Suspense

HARBOR ISLAND is the fourth book in the Sharpe & Donovan series and manages to tie up quite a few loose ends from earlier books in this series. Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan are the main characters but a number of other characters have substantial roles in this story too.

Emma and Colin's boss Yank and his wife Lucy are in Ireland. Yank is investigating the thefts and Lucy almost becomes a victim.

Major roles also go to Father Fin Bracken and Aiofe O'Byrne. Fin has recently become a priest after tragically losing his wife and young daughters in a sailing accident. After their deaths and before he found his vocation, he was dealing with his grief by drinking too much. During that time he also had a brief relationship with Aiofe who was the niece of the man who was the first victim of the elusive thief that Emma's grandfather has been tracking for over ten years. Aoife is a well-known artist and she is still carrying a torch for Fin.

While the story is a great mystery, I was equally intrigued by the relationships in the story. Yank and his wife have been married for years but have somehow stopped communicating. This story gives them a chance to reconcile and decide what is important in each of their lives. Colin and Emma's relationship is new. He just asked her to marry him at the end of the last book and they haven't told their families yet. Since Colin is a deep cover agent for the FBI, their relationship has a number of hurdles that have to be worked out. Then there is Fin's relationship with his lost family and coming to terms with his loss and settling into his new vocation.

Along the way the characters are involved in a murder investigation when Rachel Bristol is murdered after calling Emma to meet with her. Rachel had been busy investigating the same case that has preoccupied Emma and her family. Her goal is to create a film inspired by those events. Also involved in film making are her ex-husband Travis and Travis's daughter Maisie who is the most successful of the three. Fears are that that thief is now escalating to murder.

Mystery fans who like long story arcs will enjoy this series. The characters are well-drawn and interesting people and we learn a lot about them through the course of these four novels. I enjoyed getting to know Emma, Colin and their friends and colleagues and can't wait to read more about them. ( )

I liked Emma. She was quick to think and react on her feet. She did not lose her cool. The relationship with her and her fiance, Colin was good. I could tell that they did love each other. I probably would have felt stronger about it had I been following this series since the beginning and getting to know Emma and Colin better to see their relationship grow. Although, I was still able to jump right into this book with no problems. My problem was that the plotline was kind of predictable. Also, it was nice and steady. Which is not always a bad thing to have predictable and steady but I was just looking for a little more action and a few twists. However I did like this book enough that I will be reading more books again by this author. This is another author where I had lost my way with and had taken a break. Looks like it is time to get back in the reading game with Carla Neggers. ( )

This is the second book I have read in this series, Sharpe and Donovan, the first being Declan's Cross. Even though this was only the second that I read, It was easy to follow. Emma Sharpe is an FBI agent who is investigating a most prolific art thief when she gets a phone call from a woman wanting to meet her on a Boston island. When she gets there she finds the woman dead and may become a likely victim herself. Colin Donovan who is Emma's love interest, will do whatever it takes to protect her and help her find out who the killer is. Is Emma next or anyone else of family and friends? They need to work fast to outwit and capture this person. With scenarios in England, Ireland, Boston and Maine, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat. Great characterization and writing. I am never disappointed in Carla Neggers work! I am never disappointed in Ms.Neggers novels.
If you love a good mystery and true to life characters, than you will love this series!

I received a copy of this book as part of a tour and was not monetarily compensated for my review. ( )

4 STARS

I like the Sharpe & Dovovan series of books. This has a lot of the same characters and a few more new ones. It has a lot of different strings that they pull together to solve the different crimes. Lots of mystery, little action, lots of relationships and some love scenes.

The setting of this book takes place all over from Ireland, England, Boston and Maine. From country to big cities.

Colin Donovan a FBI Agent often goes deep undercover.

Emma Sharpe has a varied career from Nun to working in family art recovery firm to FBI Agent.

Emma and Colin are now working together and love each other they don't know what the future will bring. Emma gets a phone call to meet on a small island in Boston Harbor. She finds a connection to the art thief they are chasing and her contact murdered.

Emma's Grandfather has been chasing this art thief for over 10 years. He now lives in Ireland and has a branch of his company out of Maine where Emma's brother is working.

Sometimes it is hard to go from one string of the plot to another. It ties everything in by the end of the story. This is one series that would be best to read in order. You can read them alone but better together. So far I have read them all but Rockport #.05. I do want to go read it sometime though.

I like how Carla Neggers tells stories. I plan to read more from her in the future.

I was given this ebook to read and in return agreed to give honest review of it. Received it through Net Galley. ( )