56. Dangerous Passage - Lisa Harris

Supposedly Book #1 in a series called Southern Crimes

2013 Revell Publishing

311 pgs.

Romantic Christian Murder Mystery (HA!)

Finished 9/9/1014

Goodreads rating: 4.01

My rating:    1/Yuck

Acquired TPPL

Setting: Contemporary Atlanta (although I got no particular feel for the city)

1st sentence/s:"After another grueling weekend wrapping up another homicide, Detective Avery North was not about to let anything get in the way of her one nonnegotiable indulgence on her first day off in two weeks."

My comments:  My favorite genre is murder mystery, but this only falls softly into that genre.  This is much more a romantic novel.  There is no information about the nitty-gritty of the investigation, anything vital, the little details that I particularly enjoy, were not even mentioned.  The protagonist, a female detective, was an unbelievable character for me.  She spent most of her time on the job fretting about whether or not she was ready for a relationship, worrying about her teenage daughter, or sending little prayers upward. The mystery itself wasn't even particularly believable to me.  The question of motive was never fully examined and I was left with a huge question mark over my head.  I applaud the author for trying to bring to the forefront human trafficking, but this book just didn't do it for me. It might for others, though.

Goodreads book summary:  When two Jane Does are killed on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, detective and behavioral specialist Avery North discovers they share something in common--a tattoo of a magnolia on their shoulders. Suspecting a serial killer, Avery joins forces with medical examiner Jackson Bryant to solve the crimes and prevent another murder. But it doesn't take long for them to realize that there is much more to the case than meets the eye. As they venture deep into a sinister world of human trafficking, Avery and Jackson are taken to the very edge of their abilities--and their hearts. 
"Dangerous Passage "exposes a fully-realized and frightening world where every layer peeled back reveals more challenges ahead. Romantic suspense fans will be hooked from the start by Lisa Harris's first installment of the new Southern Crimes series