I feel like a broken record every time I talk about the latest installment in the Kim Stone series because I always say the books just keep getting better, but y’all, they really and truly do! The authors true talent to genuinely improve book after book in such a long running series is beyond impressive, it’s a special gift that few possess and it always leaves me in awe. The other thing I find myself repeating each review is yes, you should read the entire series in order. Technically you can read this as a standalone but you would be missing out on so much history and rich character development and I’m not sure you would appreciate just how fantastic this series is. 

This time around Kim and her team are racing against the clock, literally. Every case has pressures but the addition of a ticking clock really heightened everything to a new level. The team doesn’t get any rest while they’re trying to solve cryptic puzzles and hard to guess clues and the intensity was at an all time high. As you can imagine this leaves Kim even grumpier than ever but dare I say she showed a softer side at moments here?! I know, sounds unbelievable but it’s true and I adore when the author showcases a slightly more tender side to her character. Don’t worry she’s gone too soft though, the case throws her nemesis Tracy Frost into the mix so she’s still the irritable smart ass we all know and love. As always this was fast paced, twisty and super clever with a case that I would’ve never solved before the team did. I loved how everything wrapped up, especially the last few chapters with glimpses into the entire teams home and private life, it lent of sense of intimacy to the story and brought me back down to earth after an epic conclusion to the case. I can’t say enough good things about this series, it’s a police procedural like no other and definitely one of my all time favorites!