Unspeakable

Laura Griffin's second book in the Tracers series has an excellent serial killer storyline. I also enjoyed Griffin's interesting use of the geocaching phenomenon, but the romance was a bit iffy. I just wasn't quite sure that driven FBI agent Elaina would get involved with true crime novelist Troy given that she wasn't interested in a relationship with anyone in Texas (a place she never wanted to be stationed and planned to leave just as soon as she could) and that she generally seemed annoyed by Troy though he proved helpful at times. Fortunately, the romance is a minor storyline while the murder investigation is at the forefront. The killer's identity came as a shock; it was easy to figure out who he was married to, but his identity was quite the puzzler. It all came together very well.

All her life, Elaina McCord wanted to be a profiler in the B.A.U. unit of the FBI like her father did. She is assigned to the Brownsville, Texas Branch of the agency, but her boss SAC Scarborough makes it clear he does not respect her or want her on his team. Elaine believes that without a miracle, her probation will end with her firing. On Lito Island, Texas, two women have been killed in gruesome ways that make even veteran officers used to ugly homicide scenes need to puke. Elaina is assigned to the case because her chief figures she will quit once she sees the corpses. Her profiles are to be given to Police Chief Matt Branch. He dismisses her as a loser; saying she is out of her league. When a third female goes missing, they lack proof they are dealing with a serial killer. True crime writer Troy Slaton wrote a book re a killer who certified killing one of the victims from another series of murders that happened five years ago, but the author now believes that psychopath lied. He teams up with Elaina to find the real murderer. Elaina links the homicides from five years ago to those happening now and she receives help from the San Marcus police officer who worked the previous cold case. The killer contacts Elaina who sees a butterfly design on two of the victims and traces that to an online game. She begins to figure out who took the web game from virtual reality to reality. Laura Griffin's fantastic romantic suspense will be enjoyed by fans of Nora Roberts and Andrea Kane. Elaina is hurt by the sexist treatment of her superiors at the FBI, but she is also is not a quitter; instead she is obsessed to prove her worth and is determined to help solve the case. Her bull dog tenacity to demonstrate she is more than equal to the law men putting her down and almost out enhance a strong investigative thriller. Harriet Klausner

Elaina McCord is having a bad career day. A new FBI special agent, she had put down her top choices for a post--Baltimore, D.C. and New York--but ends up in the office called the graveyard of careers: Brownsville, TX. Not only does her supervisor dislike her for unknown reasons, but the sheriff she's sent to work with on her first assignment makes it clear he doesn't want her help. No one listens to Elaina's theory that the most recent victim was killed by a serial killer whose first murder--that of Mary Beth Cooper--took place nine years earlier. That old case has been solved; the culprit imprisoned but the bodies keep coming. As the investigation into the latest murder begins, Elaina meets Troy Stockton who published a book about the nine-year-old case, attributing the death to the now imprisoned Charles Diggins. A well know writer, Troy interviewed Diggins and obviously doesn't agree with Elaina's theory. Other than that, he's very impressed with the special agent. Troy is a wonderful character, successful, strong and sexy, who works with Elaina to investigate the most recent murders. As they work together, Elaina discovers her own strengths and recognizes she is a capable agent as she solves the case through hard work and guts. The novel ends with an exciting, suspenseful chase through the channels of the coastal waterway as Troy and Elaina speed after the murderer and his last victim. Laura Griffin has written another sizzling thriller with unforgettable characters. Nominated for a RITA for Whisper of Warning book, Ms. Griffin has another winner in this exciting tale of love, adventure and learning to trust. If you're looking for great characters, romance and a fast-moving story, you'll love Unspeakable. Reviewed by Jane Myers Perrine

What an exciting and sexy book. I loved the interplay between the two main characters from the very beginning and the main storyline was equally exciting. Unspeakable is a wonderful romantic suspense. Unspeakable is the second book in the Tracers series, with Untraceable being the first. I have not read the first one, but will go back and read it now. I believe they work well as standalone books but I think reading them together gives a little more information in the background of the forensic unit. However Ms. Griffin does a wonderful job giving some background in the book, so I was never lost, but I don't think it was too much where readers of the first book would be bored. Wonderfully paced, this book hooked me from the first page. I honestly didn't see the who the killer was while I was reading it. Everythime I thought I figured it out, something else came up that took me away from that person. It was well-thought out and while the crimes were gruesome, the detail was not enough to make the squeamish cringe. I also enjoyed the character. Elaina has some issues to work through and you get to know her little by little through the books. I loved how Ms. Griffin layered her development of Elaina and Troy. I felt like I got to know them throughout the book and I hope they make an appearance in the third book out this fall, so I can see some more of them. The romance was also paced well, there is an attraction from the beginning and some tension several times before they take it further, and that sets up the romance storyline well. It's never smooth sailing for these two and that makes it interesting. So if you enjoy your romantic suspense, then make sure to check out this series from Laura Griffin. Untraceable is on it's way to me now, I ordered it from paperbackswap about 1/4 of the way through Unspeakable and I will be in line to get the third book in the series in the fall.

Elaina knows what she wants to do with the rest of her life which is working as an FBI profiler. Who could have guessed that her first case would be so overwhelming? There's a serial killer on the loose and he just keeps getting nastier and nastier with each new murder. Elaina finds herself growing close to Troy, a true crime writer. She's not sure why she is wasting time with this gorgeous player but the more time they spend together, the more Elaina likes him. Can they work together to catch this maniac before he makes Elaina one of his unlucky victims? This is the first book of Laura's that I've read and I'm hooked! She's an amazing author! The characters and the story captivated me. Now I just need to get a hold of some more of her books.