Tracking the scents of the missing

might be the only way to save them.

Partnered with her air-scent dog and Sheriff Dennis Monroe, marriage and family therapist Charlotte Bradley is desperate to put an end to a black-market baby smuggling ring in Anderson County.

Who is kidnapping the pregnant girls she counsels and taking their babies?

As Charlotte searches for answers, she and Dennis must dodge gunfire and deadly attacks.

But the sinister agenda they uncover just might include her.

Titles in the Deputies of Anderson County series include — Buried Cold Case —♥— Twin Murder Mix-Up —♥— Detecting Secrets —♥— Killer Christmas Evidence —♥—

This is a romance that includes no swearing and no sexual content (beyond kisses) – However, it is a Romantic Suspense, so implied (or actual violence) is a possibility.

Title:  Detecting Secrets
Series:  Deputies of Anderson County #3
Author:  Sami A. Abrams
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Published:  February 21, 2023
Publisher:  (Harlequin) Love Inspired Suspense
My Rating:  4.5 stars

I found Detecting Secrets, the third title in the Deputies of Anderson County series, to be a completely fascinating story on so many levels, but I really enjoyed learning more about air-scent tracking dogs.  It is always amazing to me to discover the many ways our dog companions can be taught unique abilities (based on their own abilities), from trained comfort dogs all the way through to criminal tracking K-9s, they are so unique in my eyes.  It may seem a strange way to begin a review, but Theo completely won my admiration and my heart early on.

When one of the pregnant teens that Charlotte offers counseling to goes missing, she and her unique air-scent tracking/companion dog, Theo, begin searching for them right before the onset of a brutal winter storm’s approach.  What she and Theo discover will break hearts, lead to danger from unexpected places, and bring the local sheriff into her life in both a professional and very personal manner.

While Dennis is a devoted sheriff to this small town, he has also become an extremely devoted father to the five-year-old daughter he never knew existed due to his ex’s lies.  When Amelia’s mother dies, child services contact Dennis, and he steps in to give his daughter the life she should have had from the moment of her birth – a loving daddy who would give the world to his little girl.  Instead, Amelia is far too old for her tender years, and it’s up to her dad to make certain she is safe and allowed to be just a kid again.  If he’s a bit overprotective, well, it might be understandable, given the circumstances.  Now, he’s been called in on the search for the missing pregnant teen, and his life will never be quite the same again.

Detecting Secrets is heartbreaking on so many levels.  Yet, it’s also uplifting as answers are found, vile villains are brought to justice, and a woman’s nightmare turns into a life filled with love… eventually.  The journey to find those answers lies in a well-written, engaging, suspenseful story that kept my attention riveted on the page throughout.  There were some aspects of Charlotte’s and Dennis’ story that were easy to guess and others that seemed to come out of nowhere to surprise me.  Their story is faith-based, there were moments when I really wanted to set Dennis down for a serious chat.  We never know what we are capable of until we’re backed into a corner with no choice.  I admired Charlotte for her strength and her ability to begin to see what she had to leave behind in order to embrace a new, loving life.

If you enjoy a well-written romance that will grab your attention early on and never let go, or if figuring out where the pieces of the puzzle fit, or if you simply love a good romance, then Detecting Secrets should be on your radar.  It is the third title in the Deputies of Anderson County series but could be read as a standalone with no trouble at all.

I own a Kindle edition of this title.

Available in print or for your favorite e-reader