When my body won't hold me anymore: THE MURDER BOOK.

The Murder Book by Lissa Marie Redmond

My rating: 4+ of 5 stars


Detective Lauren Riley's life changes after she is brutally attacked one evening at her precinct while working late. Sure, violence is a part of her job--even working Cold Cases--but she never expected to be stabbed at her place of work. Even worse, before passing out, Lauren recalls seeing a pair of city issue boots: whomever attacked her was one of their own. Was Lauren attacked because of a case she was working, was it random, or is it deeper than that? A mysterious phone call makes Lauren and her partner, Reese, dig deeply into an old case--one that involves her fellow officers and a lot of buried secrets.


"As her vision began to fade, she saw two things pass by her limp, useless hand: a pair of city issue boots and the unmistakable green cover of the Murder Book."


I was really happy to see Lissa Marie Redmond's Lauren Riley back again. I enjoyed her first book, A Cold Day in Hell a lot and this one was a great addition. The second Lauren Riley installment focuses more on Lauren's work as a police officer versus her PI cases, as the first novel did. Lauren is stabbed on the job, and it quickly becomes clear that whoever did it was a cop and they were trying to access files at the precinct.

From there, the case weaves together seamlessly. Redmond is such a good storyteller; her past in law enforcement is clear, as she provides details that makes the story realistic and strong. Riley is a great character. She's still the strong yet flawed woman we came to love in the first book. Grappling with the issues that come with being injured on the job is hard for Lauren, including being more dependent on others. She's as tough and feisty as ever, though, and determined to figure out what happened to her.

As a reader, figuring out what happened to Lauren is interesting and well-done. Redmond's books are so easy-to-read, with bits and pieces pulled together so well. The book isn't full of crazy twists and turns, but it's a really good police procedural that held my interest. And don't worry, there are plenty of good reveals along the way. There are ties to the first book (this book would stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading book one, because there are references to it and because it's really good). We also see more of Lauren's family, including her daughters, her sisters, and her mom. Plus, there's great banter with Reese, who is as enjoyable (and protective of Lauren) as ever.

Overall, this is a great read--compelling, top-notch on its police knowledge, and featuring an excellent, strong female lead character. Highly recommend, and I quite enjoy this series. 4+ stars.

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