Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific book. The suspense started quickly with discovering Sam Russell's body in an irrigation ditch. Deputy Chris Delray is in charge of water rights enforcement, including the ditches, and is called in on the case. As he checks out the crime scene, Sam's daughter Willow arrives, looking for her dad. Her shock at his death is evident, as is her determination to bring whoever is responsible to justice.
Though initially considered a possible suspect, it soon becomes apparent to Chris that Willow is innocent. I loved seeing them team up to find the killer. Though Sam was well-liked and respected, he did have a few contentious run-ins with people. The question is, did any of those encounters lead to murder? Then there was the question of who would benefit from Sam's death? As far as Willow knows, she is Sam's only heir, and she didn't kill him. She gets an unpleasant surprise when Sam's ex-wife and her son show up, claiming to have a newer will leaving Emmett half the ranch. Complicating things even more, Trey Allerton claims that with Sam's death, the land he's leasing drops to a fee of one dollar per year. Finishing off the list is ranch hand Von King, a surly ex-con who gives Willow the creeps. These people have the means and motivation to kill Sam, and it's up to Chris and Willow to figure it out.
The developing relationship between Willow and Chris blended well with the story's suspense. The more time they spent together searching for clues, the closer they grew. I liked how Chris appreciated Willow's intelligence and strength as she dealt with the complications caused by Sam's death. Willow prides herself on that independence and also appreciates Chris's protectiveness as strange things happen on the ranch. They also didn't shy away from their growing attraction, which only emphasized their deepening feelings for each other.
The intensity increased as Chris and Willow closed in on the killer's identity. I was glued to the pages during the final confrontation as they faced the killer. I ached for Willow as she learned why her father lost his life. It looked like the killer had the upper hand for a while, and I wasn't sure how they'd get out of it. I loved how it worked out.
The epilogue was terrific as all of the loose ends got tied up. I liked Willow's decision about the ranch and how it made her feel. I could feel Chris's worry as he wondered about her plans and what it would mean for them. I loved how she answered his question, and his reaction was fantastic. I look forward to seeing more of them in later books.
I always enjoy seeing characters from previous books show up as secondaries. It's an easy way to catch up on what's happening with them after being invested in their stories. There is some mention of the ongoing story arc of Trey Allerton, Courtney Baker, and the youth ranch Trey is supposedly building. He's still too slick to be trusted, and his hold on Courtney is disturbing. I look forward to seeing how that storyline works out.
Though initially considered a possible suspect, it soon becomes apparent to Chris that Willow is innocent. I loved seeing them team up to find the killer. Though Sam was well-liked and respected, he did have a few contentious run-ins with people. The question is, did any of those encounters lead to murder? Then there was the question of who would benefit from Sam's death? As far as Willow knows, she is Sam's only heir, and she didn't kill him. She gets an unpleasant surprise when Sam's ex-wife and her son show up, claiming to have a newer will leaving Emmett half the ranch. Complicating things even more, Trey Allerton claims that with Sam's death, the land he's leasing drops to a fee of one dollar per year. Finishing off the list is ranch hand Von King, a surly ex-con who gives Willow the creeps. These people have the means and motivation to kill Sam, and it's up to Chris and Willow to figure it out.
The developing relationship between Willow and Chris blended well with the story's suspense. The more time they spent together searching for clues, the closer they grew. I liked how Chris appreciated Willow's intelligence and strength as she dealt with the complications caused by Sam's death. Willow prides herself on that independence and also appreciates Chris's protectiveness as strange things happen on the ranch. They also didn't shy away from their growing attraction, which only emphasized their deepening feelings for each other.
The intensity increased as Chris and Willow closed in on the killer's identity. I was glued to the pages during the final confrontation as they faced the killer. I ached for Willow as she learned why her father lost his life. It looked like the killer had the upper hand for a while, and I wasn't sure how they'd get out of it. I loved how it worked out.
The epilogue was terrific as all of the loose ends got tied up. I liked Willow's decision about the ranch and how it made her feel. I could feel Chris's worry as he wondered about her plans and what it would mean for them. I loved how she answered his question, and his reaction was fantastic. I look forward to seeing more of them in later books.
I always enjoy seeing characters from previous books show up as secondaries. It's an easy way to catch up on what's happening with them after being invested in their stories. There is some mention of the ongoing story arc of Trey Allerton, Courtney Baker, and the youth ranch Trey is supposedly building. He's still too slick to be trusted, and his hold on Courtney is disturbing. I look forward to seeing how that storyline works out.
