Well, I’m sitting here in front of my keyboard, thinking what to write about this book… Don’t get me wrong, it’s clearly Josie Quinn and I like Josie and I like the series… but…

Anyway, we’re in Denton once more; this time under complicated circumstances: Flooding has hit the city and Josie is stressed out seeing her city sinking. Fortunately, she isn’t immediately impacted as her home seems to be on a hill or something. I forgot and it doesn’t really matter.

Josie and Noah, probably soon to be declared patron saints of Denton, take in Misty - Josie’s dead ex-husband Ray’s ex-stripper lover - their, Misty’s and Ray’s, kid, Harris, and their dog in. (Yes, everyone and their dog…)
Misty, starting to turn from bimbo to actual human being, immediately counters any kind of normal cognitive reaction by... excessive cooking.

And here’s the “but” from the beginning: I feel I’m starting to tire a bit of the cast. Noah, the too-good-to-be-true saviour type; Misty, the bimbo; Gretchen the “strong silent type” in a female version and - tada - fresh from the mayor’s office: Amber Watts, the mayor’s plant or truly an excitable woman who even steals in the course of the investigation.
It’s just nothing new. That’s not bad in itself but we’re exposed to so many reminiscences of earlier books and Josie’s past, it feels somewhat repetitive.
Moreover, we get to see her almost succumb to her demons once more - which seems to pretty much happen in every Josie Quinn novel these days, too.

Some loose threads (why doesn’t Vera want to enter the policy HQ?) never really get picked up.

And, yet, the story is… serviceable. Nothing spectacular but an ok’ish book, featuring ok’ish people.

If you like the books (which I still do), you can safely pick this one up; you’ll feel right at home. If you’re new to Josie Quinn, start with one of the earlier books and know it never gets any better (but rarely worse either!).

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I love love love Josie Quinn. I can't say enough about this series.
Denton, Pennsylvania is being inundated with rain, which is causing flash flooding everywhere. Josie and Gretchen are called to the rescue of an elderly lady who couldn't evacuate in time. Her house is washed away in the flood waters and it unearths a blue tarp tied up. Josie believes there is a body in that tarp and she risks her life to retrieve it. The body is that of a girl that Josie went to high school with, who appears to have been killed 16 years ago. Josie and her team investigate to find the killer.
This book is action packed. I would definitely recommend this series of you haven't picked it up already. ( )

Constant rainfall and subsequent flooding pervade this story, creates the narrative and undermines every attempt at resolution. There is a body, there is a murder, there is old history, high school memories, not all pleasant, there is doubt, so much doubt. There are lots of unlikable people all determined to preserve their entitled lifestyle in the midst of a natural catastrophe. Many of them are suspects in the crime(s). Then there is Josie Quinn.

Josie Quinn is Superwoman. She had been badly abused as a child and recognizes that she is damaged goods. She is a thoughtful, caring, loyal woman. She is not perfect, she is fallible. She falters, shakes herself awake and stands back up. The dynamics of her family are changing. There are lots of reasons to like her. She is a detective in the Denton, Police Department. She is going to solve this crime. She is going to speak for the harmed and the dead.

Other than some awkward grammar the book was a solid four stars. Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutre for a copy. ( )

Save Her Soul by Lisa Regan
Detective Josie Quinn #9

Denton, Pennsylvania is in flood mode with all emergency personnel, police, and available volunteers doing their best to save citizens when one rescue made by Josie’s team ends up with a body and cold case to solve. Of course, there is more to the story than just identifying the body and trying to determine what happened.

What I liked:
* Josie: an intriguing detective who has personal knowledge related to the murdered teenage girl found in a tarp. She is part of a great team at work and in a healthy relationship with her significant others. Josie is still dealing with her past and what a past it was!
* Gretchen: another detective that has come to Denton more recently and is a good partner to Josie on the job.
* Amber: new to the team and fighting hard to do her job as press liaison though the police suspect her of spying for the mayor.
* Noah: Josie’s significant other doesn’t get a lot of time on the page but seems to be a good man who cares for Josie and is willing to help her work through difficult days on the job.
* Lisette: a loving grandmother to Josie
* The new thread of Hayes appearing on the scene – wonder how he and Josie will interact in the future.
* All of the team members that Josie works with
* The plot, writing, police procedural aspects of the story, and how it all plays out in the end
* Having all the loose ends tied up at the end
* Hoping that there will be a book ten in the future.

What I didn’t like:
* The murderer(s)
* Being reminded of how horrible domestic and child abuse are, that bullying has always been around, dysfunctional relationships and families, knowing that much of what was evil, sad or disturbing is real and true for many in this world.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars ( )