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May 02, 2019emerge rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Ok faithful fans, cast your mind back….remember book #1? It all began with the search for a missing little girl named Lucy Downey. Now that case has come back to haunt those involved. If your memory is as dodgy as mine, no worries. Nelson & Ruth remember it well. When a stone circle is found on the salt marshes it yields the usual grave goods plus something that triggers memories of an old case…the skeleton of a young girl. It’s like stepping back in time in more ways than one & with Michelle due any day, Nelson really doesn’t need reminders of when he met Ruth. The cryptic symbols & anonymous messages that ensue seem almost normal as Nelson’s crew begin to dig through old reports of missing children. It’s a somber task so when Michelle & Nelson welcome a healthy baby to the family, it’s definitely good for morale. Unfortunately the celebrations are cut short when another little girl goes missing. Yup, just like old times. All the old crew is back & they have their hands full. The historical & current investigations twist & intertwine in unexpected ways that make for a great story full of surprises & suspense. Several of the returning cast also deal with personal issues & some of the relationships are in for a shake-up. As for the new characters, you’ll be eying more than a few of them with suspicion every time they step on the page. I really enjoyed the investigative aspects of the book, particularly the whole story surrounding the body found in the salt marsh. In some ways, this outing is all about the kids…the missing, the hidden & the newly born. For me, there was just one disappointing development. No spoilers here but I was really hoping one element of the overall story arc would remain firmly in the past. Just personal preference & no reflection on this author’s ability to spin a great tale. Linking this book to the first in the series & tying up some plot lines gives the reader a feeling of coming full circle. By the end Ruth has a decision to make & I look forward to seeing how she fares in the next outing.