[close]
Jack Stratton's a good guy on the ugly side of life. Eight years ago a bomb blew his world apart and he's been picking up the pieces ever since. Guilt has driven a wedge between him and the family he loves. When Jack hears the news that his foster-sister Michelle is missing, it cuts straight to his core. The police think she just took off, but Jack knows Michelle would never leave her loved ones behind--like he did. Forced to confront the demons from his past, Jack must take action, find Michelle and bring her home... or die trying. This runaway hit mystery series introduces us to handsome rogue Jack Stratton. Driven by a debt of honor to his fallen foster-brother and a deep need to protect his vulnerable, yet feisty sidekick, Jack must dive into a world full of deception and lies. But in the sleepy community of Darrington, nothing is as it appears to be. Navigating the quirky characters that hold the answers to their foster-sister's disappearance, these two underdogs must put aside their differences and fight back-to-back if they are to save Michelle. As Jack's world continues to crumble, secrets from his past drag him down. Following a trail that has grown cold, Jack must tread carefully to protect his job, his family, and his own life.The author has a good idea here for the plot, and I believe the character of Detective Jack Stratton will eventually work into something on the order of the other well read detective series. I just found the story to be delivered rather raggedly and awkwardly. I will certainly try a second book in this series as I believe it has a great deal of promise.
