Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Romance
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: October 2015
Ten years ago, Nikki Boyd’s sister vanished without a trace. The unsolved case has driven her career and made her one of the top agents on the Tennessee Missing Person Task Force. While rappelling with Tyler to commemorate the anniversary of her best friend and his wife’s death, Nikki receives a call — a girl is missing and the abductor left behind a Polaroid photograph. Nikki suddenly finds herself face-to-face with the past. With clues that point to the old case that has haunted her for a decade, the job has become more personal than ever.
Lisa Harris’ Vendetta carries readers on an adrenaline-pumping race against time as Nikki hunts a sinister abductor who somehow eludes law enforcement and continually stays a step ahead of them. Though fast-paced and intriguing the storyline has been done numerous times. I wouldn’t have minded this except that the ending came as a letdown as well. I felt cheated when the villain’s identity surfaced since the person didn’t make an appearance until well into the book. While the author provided plenty of red herrings, she didn’t create a trail for readers to follow to the actual culprit.
Nikki was a sympathetic character I could root for as I watched her grapple to balance the past with the present. Tyler was everything a leading man should be — loyal, protective, caring, and did I mention, handsome? I enjoyed watching the tug and pull of their budding feelings for each other and look forward to seeing their relationship grow as the series progresses.
Harris did a good job of placing me in the middle of the Smoky Mountains with the task force. I worried right alongside Nikki about the dropping temperatures, the ticking clock, and how to navigate the confusing maze of trees. Though this mystery comes to a satisfying conclusion, Harris leaves enough questions to make me eager to continue the Nikki Boyd Files series. I recommend Vendetta to fans of romantic suspense stories sprinkled with an element of faith.
Review copy provided by publisher. Thanks!
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