Title: Without a Trace
Author: RJ Scott
Series: Lancaster Falls Trilogy #2
Genre: M/M Romance, Mystery
Release Date: March 12, 2020
Cover Design: Meredith Russell
When long-buried secrets are exposed, and the search for truth becomes a race to save a life, how can two men ever hope to find real love?
Losing his brother has shaped Drew to become the man he is today—heartbroken, alone, but determined to make a difference in the world. Joining the military, fighting battles in places that he’s never even heard of, is his attempt to make amends for telling his brother to go to hell. After his brother disappeared, he’d clung to the hope Casey was out there living his life. Of course, he’d be furious at Drew, and probably hate his brother, but at least in Drew’s head, Casey was safe.
One call changes everything. Casey’s body has been found, and the hope that had fueled Drew’s constant search for the truth is destroyed. Coming home to Lancaster Falls to bury his brother and face his mom’s anguish and accusations, is a nightmare made real, and he has nowhere to run from the pain.
Logan has made a home in Lancaster Falls. As a police officer, he plays by the rules, and he would never think of working off-the-grid. All that changes when an anonymous tip crosses his desk, and he is thrust headlong into solving a hundred-year mystery that could be connected with the modern day death of Casey McGuire. Fighting an attraction to Casey’s brother is hard enough, but the infuriating man is there at Logan’s every turn, interfering with the case, breaking the rules, and demanding that Casey’s story be heard.
There have been series where I was "late to the party" and started either when the series was over or nearly over so that I could just keep going from one entry to the next. There have been series that I started as it was written and the wait between entries was no big deal. Then there is Lancaster Falls. I've been on board from day one and have loved the characters, the mystery, the heat, the drama, it's an all-around great package. On one hand I wish I had waited because the waiting is excruciating but on the other hand I can't imagine not experiencing this expertly crafted journey of mayhem as it unfolds.
I'm not going to say much about the plot, the mystery, or the story in general as nothing is filler, everything is important and I don't want to give anything away. One thing I will say: there came a point where I said to myself "that's who did, I just know it, that's the dirty culprit". Then a chapter or two later I was saying "well, maybe it wasn't that one but I'm still sticking with that underhanded sneaky bugger"(yeah you got me I didn't say "bugger" but I'm trying to keep my review cleaner and more ladylike than my twisted brain😉) and by the time I reached the end "well crap! I don't know who it is. WHERE'S BOOK 3?!?!?!?!?!"
I've been watching mysteries of all sub-genres ever since I could sit in front of the television and I've been reading them ever since I was about 10 years old so there are very few mysteries that keep me guessing till the big reveal. I'm not boasting at my magnificent power of deduction, it's just after all that time I've seen/read just about every conceivable plot course of a who-done-it. Mystery might not be RJ Scott's go-to writing genre but boy does she know how to weave a tale of mayhem. I may have been screaming "WHERE'S BOOK 3?!?!?!?!?!" and "I NEED IT NOW!!!!!" but truth is, whether it takes her 3 days or 3 years to write and release it, I'll be first in line to gobble it up.
Now I haven't mentioned Drew and Logan, the main characters of Without a Trace but that's mainly because they and their journey(both solo and together) is so intricately intertwined into the plot I don't want to risk giving anything away. But I will say, as so often with Miss Scott's intriguing characters, I was equally divided between keeping them tightly wrapped in huge Mama Bear hugs and whacking them upside the head with a frying pan. It's that kind of deep emotional response that makes this story, these characters, and this trilogy such a winning gem.
RATING:
USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott writes stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, a happily ever after.
RJ Scott is the author of over one hundred romance books, writing emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.
The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.
She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the links below.
BOOKBUB / KOBO / SMASHWORDS
EMAIL: rj@rjscott.co.uk
Without a Trace #2
What Lies Beneath #1
