Good book. It's been several months since the murder of Jones's father and uncle. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Jones hires a California PI to do what the cops can't. Allie has a high success rate using unusual methods, and she's going to need every one of them on this case.

I liked both Jones and Allie. In previous books in the series, we've seen how the murders affected the whole family. Here we see more of their effect on Jones. He and his dad had something of a strained relationship thanks to Jones's career decisions. It eats at Jones that his father died before he repaired their relationship and that his dad may have still been disappointed in Jones's choices. Finding the killer will go a long way toward making him feel that his dad could be proud of him again. Even though he is part of a big family, Jones is also a bit of a loner. He loves his family, but he also needs his time alone and is somewhat set in his ways.

Allie never liked being the center of attention, even as a child. As she got older, she preferred her own company and her computer and developed the reputation of being socially awkward. She doesn't suffer fools gladly, tends to get lost in whatever she's working on to the exclusion of everything else, and can be uncomfortably honest. Allie will also do almost anything to avoid groups of people.

The first meeting between Jones and Allie was a bit awkward thanks to a hotel disaster and a rainstorm, plus Jones's tendency to get lost in his work. I liked that they came to an understanding quickly, aided by Jones's invitation to stay with him. It was easy to see the beginnings of some sparks between them as they ironed out the details of their cohabitation. Those sparks flared a little brighter when Jones talked her into attending the beer pairing dinner at his cousin's restaurant that night. The night finished with a bang when Allie was attacked and stabbed. Jones's protectiveness kicked in, especially when they discovered it wasn't a random attack.

I loved watching the bond between them develop. Besides their loner tendencies, each time one of them shared something of their pasts, the similarities drew them closer together. Though they tried to keep things professional initially, their attraction soon became too much to resist. Even then, they intended to keep things casual, but their hearts did not cooperate. Allie feared that she brought danger to Jones and tried to pull away, but he was determined to stay close. In the end, they discovered that even two loners could find happiness with someone special.

The suspense of the story kept me hooked from beginning to end. Because the things that Allie does aren't always admissible in court, even if she knew something to be true, proof needed to be found. The attempts to obtain that proof often put Allie and Jones in danger, and there were many times I wasn't sure how it would turn out. I was fascinated by Allie's methods, and I could see why Jones was also captivated by her. As Jones and Allie began to close in on their quarry, the intensity of the danger also increased. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, though it didn't turn out quite as I expected. Some questions are resolved, others remain unanswered, and no one will give up until justice is served.

There was a secondary mystery going on that involved Allie. Because of the work she does, she has made some powerful enemies. From a random stabbing that wasn't so random to attacks on both her and Jones, they never know where it will come from next. Allie suspected who was behind it, but she couldn't take action without proof, especially considering the background. That the resolution of this issue came in the middle of their other operation added complications to an already intense situation. I liked how a bit of Jones's past played an important part in ending the threat. ( )