Police officer Valerie Hart knows how to track a killer. It’s in her blood. So when San Francisco prosecutor Adam Grant is murdered in his own home, and his wife is badly injured as well, Valerie is on the case. The initial investigation turns up the DNA of a recently paroled ex-con throughout the house, but he has disappeared, so Valerie has to keep digging.
As Adam’s wife and teenaged daughter (thankfully not at home that night) try to recover from their trauma and grief, Valerie quietly puts together a string of clues that lead to a gorgeous blonde known only as Sofia. Her frustration at hitting brick walls throughout the case is magnified by the frustration she is feeling at home. She and her husband are trying to have a baby, and so far, they have not been successful.
But Valerie has secrets. She has a past with the victim, Adam Grant. She has chemistry with the brother of the missing ex-con murder suspect. And she’s not at all certain she has what it takes to be a mother. But as the killer remains elusive, it’s clear that Valerie is not the only one with secrets.
Anything for You, the third in Saul Black’s Valerie Hart series, is a dark and troubling story of women coming to peace with their past and finding a way to move forward into a new future. This is not a lightweight cozy that you can set aside casually (not that there’s anything wrong with that—I love those too). But this book gets its hooks into you and refuses to let up.
There are some dark stories in this novel. It looks at some of the worst places in humans without flinching. But there is also honesty, truth, and grace in unexpected places. If you like a police procedural with a dark side, then Saul Black is your man. If you’re craving a story that shows off a smart woman kicking up dirt and taking names, then Valerie Hart may be your new heroine.
I really loved Anything for You. It wasn’t an easy book to read, but it was well worth it. I recommend this one for a cold winter afternoon, while you’re deep under a warm blanket with something tasty to drink nearby.
Galleys for Anything for You were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.