Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon, Book Two in the Triple Threat Series | A Romantic Suspense Novel
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Romantic Suspense
Award-Winning Author Irene Hannon is BACK with Labyrinth of Lies, book two in the Triple Threat series.
As readers follow the lives of three independent, female protagonists who happen to be sisters, Hannon introduces us to Cate Reilly, a St. Louis county PD detective who’s working undercover at an all girls school to unravel the mystery of the sudden disappearance of a teen from a prominent family. When Cate’s case intersects with that of DEA Agent Zeke Sloan, her ex who’s working a drug cartel ring, things really heat up.
Danger awaits on a covert mission where few are who they seem to be…
When the daughter of a high-profile businessman disappears from an exclusive girls' boarding school, police detective Cate Reilly is tapped for an undercover assignment. It doesn't take her long to realize that beneath its veneer of polish and wealth, Ivy Hill Academy harbors dark--and deadly--secrets. But the biggest shock of all? The only man she ever loved is also working at the school.
Zeke Sloan has never forgotten Cate, but now isn't the best time for their paths to cross again. When their two seemingly disparate agendas begin to intertwine--and startling connections emerge among the players--the danger escalates significantly.
But who is the mastermind behind the elaborate ruse? And how far will they go to protect their house of cards?
★★★ | Irene Hannon has debuted the sequel to Point of Danger with Labyrinth of Lies, book two in her Triple Threat series. Labyrinth of Lies reads as a standalone novel, focusing on Cate Reilly, a detective for St. Louis County PD and one of the three Reilly sisters featured in this series.
As the twists and turns unfold, Hannon uses the undercover work of Cate Reilly and DEA Agent Zeke Sloan to converge two very different cases into one story. The setting was unique and the undercover aspect was entertaining.
I sincerely enjoyed Zeke Sloan. The moment he marched, uninvited, and confessed his past decisions’ motive and his regret, he immediately won me over. I liked the fact that he was assertive and yet willing to wait on Cate’s heart. Cate’s character was less relatable and more closed-off, however, because of this Cate encountered the opportunity for soul searching and personal growth.
The romance portion of the story had a great chemistry moment that I enjoyed... Alas, Cate’s emotional distance and the fact that the characters were working undercover, kept the romance throughout the rest of the story temperate at best.
For me, this story had just enough to entice me to finish it, but not enough to really love it...
There were predictable elements often encountered in a Hannon story that most who enjoy her novels will easily identify. She also included several chapters from the villain's POV, which is not my favorite as it detracts from the element of surprise for me. However, I know this isn't the case for all readers and is actually a hallmark of Hannon's novels.
The faith-based elements and emotional depth in this novel were surprisingly subtle. I expected more. Lastly, the intersect between Cate’s and Zeke’s cases was exciting at first, but didn’t come to the climax I was anticipating. As a result, the ending left a little to be desired.
Overall, the novel read at a great pace, kept me mildly entertained and read as a mystery with a temperate intensity level/romance. I did like the fact that it is part of a series that focuses on strong female leads and in this novel, featured a woman who did not need a man to come and save the day. I would recommend this story to readers who enjoy books by authors such as Elizabeth Goddard, Lynn Blackburn or Dani Pettrey.
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