Deadly Target

Goddard’s second adventure in the Rocky Mountain Courage series (after Present Danger) sets off a heart-thumping race to solve a cold case. Erin Larson, a criminal psychologist and host of a cold case crime podcast is dealing with a series of disasters: a mysterious boating accident and her mother’s suicide attempt (which her mother somehow doesn’t remember). Nathan Campbell, a search and rescue climber and diver, returns with his estranged father to a childhood fishing spot where his dad, a homicide investigator, mentions he’s investigating a cold case “on his own”—but before he can say more, he’s shot where they stand in the water. Nathan enlists Erin’s help as he investigates the case that brought his father to Montana, and as danger comes closer and closer, they realize they’re both targets of an organized crime ring, and revelations surface about a haunting event from Erin’s past and her mother’s secret life. Throughout the fast-paced plot, Erin and Nathan wrestle with their unresolved feelings for one another, deciding eventually to listen to their hearts—and they also call upon God for help. Goddard increases the stakes and highlights the power of hope, faith, and trusting God in the darkest times in this rush of a series entry. Agent: Steve Laube, the Steve Laube Agency (Nov.)