Elizabeth Goddard
336 pages
Revell, 2023
Back Cover Description:
Police Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job in the quiet Alaska town of Shadow Gap when an unexpected string of criminal activity leaves her with a wounded officer, unexplained murders, and even an attack on her own father. Despite her mistrust of outsiders, she turns to Grier Brenner, a newcomer who seems to have the skills and training Autumn needs to face this threat to her community.
Grier is in Alaska for the same reason so many others are–to disappear–when Chief Long enlists his help. He emerges from the shadows and proves his mettle, but his presence in her life could be a deadly trap for them both. If his secret is exposed, all will be lost. And he’s not sure even Autumn could save him.
As the stakes rise and the dangers increase, Autumn and Grier must rely on each other to extinguish the deadly threats.
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This book was sent to me for an honest review as part of the Revell Reads review program. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cold Light of Day is the first in Elizabeth Goddard’s new Missing in Alaska series. I’ve always been fascinated by ‘the Last Frontier’ and especially so after traveling to Alaska last summer, so I was immediatly intrigued by the description of this story.
The story begins with lots of action and that trend continues throughout. It’s romantic suspense, so there is plenty of attraction/chemistry between the two main characters and plenty of dangerous moments as the mystery unfolds. There are several twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and I thought the reveals of Grier’s past and a couple of other surprises were well-paced.
As I mentioned, this book is set in Alaska, specifically in the town of Shadow Gap. As far as I can tell this is not a real place, but the descriptions of the town, it’s occupants, and the land surrounding it made it feel very real. In some ways the story hinges on the small town atmosphere and the loyalty and comraderie that develops between long-term residents in such a small community. The characters also travel to other parts of Alaska during their investigation, including Skagway, which is one of the places I visited on my trip. After reading about the train ride they take there, I enthusiatically told my husband, “They went on the train we went on!”
If you like fast-paced romantic suspense with a strong sense of place, Cold Light of Day would make a good addition to your TBR. This is my first book by Elizabeth Goddard, but it certainly won’t be my last! She has an extensive backlist that can be enjoyed now, and I am anticipating the release of the next book in this series as well.