At Close Range by Laura Griffin is book number eleven in the Tracers series. This is police detective, Daniele “Dani” Harper and former Navy Seal, Scott Black’s story. Wow! From the start you will stay on the edge of your seat. The author delivers a story with suspense, twists, surprises, and steamy scenes with an unpredictable ending. FYI, includes mature content. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

The romance and mystery are balanced so perfectly, that it made it seem realistic. Scott and Dani finally give into their attraction while working on a case where Scott ends up becoming a suspect. As the number of bodies keep growing, Dani and Scott put their careers and their lives on the line to try to solve the murders and clear Scott's name. I was hooked from the first start and did not put the book down until I was finished. Can be read as standalone. 4.5 stars I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Tracers series. At Close Range is another great addition to the series. There is a really well written mystery with lots of red herrings. The murder mystery is hands down the most intriguing and satisfying aspect to the story. Dani is a detective who has just been made the lead on a very high profile double murder case. Scott is a ballistics specialist at the nearby Delphi center. Scott is called in to work on the murder case and examine the ballistics. Through several twists, Scott ends up as a suspect. Dani has known Scott for most of her life. He is her brother's best friend. She knows he didn't commit the murders, but she has to find the proof. Scott isn't about to sit back and let the investigation progress with him. Obviously, its a conflict of interest to have him involved since he is the prime suspect. The case takes Dani to a different state and more murders occur, all while she fights her attraction to Scott. My discontent with the story was the romance. I really didn't find the romance between Dani and Scott credible or authentic. It felt sort of rushed and haphazard. By the end, I wasn't sure I believed they would stay together. I think that the murder mystery and all the danger took the focus of the story (and I loved it), but it did so at the expense of building up the romance.

Scott Black, the gun guy, is one of those secondary characters that quietly sits in the background of great fiction. He makes a strong contribution to many of Laura Griffin’s Tracers series, but never quite steps into the spotlight, until now. At Close Range, the latest Tracers novel, is Scott’s story. As with most of the Tracers characters, things are complicated. Scott and Dani have a past, compounded by the fact that someone is trying to set Scott up for murder. That last point is never quite explained, but even then this book definitely delivers. I have always enjoyed Scott’s secondary character and was not surprised by how much I enjoyed him taking the lead. The former SEAL definitely had depth and heart. Watching him come to terms with giving up his lone wolf status was worth the wait. If you haven’t already started the Tracers series you can definitely pick up here. There are some visits by reoccurring characters, but not enough that it would diminish the overall story. This has long been one of my favorite series and I am thrilled to see it continue. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.