Rockwell and Decker return in the second book in this series that doesn’t disappoint. I definitely recommend it as a fun, quick thriller.
When the mummified body of a teenage girl is found entombed in a barrel of sand in the basement of an abandoned cabin, clutching an old handmade ragdoll, Olivia Rockwell is horrified, especially because she recognizes the doll… she had one just like it when she grew up. Yet again, she’s worried the murder is connected to her father and his gang, and she’s going to have to delve deep into her past to help Detective Will Decker (“Deck”) and his partner solve the crime.
They often say that second books are a lot harder to write than first books and aren’t usually as good, but this one definitely still hooked me. While it failed to answer any questions about the missing serial killer Drake Devere — the cliffhanger from book one — that makes it easier for readers coming in new to the series to jump in and get caught up enough to really enjoy this one. (And since that usually describes my reading pattern, I always appreciate it when I don’t feel completely lost later in the series.)
I still liked the building tension between Rockwell and Decker, but I also appreciate that is keeps building and keeps the reader guessing will they or won’t’ they. (Those of you who watched Law and Order SVU in the early years will completely understand.) And JB, Deck’s partner, still might be my favorite character in the series.
My biggest complaint about this book, though, is that it really seems like Olivia’s actual job disappeared here. From the first book, we know that she’s so well educated, so successful in her field, really good at what she does, and in this one, it’s hard to tell that she’s actually employed full-time. With this crime taking place outside the prison where she works — unlike the first book — there was definitely less opportunity to show her at work while moving the story forward, but for the first half of the book, I was wondering if she was still employed or just hanging around still recovering from the shock of the ending of the first book.
I’m definitely sticking with this series — already ready for book three to be released — but I really hope we get back to the Drake Devere plot line soon… if it takes years to wrap up, I’m not going to remember the beginning!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for my honest review. It has not influenced my opinion.