🏞️ "Obsession" (Natchez Trace Park Rangers #2) (2021) 🏞️ - Book Review
MY REVIEW
Publisher: Revell (February 2, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800735749
ISBN-13: 978–0800735746
⬅️ Click Picture for Order Information
“Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she's forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed.
Sam knows that he has failed Emma in the past and he doesn't intend to let her down again. Especially since her life is on the line. As the threads of the investigation cross and tangle with their own personal history, Sam and Emma have a chance to discover the truth, not only about the victim but about what went wrong in their relationship.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for sending an advanced review copy through Library Thing. A positive review was not required and all words are my own.
My introduction to the author was with the first book in this series, Standoff, which I got to review through Interviews and Reviews in April 2020. That one was exciting and thrilling.
This one? Let’s just say I had to take a deep breath after reading the book. I felt like I’d run a marathon and joked to my home I needed CPR after reading it. I didn’t of course, but it certainly felt like it.
There are a few trigger warnings: alcohol abuse, infidelity, and child abuse. The infidelity is of course prior to the story and told as a flashback. This is not a main character but a background one. One of the main characters does graphically recall being abused as a child. The second topic might be sensitive to some readers.
This is probably could act as a standalone. I say probably because, having read the first one, I do think these would be best read together as a character from the first book, Brooke Danvers, appears in this novel. Luke Fereday is mentioned, but does not appear. And, readers of that book will be happy to see the progression of Brooke and Luke’s relationship.
Having read that one – I couldn’t WAIT to get my hands on this one!
The cover of Obsession is just as haunting and ominous as Standoff, and I can’t WAIT to see what book #3 will look like.
Right off I wanted to know what Emma and Sam’s relationship was like or what it had been like. I had a slight issue with getting to know Emma. She wasn’t relatable and I did have SOME disconnect with her, still given the background, I let my feelings pass there. I understood where she was coming from, and after “meeting” her parents – it explained a lot. I definitely loved Sam. Not only was he still committed to protecting her, despite getting dumped, he was also quite involved in his nephew Jace’s life. Jenny, Jace’s mother and Sam’s sister, was another story and I really didn’t like her, even at the end she really grated on my nerves. Oh, and there was a cute little cat that stole a few scenes.
But, as any suspense book, the action takes precedence over the romance. Which is another reason I wanted and LOVED this book – the action and suspense.
Bradley had not one story going on here – she had two main stories – Emma’s stalker and a mysterious grave that no one wants disturbed. Were the two connected? Yes, which I suspected from the beginning.
The author also raised the question of Emma’s incidents being related to her work cataloging the slave gravesites and the cabins. This becomes more apparent when a lawyer (Corey) wants to stop her work, but he is also sweet on her and wants to have less formal contact – namely a “date”.
I love how that played into the plot, and readers will be shocked at the end regarding this particular element.
Other than trying to solve who shot at Emma, who is leaving her mysterious notes, as well as what was in the shallow grave – Emma is also still emotionally held back by the disappearance of her twin brother, Ryan, who has been missing for 10 years.
The reader learns that Ryan’s disappearance is a source of contention between Emma and Sam, it is also the reason Jenny doesn’t think much of Emma.
Then, there is the creepy deputy Trey Carter who is the son of the former Sheriff Carter. He and Emma dated and broke up. He was definitely on my suspect radar.
But, there was also Emma’s neighbor, Greg. Not to mention Dr. Gordon, and what about that lawyer, Corey?
Right off the author had at least four suspects, and she definitely took her turn in convincing me each one was “THE” stalker. Actually, I have to commend her – I really only saw ONE really solid suspect, and three weak potentials.
Then, there is the case of Ryan’s disappearance which the community was led to believe was because he’d killed Mary Jo Selby who was killed the same night he missing.
I definitely had a fun and exciting time trying to piece this together – was Ryan’s disappearance the reason for Emma’s stalking? Did Ryan kill Mary Jo? Was it Emma’s work?
Emma at one point blamed Sam for Ryan’s disappearance, but as the two are together, they realize no one is to blame. But, neither one is telling the entire truth.
After another “shooting” at the site, they learn a body has been removed, and only find one skeletal remain – a toe. They also find a ring with initials. And, the reading shouldn’t be too shocked on that mystery, though it is heart-wrenching.
And, let me back up a minute – chapter 21 gave me the CHILLS!!!! Chapter 24 was CREEPY!
By this point, I KNEW what was going on here. All except the WHO of it. Bradley still had me chasing myself. I’m screaming “TREY”, then going … “uh, maybe I’m wrong”. It didn’t help matters when Trey’s father HID or LOST the report on Ryan. So, it was a tug-of-war as to WHO it was.
Emma also wants to find out what happened to Ryan as it tore her family apart. She learns her mother hired a P.I. who didn’t find much. But, Emma gets the report – only what she needs is missing.
Only thing no one can solve – who is stalking Emma and why? This is more of a pressing matter after she gets yet another note. The best guess Nate (the new sheriff) and Sam have is that the stalker is in love with her, and the author makes a few references to John Hinckley Jr. and his obsession with Jodie Foster.
Bradley treats us to a quick kiss between Sam and Emma halfway through the book, but the “spark” is short lived – for the moment.
And, the author hints at the stalker in chapter 39 with the father of the man still being alive. Sheriff Carter? Right?
This becomes more of a theory as the report from the night Ryan disappeared and the night Mary Jo has Trey and Dr. Gordon omitted from it.
[FYI: I thought I was STILL on the right track!]
The shocking “reveals” in chapters 42 and 43 had me gasping! The one was shocking, the other? I had a feeling about.
Sam and Emma track down Mary Jo’s family which includes an older sister. This is someone that was shocking to both of them as they had NO clue. And, it definitely complicates the stalker’s plans as well. That much I could deal with.
One clue, from the beginning – the flowers – makes a reemergence, but as Sam and Emma close in on the answers, tragedy strikes their only two witnesses.
I’m still thinking Trey, but then another character’s past is revealed.
I’ll give it up for the author – she really wound this one around and around on the stalker mystery.
Another side story involves Sam and his estranged father. We soon learn why he has a problem with his father, despite now knowing his father is ill. This is definitely a tense moment in the novel and Bradley tackled it head-on.
Worth noting – the “attempted” reconciliation scene between Sam and his father reminded me of a recent episode of FBI: MOST WANTED between FBI Supervisory Agent Jess LaCroix (Julian McMahon) and his father Byron (Terry O’Quinn). There were several parts of dialogue from that episode that were very close to this book [“I want to apologize and ask your forgiveness”; “I’m sorry for everything I did to you”]. Though the situations were different between the two; I could definitely see the scene in this book coming to life.
That isn’t the only family drama – Emma recalls the last conversation she had with her brother and how she regrets the words she spoke to him.
After Sam’s father has a medical episode, it provides him a chance to question former Sheriff Carter who has Alzheimer’s. And, a lucid moment provides Sam with the information he needs. And, it also provides a confrontation between Jenny and Emma about Sam’s involvement the last night Ryan was seen and Mary Jo died.
There were three others that she was seen with – Trey, Gordon, and Corey.
They also investigate the “M.O.” with the flowers and find another murder.
Bradley isn’t done shocking the reader and kills off one of the suspects. I honestly DID NOT SEE THAT coming.
As it starts winding towards the end – there was another one of those “I didn’t see that coming” scenes. I was beginning to think (jokingly) that should’ve been the name of the book – “I Didn’t See That Coming”.
The reader soon learns who the stalker is and how everything is connected, but the stalker’s motive isn’t too clear though.
Bradley kept up the suspense nearly to the end which rushes right through, but doesn’t miss a beat in the climatic conclusion. But, it does help Sam and his father reconcile for a moment as his dad turns out to have some pivotal information as to where Emma might be.
Not all suspense novels pack this much of a punch at the end – this did. Emma does get closure as well as answers about the “client”.
Bradley held my attention with short chapters that definitely kept me turning the page. The “mystery” or rather stalker chapters were exciting and suspenseful. At times I really wanted to look around my apartment, especially at night. The author’s engaging and descriptive writing definitely puts the reader in the middle of the action.
From chapter one, she had me hooked on this, by chapter 12 there was no way of stopping. I did not want to put this down! That’s the one thing I disliked about this – I could barely drink my mocha due to the suspense. I was held captive by this book. While I love most all the clean suspense books I’ve read – I felt like this one held me captive and I needed a break before writing this review.
Obsession was exciting, kept me guessing on Emma’s stalker, was pulse-pounding, heart-stopping, and even creepy. It wasn’t confusing, but it is definitely puzzling and head-spinning. I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep everything straight. And, that is a good thing!
Despite being published by Revell, which is a Christian and faith themed publisher, there were only a few references to God or bible quotes. These were not essential to the story. It is a clean read with no foul language and no intimate scenes beyond kissing.
Fans of the author, genre, as well as those who’ve read Standoff, are sure to enjoy this book!
I’m definitely interested in the third book of this series and cannot wait for it. And, if I see them (and can afford them), I’ll definitely be looking into some of the author’s other suspense books.
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
Other Books in the Series:
Publisher: Revell; 4/2 edition (May 5, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800735730
ISBN-13: 978-0800735739
⬅️ Click Picture for Purchase Information
“The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. It's the perfect road for a relaxed pleasure drive. Unfortunately for park ranger Luke Fereday, lately it's being used to move drugs. Sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers.
John's daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father's murder, but things are more complicated than they first appear, and Brooke soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her. Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who's going to keep him safe when he realizes he's falling--hard--for the daughter of the man he failed to save?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patricia Bradley is the author of Standoff, as well as the Memphis Cold Case Novels and Logan Point series. Bradley won an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award in Romantic Suspense, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and a Touched by Love Award; she was a Carol Award finalist; and three of her books were included in anthologies that debuted on the USA Today bestseller list. She is cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc., and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Bradley makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.
You can follow her on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patriciabradleyauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptbradley1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PTBradley1
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