Nashville Homicide Detective Jake Bishop and his partner are on the hunt for the killer who beat a young woman to death and dumped her body in the woods. Enter forensic technician Georgia Morgan who discovers two additional bodies at the site, bodies that had been there for half a decade.
Five years earlier, three teens had walked into the woods, but only one returned. Amber Ryder was injured that night but claims no memory of what happened to her or her friends. She has since moved away to escape those who swear she is culpable in their disappearance.
Threads of the two cases quickly tangle, and Jake and Georgia find themselves deep in a mystery that threatens to tear a community apart.
Vulnerable by Mary Burton Romantic Suspense
Published March 2016
by Pinnacle Books
This is the fourth in a four-book series about the Morgan family. Although I hadn’t read the first three, I easily followed the story and how the characters relate to each other. (I’m planning on going back to read the first three!)
I loved this story, and here’s what I enjoyed most:
— The scientific detail Burton wove into the plot, like the use of paper evidence bags because plastic allows for the build-up of heat and mold. I love looking behind the curtain of a specific field of study, and Burton is a master at digging out interesting tidbits.
— Phrasing, like, “He possessed the Boy Scout vibe that put people at ease, whereas Jake was more like a charming jackhammer.” (What a great line!)
— Well-rounded characters, like Georgia Morgan who has a side gig singing torch songs in a local bar. (Her sultry, soulful voice calls to Jake like a siren song.)
— Suspense, with an evil antagonist that kept me guessing for most of the story.
— Morgan’s big, loving family that welcomes Alpha Male Jake into the fold, albeit with the suspicion of the cops they are.
I don’t give ratings, but I’d definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy romantic suspense, police procedurals, and other crime stories.