Touch of Red (Tracers, #12)

by Lecturer Laura Griffin

[kimbacaffeinate]

I've only read a handful of the Tracer books, but every time I do I kick myself for not having read them all. Griffin is a terrific storyteller. She combines romance with compelling cases sprinkled with procedural detail that I devour.

Brooke Porter is a crime scene investigator who has an uncanny ability to see the scene and piece together clues. Her job requires a white lab jacket and sterile environment, but in Touch of Red the unusual crime scene and a potential eye-witness have her doing unauthorized field work. I liked Brooke, her career is one I find fascinating, and in fact was one I would have enjoyed pursuing. Brooke is smart and a bit tenacious, but she also has some hangups. They stem from a relationship turned sour that she had the good sense to end.

Homicide detective Sean Byrne has his hands full with this case. He's glad Brooke is the investigator at the scene, as he respects her abilities. It also gives him an excuse to spend a little time with the tantalizing tech. Sean has a thing for the sexy CSI but has never made a move. His attraction to her scares him a little. She is different from his usual dates. Sean was sweet, smart and protective without going all alpha. There were times Brooke reacted based on past situations, crossed the line and unnecessarily bit his head off. He was firm, patient and downright swoon-worthy.

Griffin's cases are always compelling, and this murder mystery delivered complications and twists. An unknown witness, unexpected evidence and the possibility of a cover-up kept me flipping the pages. Suspects, evidence, and clues were well placed and will keep the reader guessing. A little danger, seemingly untouchable suspects and a demanding DA added to the suspense. In the end, the story felt entirely plausible and could have been ripped from current headlines.

If you are a fan of well balanced, meaty romantic suspense, like Karen Rose's Romantic Suspense series you will appreciate the Tracer series. Griffin's stories are perfectly balanced and tightly woven delivering the perfect escape. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer