Buried Secrets

The author of more than 45 novels, Hannon (Deceived) introduces Lisa Grant and Mac McGregor in her Men of Valor series. Both have left stressful jobs, Lisa as a Chicago homicide detective and Mac as a Navy SEAL. Remaining in law enforcement, Lisa becomes police chief of Carson, a small town near St. Louis, while Mac is a county detective. When skeletal remains are found in Carson, the two law enforcement officers find themselves working together to solve the case. Although Hannon writes in the romantic suspense genre, she produces little suspense or romance in this tale. The narrative frequently mentions sparks and electricity (“the relentless buzz in his nerve endings put there by a certain gorgeous police chief”) between Lisa and Mac, but doesn’t go further than that into romance. The investigation of the remains, though intended to reel the reader in, fails to add appreciable tension, and the early revelation of the villain also trips the pacing. At times the secondary characters attract more attention than the main characters. Although it’s promising at the outset, Hannon’s newest unfortunately falls short. (Apr.)