My Review - Drawing Fire by Janice Cantore

5 out of 5 stars

DRAWING FIRE by Janice Cantore is the first in the Cold Case Justice series, and most definitely earns its “suspense” genre tag. 

Homicide detective Abby Hart is good at what she does. She’s a determined, by-the-book detective. That’s why she can’t let go of the unsolved crime that took her parents life when she was just a child. The Triple Seven fire is always on her mind, and now she might get a chance to talk with a person who could shed light on that case. Unfortunately, she has to work with private investigator, Luke Murphy, as well. Luke’s reputation and notoriety bothers Abby, but when she finds out he has a vested interest in solving her parent’s case, she decides working with him is in her best interest. Abby realizes she and Luke actually work well together, and soon, Abby feels an attraction for Luke, an attraction she shouldn't have and tries to ignore.  

Luke Murphy is an eyewitness in Abby’s latest case, but he also has a link to her parent’s deaths. The Triple Seven fire took the life of his uncle, and Luke wants it solved just as much as Abby does. The more time Luke works with Abby, the more he feels a connection to her. But since Abby is engaged, he keeps his feelings to himself. Working hard to stay professional, Luke and Abby uncover new leads in the Triple Seven fire, leads that someone doesn’t want them to pursue.  

This is a great first installment. Cantore is methodical in her development of Abby and Luke, and the other players involved. I was completely drawn into the multiple stories being told. Not only is there a case to be solved, but we watch the progress of the Triple Seven case, and Abby and Luke’s relationship. My only negative . . . which is to Ms. Cantore’s credit, is DRAWING FIRE does not finish with loose ends tied up. The Triple Seven case goes unsolved at the end of the book, and the reader is left to wonder what will become of Luke and Abby’s attraction for each other. Ms. Cantore played her cards right. I can’t wait to delve into BURNING PROOF, book two in the series. Luckily, I already own it.