Reviewed by Cheryl K

TITLE: The Murder Between Us

AUTHOR: Tal Bauer

PUBLISHER: Tal Bauer

LENGTH: 280 pages

RELEASE DATE: January 28, 2021

BLURB:

It was just one night.
It was just one mistake.

FBI Agent Noah Downing had questions about his sexuality that a single night in Vegas should have answered. But dawn finds him on a plane back to Iowa, back on the trail of a vicious serial killer who disappeared six years ago and has suddenly resurfaced. There’s nothing like a murder investigation to escape an existential crisis.

FBI profiler Cole Kennedy is still reeling after finding a heart-stopping connection with a seemingly perfect man, only for him to vanish. When he’s sent to Iowa to profile the killer terrorizing America’s heartland, he finds more questions than answers – both about the murderer and about Noah, the last man he ever expected to see again.

A twisted secret stretches between Cole and Noah, tangled with questions they both have about each other. But now, thrown together, they’ll have to unravel the killer’s profile and follow his trail… back to the very beginning, to where everyone’s questions are answered once and for all.

REVIEW:

I am always amazed by the absolute brilliance of Ta Bauer’s writing.  This story is no exception.  I love the thriller’s Tal creates and the sheer drama and violence one messed up serial killer can bring.  Our main characters are brilliant strong men, who have one of the toughest jobs in the world, find a serial killer, when you have no evidence.  And while you are at it, possibly find the love of your life too.

Tal is one of the best at worldbuilding and creating characters.  Whether it is the main characters or side characters, he fleshes them out to their fullest extent. The world of the serial killer, and the crime scenes are so well crafted – you just feel like you are in the middle of the scenes.

Noah is the assistant special agent in charge of the Des Moines, IA field office.  Cole is a forensic criminal psychologist. Both of them are employed with the FBI. The phrase what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas does not really apply to these guys.  Noah meets Cole while at an FBI convention in Las Vegas.  They meet in the hotel bar, never revealing who or what they are.  Noah is deeply closeted, and Cole is very out and proud.  Noah has given himself one night in Las Vegas, to satisfy his curiosity regarding his sexuality.  Enter the stunning Cole to take all of Noah’s fears away and let him have his one night of sexual experimentation.  They seem like a match made in heaven. But then it all goes wrong.  A case Noah worked six years prior, rears its ugly head and he must rush back to Des Moines without a backward glance. What awaits Noah is the resurgence of the COED killer.  Once he returns to Des Moines, as the special agent in charge, he requests the FBI’s best profiler to assist in solving this case. Cole returns home to DC from Vegas, to be retasked to Des Moines to help with the COED killer case, since he is the best profiler available.  Imagine the shock of seeing each other after their Vegas encounter. Noah is shaken to his core, fearing the out and proud Cole – will out him.  Cole, is shocked to find that Noah has a daughter and an ex-wife.  As they work together, Cole gets to see into Noah’s world and begins to understand Noah better. As more killings occur, they become even more challenging to solve, as the violence of the acts becomes even more palpable.

As Noah and Cole try to work together on the case will they be able to overcome all the obstacles, that keep getting thrown in their paths?  Will they identify the serial killer?  Will they get their happy ever after?  Well, readers, I am not going to spoil this one for you. The suspense and drama of this book kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat, all the way to the end. If you want to know how this one ends, I highly recommend you pick up this wonderfully crafted, suspense filled drama.  You will not be disappointed.  I cannot wait for Tal’s next book.

RATING:

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