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Terri Parlato brings back Detective Rita Meyers in the third installment of her Domestic Suspense/Police Procedural series, though you can definitely read this as a stand-alone.

Psychiatrist Eve Thayer never intended to get married or have children but a car accident led her to Nathan’s collision shop and she now finds herself trying to balance a high pressure career with marriage and a new baby.

She seems to have found the perfect babysitter in Barbara, until her daughter Rosewyn is abducted while under her care.

Then there is a break-in at the empty house being renovated which backs up to Eve and Nathan’s property.

Coincidence?

Detective Rita Myers doesn’t think so, although she hasn’t yet figured out how the two crimes in this usually quiet neighborhood are related - or whether Eve is a Suspect or the target-and WHY?

The story unfolds through the alternating POV’s of Rita, Eve and Nathan, and I enjoyed having the third POV of the husband included as I particularly felt his anguish while his daughter was missing. All three characters are well developed and bring something to the story which focuses more on the crumbling marriage than on the missing baby.

I picked up on a few clues (which I enjoy doing) but other twists caught me completely by surprise, though maybe a bit OTT��

And, I felt the chill of the New England Winter as the secrets were spilled over the many cups of hot coffee consumed during the long, cold nights that Rita and her team spent searching for clues.

I am not a reader who always enjoys reading books which are a part of a series, but this is one series that I would like to see continue, which is a compliment to the author!

This was a buddy read with DeAnn. Be sure to watch for her review to find out if this case held her interest as well!

Expected Publication Date: December 24, 2024

Thank You to Kensington Books for the gifted ARC provided by NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!