Caffeinated Reviewer

Innocence Road by Lauren Griffin is a standalone romantic suspense that takes place in Marfa, Texas. When Detective Leanne Everhart returns home after her father’s passing, a new murder scene reveals ties to previous cold cases. With a side dish of romance, you’ll want to curl up with Griffin’s newest offering.

Detective Leanne Everhart swore she’d never go back to her hometown near Marfa, Texas—but she returns when her brother needs her, only to find a town in need too, still torn apart by a decades-old crime.

Leanne Everhart knows women have something to fear in her artsy hometown, especially so if they’re not rich, white locals. Returning to town after her father’s death, she sees the ugliest sides of an area that draws people for its severe, untamed natural landscape.

While her department faces mounting backlash over a recent wrongful conviction in the long-ago murder case of a popular local teenager—which is now unsolved—Leanne is called to a fresh crime scene at the edge of the desert. A nameless woman was found murdered, with no clues as to her identity. As Leanne digs into the crime scene evidence, she grows convinced this latest murder case is linked with the local teenager’s murder. And to multiple cold cases, all unnamed female victims, that have all been shelved by her department without leads.

Now, with conflicted loyalties and without allies, Leanne must hunt down a serial killer, one who’s been preying on local women for two decades, growing bolder and more ruthless with every strike.

While the romance served as more of a side dish in this suspenseful murder-mystery case, Innocence Road pulled me in and held my attention from start to finish. I devoured this quickly and found the mystery satisfyingly good.

Detective Leanne Everhart grew up in Marfa, Texas, and returns to help her brother after the death of her father. She joins the local police department, which is facing backlash over an overturned conviction involving the murder of a popular teenage girl. Everhart is called to a murder scene where a woman is found murdered. While investigating, she sees a link between this murder and the teenager’s murder, which leads her to other cold cases; all involving young women.

I enjoy curling up with Griffin’s murder mysteries and appreciate that all work as a standalone. As we delved deeper into the investigation, the suspense and danger increased. Small-town politics, the old boys’ club and social disparities were well done and enhanced the tale. The author did a great job of connecting us with Detective Everhart and introducing side characters.

If a solid romance is a requirement for you, this murder mystery may leave you disappointed. While there is technically a romantic thread, it’s very much a side thread with not very much page time. It’s not a requirement for me, but even I noticed how little of it there was.

The case was suspenseful, and I wouldn’t mind spending more time with Detective Leanne Everhart. I am hoping this is the beginning of a new series, and perhaps the romantic thread was the beginning of a romance spanning the series. We shall see.

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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

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