Title: Hidden Pieces – A Misty Pines Mystery
Author: Mary Keliikoa
ISBN: 9781685121563
Publisher: Level Best Books
Source: ARC from NetGalley
Coming 25 October 2022
Sheriff Jax Turner is staring down the barrel of his broken past. On the brink of ending it all, he feels like a failure following his daughter’s tragic passing and his subsequent divorce. But when a schoolgirl vanishes and her backpack is found in a sex offender’s backseat, the weary lawman drags himself into action and vows to nail one last sociopath.
Shocked to discover the teen’s aunt had lost her life in an abduction years prior, the devastating outcome that he’s taken personally, Jax believes the killer has returned with a vengeance. But as the desperate cop frantically hunts down a mysterious relative in search of a suspect, the girl’s time keeps ticking away…
Can the jaded sheriff take down the culprit in time to bring the young girl home alive?
Official Summary
02 September 2022
I am sure how this book ended up on my TBR, I think someone emailed me regarding this one, but I am not able to trace any communication about it. Therefore, I would like to start by apologising for not giving credit, where credit is due. I am new to this author and this is my first encounter with her work. When reaching for Hidden Pieces you can expect a slow burning mystery that will keep you curious. I found myself easing through this book savouring each moment.
This is the start of a new series set in a small town featuring a sheriff that finds himself about to give up on life. The author did a wonderful job with her characters adding a balanced mix of mystery and intrigue. I look forward to reading more about Sherriff Jax Turner and will keep an eye out for the next book.
Sheriff Jax Turner’s life has taken an unexpected turn and he finds himself contemplating ending it all. Until he receives a call about a missing teenager. Determined to bring the girl home alive, Turner puts his inner demons aside, hoping that this case will end differently. With little to go on, and everyone holding back, Sheriff Jax finds himself running in circles trying to find the hidden pieces of the puzzle that will explain what happened to the missing schoolgirl.
I loved how I lost myself in this slow burning mystery. The story had a laid back, small-town feel even while time was running out. The story did not feel rushed at any time.
Sheriff Jax Turner is a brilliant character. He lost his daughter to cancer and allowed his grief to get the better of him which led to his wife leaving him. At the start of the book, the man had no will to live and he was ready to end his life. A phone call reporting a missing schoolgirl brings him back to himself and gives him the drive he needs to pull himself together. Putting his desire to bring the girl home alive ahead of his own demons, you are given a front-row seat to see how he comes back to life. The author did a great job in creating this man and I look forward to reading more about him in the future.
This book is well worth adding to your TBR if you are looking for a relaxed, intriguing mystery read that will keep you curious. The final reveal is a little unexpected, even when you have your suspicions about who did it.
Also by Mary Keliikoa
Derailed Book 1 in the PI Kelly Pruett mystery series
PI Kelly Pruett is determined to make it on her own. And juggling clients at her late father’s detective agency, a controlling ex, and caring for a Deaf daughter was never going to be easy. So she takes it as a good sign when a letter left by her dad ties into an unsolved case of a young woman struck by a train.
Hunting down the one person who can prove the mysterious death was not just a drunken accident, Kelly discovers this witness is in no condition to talk. And the closer she gets to the truth the longer her list of sleazy suspects with murderous motives grows. Each clue exposes another layer of the victim’s steamy double life.
Can Kelly pinpoint the murderer, or is she on the fast track to disaster?
If you like intricate family dynamics, sensuous secrets, and twists and turns that’ll keep you guessing, then you’ll love Derailed, the first thrilling entry in the Kelly Pruett Mystery series and a captivating whodunit!
About The Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Mary Keliikoa is the author of the Shamus Finalist and Lefty, Agatha and Anthony award nominated PI Kelly Pruett mystery series and the upcoming Misty Pines mystery series featuring Sheriff Jax Turner slated for release in September 2022. Her short stories have appeared in Woman’s World and in the anthology Peace, Love and Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by Music of the ‘60s. A Pacific NW native, she spent a part of her life working around lawyers. Combining her love of legal and books, she creates a twisting mystery where justice prevails.
When not in Washington, you can find Mary on the beach in Hawaii where she and her husband recharge. But even under the palm trees and blazing sun, she’s plotting her next murder—novel that is.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. I am sure you will enjoy this title. If you have read it, share your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Until next time… Happy Reading!
