Review of SHATTER CREEK by Rod Reynolds (New Release)

4 Stars 

This novel begins two months after the end of Black Reed Bay, the first book in the Detective Casey Wray series.

Now partnered with Billy Docker, Casey is called to a shocking daytime double homicide. Was one victim the intended target and the other an innocent bystander? The best possible witness, a young woman with a baby, disappears. When another person is killed, the search narrows to focus on one man who may be on a murderous rampage. But the body count does not stop at three and the case unravels, so Casey’s investigation is led in an entirely different direction.

I highly recommend that people read Black Reed Bay before this sequel. A recap is included but much of what happens in Shatter Creek is a direct result of events in the first book. Reading the first book will help the reader fully see the nature and extent of the corruption Casey uncovered in the Hampstead County Police Department and understand its impact on Casey. Then, when characters from the first book appear (Billy, Jill, Dana, McTeague), it’s satisfying to already know their personalities and understand their relationship with Casey. (And why not treat yourself to two great books, instead of just one?)

Casey has been cleared of any involvement in police corruption, but not everyone thinks she’s innocent. Her new boss doesn’t trust her and makes it clear that she expects her to transfer to another department; she says, “’either you were in it with Carletti but smart enough to cover your tracks, or he kept you around to manipulate and you were too naive to notice.’”

So Casey feels a lot of pressure; she needs to perform and prove herself while superiors demand a quick resolution because of the high profile of one of the victims. Fortunately, she’s as determined as ever and perseveres despite a paucity of clues but an abundance of obstruction and political interference. To complicate matters even further, there are personal issues among members of her team so they sometimes have difficulty staying focused. All this leaves Casey wondering whether she even wants to continue in this job that “had taken up so much of her.” She’s a fictional character, but I wanted Casey to feel less alone, and I’m certain most readers will find themselves likewise wanting to support her. Like one of the characters, I wanted to tell Casey, “’stop letting other people decide your self-worth.’”

The plot can be described as twisty, and there is plenty of suspense. There may be a killer on the loose who has other targets, so identifying and finding him/her is of the utmost importance. And it’s not just others who are in danger: Casey herself receives strange phone calls and is followed. Then, when she’s closest to the truth, her superiors pull her back from the investigation.

Oh, then there’s that cliffhanger ending. Aaaghhh!!! I guess I’ll have to wait for the next book in the series, but I’m feeling as frustrated as Casey is at times when she hits a wall in her investigation.

This is a fast-paced book, a compelling read. I’m hooked! When’s the next book being released??!!