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Tracers #3
Unforgivable
TRACING KILLERS IS MIA VOSS’S BUSINESS. AND HER WORK JUST GOT PERSONAL.
At first, Mia Voss thinks it’s just bad luck when her already lousy day ends with a carjacking, but what seems like a random incident is followed by another sinister episode. A DNA expert, Mia has made it her mission to put away vicious criminals. Suddenly, she’s become the target of one. And the only way to protect the people she loves most is to deliberately destroy her reputation and risk letting a killer walk free.
Once, Mia trusted Detective Ric Santos, but that was before Ric let his turbulent past ruin his chances with Mia, the sexiest, most intriguing woman he’s ever met. But he can tell when she’s lying—and when she’s scared. The key to catching a sadistic madman lies within a long-buried cold case that has haunted Mia for years. Only she can uncover the truth, but first, Ric will have to get her to entrust him with her secrets . . . and her life.
At first, Mia Voss thinks it’s just bad luck when her already lousy day ends with a carjacking, but what seems like a random incident is followed by another sinister episode. A DNA expert, Mia has made it her mission to put away vicious criminals. Suddenly, she’s become the target of one. And the only way to protect the people she loves most is to deliberately destroy her reputation and risk letting a killer walk free.
Once, Mia trusted Detective Ric Santos, but that was before Ric let his turbulent past ruin his chances with Mia, the sexiest, most intriguing woman he’s ever met. But he can tell when she’s lying—and when she’s scared. The key to catching a sadistic madman lies within a long-buried cold case that has haunted Mia for years. Only she can uncover the truth, but first, Ric will have to get her to entrust him with her secrets . . . and her life.
387 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 30, 2010
431 people are currently reading
1905 people want to read
About the author
Laura Griffin
56 books3,844 followersLaura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Laura got her start in journalism before venturing into the world of suspense fiction. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel.
Series:
* Texas Murder Files
* Tracers
* Wolfe Security
* Alpha Crew
* Moreno and Hart Mysteries
* Glass Sisters
* The Borderline
Series:
* Texas Murder Files
* Tracers
* Wolfe Security
* Alpha Crew
* Moreno and Hart Mysteries
* Glass Sisters
* The Borderline
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
March 29, 2017
I have been looking forward to the smart DNA Tracer at the Adelphi Centre, Mia Voss's book since she first made her appearance in Untraceable, the 1st book in Laura Griffin's Tracers Series.
This is her and Detective Ric Santos', who we met in the 2nd book, Unspeakable, story.
I had high expectations but unfortunately they were not quite met. There were a few issues that left me feeling very disappointed.
Mia becomes a totally different character to what she has been previously portrayed. She's like this insecure person who does the most stupid things possible - the most stupid??? How she lets herself be manipulated by everyone around her...never mind manipulation...but hey, to allow Ric to treat her the way he does.....and how she deals with being blackmailed by the bad guy who supposedly has kidnapped her nephew..........Ric........I just couldn't get this guy!!! He blows hot and cold towards Mia. One minute he ignores her than he wants her. He feels nothing...then he worries about her safety..........come on................he acts beyond an idiot...Most of the time - my feelings were that Ric was not really into her...in fact I would have liked her to have been coupled with someone more interesting...........actually, I wanted to tell her on numerous occasions............Chemistry!! What chemistry???????
Then there's the plot..............talk about absurd!!! The reason for Mia being in danger.........really!!!! Didn't feel real.....and the bad guys!!!! No, totally not exciting at all.
I was so sorry that I couldn't engage with Mia in this book............to be honest, I liked some of the secondary characters more..........especially Mia's work colleague at the Delphi Centre, Sophie. Now that character's story I am so looking forward to.
So, let me end this by saying...........it's not a horrible book........just an okay one.
This is her and Detective Ric Santos', who we met in the 2nd book, Unspeakable, story.
I had high expectations but unfortunately they were not quite met. There were a few issues that left me feeling very disappointed.
Mia becomes a totally different character to what she has been previously portrayed. She's like this insecure person who does the most stupid things possible - the most stupid??? How she lets herself be manipulated by everyone around her...never mind manipulation...but hey, to allow Ric to treat her the way he does.....and how she deals with being blackmailed by the bad guy who supposedly has kidnapped her nephew..........Ric........I just couldn't get this guy!!! He blows hot and cold towards Mia. One minute he ignores her than he wants her. He feels nothing...then he worries about her safety..........come on................he acts beyond an idiot...Most of the time - my feelings were that Ric was not really into her...in fact I would have liked her to have been coupled with someone more interesting...........actually, I wanted to tell her on numerous occasions............Chemistry!! What chemistry???????
Then there's the plot..............talk about absurd!!! The reason for Mia being in danger.........really!!!! Didn't feel real.....and the bad guys!!!! No, totally not exciting at all.
I was so sorry that I couldn't engage with Mia in this book............to be honest, I liked some of the secondary characters more..........especially Mia's work colleague at the Delphi Centre, Sophie. Now that character's story I am so looking forward to.
So, let me end this by saying...........it's not a horrible book........just an okay one.
June 22, 2017
Delphi Center's DNA expert Mia Voss was having a bad day and it got even worse when she was carjacked that night. Before it was over, she literally had to run for her life and someone ended up dead. After two more harrowing events, it became clear to law enforcement that she was a target. Homicide detective Ric Santos is assigned to the case, to Mia's distress as they have a history and it didn't end well.
This story had so many twists, turns and curiosities it was almost impossible to keep track of the clues. While the mystery was a puzzler, I enjoyed the parts that focused on the forensic analyses. It's the first time in the series to date that I felt it really was about the tracers at the Delphi Center and how they do what they do. And, it involved several of the units so it got really interesting.
Mia had at least one TSTL moment and it was massive. Despite that lapse, I liked her and respected how she handled the complicated and taciturn Ric Santos. Their relationship had so many ups and downs, starts and stops but of course they eventually found their way...for now.
I enjoyed the story, even though the ending left some loose ends dangling. Seems to be typical of the series but it's improving in that respect. Now I'm getting hooked.
This story had so many twists, turns and curiosities it was almost impossible to keep track of the clues. While the mystery was a puzzler, I enjoyed the parts that focused on the forensic analyses. It's the first time in the series to date that I felt it really was about the tracers at the Delphi Center and how they do what they do. And, it involved several of the units so it got really interesting.
Mia had at least one TSTL moment and it was massive. Despite that lapse, I liked her and respected how she handled the complicated and taciturn Ric Santos. Their relationship had so many ups and downs, starts and stops but of course they eventually found their way...for now.
I enjoyed the story, even though the ending left some loose ends dangling. Seems to be typical of the series but it's improving in that respect. Now I'm getting hooked.
January 16, 2011
2 ½ stars. Depressing subject with threats to a child. Weak heroine makes poor choices. Hero is “just not into her.”
STORY BRIEF:
Mia is a DNA expert. Women have been raped and stabbed. Mia is working on two cases which she thinks may be related. Someone tries to kill her and threatens harm to her nephew. Ric is a detective working one of the cases. A year earlier he interacted with Mia on a different case. They were attracted to each other and she hoped for more, but when the case was closed he no longer called. Now he is in frequent contact with her over the current case. He is drawn to her, but he won’t act on it. She feels rejected.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
As I passed the halfway point in the book my thoughts were “I’m not liking this.” The subject is depressing. Three things made this not as enjoyable as her other books.
1. The heroine is too much of a victim. She doesn’t do smart or interesting things to protect herself or her nephew. Sure she’s one of the top DNA experts in the country. And there were a couple times her expertise was interesting. But outside the lab she was uninteresting and made poor choices. As a lead character I would have liked something more. Strength and smartness dealing with the bad guys, interesting conversation, personality conflicts, interesting relationships with others, I don’t know – something.
2. I’ve read many books where a bad guy takes a child hostage, and I’m ok with that. But for some reason this book depressed me. The bad guy kidnaps or threatens a small boy (Mia’s nephew) which forces Mia to do things. And she does whatever he says. Destroy evidence? Yes. Go to a remote place so he can shoot her? Yes. She loves her nephew. Is this going to be her Achilles’ heel for life? Will other bad guys do this to her in the future? I don’t like thinking about harm to children unless there is something strong and powerful to balance it out like Dirty Harry or The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. This book didn’t have that. I felt weak, helpless, and hopeless.
3. The hero is “just not into her.” She’s been into him for a long time, but he rejects her. I’m ok with heroes who don’t want a committed relationship as long as I can watch them fall in love and change their mind. But that doesn’t happen here. Ric is distant through most of the book, with a quick change of mind at the end. That wasn’t fun. Sure his actions show that he wants to protect her, but we don’t get to see any positive emotions for her.
At the end we see one of the bad guys getting caught but not the others. We are told they were all caught, but there were no details. I wanted to see what the bad guys said and did at the end. I’d like to enjoy my revenge for a moment. But that wasn’t provided.
The best part of the book was Ric’s investigating skills. He did a few things that impressed me.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve reviewed the following Laura Griffin books:
5 stars. Thread of Fear
4 ½ stars. Whisper of Warning
4 ½ stars. Untraceable
4 stars. One Last Breath
3 stars. One Wrong Step
3 stars. Unspeakable
2 ½ stars. Unforgivable
DATA:
Story length: 387 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 3. Total number of sex scene pages 11. Setting: current day Texas. Copyright: 2010. Genre: romantic mystery suspense thriller.
CAUTION SEMI-SPOILER (I don’t give away the bad guys):
A plot weakness bugged me. The guy wants to kill Mia. The first time he shoots and wounds her. The second time he makes her go to a remote place by threatening harm to her nephew. He has a perfect shot but doesn’t take it. Why? Then he then makes further attempts to shoot her. Why didn’t he shoot her the second time at the remote place?
STORY BRIEF:
Mia is a DNA expert. Women have been raped and stabbed. Mia is working on two cases which she thinks may be related. Someone tries to kill her and threatens harm to her nephew. Ric is a detective working one of the cases. A year earlier he interacted with Mia on a different case. They were attracted to each other and she hoped for more, but when the case was closed he no longer called. Now he is in frequent contact with her over the current case. He is drawn to her, but he won’t act on it. She feels rejected.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
As I passed the halfway point in the book my thoughts were “I’m not liking this.” The subject is depressing. Three things made this not as enjoyable as her other books.
1. The heroine is too much of a victim. She doesn’t do smart or interesting things to protect herself or her nephew. Sure she’s one of the top DNA experts in the country. And there were a couple times her expertise was interesting. But outside the lab she was uninteresting and made poor choices. As a lead character I would have liked something more. Strength and smartness dealing with the bad guys, interesting conversation, personality conflicts, interesting relationships with others, I don’t know – something.
2. I’ve read many books where a bad guy takes a child hostage, and I’m ok with that. But for some reason this book depressed me. The bad guy kidnaps or threatens a small boy (Mia’s nephew) which forces Mia to do things. And she does whatever he says. Destroy evidence? Yes. Go to a remote place so he can shoot her? Yes. She loves her nephew. Is this going to be her Achilles’ heel for life? Will other bad guys do this to her in the future? I don’t like thinking about harm to children unless there is something strong and powerful to balance it out like Dirty Harry or The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. This book didn’t have that. I felt weak, helpless, and hopeless.
3. The hero is “just not into her.” She’s been into him for a long time, but he rejects her. I’m ok with heroes who don’t want a committed relationship as long as I can watch them fall in love and change their mind. But that doesn’t happen here. Ric is distant through most of the book, with a quick change of mind at the end. That wasn’t fun. Sure his actions show that he wants to protect her, but we don’t get to see any positive emotions for her.
At the end we see one of the bad guys getting caught but not the others. We are told they were all caught, but there were no details. I wanted to see what the bad guys said and did at the end. I’d like to enjoy my revenge for a moment. But that wasn’t provided.
The best part of the book was Ric’s investigating skills. He did a few things that impressed me.
OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve reviewed the following Laura Griffin books:
5 stars. Thread of Fear
4 ½ stars. Whisper of Warning
4 ½ stars. Untraceable
4 stars. One Last Breath
3 stars. One Wrong Step
3 stars. Unspeakable
2 ½ stars. Unforgivable
DATA:
Story length: 387 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 3. Total number of sex scene pages 11. Setting: current day Texas. Copyright: 2010. Genre: romantic mystery suspense thriller.
CAUTION SEMI-SPOILER (I don’t give away the bad guys):
A plot weakness bugged me. The guy wants to kill Mia. The first time he shoots and wounds her. The second time he makes her go to a remote place by threatening harm to her nephew. He has a perfect shot but doesn’t take it. Why? Then he then makes further attempts to shoot her. Why didn’t he shoot her the second time at the remote place?
January 19, 2016
Laura Griffin is an up and coming talent and I am going to keep my eye on her. Being a Texas author does help of course. ;-)
We met Ric and Mia back in Unspeakable as a couple with potential, when he came to her to get her to fast-track some evidence. She works as a private trace evidence firm in Austin called The Delphi. Fast forward 4 months later and after Ric dropped Mia like a hot rock with no explanation, he shows up again, asking her to fast-track another case. It is no wonder she feels used.
But when really bad things started to happening to Mia she was sorta glad he was around, but for how long. This is some points that I got irritated about. He kept telling Mia he wasn’t interest in a relationship and she agrees with it. But he never talks about himself…nothing. It was hard to get into his head. He had a cheating ex-wife and a bad divorce. He never tells Mia this….never. She finds out from other people what some of his problems are. Even 3/4s of the way through the book, he told his daughter that Mia didn’t mean anything to him, after a weekend of hawt sex. But yet, 10 pages later he was telling Mia that if anything happened to her, it would chop him off at the knees. Really??? I didn’t get that feeling.
Mia herself did things like when a picture came in of her nephew, here we have this smart woman and she never questions what she is seeing or hearing, it just didn’t ring true. The ending was too abrupt with no communication on Ric’s part and the bad guys one dimensional, or at least the actual killer was. I am not saying this was a bad book, I was interested enough to read it in a matter of hours. There were just some weaknesses that at times pulled me out of the story.
I am looking forward to Sophie's story.
We met Ric and Mia back in Unspeakable as a couple with potential, when he came to her to get her to fast-track some evidence. She works as a private trace evidence firm in Austin called The Delphi. Fast forward 4 months later and after Ric dropped Mia like a hot rock with no explanation, he shows up again, asking her to fast-track another case. It is no wonder she feels used.
But when really bad things started to happening to Mia she was sorta glad he was around, but for how long. This is some points that I got irritated about. He kept telling Mia he wasn’t interest in a relationship and she agrees with it. But he never talks about himself…nothing. It was hard to get into his head. He had a cheating ex-wife and a bad divorce. He never tells Mia this….never. She finds out from other people what some of his problems are. Even 3/4s of the way through the book, he told his daughter that Mia didn’t mean anything to him, after a weekend of hawt sex. But yet, 10 pages later he was telling Mia that if anything happened to her, it would chop him off at the knees. Really??? I didn’t get that feeling.
Mia herself did things like when a picture came in of her nephew, here we have this smart woman and she never questions what she is seeing or hearing, it just didn’t ring true. The ending was too abrupt with no communication on Ric’s part and the bad guys one dimensional, or at least the actual killer was. I am not saying this was a bad book, I was interested enough to read it in a matter of hours. There were just some weaknesses that at times pulled me out of the story.
I am looking forward to Sophie's story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2012
2.5 stars
My biggest issue here is that I feel NOTHING towards the main characters, both the hero and heroine. Which is disappointing, personally, to say the least.
When Mia Voss character first appeared in book #1, I was curious (and excited) to read her story. She's a smart DNA tracer. She does things with DNA that helps the main couples in the previous two books. Plus, she is the first Delphi Center employee that becomes the main heroine.
Unfortunately, in this book, I find her annoyingly weak and easily manipulated. She is reduced to someone who thinks about how Ric Santos (the detective) is treating her hot and cold, and that he doesn't talk to her about anything. Honey, have you thought that maybe he's just NOT INTO you?? I cannot find a quality that redeem her, at all. I also wonder about that part which makes her act "unforgivable" (.
Ric Santos doesn't win my heart as well. From the way Ric treats Mia, how he is keeping her in arm's length and he keeps telling her that it is complicated (e.g. about Ava, for example), it is clear to me that Ric doesn't really have interest in Mia. No matter how the story is written, or no matter how he seemed to make an attempt in the end. It doesn't ring as genuine for me.
Just like with any other novels ... I need to at least care with one of the main characters to care about everything else. AND, when I lost any interest with BOTH Mia and Ric, my interest with the mystery dwindle as well. Especially when I have a feeling who the stalker is right after he is being brought to attention (and I end up being 100% correct).
I think I need to stay away from book #4 for a little while. So I might gain a fresh perspective when I come back to this series.
My biggest issue here is that I feel NOTHING towards the main characters, both the hero and heroine. Which is disappointing, personally, to say the least.
When Mia Voss character first appeared in book #1, I was curious (and excited) to read her story. She's a smart DNA tracer. She does things with DNA that helps the main couples in the previous two books. Plus, she is the first Delphi Center employee that becomes the main heroine.
Unfortunately, in this book, I find her annoyingly weak and easily manipulated. She is reduced to someone who thinks about how Ric Santos (the detective) is treating her hot and cold, and that he doesn't talk to her about anything. Honey, have you thought that maybe he's just NOT INTO you?? I cannot find a quality that redeem her, at all. I also wonder about that part which makes her act "unforgivable" (.
Ric Santos doesn't win my heart as well. From the way Ric treats Mia, how he is keeping her in arm's length and he keeps telling her that it is complicated (e.g. about Ava, for example), it is clear to me that Ric doesn't really have interest in Mia. No matter how the story is written, or no matter how he seemed to make an attempt in the end. It doesn't ring as genuine for me.
Just like with any other novels ... I need to at least care with one of the main characters to care about everything else. AND, when I lost any interest with BOTH Mia and Ric, my interest with the mystery dwindle as well. Especially when I have a feeling who the stalker is right after he is being brought to attention (and I end up being 100% correct).
I think I need to stay away from book #4 for a little while. So I might gain a fresh perspective when I come back to this series.
August 29, 2020
Unforgivable
4 Stars
Series note: Mia Voss and Ric Santos are first introduced in book #2, which should be read first to get a full picture of their relationship.
A DNA expert at the Delphi Center, a privately funded forensics lab, Mia Voss is no stranger to violent crime. But her latest case hits close to home when she is threatened and extorted into destroying evidence. Despite his attraction to Mia, detective Ric Santos isn't interested in a lasting relationship. Nevertheless, he cannot stand by while she is threatened and will put aside his reservations to protect her.
While the investigation is intense and the forensic elements are well-incorporated, the romance falls short.
Unlike the bold and assertive heroines of the first two books, Mia is more studious and quiet. She allows her emotions to override her common sense, which leads to several TSTL moments. Nevertheless, she is a sweet and caring person determined to seek justice for the victims.
Ric's commitment phobia is also problematic. His behavior toward Mia in the previous installment, i.e., does not reflect well on him, and his attitude in this book also leaves much to be desired. In fact, his sudden about-face toward the end isn't all that believable.
Thankfully, the serial rapist-killer case more than compensates for the lackluster romance. It is good to finally have the focus shift to the Delphi Center, which has been more on the periphery so far. Moreover, following along with Ric and Mia as they uncover clues and trace the killer is very satisfying.
Mia's friend, Sophie Barrett, and Ric's partner, Jonah Macon, are the focus of the next story, and their interactions are very appealing. Looking forward to their book.
4 Stars
Series note: Mia Voss and Ric Santos are first introduced in book #2, which should be read first to get a full picture of their relationship.
A DNA expert at the Delphi Center, a privately funded forensics lab, Mia Voss is no stranger to violent crime. But her latest case hits close to home when she is threatened and extorted into destroying evidence. Despite his attraction to Mia, detective Ric Santos isn't interested in a lasting relationship. Nevertheless, he cannot stand by while she is threatened and will put aside his reservations to protect her.
While the investigation is intense and the forensic elements are well-incorporated, the romance falls short.
Unlike the bold and assertive heroines of the first two books, Mia is more studious and quiet. She allows her emotions to override her common sense, which leads to several TSTL moments. Nevertheless, she is a sweet and caring person determined to seek justice for the victims.
Ric's commitment phobia is also problematic. His behavior toward Mia in the previous installment, i.e., does not reflect well on him, and his attitude in this book also leaves much to be desired. In fact, his sudden about-face toward the end isn't all that believable.
Thankfully, the serial rapist-killer case more than compensates for the lackluster romance. It is good to finally have the focus shift to the Delphi Center, which has been more on the periphery so far. Moreover, following along with Ric and Mia as they uncover clues and trace the killer is very satisfying.
Mia's friend, Sophie Barrett, and Ric's partner, Jonah Macon, are the focus of the next story, and their interactions are very appealing. Looking forward to their book.
March 16, 2019
Unforgivable is just as fascinating as the others in the series. This had a better mix of suspense vs romance but it was the suspense that I found much more compelling. This one had me more on edge because of the position the heroine was put in with her job. I'll just leave it at that so I don't spoil anything.
Mia's job as the DNA expert is just one in many very interesting jobs at the Delphi Center. This center played a bigger role in this book vs book one and two, however I have read this series out of order and have found that each book has something to do with the Delphi center. I'm enjoying how the author is giving us a new perspective on what goes on there by focusing on different characters who work in different position in the center.
I also like how the main characters are usually paired up with a cop, military or FBI. Someone who working closely on the cases that use Delphi to help solve their cases. I like that connection the couple feels by working closely together to catch the culprit.
The romance isn't always the main draw for me in this series. I do love a good romantic suspense but not all couples are the kind I like to read in a romance. The fact that I am still so drawn to this series shows just how good the suspense has been in these books.
In this case, I did have a harder time with the hero. He was too hot and cold with Mia and made it harder for me to like him. He was very protective of her and you do get to see him soften up at the end.
I'm looking forward to reading more.
Mia's job as the DNA expert is just one in many very interesting jobs at the Delphi Center. This center played a bigger role in this book vs book one and two, however I have read this series out of order and have found that each book has something to do with the Delphi center. I'm enjoying how the author is giving us a new perspective on what goes on there by focusing on different characters who work in different position in the center.
I also like how the main characters are usually paired up with a cop, military or FBI. Someone who working closely on the cases that use Delphi to help solve their cases. I like that connection the couple feels by working closely together to catch the culprit.
The romance isn't always the main draw for me in this series. I do love a good romantic suspense but not all couples are the kind I like to read in a romance. The fact that I am still so drawn to this series shows just how good the suspense has been in these books.
In this case, I did have a harder time with the hero. He was too hot and cold with Mia and made it harder for me to like him. He was very protective of her and you do get to see him soften up at the end.
I'm looking forward to reading more.
May 24, 2016
Ric Santos.....ohhh baby....who doesn't love a man who says things like "You don't think my life would be ruined?" (refering to Mia being shot at or possibly killed)
What a great read. The third in the Tracers series is seriously GOOD! I am not one to ususally read Romance Suspense but I can't get enough of Laura Griffin's writing and amazing stories. They are heart beating out of your chest, hot homicide detective, intelligent females awesome!!
Start with Untraceable and keep on reading throughout the night!
What a great read. The third in the Tracers series is seriously GOOD! I am not one to ususally read Romance Suspense but I can't get enough of Laura Griffin's writing and amazing stories. They are heart beating out of your chest, hot homicide detective, intelligent females awesome!!
Start with Untraceable and keep on reading throughout the night!
December 23, 2010
Romantic Suspense is Not an Oxymoron.
Romantic suspense, who knew that was a genre? I learn something new every day and this is a correctly named genre. Well done suspense with steamy interludes. Mia Voss is a DNA expert who finds herself targeted due to her expertise. She finds protection and much, much more from Detective Ric Santos.
I have to admit that preceding the word suspense with romantic nearly convinced me not to read the book. I’m not a fan of the romance genre. Ms. Griffin successfully blends suspense with strong romantic overtones. I found the book entertaining and fast paced and I suspect my wife will find the romantic aspects a little more appealing than I did. This seems to fit the current mainstream perchance for crossovers whether it is in vehicles or books.
The author did accurately portray the inability to address emotions and feelings that many men share. I also liked the strength of character portrayed by the females in the story. They were strong and able without losing any femininity. Perhaps if more authors portrayed women as successful, confident characters the stereotypes of yesteryear could finally be eradicated. .
I recommend the book.
Romantic suspense, who knew that was a genre? I learn something new every day and this is a correctly named genre. Well done suspense with steamy interludes. Mia Voss is a DNA expert who finds herself targeted due to her expertise. She finds protection and much, much more from Detective Ric Santos.
I have to admit that preceding the word suspense with romantic nearly convinced me not to read the book. I’m not a fan of the romance genre. Ms. Griffin successfully blends suspense with strong romantic overtones. I found the book entertaining and fast paced and I suspect my wife will find the romantic aspects a little more appealing than I did. This seems to fit the current mainstream perchance for crossovers whether it is in vehicles or books.
The author did accurately portray the inability to address emotions and feelings that many men share. I also liked the strength of character portrayed by the females in the story. They were strong and able without losing any femininity. Perhaps if more authors portrayed women as successful, confident characters the stereotypes of yesteryear could finally be eradicated. .
I recommend the book.
March 11, 2013
Liked Mia - wanted to know more abt Ric
May 5, 2017
4.5 stars
As I was reading this book, I was having a discussion with my best friend about how there never seems to be enough words to articulate how you feel when you really love something, yet there are oh so many when you really hate something. This book falls in the former category: I don't even really know what to say except that I loved Unforgivable.
I first came across this series when I read Unstoppable, Tracers 2.5, in the Deadly Promises anthology. Until then, I had never even heard of Laura Griffin and her Tracers. But I was blown away by that novella, even liking it more than the Sherrilyn Kenyon story in the book. Despite being just a short novella, Unstoppable pulled me into the Tracers world and kept me interested the whole time. To me, that is a sign of a good writer, when you can really attract a reader's interest from just a short novella, let alone one in the middle of the series. So, the next time I was at the bookstore, I searched the shelves for Griffin's Tracers books. Sadly, this one was the only one I could find for now, but Unforgivable was just as entertaining as the novella.
I absolutely loved the characters of this book, all of them. The main characters, Mia and Ric, were great to read about, and my only complaint is that we learned much more about Mia than we did about Ric. Jonah and Sophie were great, too, and I look forward to reading the upcoming book about them. Rey, Ric's brother, was a cool character, too, as was Sam, Mia's nephew. I was interested in all their lives' throughout the whole book, and that is another sign of a good writer to me.
My only "negative" comment is that the book seemed like it was longer than was necessary. However, I used quotes around negative because it didn't really bother me too much. The plot didn't drag for me or anything; it was just an observation I made that it might have been a little longer than was needed. But, I still loved the book and I look forward to reading more of the series.
As I was reading this book, I was having a discussion with my best friend about how there never seems to be enough words to articulate how you feel when you really love something, yet there are oh so many when you really hate something. This book falls in the former category: I don't even really know what to say except that I loved Unforgivable.
I first came across this series when I read Unstoppable, Tracers 2.5, in the Deadly Promises anthology. Until then, I had never even heard of Laura Griffin and her Tracers. But I was blown away by that novella, even liking it more than the Sherrilyn Kenyon story in the book. Despite being just a short novella, Unstoppable pulled me into the Tracers world and kept me interested the whole time. To me, that is a sign of a good writer, when you can really attract a reader's interest from just a short novella, let alone one in the middle of the series. So, the next time I was at the bookstore, I searched the shelves for Griffin's Tracers books. Sadly, this one was the only one I could find for now, but Unforgivable was just as entertaining as the novella.
I absolutely loved the characters of this book, all of them. The main characters, Mia and Ric, were great to read about, and my only complaint is that we learned much more about Mia than we did about Ric. Jonah and Sophie were great, too, and I look forward to reading the upcoming book about them. Rey, Ric's brother, was a cool character, too, as was Sam, Mia's nephew. I was interested in all their lives' throughout the whole book, and that is another sign of a good writer to me.
My only "negative" comment is that the book seemed like it was longer than was necessary. However, I used quotes around negative because it didn't really bother me too much. The plot didn't drag for me or anything; it was just an observation I made that it might have been a little longer than was needed. But, I still loved the book and I look forward to reading more of the series.
November 28, 2015
Another awesome book in the Tracers Series. It just keeps getting better and better. Laura Griffin has created a world around the Delphi Center and the very interesting people who work there and the law enforcement people who interact with them. All the books connect, but all can be read as standalones, you can drop in the series with any book and you only want to go back and read them all.
This book is about Mia Voss, DNA specialist at the Delphi Center, and Ric Santos, homicide detective from San Marcos, TX. Both have been characters in previous books. Someone carjacks Mia and in the process kills a retired cop and wounds Mia. Ric catches the case and he and Mia still have a spark. There is a sexual homicide that Ric is investigating too and Mia has the evidence and it brings then closer together and reminds Mia of one of her first cases. She and Ric also find other murder cases that connect. Now a murderer is after Mia and she is having a tough time trusting Ric with both information and her life. I did not have a clue as to the identity of the baddies in this one, which I just love.
This book is about Mia Voss, DNA specialist at the Delphi Center, and Ric Santos, homicide detective from San Marcos, TX. Both have been characters in previous books. Someone carjacks Mia and in the process kills a retired cop and wounds Mia. Ric catches the case and he and Mia still have a spark. There is a sexual homicide that Ric is investigating too and Mia has the evidence and it brings then closer together and reminds Mia of one of her first cases. She and Ric also find other murder cases that connect. Now a murderer is after Mia and she is having a tough time trusting Ric with both information and her life. I did not have a clue as to the identity of the baddies in this one, which I just love.
February 2, 2011
Love, love, love Laura Griffin!! She writes some of the best romantic suspense out there, in my opinion. This book turned out to be one of my favorites by her. I've been waiting for Mia and Ric's story practically since the Tracers series began and she didn't disappoint.
Basically, Ric was a complete jerk for the first half of this book, and Mia was quite rightly angry with him. Their past was a little bit murky as he'd warmed up to her and flirted with her months before and then abandoned her once the case was over. The book starts out exciting and doesn't break stride the whole way through. I was intrigued by the mystery and the forensics, as Griffin manages to make forensics understandable to the lay reader. The romance between Ric and Mia was nice, and I loved the climax and ending of the book.
Super excited that the next book is Sophie and Jonah's story!!
Basically, Ric was a complete jerk for the first half of this book, and Mia was quite rightly angry with him. Their past was a little bit murky as he'd warmed up to her and flirted with her months before and then abandoned her once the case was over. The book starts out exciting and doesn't break stride the whole way through. I was intrigued by the mystery and the forensics, as Griffin manages to make forensics understandable to the lay reader. The romance between Ric and Mia was nice, and I loved the climax and ending of the book.
Super excited that the next book is Sophie and Jonah's story!!
June 18, 2016
What would do? You get a call on your cell from a man who supposedly has your young nephew and is threatening to dispose of him if you don't carry out his wishes! What exactly does he want? He wants you to destroy incriminating evidence against him - letting him get away with at least one murder, but in your heart you know there are more!
Pretty good read, kept me guessing and chasing my own tail on this one. Toss in a couple of hot scenes and a TSTL moment or two and you get a good book.
Two thumbs up and 4 solid stars (why not 5 you say? The main female character is a bit irritating)
Pretty good read, kept me guessing and chasing my own tail on this one. Toss in a couple of hot scenes and a TSTL moment or two and you get a good book.
Two thumbs up and 4 solid stars (why not 5 you say? The main female character is a bit irritating)
August 5, 2017
Rating: ★★★½
Trope: Romantic Suspense
Chemistry: ❤❤
One-Sentence Summary: Things get personal for the DNA Expert
Review: Mia's story started off strongly but I don't think the rest of the story lived up to my high expectations. The fact she destroyed evidence really bugged me.
August 16, 2018
Song for summary: Lights Out by Virginia to Vegas
This was another great Tracers novel! I am really enjoying this series, I love how all the characters intertwine through the Delphi Centre. This book is a perfect blend of suspense, mystery, forensic science, and romance. The characters are intelligent, scarred, and full of spunk. I can't wait to read the next one in this series!
This was another great Tracers novel! I am really enjoying this series, I love how all the characters intertwine through the Delphi Centre. This book is a perfect blend of suspense, mystery, forensic science, and romance. The characters are intelligent, scarred, and full of spunk. I can't wait to read the next one in this series!
September 30, 2019
I can't get enough of this series! Really enjoying it! The perfect blend of suspense/mystery and romance!
December 23, 2010
Laura Griffin is one of my favorite new-to-me author finds of 2010. Unforgivable is the lastest addition to her Tracer series.
Unforgivable is a great suspense driven story with a ton of heart pounding action. The story has a CSI-esque feel to it as the tension builds and keeps you turning the pages to the very end.
A trip to the grocery store late at night for some soul-soothing ice cream was supposed to be a piece of cake...or a dish of ice cream. Mia Voss didn’t plan on running into anyone she knew so no need to change out of those comfy PJ’s. Who knew her innocent outing would result in her being carjacked, kidnapped, witness the shooting of a retired police officer and get shot at herself. And the cherry on top of her ice cream sundae? Detective Ric Santos. Getting interrogated by the sexy Detective was a crappy way to end a day that started out with getting demoted at work. Dang...Mia really needed some ice cream.
Ric does a lot of dancing around his feelings for Mia early on in Unforgivable. They had a “thing” the previous year but Ric cut his ties before things got to serious. Dude has serious commitment issues and he knows that Mia’s looking to settle down and is ready for the white picket fence and 2.4 children and he is so not that guy. He’s all business at first, but when Mia’s assistance as a DNA expert is required on several of Ric’s seemingly related cases, it gets damn near impossible for him to keep treating Mia as just a colleague and keep his blood pressure from spiking whenever she’s within spitting distance. It’s always nice to see a hard-headed guy struggle to fight his feelings and end up failing miserably. The bigger they are…the harder they fall.
As more trouble mounts for Mia, Ric begins to suspect that Mia may not be an innocent by-stander after all but rather the intended victim. And when things turn very personal for Mia and members of her family are caught in the crossfire, she makes a decision that could ruin her career in order to keep her family out of harm’s way. One thing I really enjoy about Ms. Griffin’s stories are the female leads. She writes about women who are smart, strong-willed, independent, professional career women.
If there was one thing I wish I could change since discovering Ms. Griffin's books - it would be to have read her books in order. Although each book does read as a stand alone, there is cross-over and several characters do make guest appearances in each book. One of the characteristics I enjoy in her writing is the way she weaves the secondary characters into the story so that they are an integral component of the story and not just there as page-filler. She does an excellent job of setting them up for their own story in an upcoming book. Next up is Snapped which is Sophie and Jonah’s story. Is it weird that I already have it pre-ordered and it’s not due out til August 2011? No I don’t think so…that’s just an indication of how much I enjoy Ms. Griffin’s style of writing.
Unforgivable is a great suspense driven story with a ton of heart pounding action. The story has a CSI-esque feel to it as the tension builds and keeps you turning the pages to the very end.
A trip to the grocery store late at night for some soul-soothing ice cream was supposed to be a piece of cake...or a dish of ice cream. Mia Voss didn’t plan on running into anyone she knew so no need to change out of those comfy PJ’s. Who knew her innocent outing would result in her being carjacked, kidnapped, witness the shooting of a retired police officer and get shot at herself. And the cherry on top of her ice cream sundae? Detective Ric Santos. Getting interrogated by the sexy Detective was a crappy way to end a day that started out with getting demoted at work. Dang...Mia really needed some ice cream.
Ric does a lot of dancing around his feelings for Mia early on in Unforgivable. They had a “thing” the previous year but Ric cut his ties before things got to serious. Dude has serious commitment issues and he knows that Mia’s looking to settle down and is ready for the white picket fence and 2.4 children and he is so not that guy. He’s all business at first, but when Mia’s assistance as a DNA expert is required on several of Ric’s seemingly related cases, it gets damn near impossible for him to keep treating Mia as just a colleague and keep his blood pressure from spiking whenever she’s within spitting distance. It’s always nice to see a hard-headed guy struggle to fight his feelings and end up failing miserably. The bigger they are…the harder they fall.
As more trouble mounts for Mia, Ric begins to suspect that Mia may not be an innocent by-stander after all but rather the intended victim. And when things turn very personal for Mia and members of her family are caught in the crossfire, she makes a decision that could ruin her career in order to keep her family out of harm’s way. One thing I really enjoy about Ms. Griffin’s stories are the female leads. She writes about women who are smart, strong-willed, independent, professional career women.
If there was one thing I wish I could change since discovering Ms. Griffin's books - it would be to have read her books in order. Although each book does read as a stand alone, there is cross-over and several characters do make guest appearances in each book. One of the characteristics I enjoy in her writing is the way she weaves the secondary characters into the story so that they are an integral component of the story and not just there as page-filler. She does an excellent job of setting them up for their own story in an upcoming book. Next up is Snapped which is Sophie and Jonah’s story. Is it weird that I already have it pre-ordered and it’s not due out til August 2011? No I don’t think so…that’s just an indication of how much I enjoy Ms. Griffin’s style of writing.
September 24, 2011
Another great romantic suspense in the Tracers series by Laura Griffin. We met Mia and Ric in the last book Unspeakable (although any of these can be read as a standalone) Mia works as a DNA expert in a cutting edge lab. In the previous book, Ric was using his man powers of flirtation to get Mia to help him with an old case. It worked, and seemed things were going someplace for them in the romance department. With the start of this book, we see that did not happen, Ric never called her again in the 4 months since the case ended. Now here she is after she has been carjacked and almost killed, and a police officer who tried to help her was killed, with Ric coming in as the detective on her case. At first I was really pissed off at Ric, he is still very attracted to Mia, but does not want a relationship at all. It seems he just wants to have her then forget her. She can see this and is very hurt, she is definitely a relationship person and is very attracted to Ric. Mia is the type to ask questions, like where is this going. Ric is the type to keep quiet and run.
When it seems the carjacking was not random and someone is after Mia, Ric becomes obsessed with her safety as well as the case. She is hiding some big things from him about case evidence that could but every case she has ever worked on in jeopardy as well as her career.
This was a great page turned that kept me up half the night to finish. I am anxious to start on the next one!! (less)
When it seems the carjacking was not random and someone is after Mia, Ric becomes obsessed with her safety as well as the case. She is hiding some big things from him about case evidence that could but every case she has ever worked on in jeopardy as well as her career.
This was a great page turned that kept me up half the night to finish. I am anxious to start on the next one!! (less)
December 22, 2010
Another great romantic suspense by Griffin. Every book she's written has been excellent. The suspense plot in Unforgivable was very well done. I'd have loved to read more about the forensics, especially since Mia is a DNA specialist, but what was there was very interesting. I actually liked both main characters, Mia and Ric, and enjoyed the character development. Even though they both hid information and emotions, the author did a great job of keeping them in character and making the emotional confusion seem appropriate. I would have liked a little more discussion of Ric's change of heart, although that was developed over the last part of the book, at least, and not just sprung on the reader full-blown on the last page.
The secondary characters are, as usual, well done and I look forward to Jonah and Sophie's book coming next.
The secondary characters are, as usual, well done and I look forward to Jonah and Sophie's book coming next.
July 24, 2014
Forensic expert Mia Voss is carjacked while leaving a convenience store and almost killed when she tries to escape. Soon there is a threat against her family and her life is once again in danger. Detective Ric Santos leads the investigation. Mia and Ric know each other from working on some of his cases. Mia believed he was interested in her, but he never called. Now Mia and Ric are working together on some cold cases that may lead them to the person who now wants her dead.
This book started out with a bang, but I was bored after 100 pages. I enjoyed some portions of the story, but some of it just dragged. The romance was ho-hum. I didn't care if Mia and Ric ended up together or not. The pace of the story did pick up toward the end. I liked the ending, even though I figured out the villain. My rating: 3 Stars.
This book started out with a bang, but I was bored after 100 pages. I enjoyed some portions of the story, but some of it just dragged. The romance was ho-hum. I didn't care if Mia and Ric ended up together or not. The pace of the story did pick up toward the end. I liked the ending, even though I figured out the villain. My rating: 3 Stars.
May 15, 2012
L.G. mejora con cada libro, el tercero de la serie "Tracers" es un thriller de calidad. Me ha gustado y convencido la trama, con personajes sólidos y creíbles, que toman decisiones inteligentes, incluso cuando a veces la prota tomaba alguna que no me convencía demasiado... resultaba que era lo mejor que podía hacer sin caer en el TSTL. La pareja me ha gustado mucho, pero echo en falta más desarrollo de los sentimientos y las personalidades. Creo que el suspense es tan bueno que la historia romántica, al final, sobra un poco, porque al no dar demasiados detalles parece un poco pegote. Es una pena que el romance no tenga más peso, porque también me gusta como lo describe.
December 6, 2022
This book about Mia was the one I wanted to read the most. Mia has been on the periphery of the books in this series since the first book and in book two we meet her potential love interest, Ric. So I was super excited to check this one out as soon as I was done with the last book. I read this book in about 12 hours for the record. I devoured it and the suspense was intense in this one!
While this is a series, there is no need to read the books in order. Sure Mia meets Ric in the book before this one but there isn’t much else that happens other than that. So if you are thinking about reading the books out of order you can absolutely do that and not be lost at all. In the series so far I would have to say this is probably my favorite. The mystery in book 2 was intense and so good but as far as all around story telling—-romance and mystery—-this is a more balanced book.
This book had it all. Sex, money, power, kidnapping, murder for hire, prostitutes, elected officials, romance, forensic science, cold cases. ALL THE THINGS. I loved how this one unfolded and left me wanting more in each chapter. Ric sometimes got on my nerves but ultimately I loved him and Mia together and loved seeing how this one came together and HOW it came together is so worth it! Suspense and thriller fans will be fully invested in this one and looking over their shoulders.
The turns this mystery took were completely unexpected and I had no idea when I started the book that we were going to end up where we did in the end. I was a bit sensational but I LOVED it. It was interesting to read about the DNA evidence and how they unmasked the killer using a mix of DNA evidence and good old fashion police work! That was one of the things I liked best about this book was the balance. I thought it would be more science based since Mia is a forensic scientist specializing in DNA, this book definitely had a DNA aspect but it was largely about good solid police work and trying to connect cold cases and solve the current one by finding the common link. It was a really really well done mystery and could have easily been ripped from headline news! Great job on the mystery.
The romance was also pretty hot and they fit well together. Part of my was frustrated by Ric’s desire to control so much of the choices that Mia made and he was a little too controlling at times but as we learned more about his character, I found myself falling for him the same as Mia. He had a lot more redeeming qualities than I was expecting when we were first introduced to him and I thought he was a good match for Mia in the end even if she seemed more nurturing and emotional than Ric wanted but in the end they found a balance and I think they ended up being a good match for each other.
I don’t want to spoil anything in this book for anyone but there is a lot to try and sort through if you love mysteries and suspense. There are always so many questions—–but it’s the why that always drive me when I am reading murder mysteries. Why is the killer targeting Mia. That is what drove me to keep reading. She seemed like the least likely target but in the end it was thrilling to find out the why! If you love a twisty mystery with a far reaching scope then this is going to be a good option for you! Now I am eager to get back to book 4! I can’t wait to keep reading this series!
While this is a series, there is no need to read the books in order. Sure Mia meets Ric in the book before this one but there isn’t much else that happens other than that. So if you are thinking about reading the books out of order you can absolutely do that and not be lost at all. In the series so far I would have to say this is probably my favorite. The mystery in book 2 was intense and so good but as far as all around story telling—-romance and mystery—-this is a more balanced book.
This book had it all. Sex, money, power, kidnapping, murder for hire, prostitutes, elected officials, romance, forensic science, cold cases. ALL THE THINGS. I loved how this one unfolded and left me wanting more in each chapter. Ric sometimes got on my nerves but ultimately I loved him and Mia together and loved seeing how this one came together and HOW it came together is so worth it! Suspense and thriller fans will be fully invested in this one and looking over their shoulders.
The turns this mystery took were completely unexpected and I had no idea when I started the book that we were going to end up where we did in the end. I was a bit sensational but I LOVED it. It was interesting to read about the DNA evidence and how they unmasked the killer using a mix of DNA evidence and good old fashion police work! That was one of the things I liked best about this book was the balance. I thought it would be more science based since Mia is a forensic scientist specializing in DNA, this book definitely had a DNA aspect but it was largely about good solid police work and trying to connect cold cases and solve the current one by finding the common link. It was a really really well done mystery and could have easily been ripped from headline news! Great job on the mystery.
The romance was also pretty hot and they fit well together. Part of my was frustrated by Ric’s desire to control so much of the choices that Mia made and he was a little too controlling at times but as we learned more about his character, I found myself falling for him the same as Mia. He had a lot more redeeming qualities than I was expecting when we were first introduced to him and I thought he was a good match for Mia in the end even if she seemed more nurturing and emotional than Ric wanted but in the end they found a balance and I think they ended up being a good match for each other.
I don’t want to spoil anything in this book for anyone but there is a lot to try and sort through if you love mysteries and suspense. There are always so many questions—–but it’s the why that always drive me when I am reading murder mysteries. Why is the killer targeting Mia. That is what drove me to keep reading. She seemed like the least likely target but in the end it was thrilling to find out the why! If you love a twisty mystery with a far reaching scope then this is going to be a good option for you! Now I am eager to get back to book 4! I can’t wait to keep reading this series!
May 9, 2019
This book was something of a mixed bag for me. I thought that the writing and pacing were very good, and Miss Griffin did a good job integrating the story into the broader Tracers world without making it feel dependant, something that she has been consistently good at in all of the books in this series that I've read. However, there were definitely some issues with this book that will probably keep me from wanting to read it a second time.
Firstly, the heroine makes me want to die. Mia, in my opinion, spent most of the book in the land of those too stupid to live, so that when bad things happened, as they inevitably did, all I could think was 'well what did you expect?' Since much of the drama centres on the hero's (Ric with no 'k', a spelling choice which I found both bizarre and bizarrely irritating) desperate attempts to protect her from bad men and also herself, this left me little in the story to care about. Mia also frequently gets upset with Ric-with-no-k when she perceives him to be concealing information from her, which I found bizarre and irrational, since she's supposed to be an experienced forensic scientist who understands police procedure, rather than someone with little regard for potentially contaminating the evidence (which is ironic, since she spends a lot of time being righteous about how cops show insufficient care for evidence and also human beings; compassion can only be found in the private sector!) and making the case unable to be prosecuted.
Ric-with-no-k was perfectly decent, in a somewhat bland, unimaginative alpha hero sort of way, and he spends most of his time alternately lusting after Mia and being irritated by her. (I can empathize with only one of these) We know from the book blurb that he has some kind of Damage which prevented him and Mia from getting together at the end of the last book, but aside from a daughter who's life he's a little checked out from (because all detectives are bad parents), it's never actually clear what his Damage is and why it stops preventing him from getting together with Mia. (Genre conventions, that's why)
Outside of the main characters, I thought that the mystery was kind of meh, and the reason Mia is targeted by the Very Bad Man is never really clear. I also think that Miss Griffin is entirely too fond of conspiracies, since the majority of the books in this series that I've read seem to end with some vast and insidious cabal when, frankly, a weirdo with too many guns would be a lot more interesting; the conspiracy is a resolution that should only be used sparingly.
Firstly, the heroine makes me want to die. Mia, in my opinion, spent most of the book in the land of those too stupid to live, so that when bad things happened, as they inevitably did, all I could think was 'well what did you expect?' Since much of the drama centres on the hero's (Ric with no 'k', a spelling choice which I found both bizarre and bizarrely irritating) desperate attempts to protect her from bad men and also herself, this left me little in the story to care about. Mia also frequently gets upset with Ric-with-no-k when she perceives him to be concealing information from her, which I found bizarre and irrational, since she's supposed to be an experienced forensic scientist who understands police procedure, rather than someone with little regard for potentially contaminating the evidence (which is ironic, since she spends a lot of time being righteous about how cops show insufficient care for evidence and also human beings; compassion can only be found in the private sector!) and making the case unable to be prosecuted.
Ric-with-no-k was perfectly decent, in a somewhat bland, unimaginative alpha hero sort of way, and he spends most of his time alternately lusting after Mia and being irritated by her. (I can empathize with only one of these) We know from the book blurb that he has some kind of Damage which prevented him and Mia from getting together at the end of the last book, but aside from a daughter who's life he's a little checked out from (because all detectives are bad parents), it's never actually clear what his Damage is and why it stops preventing him from getting together with Mia. (Genre conventions, that's why)
Outside of the main characters, I thought that the mystery was kind of meh, and the reason Mia is targeted by the Very Bad Man is never really clear. I also think that Miss Griffin is entirely too fond of conspiracies, since the majority of the books in this series that I've read seem to end with some vast and insidious cabal when, frankly, a weirdo with too many guns would be a lot more interesting; the conspiracy is a resolution that should only be used sparingly.
June 18, 2024
Such a thriller. Felt like I was on my toes most of the book. The main love story though could have been developed more thoroughly. It was hard to connect with Ric throughout the book as he came across as controlling without any other depth until the end. All in all would recommend and has me excited to read the next books in the series.
April 25, 2017
Plot: 5/5
Characterisation: 3.5/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 4/5
Characterisation: 3.5/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 4/5
November 12, 2021
A nice mix of cop and forensic scientist and suspense.
February 2, 2024
This was a typical law enforcement couple who were solving a crime and falling in love. Cute with lots of action and a quick read.
June 26, 2017
I could not put this down.
March 3, 2016
Third in the Tracers romantic suspense series revolving around current and future employees of the Delphi Center, a state-of-the-art forensics facility in Texas. The couple focus is on Dr. Mia Voss and Detective Ric Santos.
My Take
Griffin does a nice job of building suspense with the attacks on Mia and Ric's hot and cold approaches to her. She could have worked harder at creating tension over the San Marcos PD's concern about whether Mia was involved or not.
Mia's a smart girl. Why didn't she think to fake an evidence bag??
Tidy lead-up to the next installment in this series.
The Story
Mia Voss is hijacked from a convenience store and as she drives, Mia realizes her captor has no intention of letting her live. It's the headlights coming up behind her that gives Mia the courage to jerk the wheel, confusing her captor as she drops out of her Jeep and runs off into the fields.
The San Marcos detectives believe that Mia is being targeted but they aren't sure if she is a part of it or its victim even as Ric both gives in to and retreats from his attraction to her. Even as the police explore this in greater depth, Mia continues to test and research finding cold cases that may be related.
Then Mia's love for her family is exploited. A damning demand shreds Mia's honor. A betrayal so deep that Mia will do anything to repair it.
The Characters
Dr. Mia Voss is a brilliant DNA analyst at the Delphi Center just outside San Marcos, a state-of-the-art forensic palace. She thought there had been something between her and Ric Santos last summer (see Unspeakable ), but, obviously, not. Sam is her nephew; her sister, Vivian, is his mother.
Detective Ric Santos is part of the San Marcos Police Department and deeply attracted to Mia. Ava is his teen-aged daughter. Rey Santos is his brother and with the FBI. Jonah Macon is Ric's partner and he's got his back.
Vince Moore is a fellow detective with a sense of humor and an itch to scratch; Burleson is another detective. Frank Hannigan is a retired cop with, fortunately for Mia, a hero complex. Detective Jim Kubcek is with the Houston PD; he has a case that connects to others being tested at the Delphi Center. Rachel is the DA. FBI agents Delmonico and Laranya Singh are working on a serial killer case with some very sensitive information.
Sophie Barrett also works at the Delphi Center, is a friend of Mia's, and sings as part of her own fulfillment. Don Clovis is the Center's guy on ligatures. Kelsey Quinn is in Bones. Ben is in cyber crimes with Alex Lovell. Mark Royers is a DNA tracer as good as Mia. Dr. Harvey Snyder is the head DNA specialist at the Center and Mia's boss. His best assets are his connections and his pretty résumé, otherwise, he's an asshole. Scott Black is a ballistics expert and an old childhood friend of Mia's. Ralph is the security guard there.
Alex Lovell has a bit part helping Mia trace a threatening email and put together the documents for Mia to disappear. Troy Stockton doesn't show at all although Texas Ranger Jessup does appear. Jeff Lane is the lieutenant governor of Texas; rumor says he's looking at the White House. His wife is Camille; his son Kurt is in college.
The Cover and Title
This cover of blues and browns has a rushing river heading away from us carrying a width of burlap tumbling in the waters (conveniently placed to highlight the title) while the banks of the river appear as cragged rock rising steeply on either side.
The title is how Mia feels about the betrayal she commits. It's Unforgivable to her fellow professionals, the police, and the public.
My Take
Griffin does a nice job of building suspense with the attacks on Mia and Ric's hot and cold approaches to her. She could have worked harder at creating tension over the San Marcos PD's concern about whether Mia was involved or not.
Mia's a smart girl. Why didn't she think to fake an evidence bag??
Tidy lead-up to the next installment in this series.
The Story
Mia Voss is hijacked from a convenience store and as she drives, Mia realizes her captor has no intention of letting her live. It's the headlights coming up behind her that gives Mia the courage to jerk the wheel, confusing her captor as she drops out of her Jeep and runs off into the fields.
The San Marcos detectives believe that Mia is being targeted but they aren't sure if she is a part of it or its victim even as Ric both gives in to and retreats from his attraction to her. Even as the police explore this in greater depth, Mia continues to test and research finding cold cases that may be related.
Then Mia's love for her family is exploited. A damning demand shreds Mia's honor. A betrayal so deep that Mia will do anything to repair it.
The Characters
Dr. Mia Voss is a brilliant DNA analyst at the Delphi Center just outside San Marcos, a state-of-the-art forensic palace. She thought there had been something between her and Ric Santos last summer (see Unspeakable ), but, obviously, not. Sam is her nephew; her sister, Vivian, is his mother.
Detective Ric Santos is part of the San Marcos Police Department and deeply attracted to Mia. Ava is his teen-aged daughter. Rey Santos is his brother and with the FBI. Jonah Macon is Ric's partner and he's got his back.
Vince Moore is a fellow detective with a sense of humor and an itch to scratch; Burleson is another detective. Frank Hannigan is a retired cop with, fortunately for Mia, a hero complex. Detective Jim Kubcek is with the Houston PD; he has a case that connects to others being tested at the Delphi Center. Rachel is the DA. FBI agents Delmonico and Laranya Singh are working on a serial killer case with some very sensitive information.
Sophie Barrett also works at the Delphi Center, is a friend of Mia's, and sings as part of her own fulfillment. Don Clovis is the Center's guy on ligatures. Kelsey Quinn is in Bones. Ben is in cyber crimes with Alex Lovell. Mark Royers is a DNA tracer as good as Mia. Dr. Harvey Snyder is the head DNA specialist at the Center and Mia's boss. His best assets are his connections and his pretty résumé, otherwise, he's an asshole. Scott Black is a ballistics expert and an old childhood friend of Mia's. Ralph is the security guard there.
Alex Lovell has a bit part helping Mia trace a threatening email and put together the documents for Mia to disappear. Troy Stockton doesn't show at all although Texas Ranger Jessup does appear. Jeff Lane is the lieutenant governor of Texas; rumor says he's looking at the White House. His wife is Camille; his son Kurt is in college.
The Cover and Title
This cover of blues and browns has a rushing river heading away from us carrying a width of burlap tumbling in the waters (conveniently placed to highlight the title) while the banks of the river appear as cragged rock rising steeply on either side.
The title is how Mia feels about the betrayal she commits. It's Unforgivable to her fellow professionals, the police, and the public.
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