Beneath the Ashes by Dea Poirier

A troubled detective learns that the fires of the past are still burning in this haunting, emotional thriller.

When detective Claire Calderwood is called to a grisly murder scene, she’s haunted by memories of her murdered sister. The victim is tied to a motel bed, her head covered in plastic and her body sprinkled with ashes. Claire’s dealt with vile crime scenes before, but this one strikes close to home.

Claire’s boyfriend, reporter Noah Washington, once helped find her sister’s killer, but now he’s a distraction to this new investigation. She wants to help him resolve the mysteries of his past, but Noah has been distant, and Claire knows he’s keeping something from her.

When another girl is murdered like the first, Claire suspects the work of a serial killer. As the case heats up and evidence mounts, she finds herself in profound danger. Claire’s been burned before; now she must decide if she can trust Noah to help her solve the case and uncover the truth that lies beneath the ashes.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Claire is recovering from solving her sister’s murder when she's asked to help in a nearby community that isn't used to dealing with murder. What Claire finds when she arrives is a grisly scene. Woman murdered, tied to a bed and covered in ashes. Is this a forensic countermeasure? Someone treating this woman as trash? The questions continue to pile up, without many answers.

When it becomes clear that there is a serial killer among this small community, it will take all of Claire's investigatory skills, as well as a little help from Noah, to figure out how to keep the young women of the community safe.

Noah is still part of this story, but more in a peripheral setting. He is off working on his own case while Claire is working on hers. While they aren't together a whole lot, their paths intertwine and they have some issues to work out.

The story is full of suspects. Claire is trying to piece it all together, while racing against the murderer. Just when you think she's figured part of the story out, a twist is thrown in and you have to start all over again.

Also Available in The Calderwood Cases

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Next Girl to Die post.

Dea Poirier was raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she found her passion during a creative writing course. She studied computer science and political science at the University of Central Oklahoma. She later spent time living on both coasts and traveling the United States before finally putting down roots in central Florida. She now resides somewhere between Disney and the swamp with her husband, son, two dogs, and two cats.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Beneath the Ashes (The Calderwood Cases #2) by Dea Poirier to read and review.