Right Behind Her by Melinda Leigh @MelindaLeigh1 #ChristinaTraister @BrilliancePub

the setup…
It’s been almost thirty years since that nightmare evening when Sheriff Bree Taggert’s family was ripped apart. Her abusive father murdered her mother and then killed himself while eight-year old Bree protected her little sister Erin and infant brother Adam. He’s now a renowned but reclusive artist and bought the property years ago but it remained abandoned. At Adam’s request, he and Bree visit the property, the first time for her since that awful night. They find a squatter and after the chase, they discover something much worse…the remains of two bodies that were apparently buried there before the death of their parents.

the heart of the story…
I understood why Bree never wanted to see that house again but also got why Adam needed to be there, see the life he never remembered through Bree’s eyes. It shouldn’t have surprised me that they’d find something else awful there given Jake Taggert’s history. But I felt bad for Bree that she not only had to revisit the worst night of her life but now had to fully immerse herself in the past to identify the victims and solve this crime, potentially implicating her father as the murderer. There were a few potential suspects that she narrowed down, but the motive was elusive. Meanwhile, I liked that opening these wounds brought her closer to Matt Flynn, the man she’s currently seeing and who’s her consultant. Bree’s great at her job but more aloof when it comes to meaningful relationships. His impact and that of her family have changed her in a good way.

the narration…
I’m enjoying Traister’s voice for this series and she’s become synonymous in my mind with the stories and characters. I will only listen to the books going forward.

the bottom line…
This was the story I was waiting for, the one that would provide some insight into Bree’s father Jake, maybe provide some answers as to why he did what he did. While most of those questions were resolved, there are new ones cropping up. The mystery surrounding what happened to those two victims was twisty and head scratching but I felt I always knew who was behind it, even if the motive escaped me. There was a surprise in the end that needs further exploration, too. I had a good time following the clues and seeing Bree shed some heavy mental baggage and weight. This continues to be a compelling series.

Book Info

• Release Date: September 14, 2021
• Series: Bree Taggert #4
• Narrator: Christina Traister
• Audio Length: 9 hours, 26 minutes
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio

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(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)