The One Who Walked Away (Mendocino #1) by Karen Rose
Publication Date: August 11th 2026 by Berkley
Pages: 528
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★
My
Thoughts:
Elle Randolph traded her career as a family law attorney
in Florida for life as a bounty hunter after a terrible accident ended in
tragedy. She left Florida and went to work as a bounty hunter with one of her
close friends. Looking for a fugitive leads her to the small, picturesque town
of Mendocino, California. When the innkeeper of the hotel they’re staying at is
murdered it seems there’s more to the job than they first thought.
Detective Ronan Clarke isn’t thrilled to have two bounty
hunters muddling his murder investigation, but he gradually forms a reluctant
friendship with Elle, and an attraction begins to grow between them. Unlike her
partner, Elle seems to have a strong moral compass and is more willing to share
important information. Still, as the body count rises, it becomes clear that
Elle may know more than she’s letting on.
The case grew increasingly intense as the killer became
more desperate. At first, I wasn’t sure what their motives were, which kept me
guessing throughout the story. I found myself worried not only for Elle but for
anyone who crossed paths with her, especially as several clues seemed to point
toward her being the murderer.
I loved the setting of Mendocino, a town I’ve visited
many times. It was easy to picture the charming community and its breathtaking
views of the Pacific Ocean along the Northern California coast.
I was also happy with how the romance was handled. It fit
naturally into the story without overshadowing the mystery, and given the
dangerous circumstances, anything more prominent wouldn’t have felt believable.
I really enjoyed The One Who Walked Away, the
first book in Karen Rose’s new series. I’m a big fan of her romantic suspense
novels and always look forward to her latest releases. I was very satisfied
with how everything came together and am hoping there are many more mysteries
to come in this series!
4 Stars
Book Description:
A bounty hunter must outrun her past before it catches up to her in this pulse-pounding new standalone thriller
Bounty hunter Elle Randolph takes on every case she can, in an effort to outrun herself. Three years ago, she was the only one who walked away from a car crash that killed her husband and two others. Although she was cleared of any wrongdoing, she is fueled by guilt and dedicated to solving other people’s problems. But her running is over when she’s identified as a person of interest in a murder investigation.
Detective Ronan Clarke, a single dad for fifteen years, has been laser-focused on raising his daughter and serving the people of Mendocino County, California. He’s got everything under control—until a bounty hunter enters his jurisdiction, keeping secrets and bringing murder to his quiet town. The hunter is definitely involved in his current case, but exactly how is his question. Could she be his killer? As he unravels her secrets, he becomes increasingly troubled by what he finds. While Elle is forced to reexamine every painful memory of the life she left behind, Ronan grows more and more sure of her innocence. But can he trust himself to uncover the truth amid their growing attraction?
No comments:
Post a Comment