"The heart wants what the heart wants."
This third installment in the series featuring DI Dan Riley blends domestic drama with police procedural to create a satisfying police procedural. A crime thriller that touches on many different issues and introduces some interesting characters has a familiar plot but unique pacing. I read it in a single sitting over a couple of hours and it kept me fully engaged throughout.
Two different women suffering at the hands and antics of their husbands who are abusive in different ways. Beth Lawler lives in an upscale area and is married to a wealthy, powerful man. She's miserable and finds love and happiness in an adulterous affair that puts her and her daughter, Lily, in an untenable position. Catherine Patterson is Saul Bennet's "zombie" -- her brute of a husband is an addict who regularly beats her but this time he has gone too far. Two vengeful wives who meet by accident on the 3:15 PM train to Bristol.
The detective, Dan Riley, is about to become a father with a woman he respects but doesn't love. He understands grief but has a solid moral compass. What's he to do with this case that has so many shades of gray? As he runs down the events and the suspects, Dan wants to do the right thing but the ramifications are made obvious by his supervisors. The age old question -- is there ever a justification for murder? NO SPOILERS.
I really like this series and I do appreciate the righteousness of Dan Riley however much I wanted this all to end differently. The writing is excellent, the pacing is perfect, and the premise was intriguing. The issues were handled in a masterful manner by the author and I really connected with both Beth and Cath as women put in situations that would make even a saint go crazy. The law limits what can be done.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I've read all three books in this series and urge other readers to do the same. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
This is the third in a series that I think would best be read in order from the beginning.
Genre -- crime thriller, psychological, domestic drama
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