Tough Justice 1: Exposed

EXPOSED (TOUGH JUSTICE, PART 1 OF 8) by CARLA CASSIDY I have read several of Carla Cassidy's books, mainly her MYSTERY/SUSPENSE and ROMANTIC SUSPENSE. In this series of 8 parts, featuring FBI Agent Lara Grant, Carla shares the writing experience with Carol Erickson, Gail Barrett, and Tyler Anne Snell. Each of them have written 2 books in this series. This book introduces Lara Grant and focuses on her past. She spent a year under cover and brought down a major mafia drug trafficker. She then went into Witness Protection until all members of the gang were tried, convicted, and locked away for good. Or were they ..... ? Lara has barely met her new partner and the rest of the team when she's called out. A man is on a ledge, ready to jump, but asks for Lara by name. After several hours of trying to talk him down, he confesses to the killing of a young girl, and lets himself be talked off the ledge. Found in his possession is a stamp and ink pad. The stamp is a replica of a tattoo that the mafia used to mark their 'possessions'. It will remain a question as a sniper ends his life. And then a young woman with the same name as Lara is murdered. Now the chase is on to see where this threat is coming from ..... This was a short story, and a quick, easy read. The book focuses on Lara, her secrets, her trust issues. She is well fleshed out and I think she will make a very good series character. Her new partner, Nick Delano, has a past and secrets of his own. I look forward to learning much more about him. I gave it 5 stars ... I like the story and I look forward to see where it goes from here. My thanks to the author / Harlequin (US & Canada) -Harlequin Special Releases /NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.