Faceless
3.5 Stars

When Wynter Moore was four, her mother was murdered in a seemingly random crime. But a chance encounter in the Pike cemetery decades later suggests that there is more to it than meets the eye. Soon Wynter and her childhood friend, game warden Noah Heller, are working to expose the darker side of her mother's life, but someone is determined to keep the past buried even if it means burying Wynter with it.

Series note: While this is book #2 in the series, the characters are completely new, and most of the book takes place in Larkin, Iowa, not Pike, Wisconsin. As such, the book can be read as a standalone.

The mystery revolving around the death of Wynter's mother is intriguing. The inclusion of the killer's POV adds another layer to the intensity of the suspense and the action. While it is possible to guess the identity of the culprit by process of elimination, the climax and resolution are exciting, and the final twist at the end is quite a surprise.

Wynter and Noah's friends-to-lovers romance is very engaging. They are a likable couple, and it is entertaining to follow along as they realize the feelings they have always had for one another.

The biggest problem with the book is the underlying misogyny toward the various female characters, which is somewhat disconcerting. They are all such stereotypes - the spoiled and adulterous wife, the scorned spouse, the jealous secretary, the lesbian therapist, the flighty artist, the sexy heroine - did Ivy have a checklist?

Overall, the mystery and romance are entertaining enough but there is nothing truly original or unique about the book. A good read for a rainy day. ( )

This is the second book in the Pike, Wisconsin series. Though Wynter, the main character doesn't live in Pike, she has strong ties to it. A case file left behind by the former sheriff of Pike sets off Wynter's inquisitive mind. The circumstances surrounding her mother's death raised more questions than gave answers and so she and her BFF Noah set off a chain of events that leads to more blood and violence along with revealing secrets that many would kill to hide. This is an intense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat while you ooh and aah at the romance that develops between Wynter and Noah amongst all the bloodshed.

Advance review copy provided by NetGalley for voluntary review consideration. ( )