This is the second Shelby Alexander thriller I’ve read and I remain steadfastly intrigued by Craig A. Hart. So, let’s meet Shelby Alexander, a former professional boxer nearing sixty who is thirty years older than his girlfriend, Carly. Carly needs her ex-boyfriend, James Blair to stop sending her text messages after she finds out he’s married with a child. She asks Shelby to deliver her message, but soon thereafter, James, his wife and child are murdered. This is where the story gets intriguing with Smith, the killer who wields the murder weapon…a knife with expertise.
Smith has a system where he watches his victims and learns their routines before he strikes. He stays in small towns long enough to commit a murder, make it look like a burglary gone wrong, and then he moves on to stay ahead of the authorities. He kills frequently to keep the high he feels when he’s done. This time he is in the small town of Serenity in Michigan. A place where he didn’t expect to hang around after killing the Blairs. A place where he didn’t expect to fall for his “soulmate” – Carly. This presents a problem because Smith will have to get rid of Shelby and Carly too if she doesn’t fall in line with being his soulmate.
Shelby has a lot to contend with as it relates to Smith and protecting the ones he loves. Then there’s Sheriff Wilkes who desperately wants to pin the Blair murders on him. These two dislike each other and their interactions are always tense. There’s also Quinn Edwards, a true crime novelist who is new in town and doing research for a new book. However, Shelby is not sure he can trust her.
Overall,
this was a quick and intriguing read. I enjoyed the storyline, the fast pacing
of the novel, the witty and sarcastic dialogue, the well-developed characters, their
motivations, and their backstories. Hart did a great job getting into the mindset
of Smith and unfolding his backstory giving readers the explanation for his
actions and subsequent demise. I also loved seeing the softer side of Shelby
now that he will be a grandfather soon but Helen, his ex-wife may have an
ulterior motive during this time. Perfect set up for the next novel in the addictive
series. Two thumbs up!
Some of my favorite lines:
“It’s a solid effort. Look, you don’t have to
tell him you’re my boyfriend. Say you’re a friend and I want him to stop
contacting me. Tell him I’m threatening to print out the text message archives
and send them to his wife.”
“You mean business.”
“Will you do it?”
“Carly—”
“Aren’t you supposed to be some kind of fixer?
Isn’t this what you do?”
“My
efforts are generally preceded by large sums of cash.”
“I’m a little broke right now.” Carly lowered
her voice and adopted the little rasp he found so appealing.
“But if you must be mercenary, I could
probably think of some way to cover your fee.”
“Naughty girl.”
“Do me this favor and you’ll find out how naughty.”
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