Body of Evidence - (Triple Threat) by Irene Hannon (Paperback)

Body of Evidence is the third book in the Triple Threat series and in my opinion it's the best of the three. This time the story is centered on the youngest Reilly sister, Grace, who is a forensic pathologist in rural Missouri. Her eventual romantic interest is the new sheriff, Nate Cox. The two are drawn together when Grace begins to question a couple of deaths among the elderly in the community. As a result Grace becomes the target of an unknown perpetrator. The deeper she digs in the more dangerous things become. The plot in this story is complex and obviously involved a massive amount of research on the author's part. I had no idea of who the murderer was until the author began to reveal the culprit. And when she did I was still astounded by the complexity of the situation. Since the book is part of a series I'm often asked if it can be read as a stand alone title. On this one I would say yes you could but you will miss out on the references to past stories involving Grace's two sisters. However the main story is complete in this book. I would say read the whole series if you can but if not enjoy your time in this book. I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

The final book in the Triple Threat Series by Irene Hannon was well worth the wait! This is a stunning conclusion to the series that kept me glued to my seat as I devoured the book and all of its twists. Dr. Grace Reilly is a forensic pathologist while Nate Cox is the sheriff of the little town in Missouri where they live. Grace is convinced that the deaths of several elderly patients is not natural and decides to investigate, even convincing Nate to join in her quest for the truth. She is a stalwart defender of justice and knows something is killing off the elderly, if she can just figure out how. The characters are credible and the action is fast paced and riveting. Even the secondary characters play a major role in solving the mystery, especially investment agent Dave Mullins who is a very likable if gullible character. All of the roles of the characters flow together seamlessly and it was impossible for me to guess the culprit until the very end. That made this novel a very satisfying suspense since I was not able to predict the ending too soon. The romance is inevitable but so lovely, with Nate and Grace gradually giving in to their attraction for each other. I enjoyed the repartee between Grace and her sisters, Eve and Cait and the teasing they all do together. In fact, there was nothing that I did not enjoy about this spine-tingling romantic suspense and look forward to the next suspense series from Hannon. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars "There were better places for a thirty-year-old single woman to hang out at nine o'clock on Friday night than a funeral home. " Except if you were a dedicated forensic pathologist like Grace Reilly. Reviewing paperwork prior to an autopsy didn't always fit into a nine-to-five schedule . . . on any day. Except that on this particular evening, she was going to discover that someone else knew where she was. . . . leaving her no choice but to have local law enforcement get involved. When Sheriff Nate Cox responds to Grace's distress call , he isn't expecting to have such a personal reaction to the lovely victim. The crime wasn't serious, but coupled with another bizarre incident, his instincts quickly shift from attraction into a higher level of attention. While Nate and Grace take a second look into her two possibly unrelated personal circumstances, Grace continues her professional probe into two deaths ruled as natural, but with similar oddities. "Appearances weren't always what they seemed." Honestly, it seemed easy to suspect every single character of foul play; the hints are subtle, the evidence is cleverly concealed, and multiple dead ends pop up around every turn. Obviously, there is a highly orchestrated scheme playing out in the background and "someone who knew how to kill people without leaving evidence of murder was a formidable opponent who could attack without warning, wreak havoc, and vanish without a trace". Thank goodness for Nate! And the power of prayer!

I love that I thought I knew shortly into the mystery who the murderer was, but that I was so wrong. Well played red herrings are so appreciated. The solution didn't come by popping a new or obscure character into that role at the last minute, also greatly appreciated. The story included some sweet romance, but it did not overpower the suspense element. While it is the third book of a series, Body of Evidence works well as a stand-alone read. I highly recommend this book, and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. Irene Hannon is an author that I often recommend to those who enjoy romantic suspense.

“But he wasn’t a quitter–and from what he knew about Grace, she wasn’t, either. Between the two of them, they’d solve this case and bring BK to justice,” Nate concludes in Irene Hannon’s novel, Body of Evidence. ~ What ~ The third book in the Triple Threat series, this three-hundred-sixty-eight-page paperback targets those interested in a romantic suspense about finding a killer who is targeting the elderly. With slang words such as dang, drat, and heck, the topics of harassment, murder, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. While the beginning has praises and a list of other books written by the author, the ending includes an excerpt for another book series, the author’s note and biography, and advertisements. In this ongoing current-day story about three sisters, thirty-year-old forensic pathologist Grace Reilly has been living in a rural Missouri town where elderly people are dying of natural causes, yet she believes there is a pattern developing with their deaths. When Sheriff Nate Cox gets involved, the two have to work around the clock to find the killer while they flirt through their budding relationship. ~ Why ~ If you like a series about siblings with a deep bond who are community-driven, this one is about the youngest sister and her attraction to Sheriff Nate Cox as they piece together to find out why so many older residents in their county are dying. I liked the medical details of the autopsies, although some were gross and graphic. ~ Why Not ~ Those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ may not understand the importance of prayer. Others may not like the references to body parts doing an autopsy or small-town living where everyone knows everyone else’s business. ~ Wish ~ Although the tale briefly mentioned praying to God, it lacked relying on Christ during day-to-day challenges and did not have the eternal plan of salvation. I figured out who the killer was about halfway into the read so found the romance became more of the focal point. I prefer no slang in Christian reads. ~ Want ~ If you like a romantic suspense about a couple finding love between searching for a killer of the elderly and doing autopsies at the morgue, this may interest you, but I found it lackluster on the suspense and heavy on the romance. Thanks to Revell for furnishing this complimentary book to read and review.