Series:
Colby Agency: The Next Generation (Book 2)
Murder brings the FBI to her door.
Past secrets could get two old friends killed.
When Allie Foster becomes the prime suspect in a murder, the small-town loner reaches out to the one person she can trust. Convinced Allie's innocent, Colby Agency investigating attorney Steve Durham uncovers a shocking connection to a decades-old cold case in her past. The twisting path to the truth unleashes an attraction that plunges the high school friends into deeper danger. Now Steve and Allie must outmaneuver an elusive killer in a case where nothing and no one is what they seem…
Allie lost her parents in a car accident when she was four years old and was raised by her grandparents. They passed several years ago, leaving Allie alone in the world. She works from home and rarely leaves, which makes the FBI's visit even more unexpected. They have a video showing her outside the hospital room of a murdered man, a hospital she hasn't been in for five years. Allie realizes she'll need help clearing her name and reaches out to a high school friend.
Steve works as an attorney for the Colby Agency. He remembers Allie fondly as the tutor who got him through precal. He immediately offers to drive the hour to her home and hear what the issue is. I liked how he gave her his undivided attention and listened thoughtfully to her concerns. It was fortunate he was still there when the FBI agents returned.
The suspense of the story was very good. The victim was her father's coworker, and their investigation began by looking at her parents' lives before they died. The deeper they dig, the more questions they have. As they close in on some answers, someone is determined to keep their secrets buried. The twists and turns kept me hooked, while the escalating danger ramped up the intensity. The final confrontation, precipitated by a stupid decision by Allie, was a nail-biter. I had begun to suspect the identity of the perpetrator, but there was a creepy twist that I did not see coming.
The development of Allie and Steve's relationship was pretty laid back. They had good memories of each other, and being thrown together as they were gave them a chance to get to know each other as adults. The sparks of attraction were evident, but they put them on hold during the investigation. I liked the realistic ending instead of the more common "insta-love."
