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adorabooks's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
mistysreads's review
4.0
Brooke Porter is a trace evidence analyst, when she arrives at the home of a murdered woman the only thing more shocking than the scene itself, is that someone walked away. Now its up to her to tell the police there is a witness, but she is invested in helping them find the boy. However, while she is insanely focused she is also distracted by homicide detective Sean Byrne.
Sean has had his eye on Brooke for months, and while he is assigned to investigate the murder, this one gets to him more because Brooke is right in the middle of it. Sean is determined to help her on the case, as long as she isn't in danger, but his attraction to her and keeping work separate is difficult. Sean will make sure that Brooke is safe, but it gets even more complicated when the killer(s), is determined to get Brooke out of the picture because she knows too much.
Laura Griffin's Tracer series is a great mystery to delve into and some even hit really close to home depending on your career. I really enjoyed Touch of Red you were never quite sure where the evidence was going to lead the investigators or who the killer was until the very end. I thought the romance between Brooke and Sean progressed at a natural pace and they have great chemistry. Sean's frustration with Brooke was sometimes entertaining because she is a determined woman and is set on doing what she needs to do to not only solve the case but help the boy involved as well. While we see characters from previous books, its not necessary to read the series in order.
Received ARC in exchange for honest voluntary review from NetGalley
Sean has had his eye on Brooke for months, and while he is assigned to investigate the murder, this one gets to him more because Brooke is right in the middle of it. Sean is determined to help her on the case, as long as she isn't in danger, but his attraction to her and keeping work separate is difficult. Sean will make sure that Brooke is safe, but it gets even more complicated when the killer(s), is determined to get Brooke out of the picture because she knows too much.
Laura Griffin's Tracer series is a great mystery to delve into and some even hit really close to home depending on your career. I really enjoyed Touch of Red you were never quite sure where the evidence was going to lead the investigators or who the killer was until the very end. I thought the romance between Brooke and Sean progressed at a natural pace and they have great chemistry. Sean's frustration with Brooke was sometimes entertaining because she is a determined woman and is set on doing what she needs to do to not only solve the case but help the boy involved as well. While we see characters from previous books, its not necessary to read the series in order.
Received ARC in exchange for honest voluntary review from NetGalley
beastreader's review
4.0
Another great read by author Laura Griffin. If you have not read any of these books in this series, you are missing out. I can't stop reading these books fast enough.
The relationship dynamics between Brooke and Sean was good. I don't often say this about relationships in my thriller books but in this case, I actually wanted more. I wanted Brooke and Sean to interact more as a couple. It was like they would take one step forward and two steps back. Yet, Sean is perfect for Brooke. He respects her space but at the same time would do anything to protect her. Brooke needed that as she put herself in dangerous situations with her push forward attitude. Although, I liked this about her as she didn't really show fear.
When it came to the storyline as a whole, I liked the vibe. The story moved at a great pace with plenty of intensity. Which picked up towards the end. Laura Griffin brings the intensity and packs a strong punch with Touch of Red!
The relationship dynamics between Brooke and Sean was good. I don't often say this about relationships in my thriller books but in this case, I actually wanted more. I wanted Brooke and Sean to interact more as a couple. It was like they would take one step forward and two steps back. Yet, Sean is perfect for Brooke. He respects her space but at the same time would do anything to protect her. Brooke needed that as she put herself in dangerous situations with her push forward attitude. Although, I liked this about her as she didn't really show fear.
When it came to the storyline as a whole, I liked the vibe. The story moved at a great pace with plenty of intensity. Which picked up towards the end. Laura Griffin brings the intensity and packs a strong punch with Touch of Red!
bookloverchelle's review
4.0
I was late to the game reading the Tracers series but I've enjoyed every book I've picked up so far. I really enjoy the romantic suspense genre and finding someone who does it well can sometimes be hard. Ms. Griffin does a great job of combining the relationship development and story line build up. Brooke is a dedicated CSI, hard at work at every crime scene. Sean is a detective who's had his eye on Brooke for a while, not just because he's impressed by her work ethic. As they work different angles to uncover a murderer, along with the other hard working crime scene techs and detectives from earlier books, they find more and more excuses to work together. As they close in on the killer will Brooke and Sean be able to avoid landing in the cross-hairs and find their happy ending? A great read and I'm excited to continue reading the series!
leabookjoy's review
4.0
4,5 stars
French & English reviews
Dernier livre d'une super série de romance policière
Ahhh j'avais tellement hâte de lire enfin l'histoire de Sean et de Brooke et je n'ai pas été déçue =D
Bon j'avoue, j'aurais voulu que son ex le harceleur ait une plus grosse importance dans l'histoire (mais bon c'est mon côté fan de Kristen Ashley ><) et puis Brooke m'a un peu énervée à se poser dix millions de questions ou à s'investir comme ça dans l'enquête ><
Mais l'intrigue était géniale et j'ai beaucoup aimé les différents personnages =D
Bref, pour les fans de la série Esprits Criminels et des livres de J.D.Robb, je recommande totalement cette série : les intrigues sont tordues et les personnages attachants ><
PS: maintenant que j'ai lu toute la série, gros bookhangover en prévision x)
PS2 : je garde l'espoir pour un livre avec Callie et Travis =D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last book of an awesome series of suspense romance
Ahhh I couldn't wait to finally read the story of Sean and Brooke and I wasn't disappointed =D
Well I must admit, I wanted her stalker ex to have a bigger importance in the story (but hey that's my KA fan side ><) and then Brooke made me a little upset to ask herself ten million questions or to swing like that in the investigation ><
But the plot was great and I really liked the different characters =D
In short, for the fans of the tv series Criminal Minds and books by J.D.Robb, I totally recommend this series : the intrigues are twisted and the characters endearing ><
PS: now that I read the whole series, big bookhangover is coming x)
PS2: I still hope for a book with Callie and Travis =D
French & English reviews
Dernier livre d'une super série de romance policière
Ahhh j'avais tellement hâte de lire enfin l'histoire de Sean et de Brooke et je n'ai pas été déçue =D
Bon j'avoue, j'aurais voulu que son ex le harceleur ait une plus grosse importance dans l'histoire (mais bon c'est mon côté fan de Kristen Ashley ><) et puis Brooke m'a un peu énervée à se poser dix millions de questions ou à s'investir comme ça dans l'enquête ><
Mais l'intrigue était géniale et j'ai beaucoup aimé les différents personnages =D
Bref, pour les fans de la série Esprits Criminels et des livres de J.D.Robb, je recommande totalement cette série : les intrigues sont tordues et les personnages attachants ><
PS: maintenant que j'ai lu toute la série, gros bookhangover en prévision x)
PS2 : je garde l'espoir pour un livre avec Callie et Travis =D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last book of an awesome series of suspense romance
Ahhh I couldn't wait to finally read the story of Sean and Brooke and I wasn't disappointed =D
Well I must admit, I wanted her stalker ex to have a bigger importance in the story (but hey that's my KA fan side ><) and then Brooke made me a little upset to ask herself ten million questions or to swing like that in the investigation ><
But the plot was great and I really liked the different characters =D
In short, for the fans of the tv series Criminal Minds and books by J.D.Robb, I totally recommend this series : the intrigues are twisted and the characters endearing ><
PS: now that I read the whole series, big bookhangover is coming x)
PS2: I still hope for a book with Callie and Travis =D
hannah109's review
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
hannah109's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
chroniclesofabookreader's review
5.0
Full of mystery and romance, Touch of Red brought another climactic story to Griffin’s Tracers series. Written with differing sides of law enforcement (forensics versus police procedural), it perfectly marries the two genres of romance and suspense while giving readers a meaty and thrilling story to sink their teeth into.
There wasn’t a moment where I wasn’t enthralled and in need of finding the answers faster, but Griffin also kept the pace consistently steady with an enjoyable crescendo of a build-up throughout. The depth of knowledge that is put into each character and their complicated professions never goes unnoticed, and again I’m amazed at how exact and scientific every case in this series is. Brooke’s passion and hardheadedness was alive on the pages, and the steadiness of Sean’s character mixed and clashed with her beautifully, both professionally and personally. That push-pull was subtle in nature, but profound in its reverberations, keeping their connection thriving as the story progressed.
Touch of Red was an exciting and unputdownable story that will truly captivate readers who love shows like CSI or Law & Order. Griffin’s prose was easy to fall into and to be carried away with on their exciting journey. Both characters were strong and vivid, and easily someone you’d root for in real life. And I cannot help but look forward to where Griffin will take us next!
**Received an early copy; this had no bearing on my opinions**
There wasn’t a moment where I wasn’t enthralled and in need of finding the answers faster, but Griffin also kept the pace consistently steady with an enjoyable crescendo of a build-up throughout. The depth of knowledge that is put into each character and their complicated professions never goes unnoticed, and again I’m amazed at how exact and scientific every case in this series is. Brooke’s passion and hardheadedness was alive on the pages, and the steadiness of Sean’s character mixed and clashed with her beautifully, both professionally and personally. That push-pull was subtle in nature, but profound in its reverberations, keeping their connection thriving as the story progressed.
Touch of Red was an exciting and unputdownable story that will truly captivate readers who love shows like CSI or Law & Order. Griffin’s prose was easy to fall into and to be carried away with on their exciting journey. Both characters were strong and vivid, and easily someone you’d root for in real life. And I cannot help but look forward to where Griffin will take us next!
**Received an early copy; this had no bearing on my opinions**
swathi_narasimhan's review
4.0
This was a not a ‘bang on’ read but a great one indeed. Its racy and well written.
Definitely looking forward to read other books in the series :)
Definitely looking forward to read other books in the series :)