•spoilers, read at your own risk!• 

Auggie and Theo are back in Wahredua with the gang, trying to keep their involvement in the increasingly dangerous case to a minimum. But when two students go missing Theo can't let it go, making him and Auggie new targets for the killers. In order to keep their family safe, Auggie and Theo have to find answers, and fast. 

Auggie and Theo are one couple who I really wanted to have another series (didn't Auggie's dad show up at the end of their shorts? What happened there?). They have so much story left to tell, so I was really looking forward to more of them. Their books take place even before the first Hazard and Somers, so it's been a while since we've seen them, outside of Hazard and Somers' books. 

For the most part they've been happy, living in Wahredua with Theo teaching, Auggie working on his social media management agency, and raising Lana in their quiet home.  But now they are going through a bit of a rough patch, not made any better with all the recent extenuating circumstances. Theo's anxiety and fear have been steadily increasing, making him act more volatile and angry, and Auggie isn't sure how to handle his ever-shifting moods. Theo is trying his hardest to avoid the feelings from the "bad old days" that he doesn't see how he's already reverted back to this mentality. When things hit a breaking point, Theo has to reconcile that how he's handling his fears is straining his relationship with Auggie. It's a little frustrating to read after all they've been through, but the one constant is that Theo adores Auggie. He has so much love and affection for him, and when he's faced with reality of how much he's hurting them, he's able to pull himself from the brink and to give Auggie the reassurance and love he needs. 

Auggie has grown so much from the young, flashy college kid to the mature, caring man he is now, but he still has the same self-doubt at times. He's so good with Lana and wants to not only officially be apart of her and Theo's family but build their own together, though knows Theo is more hesitant. Auggie's own insecurities grow the more Theo ignores the hints and his attitude regresses. When Theo realizes how he's hurting the most important person in his life and confesses his worries to Auggie, Auggie shows how deeply he loves Theo with unwavering patience and support. While they started a little rough, I really liked where they ended up. They still have a bit to go but they were able to communicate and work through their problems. Relationships are about growth and change and I loved seeing them go through these changes together and come out stronger on the other side, more in love than ever. 

The case was a bit off a bummer, I can totally empathize with how Theo felt so helpless and frustrated with how these kids were treated. The case was a bit of a mirror for Theo's own uncertainty with growing their family, more of his fears and anxieties made real. While I didn't know ultimately who the killer was, the ties to the Cottonmouth Club were obvious. I was so content at the end, all set up for the next book and happy for Auggie and Theo, but then those last few sentences literally made me gasp out loud. I'm actually a bit upset over one part of it, but it takes the case to a whole other level. 

This book was a complete 180 in the tone from the first book. While I was all giddy and happy seeing my favorites all together, this was a dose of reality back to how their books normally go. It was a lot more serious, not nearly as many light-hearted moments, but there was some really sweet times that broke the growing tension. There was definitely more of a focus on the case and Auggie and Theo's relationship troubles versus the group as a whole, but there were still plenty of shenanigans. I'm still loving watching all these friendships unfold, especially for Auggie who really thrives with that kind of acceptance from his peers. Immediately jumping into the next after that ending, and I'm ready for North and Shaw's time to shine! 

Read if you like: 

• mystery/suspense 

• Hazardverse crossover series             

• hurt/comfort                     

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