REMEMBER HER NAME

In Regan’s latest mystery, an investigation involving a missing child connects to one of Denton Police Det. Josie Quinn’s first murder cases.

The narrative begins with a memory from 15 years ago from when rookie cop Josie became ill at a grisly crime scene involving the Cook family. The story then cuts to the present where Josie, now a seasoned detective, deals with a new case. A baby, Gracie Tate, is found abandoned in a stroller at a park, along with a bloodied diaper bag, a Polaroid photo of muddy rocks,and no sign of her mother, Cleo, who called 911 and left her phone behind: “She didn’t say anything on the call. There was nothing but dead air,” says Josie’s colleague. Police question Cleo’s husband, Remy, who lacks a solid alibi, which leads Josie and her team to strongly consider foul play. Witness accounts describe Cleo being forced into a white Hyundai automobile, and Josie and her fellow cops theorize that the Polaroid could be a deliberate message. Through interviews and analysis, Josie begins piecing together Cleo’s movements before her disappearance; the investigation takes a stark turn when a body is found stabbed to death in a secluded location. Before long, Josie identifies parallels between that murder and the Cook family homicides. Then the killer begins targeting other people involved in the Cook case—including Josie and her family. Overall, Regan delivers an engaging murder mystery and thriller. Although the primary murder plot will draw in many genre fans on its own, the supporting characters also make the crimes and their consequences feel engagingly real. The narrative pacing is so fast that readers may feel as if they’re making discoveries in real time, right alongside the characters. Despite being the 21st book in a long-running series, newcomers to the sometimes-grim world of Det. Josie Quinn are sure to find it accessible.

A fine thriller that delivers the mystery and intrigue that series fans have come to expect.