Guest Review - - Far Gone

FAR GONE
By Laura Griffin
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: April 15, 2014

What would you do if your computer genius little brother got involved with an anti-government militia group? Oh, and what if you happened to be a police officer sworn to uphold the very laws his group is breaking?

This is the problem facing Austin PD detective Andrea Finch in Laura Griffin's first hardcover thriller, Far Gone. At the start of the book, Andrea is already facing an investigation into her shooting of a young man bent on destruction in a local restaurant. And when she begins to suspect her brother is far more involved in the activities of a local anti-government group, she chooses to risk the career she loves in order to rescue him. Which puts her square in the path of sexy FBI agent, Jon North, who is determined to convince his superiors at the bureau that the group is involved in a bombing on the other side of the country.

The non-stop thriller that ensues is much larger in scope than loyal readers have come to expect from Griffin, and it's great. Whereas her earlier books deal with murder and corruption on the local level, the action of Far Gone has the potential to affect the whole nation. And with her attention to detail and meticulous plotting Griffin is up to the challenge.

What romantic suspense readers love most, however, is the romance, and Griffin doesn't stint on that one bit. (If my mental picture of FBI agent Jon North happened to look a lot like Thomas Gibson who plays Aaron Hotchner on Criminal Minds, you will forgive me, won't you gentle readers?) At the same time he's trying to stop her from getting involved in his investigation, Jon North can't help but be drawn to Andrea. And though she can't decide whether she wants to kiss him or punch him in the gut, Andrea is intrigued by the no-nonsense FBI agent with the unexpected flashes of humor.

There were so many things to love about this book: the banter between Andrea and Jon; the backstory of how Andrea and her brother grew up depending on one another; the very real—and disturbing—nature of the villains they're trying to catch; and perhaps most dear to my own heart, the glimpses of Alex and Nathan from one of Griffin's earlier books. All in all, I found it to be a first rate addition to the Laura Griffin canon and as usual when I turned the last page on this one, I'm already salivating for the next. 

~Manda Collins

http://mandacollins.com

Manda Collins writes smart, sexy historical romance laced with a touch of mystery. Manda still lives in her native coastal Alabama where she works as an academic librarian at a small liberal arts college.  Her most recent book, Why Earls Fall in Love, the second in her Wicked Widows trilogy, was released by St. Martin's on January 28, 2014.  You can find more information about Manda and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.