From Woman Writers, Women’s Books
For more than twenty-five years, Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggert has tucked away the nightmarish childhood memories of her parents’ murder-suicide…Until her younger sister, Erin, is killed in a crime that echoes that tragic night: innocent witnesses and a stormy marriage that ended in gunfire. There’s just one chilling difference. Erin’s husband, Justin, has vanished.
Bree knows how explosive the line between love and hate can be, yet the evidence against her troubled brother-in-law isn’t adding up. Teaming up with Justin’s old friend, former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn, Bree vows to uncover the secrets of her sister’s life and death, as she promised Erin’s children. But as her investigation unfolds, the danger hits close to home. Once again, Bree’s family is caught in a death grip. And this time, it could be fatal for her.
. . . .
Let’s introduce you to readers – who are you and what do you do for a living?
My name is Bree Taggert, and I’m a homicide detective with the Philadelphia PD. But I was born in upstate New York and spent my early childhood in Grey’s Hollow.
How did you fall into that line of work?
I’ve wanted to work in law enforcement since I was a child. The county sheriff rescued me and my siblings from under our porch the night my father killed my mother and then shot himself. To me, cops have always been heroes.
Where did you live before moving back to Grey’s Hollow?
I live and work in Philadelphia, where I was raised by a cousin since the age of eight, while my siblings lived in Grey’s Hollow with our grandparents. Growing up, I missed my brother and sister and wished we hadn’t been separated. My little brother and I have grown apart over the years. Now that I’m back in town, I’m determined to develop a closer relationship with him.
What brought you back to town?
My younger sister, Erin, called me for help. I headed north as soon as I could. But by the time I arrived in upstate New York, I learned she’d been shot to death. To make matters worse, my brother-in-law is missing and wanted for questioning in connection with the crime. I hate to think Erin was killed in exactly the same way as our mother. I feel guilty for not being here when Erin needed me. I must find out what happened.
Do you think history has repeated itself? Did Erin’s husband kill her?
I’m not sure. I hope not, but I know the statistics. Most female murder victims are killed by their significant others, a fact I witnessed long before becoming a cop. But his best friend, former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn, says he’s innocent. Matt wants to investigate the shooting together. I agreed. I need someone to watch my back. Plus, he’s going to look into the murder anyway. I want to keep an eye on Matt and his investigation.
Link to the rest at Woman Writers, Women’s Books
Here’s a link to Melinda Leigh’s books.