Laura Griffin

Police detective Daniele Harper turns to the Delphi Center crime lab for help in investigating a high-profile double murder, but regrets it when her attraction to their chief firearms examiner threatens her focus on the case.

At Close Range

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance 
  
    
  
  
    Summary 
  
 
When a young couple is found murdered, by the lake, Daniele Harper is brought in as the head police detective to discover what really happened. She is determined to find the answers to a double homicide, that doesn't quite make sense. There are clues in random places and when her brothers best friend, the Chief firearms examiner is implicated in it, Daniele has just realized how much harder it is going to be. Because she has emotional ties to Scott Black. She knows that any interest in him is forbidden and not just professionally. He could easily break her heart if she lets him. Scott Black is a ex Navy SEAL, and now works as a Firearms Examiner, and he is being framed for a double murder he had no involvement in and must find a way to clear his name or all he has worked for will go down the drain including finding the real murderer. But as Daniele and Scott get closer to finding the real murderer, their lives are in danger and are in the hunt of their lives.
 
  
    The Hero 
  
 
Scott Black is a Ex Navy SEAL, and is still adjusting to civilian life. He was never ready to leave his team or the crazy and intense life he became accustomed to. And this new life that he has to get used to which is not easy. Scott has always found himself attraction to Dani, but she is forbidden because she is the sister to his best friend. He respects those boundaries, and keeps his distance from her even though there is a part of him that doesn't want to.
 Her courage humbled him. It was a different kind from what he had. He had courage in combat, yeah, but emotional courage always had been in short supply. 
Scott is quite the sexy alpha ex SEAL that you would want in a story like this. I love how he just goes and does what needs to be done, and the consequences can go out the window. It fits with him being ex military and as a SEAL he knows how to get things done.
 
  
    The Heroine 
  
 
Daniele Harper, is shocked when she learns that she will be the head detective on this case and there are quite a few eyes on this double homicide. At first she is uneasy, because she isn't sure she is ready, but she fits into her role quite nicely and adjusts pretty quickly. I love how quickly she adapts to the situations she is dealt with. Dani has probably been in love with Scott for quite some time, but hasn't fully realized it. She knows he is not for her, she knows that he only has one night stands and it wouldn't do her any good to get involved with him. I loved her strong and take control personality. But you see how torn she is emotionally and that really draws you in.
 
  
    Plot and Story Line 
  
 
At Close Range is the first book that I have read from this author and I am so glad that I took a chance on this book. This book is pretty wonderful, I haven't read a suspense in a little while and was really craving a book like this. Now this book isn't going to be for everyone especially if you are looking for a strong romantic elements. There is a romance and a happy ending, but its not the main aspect of the story. The mystery and the suspense filled plot is what takes control in this book but I really liked that. I think there was a part of me that wished there was a bit more focus on the romance. There is so much that goes on in this book and it was a intense filled ride. I loved the way this author wrote this book because the surprises never stopped coming and I never knew which way was up, or who the real villain was until the end. It does get pretty action packed and I felt like I was on a roller coaster at times. The author really works the reader so well in this book. I think the real downside to this book was the ending, it had a more happy for now feel than that they would really end up together. I would have liked to have felt more satisfied about Dani and Scott as a couple. But other than that, this story was fantastic and can't wait to read more from this author.
 
  
    The Cover
  
 
I like white covers on books, and I like the window effect of the forest there....quite leads to a mysterious effect.
 
  Overall View 
 
At Close Range is a action filled story that is intense, wraps around your senses and is fast moving and mysterious enough to keep you on the edge of your seat....watch out for this one folks!!
 
  
    
  
  Click To Buy On Amazon 
 
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Totally Addicted to Reading

I got my first taste of Laura Griffin’s work when I read Deep Dark, book 10 in the Tracer series, which I enjoyed as such when the opportunity came to read At Close Range, I could not resist. There is no need to read the earlier books in the series before reading this installment as it is possible to read it as a stand-alone.

In this installment, we meet Daniele Harper, a detective who came from a family of law enforcement officials. She became the lead investigator on a high-profile case, which involved the murder of a professor, and his mistress. This case had the potential to make or break her career. Her involvement in the case led to her working closely with her longtime crush Scott Black. Scott is a former Navy Seal who now works as a ballistics expert with the Delphi Centre, a private forensics laboratory.The attraction between Dan but they were off-limits to each as Scott was her brother’s best friend. Things between them became tense between them when Scott became a suspect in her current case. He was not about to sit back and wait for things to play out, his priority was in proving his innocence. Not only does Dani have to deal with her feelings for the man, who is the main suspect, she has to face resentment from colleagues who felt she did not deserve the role of lead investigator on the case. Then more bodies began turning up causing all involved to step back and view things differently. Things became more complicated when Scott discovered that someone wanted Dani dead. Is this related to the current case or is it isolated?

Daniele is stubborn, tenacious, determined and brave; however, there were times when her actions went a bit overboard. I guess this was mostly due to her wanting to prove that she could handle the role of lead investigator. Scott is a protector by nature and he would do what it takes to protect Daniele even if it meant interfering with the investigation. He is not afraid to colour somewhat outside the lines when the need arises.

When the story began, it had me on the edge of my seat due to the tense, edgy and thrilling scene that was taking place. At that moment, I knew there would be interesting times ahead for this story. The pace slowed down somewhat, but this was due to the ongoing investigation. Twists and surprises permeated the pages of the book. When I thought I had it figured out the author throws in a twist that had me rethinking my original stance. 

The pace picked up at around fifty percent (50%) of the book. From then it was an adrenaline-pumping ride.These two danced around each for a long time, that when they finally took the plunge, it was explosive. In spite of this, however, I felt that the romance needed more developing. 

Verdict:If you enjoy stories with lots of action, suspense and mystery, you will love At Close Range. It will keep you guessing at every page turn, which makes it an exciting and thrilling read.

Lynn Braden

Daniele Harper has been made lead detective for the first time in her career, so she feels she has to prove herself by quickly solving the murder of a local college professor and his mistress, but when Scott Black, former SEAL and her brother's best friend becomes the prime suspect, she finds it tough to keep Scott out of the investigation. As a ballistics expert at the Delphi Center, Scott knows that if he doesn't prove his innocence, his reputation is forever tarnished and his career is over. The case becomes more complicated when the murder of another professor becomes linked to the first two, forcing Dani and Scott to look for a motive that might connect all three cases.
At Close Range developed and explained lots of different types of forensic evidence, but the book stalled in places due to the lack of a real suspect throughout most of the book. Too much time was spent showing why Scott was the only suspect even though it was clear that nobody really thought he committed these crimes. Otherwise, this is another good Tracers Series novel worth reading.

At Close Range

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