Series: Bree Taggert # 9
Format: Kindle, 313 pages
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Publisher: Montlake
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
For Sheriff Bree Taggert, a gruesome double murder exposes the secrets of the dead in a shocking novel of suspense by #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.
A teenager returns home from work and finds her parents shot to death in their bed. Responding to the call, Sheriff Bree Taggert realizes the crime wasn’t a burglary gone wrong. The couple was executed. The sole survivor: their traumatized teenage daughter, Claire Mason.
Bree teams up with investigator Matt Flynn to work the case, but together they uncover more questions than answers. When Claire is stalked at the park, it’s clear the killer isn’t finished—and she’s the next target.
As Bree and Matt sift through the past—suspect by suspect—a tangled web of deception emerges, and the truth becomes harder to see. Because the victims’ entire lives were a lie. And the only way to protect the vulnerable girl is to unravel her parents’ secrets.
Melinda Leigh's Track Her Down is the 9th installment in the author's Bree Taggart series. This story actually revolves around 4 key characters: Sheriff Bree Taggart, Investigator Matt Flynn, Deputy Renata Zucco, who is new to the department, and Claire Mason. The story opens with a harrowing scene: teenager Claire Mason returns home from her part-time job to find her adoptive parents brutally executed in their bed, shot to death in what appears to be a targeted killing rather than a random burglary.
Sheriff Bree Taggert, a former Philadelphia homicide detective now serving in rural upstate New York, responds to the call and is immediately struck by the case’s personal resonance—Claire’s loss mirrors Bree’s own childhood trauma of losing her parents to violence. Partnering with her trusted investigator and romantic partner, Matt Flynn, Bree dives into an increasingly complex case. As the investigation unfolds, Bree and Matt uncover a tangled web of deception surrounding Claire’s parents, whose lives were built on lies.
The lack of clear suspects and Claire’s isolation—her parents restricted her from sports, parties, and social connections—raises red flags. When Claire is stalked at a park, it becomes evident that the killer is not finished and has set their sights on her. The narrative races against time as Bree and Matt sift through suspects, unearthing secrets that challenge their understanding of the victims and the motive behind the murders.
The case is further complicated by a bizarre subplot involving exotic, dangerous creatures loose in the woods near Gray’s Lake, adding an unexpected layer of tension. The story culminates in a shocking twist that many readers describe as unpredictable. What's even more surprising is the relationship between Bree and Madeline Jager. Madeline's harsh exterior is finally peeled back to allow the reader to understand that she has never disliked Bree but admired her for her compassion, empathy, and putting the community first.
Supporting characters, such as Bree’s revamped sheriff’s department with its increasing female presence and Matt’s sister Cady, who runs a dog rescue and is firmly in a relationship with Chief Deputy Todd Harvey, enrich the story’s world. The focus on a new character, Deputy Renata, is potentially set up as a love interest for Bree's brother, Adam, who has come a long way since the beginning of this series. So have Kayla and Luke, who seem to have tried to move on past their mother's murder and accepted Bree, Matt, and Diana.
The novel tackles themes of trauma, secrecy, and the ripple effects of hidden truths. Bree’s connection to Claire’s loss underscores the long-lasting impact of childhood tragedy, a recurring motif in the series that resonates with readers. As Adam says in the story, "We could all use the reminder to live in the moment. You shouldn't regret things you had no control over. Regrets are for our decisions, not things that happened to us."
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