Innocence Road, Laura Griffin (Review by Stacey Lorenson)

In INNOCENCE ROAD, bestselling author Laura Griffin, whisks readers to a west Texas desert. This atmospheric police procedural examines a community dedicated to preserving the appearance of prosperity and tranquility while racism, classism, and sexism threaten to undermine this small town and embolden a psychopath. Detective Leanne Everhart returns to Marfa, Texas landing in the middle of a hunt for a serial killer. A young girl is found dead in the middle of the desert and Leanne connects her death to numerous cold cases dismissed because they were assumed to be illegal migrants. After she shares her theory with her chief, her investigation is met with intolerable indifference. The police department has an impending lawsuit hanging over their heads and decides to ignore the bodies and bones piling up along a stretch of Texas highway. What Leanne uncovers is far more sinister. Being taken seriously by the deeply embedded systemic patriarchy further impedes Leanne’s race to solve the case and apprehend the murderer before he strikes again. This fast-paced mystery-suspense features a strong, complex female protagonist who struggles with her professional and personal life. While trying to push through the bureaucracy that surrounds her investigation, Detective Everhart is still processing grief surrounding her father’s death, reconciling a neglected relationship, and trying to establish a career amongst a good-ole-boy network. Leanne must put aside her conflicting emotions about coming back to her hometown as the demons she left behind, unavoidably come full circle to haunt her. Meanwhile, her safety and her loved ones are at stake. Innocence Road is a gripping thriller you will want to add to your TBR list.