📷🏔️🚓 “Twin Murder Mix-Up” (Deputies of Anderson County #2) (2022) 📷🏔️🚓 – Book Review

 

 

MY REVIEW

 

Series: Deputies of Anderson County (Book #2)

Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (August 23, 2022)

Language: English

ISBN: 1335587241

ISBN-13: 978-1335587244

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“A case of mistaken identity … has lethal results

 

After capturing a murder on her camera, photographer Amy Baker becomes the next target—but her identical twin is killed instead. Now on the run with her sister’s newborn, Amy has only one person to turn to—Detective Keith Young, her childhood crush. But when they discover Keith is the baby’s father, can he regain Amy’s trust to keep them safe…before the killer strikes again?”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Sami A. Abrams, for providing a complimentary review copy through her Crime Scene review group. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

Abrams follows up a stellar debut with an action-packed, pulse-pounding follow-up.

 

Those who’ve read the first book have already met Detective Keith Young. If you haven’t read it – I HIGHLY recommend reading it before this one. Three characters from the previous book return – Detective Jason Cooper, Dr. Melanie Hutton, and Sheriff Dennis Monroe. And, I’m fairly certain there are others as well.

 

And, speaking of Keith – in my review for Cold Case Buried Secrets, I said I wanted a story about him – and here he is. So, obviously wanting his story since the debut book eight (8) months ago – I was definitely reading this!

 

As of note, that book isn’t listed as an official “book #1”. According to the author, there was something about a contract for either one book or the series hadn’t been “formed”. Either way – this is indeed the second book.

 

Most sophomore or second books don’t quite stack up to the first. This? Definitely stands on its own.

 

The cover isn’t quite as grisly or creepy as the first book, but this cover is ominous and drew me right in.

 

Abrams introduces Amy Baker to the series. She, and her twin Stacy, knew Keith growing up. And, obviously, there was a dalliance between Stacey and Keith which led to little Carter.

 

Moving from there …

 

Amy is heading to Valley Springs where Keith lives. She’s currently the guardian of her nephew Carter. Her twin sister, mistaken for Amy, was killed after Amy photographed a murder.

 

Despite reporting it to the Eagle Bay police department, no one in the EBPD or Anderson County has investigated it, only Detective Trent Jefferies.

 

Amy doesn’t even make it before she’s run off the road – thankfully Keith is there. Though, there is a problem – he’s been ghosting her for over a year. He has his reasons, but she is angry over it. She even tried calling him about the murder she witnessed.

 

She blames herself for getting Stacey killed. Keith assures her it isn’t her fault – which it wasn’t. Keith is reminded of the differences between the two – Amy was more sugar and Stacey was spice. Keith definitely preferred Amy.

 

There is no record of her call to EBPD or any transfer of information to Anderson County. Keith definitely wants to know what is going. He learns that Carter is Stacey’s son – no father listed.

 

Jason informs Keith about the break-in with Amy’s car. Whoever is after her is desperate and looking for something.

 

Things take a turn when Detective Jefferies is found dead in Amy’s hotel resulting in Keith taking her and Carter in. That re-opens the wound for Amy when Keith’s father connects the dots between Keith and Carter. Amy learns the truth when she looks at the papers Stacey left for her.

 

There is little time to reconcile their feelings – Amy in feeling betrayed by her sister and Keith, and Keith in wanting to tell Amy the truth. Amy is also left wondering how she fits into Carter’s life – his mom or his aunt. Keith and Amy have to figure out who is after them after learning the why – the SD card with the photos from the cliff.

 

The photos reveal who the person was – a connection to a prominent citizen of Valley Springs. What’s even more interesting – Keith and Amy stumble upon remains – remains of someone who is supposedly alive, and obviously killed. Thus, putting a mole in either the EBPD or ACSO.

 

Abrams has readers guessing up until the end (okay, with 10% to go) with no breadcrumbs or clues as to who did it or why. And, the connection? Didn’t see it coming. That was definitely a wild plot point.

 

Twin Murder Mix-Up starts off with action and doesn’t relent in this “can’t stop reading it until it’s over” book. It is intense with fires and shootings, fast-paced, and an unpredictable plot that never loses momentum. I seriously had someone else pegged for the killer.

 

At one point I was wondering why Amy didn’t back up her photos until a “reveal”. And, again – Abrams had me wondering about the sheriff. I do hope he gets a good story somewhere … and soon. I’m getting tired of pegging him as “the one”.

 

I absolutely loved the way the team came together for Keith and Amy after every incident. The “family” dynamic wasn’t saccharine sweet, but it was heartwarming. There are a few elements of humor but nothing that is out of place.

 

The only character issue I had was Amy’s incessant problem with Keith choosing Stacey over her. She ran that into the ground and irritated me over it. It was like “girl, just talk to the guy, get the truth” and, I also wanted to say “your sister is just as guilty, if not more so because she knew how you felt”. Obviously to get the happy ending, it gets resolved.

 

There is a teeny unresolved issue for me – who was using the victim’s phone to send text messages with? And, what was the result of the GPS search for the phone? Either I read it so fast and missed it, or it wasn’t there.

 

This is one book that is high up on a re-read list for me.

 

As it is part of the Love Inspired/Love Inspired Suspense line, there will be some references to faith in it. This is not a main part of the story, but the characters own traits.

 

I’m looking forward to the third book in the series.

 

Those who enjoyed the first book will definitely want to read this one. Fans of Darlene L. Turner, Lynette Eason, and Elizabeth Goddard will want to add Sami A. Abrams to that list.

 

 

 

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;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)

PREVIOUS BOOK IN THE SERIES:

 

Series: Deputies of Anderson County (Book #1)

Paperback: 224 Pages

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (December 28, 2021)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1335554785

ISBN-13: 978-1335554789

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“Recovering her missing memories

 

could be the key to solving a murder

 

Searching for her best friend’s remains could help forensic anthropologist Melanie Hutton regain her memories of when they were both kidnapped—unless the killer gets to Melanie first. For her safety, Melanie must rely on Detective Jason Cooper, who still blames her for his sister’s death. Can Jason set the past aside to solve the cold-case murder…and shield Melanie from the same fate?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Two-time Genesis award winner, Sami A. Abrams and her husband live in Northern California, but she’ll always be a Kansas girl at heart. She enjoys visiting her two grown children and spoiling their sweet fur babies. Most evenings if Sami’s not watching sports, you’ll find her engrossed in a romantic suspense novel. She thinks a crime plus a little romance is the recipe for a great story. Visit her at https://samiaabrams.com/.

 

 

 

You can find her on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samiaabrams/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samiaabrams/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/samiaabrams

 

 

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