Uncovering Explosive Secrets

A killer wants revenge.
A K-9 team stands in his way.

FBI Agent Austin Drake is ambushed at a fall fair moments before a bomb detonates. For Austin, this is no random act—it’s a personal message, especially since the attacks mirror the work of a criminal he put away years ago. Detective Melody Rust and her K-9 partner are on the scene to help, but it quickly becomes clear this is just the beginning of a targeted assault. With a toddler son to protect, Austin must work with Melody to unmask an enemy with a lethal agenda, before everyone becomes collateral damage.

My Review:

A blockbuster, action-packed opening scene sets the tone for this exhilarating read. I enjoyed the fall setting too – the story takes place in October – and it’s always fun to have your fictional friends enjoying the same season you are!

Austin and Melody come together at the crucial time in an exhaustive investigation into a villainous baby selling ring. Only something doesn’t jive at their first explosive meeting and they soon begin to suspect that another criminal has them on his radar which complicates things no end.

The suspense unique to this 7th Colorado K-9 Unit book is full of twists and nail-biting scenarios as well as expertly woven into the series suspense plot which is rapidly coming to a grand finale in book 8 — eep, I can’t wait! As with all the books in this series, ‘Uncovering Explosive Secrets’ can be read as a standalone. Black does an excellent job of bringing new readers up to speed with the nearly year long investigation details without burdening Austin and Melody’s story in any way.

Loved the way their romance developed – hesitant, wary, both with reasons to resist their attraction. I especially appreciated Austin’s personal struggles. The author shines a light on the immense emotional toll fighting crime can take on dedicated law enforcement personnel.

I listened to the audio edition of this book and enjoyed Angie Hickman’s narration. She did a great job balancing the emotion and tension in the story. It’s amazing how much a narrator’s performance plays into creating an atmosphere that matches the author’s storytelling style.

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.