Two years ago, homicide detective Olivia (Livy) Reynolds’ cousin, Robyn, disappeared from Logan Point, Tennessee. Most everyone in town, including her family, has accepted that Robyn left voluntarily, given the fact that she had called her husband a few weeks after she disappeared to let him know she was okay. But something about it just doesn’t sit well with Livy, who doesn’t believe her cousin would abandon her husband and daughter like that. Livy hopes to learn the truth one day.

For now, Livy focuses on her job, but that proves difficult. She is still reeling from a recent call that ended with her mistakenly killing a suspect. That incident caused her to freeze up on a subsequent call, resulting in her partner being shot. Her supervisor suggests she take a brief leave, but she protests. Then Alex Jennings, a private investigator from Dallas, contacts her regarding a senator’s granddaughter who went missing. Livy quickly notes a few similarities between this case and her cousin’s disappearance. She decides to take the recommended time off from her regular job so she can work with the P.I. to hopefully solve his case and possibly even find her cousin.

"GONE WITHOUT A TRACE provides an exciting storyline with exceptional characters. The mystery is interesting and clever, with lots of twists and turns along the way to keep you guessing."

Then a body is discovered, linking the cases even tighter. Livy and Alex follow the clues that eventually lead them to a shocking discovery: Robyn is very much alive. Robyn shares the details --- those she can remember, anyway --- of that fateful day two years ago, when she was abducted, beaten and somehow escaped, and tells them why she has stayed away for so long. Livy and Alex are confident that Robyn’s attacker is the same man responsible for the other abductions. They ask her to join them in a plan to find this person and bring him to justice. Robyn is scared, but would love more than ever to see her daughter again and return home where she belongs, so she agrees.

As their plan unfolds, so do several potential suspects. Now the question is whether they can figure out the culprit before he strikes again.

Like the first two books in the Logan Point series, GONE WITHOUT A TRACE provides an exciting storyline with exceptional characters. The mystery is interesting and clever, with lots of twists and turns along the way to keep you guessing. Just when you think you know “whodunit,” author Patricia Bradley throws another curveball until it all comes together in an explosive ending.

The romantic element is enjoyable, as Livy goes from a cool disapproval of the attractive P.I. to becoming more and more drawn to him. Alex is struggling with a few issues of his own, such as pressure from his father to follow in his political footsteps and take the bar exam he has avoided since graduating from law school. He loves what he does and has no interest in becoming an attorney or politician, much to his father’s chagrin. He did not intend to fall for the pretty detective, but finds himself falling hard. The development of their relationship is well-paced and entertaining.

Those who have read SHADOWS OF THE PAST and A PROMISE TO PROTECT will recognize previous characters and references. GONE WITHOUT A TRACE certainly can stand alone, although reading the others first will give you a better picture of the Logan Point residents and make the story more fulfilling overall.

Patricia Bradley is well-deserving of her spot on bookstore shelves and is an excellent addition to the Christian Romantic Suspense genre. Fans of Lynette Eason and Irene Hannon will likely add Bradley to their list of favorite authors.