Burning Proof

April 11, 2016
In the second Cold Case Justice contemporary mystery (after Drawing Life), Luke Murphy, a former police officer in Long Beach, Calif., uses his past experience to get inside the mind of protagonist Abby Hart, a devoutly Christian detective who's driven to learn more about her own parents' murder. Private investigator Luke has romantic feelings for Abby that he can't shake, but he realizes love will have to wait until the cold case murder of her parents is solved. Abby's having trouble coming to terms with errors in her past, and she'll need Luke's help if she wants to get over self-doubt and find God in the mess of police work: "She tried but felt as though a barrier popped up every time she started a prayer. There was a heaviness on her soul, an oppression she didn't know how to crawl out from under." When Luke uncovers startling evidence about the potential arsonist and killer, he is torn between revealing the truth and protecting Abby. For readers who want a true portrait of police life alongside psychological and spiritual explorations of loss, Cantore's latest will be arresting.

April 1, 2016

In her second outing (after Drawing Fire), Det. Abby Hart questions her career choice after an arrest gone awry. She teams up once again with PI Luke Murphy to work a cold case, and while a mutual attraction between the two cannot be denied, Luke's secret may make love impossible.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2016
The second novel in retired police-officer Cantore's sharp Cold Case Justice series, after Drawing Fire (2015), finds homicide detective Abby Morgan wondering about her career choice after being forced to kill a victim's father when he pulls a gun. The tragedy also raises doubts about her engagement as she faces her growing feelings toward PI Luke Murphy. Luke and his partner (Abby's former colleague Woody) discover a clue to the case involving Abby's parents and Luke's uncle. At first, they keep it from her as she deals with the consequences of her shooting, but a startling development jolts them into working together to discover the whole truth, even as others try to stop them. The trio also works on an old abduction case. When Abby successfully gets the victim to talk, the lead triggers an investigation into a serial killer, which, in turn, involves the people who are after Abby and Luke. Questions of faith shape the well-woven details, the taut action scenes, and the complex characters in Cantore's riveting mystery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)