I’m sold on LynDee Walker and Nichelle Clarke. This series is the real thing. It’s fun and entertaining while being a very solid mystery. A new favorite series worth my time and money! I just ordered the first book in the series because it was the only one I didn’t have and I can’t wait to see how this all started. But, time to stop gushing and start reviewing.

Nichelle, the crime and court reporter for the Richmond Telegraph, is a little out of her regular beat when the sports columnist asks her to cover the death of his friend’s son which is presumed to be a suicide. The friend just happens to be one the most famous football players in the country and he doesn’t think his son committed suicide. Neither does Nichelle.

This story takes Nichelle out of Richmond to a small town on an island so the suspect pool is pretty small. Unfortunately, this also means it’s a tight-knit group that really don’t want strangers poking around in their business. High school sporting ambitions, locally made moonshine and a closed-mouth sheriff all contribute to Nichelle’s suspicions. As with the last book, it’s a clever mystery that isn’t immediately apparent but clues are scattered throughout the book if you can find them.

Joey and Kyle are both still in the story and her relationship with each heats up quite a bit in this book but not enough to offend anyone’s sensibilities. I do need the author to wrap up this triangle pretty soon. They both contribute to Nichelle’s investigations, however, and are integral to the plot.

The newsroom politics at the newspaper get dicier. Her nemesis, Shelby, is in rare form. I enjoy these parts of the story that are about the day-to-day work of a newspaper reporter. We also find out some of Nichelle’s backstory with her mom which gives more depth to her character.

If you haven’t read the other books in this series, you can read this as a stand-alone and you will enjoy it. It will most likely want you to get the rest of the series. It’s a fairly quick read but in that good way that makes you wish there was more because you don’t want to leave these people.

I received this book from Netgalley and appreciated the opportunity to read and review it.