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I've read other books by this author and liked them well enough to put her older titles on my TBR list. This is the second book in the Guardians of Justice/Private Justice series. There are three partners in the PI firm and three books in the series--you do the math. :)

This book deals with James "Dev" Devlin. I'm still trying to figure out if Nikki was matchmaking when she gave Laura to him as a client or if it was just a happy circumstance (in that Dev was the one on call at the office or the first one in to the office that morning.) It's weird to think of Nikki trying to set up (romantically) a woman whose teenage sister has disappeared.

The technology in the story is a bit dated. Blackberrys still seem to be the item of choice for the PIs though Mark has a cell phone and a burner phone.

I was glad to see some lessons being learned: Darcy realizing that her sister's rules really weren't all that bad; Darcy realizing her sister did care; Laura realizing that she needed to pick her battles and that she could have rules but there needed to be a good reason for the rules.

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY BE IN THE REMAINDER OF THE REVIEW. READ ON AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
*****

I guessed that the beverages were drugged long before the author confirmed it.

Darcy makes a bad choice when she chooses to run away. I'm not sure about her choice to trust Star. On the one hand, Star knows more about the street life and she does get Darcy to go to a shelter (apparently a reputable one)--on the other had, it is because Star agrees to go with Darcy to Mark's house that Darcy goes.

Laura makes a bad choice when she tears out of the house to go get Darcy. She should have called Dev to let him know what was going on even if she wasn't going to wait for him to come.

I feel a bit bad for Faith. She wanted a relationship with Mark--it's too bad Mark couldn't return her feelings rather than looking for the innocent who'd been tempted but who hadn't gone so far that she couldn't turn her life around. But I also feel relief that she was spared what life with Mark would have been had she gotten her wish. I don't like that Mark played with her feelings the way he did. ( )

A runaway teen, a desperate sister, and an intrepid P.I. determined to discover the truth.

Private Justice Series Book II

Laura's a librarian who loves books but doesn't fit squarely in the stereotype. When her kid-half sister runs away, it's revealed that Laura probably doesn't need to work for a living. I'd have loved to have had that and her hobby be given a more prominent role in the story, but they weren't, so oh well.
James "Dev" Devlin is yet another hunky member of the Phoenix private investigators, and while he misses a few tricks, he succeeds in (finally) being in the right place at the right time with the right gear. This being Dev's story, it's a little more suggestive. As in barely. As in nobody else will even notice.
This book's psycho is cleverly concealed, but I had a pretty good idea what was going on (perhaps because I've read/seen a similar book/TV episode once upon a time). What makes this book interesting anyway is how they get from A to Z. ( )

Trapped is book 2 in the Private Justice series by Irene Hannon. All three standalone novels feature the three men that make up the Phoenix private detective agency and revolve around investigations not pursued by law enforcement agencies. Each book is excellent and must reads for fans of romantic suspense, but Trapped is my favorite by far. If you haven’t read this series yet, get on it ASAP.

Laura Griffith hires Dev Devlin to find her runaway half-sister, Darcy. A huge winter storm has hit St. Louis and local authorities don’t have the time or manpower to pursue the case. Darcy has had trouble adjusting to life with Laura following the deaths of her parents, but Laura is determined to bring her home and start afresh. But Darcy is not just a runaway; she is in real danger.

If fast-paced action and chilling suspense is what you crave, then you are going to love Trapped. The creep-factor ramps up early and never lets up. Dev and Laura are also very attracted to each other, so romance fans will be satisfied too. I liked all the main characters, but it was bad-guy Mark Hamilton that was really intriguing. Hannon does a good job of creating a seriously disturbed character who hides behind a squeaky clean facade. His background is slowly revealed to shed light on his phobias and fetishes. Hannon’s message of God’s protection and provision in the midst of trouble rings true and clear. I listened to the audiobook version of Trapped, and the narration was good.

If you are looking for your next thrill ride with a side of romance, then I suggest you check out Trapped.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults. ( )