"When Boy Scouts stumble on the skeleton of a man who has been missing for 5 years, Detective Jake Houser dives into the past to find the truth. Jake is comfortable in the past, in a time when his wife was still alive and they had a future together. But as he investigates the dead man's history, Jake discovers a disturbing link to political connected members of his own family. Soon powerful forces are destroying evidence and leveraging Jake's department against him. And at least one of these forces is playing outside the system. Are Jake's own relatives coming after him? As he closes in on the killer, Jake must decide just how far he's willing to go to achieve true justice. The wrong choice could cost him everything."

I found the book riveting and captivating from the first chapter. The author keeps the reader on the edge of figuring out what is going on and then dropping a sharp left turn. I found myself reading during commercials of football games in order to finish this exciting debut novel. Well done! ( )

Murder rarely happens in the suburbs. So when Boy Scouts discover a body in a submerged car in a local lagoon, everyone wants the case. Major Crimes Detective Jake Houser is more than qualified to handle the job, but he soon discovers there are forces working against him. Even his own cousin, Sheriff Bev Warren, seems to be making things difficult for him.

Jake is eager to find the killer and make him pay, but every time he gets close to finding a clue, something gets in his way. With time running out, Jake is determined to uncover the truth, no matter what the cost. Before he can solve the case, he must consider how far he will go to see justice served. Ride along with Detective Houser in this page-turner as he races to solve the crime before someone else gets hurt.

The Bottom Line: This debut novel is dark with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the very end. With vivid writing, relatable characters, and lots of action, Bo Thunboe is definitely an author to watch.

Very highly recommended for fans of mysteries and police procedurals, especially those with a Chicago connection. If you’ve been looking for a new series to read, check out the Jake Houser Mystery Series. You won’t be disappointed. I’m looking forward to reading the next book myself.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. ( )