Innocence Road by Laura Griffin
Publication Date: November 11th 2025 by Berkley
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★
My
Thoughts:
Leanne was finding her footing in the department as a newcomer transferring back to her hometown of Madrone, Texas after years away in the Dallas PD. When a young woman is found beaten and murdered, Detective Leanne Everhart is assigned to the case. Unfortunately, her Chief is more interested in managing the fallout of a past high profile murder case where the conviction has just been overturned. Leanne is very familiar with the case as her father was one of the detectives that investigated and the situation is a hot mess.
As Leanne digs into to her case, she discovers there are other unsolved murders in the area with a similar MO and is surprised no one has followed up. Also, she runs into resistance at every turn with her Chief.
I really liked Leanne and was frustrated for her as she was undermined in her efforts to solve the case. She goes about things methodically, adding facts and theories as she uncovers evidence. The past case with her father is troubling. Leanne’s also dealing with family issues and a romantic relationship. Although, the romance is very much in the background. It was a satisfying conclusion and I wonder if this is the start to a series. I’m all in if so!
4 Stars
Book Description:
Detective Leanne Everhart swore she’d never go back to her hometown near Marfa, Texas—but she returns when her brother needs her, only to find a town in need too, still torn apart by a decades-old crime.
Leanne Everhart knows women have something to fear in her artsy hometown, especially so if they’re not rich, white locals. Returning to town after her father’s death, she sees the ugliest sides of an area that draws people for its severe, untamed natural landscape.
While her department faces mounting backlash over a recent wrongful conviction in the long-ago murder case of a popular local teenager—which is now unsolved—Leanne is called to a fresh crime scene at the edge of the desert. A nameless woman was found murdered, with no clues as to her identity. As Leanne digs into the crime scene evidence, she grows convinced this latest murder case is linked with the local teenager’s murder. And to multiple cold cases, all unnamed female victims, that have all been shelved by her department without leads.
Now, with conflicted loyalties and without allies, Leanne must hunt down a serial killer, one who’s been preying on local women for two decades, growing bolder and more ruthless with every strike.
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