Publisher's Weekly Review
Former Chicago medical examiner Virginia "Gin" Sullivan has returned to live in her hometown of Trumbull, Pa., in Carlisle's enjoyable sequel to 2016's Dark Road Home. She has renewed her relationship with her high school boyfriend, contractor Jake Crosby, who played a key role in the earlier book. Then things start to disrupt Gin's tranquil routine. First, Jake begins to display a subtle, inexplicable coolness. Later, a fire (eventually determined to be arson) breaks out at the construction site of high-end homes into which Jake has sunk all his money. Finally, firefighters unearth the badly decomposed remains of a murder victim buried at the site. Attempts on Gin's life raise the stakes, and she must face some old nemeses. Gin, Jake, and secondary characters all gain complexity in this above-average psychological mystery. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary Agency. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
A medical examiner inspecting the body of a Civil War soldier searches for evidence that will identify the deceased and protect her boyfriend.Though she's relocated back to her hometown of Trumbull, Pennsylvania, Dr. Gin Sullivan still hasn't given up her Chicago apartment. The truth is, ever since she came back to town when the body of her long-dead sister was recovered (Dark Road Home, 2016), Gin hasn't been sure of her next step. Staying with her high school flame-turned-adult boyfriend, Jake Crosby, has gradually morphed into full-blown cohabitation, and Gin isn't sure either of them is ready for all the baggage of an adult relationship. Her fears are intensified by a fire on a parcel of land Jake's building on. The fast-moving fire destroys the Archer place, a new home Jake constructed for a nouveau riche out-of-towner, and Gin worries about how much money Jake has wrapped up in the development. Things go from bad to worse when the local police discover a body buried on the site. The corpse is clad in a Civil War uniform, and soon local protestors unite to insist that the land where the soldier was laid to rest not be disturbed. Gin wants Jake to ask her for help, but when he stubbornly refuses to communicate what he needs, she has to guess. As a visiting physician with the medical examiner's office, she helps inspect the body and begins to suspect that the victim died much more recently than his uniform suggests. But she doesn't know whether her finding is rooted in fact or whether she's just seeking a way to keep Jake safe. Developing characters introduced in her series debut, Carlisle continues her fascination with small-town secrets. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
After solving her sister's murder (Dark Road Home, 2016), medical examiner Gin Sullivan still hasn't left her hometown of Trumbull, Pennsylvania, to return to Chicago. The free room and board and her rekindled relationship with architect Jake may have something to do with that. Consulting with the local county, Gin is asked to evaluate a corpse buried near a new development in which Jake is heavily invested. The body is too decomposed for a positive ID, but if the Civil War uniform the victim was wearing is authentic, Jake's project may be stalled indefinitely. Gin begins to work closely with new Police Chief Tuck Baxter, a single dad who makes it pretty clear that if he weren't so darned honorable he'd be making a much stronger play for Gin's affections. Several last-minute revelations make the resolution of the crime less compelling than the potential love triangle. But there's enough drama here to keep readers interested in what the next book in this new series will hold for Gin and the men in her life.--Keefe, Karen Copyright 2017 Booklist
