romantic thriller? I just need the romance and if its not strong I like to go in prepped for it haha
Kimberly
They lean heavier on the suspense with a side of romance.