Ever since I read S.A. Lelchuk’s series opener, SAVE ME FROM DANGEROUS MEN, I haven’t stopped thinking about protagonist Nikki Griffin --- a complicated, haunted heroine who owns a bookstore and has a few secrets up her sleeve. I was eager to pick up the next book in the series, and ONE GOT AWAY doesn’t disappoint. It adds even more dimension and complexity to this memorable character.

Nikki is in a pretty good place as the novel opens. Her brother has finally kicked his drug habit and seems happy with his job at a restaurant and a budding romance. Nikki, too, is enjoying her relationship with academic Ethan. Sure, he’s pressuring her to move in together, but the idea isn’t unpleasant --- and he possesses the attractive trait of knowing when not to ask questions about her other job when she’s not running her bookstore.

"ONE GOT AWAY is a delightfully complicated mystery, one that constantly keeps readers --- much like Nikki herself --- on their toes."

It's a good thing, because Nikki is about to launch into one of the more intense weeks of her career as a quasi–private detective. She’s hired by Martin Johannessen, who’s part of an ultra-wealthy pharmaceutical family. The family matriarch has begun a romantic liaison with Geoffrey Coombs, a handsome, much younger man who (according to Martin) is a sophisticated con man aiming to fleece Martin’s mother out of millions.

Nikki is hired to keep an eye on the charming Coombs, but soon starts to suspect that he’s engaging in a complicated (and fantastically expensive) cat-and-mouse game. When that game culminates at a luxurious resort near Monterey, and the two of them strike up a conversation, Nikki surprises herself when she’s drawn into their flirtatious banter.

But even as Nikki draws closer to Coombs, she starts gathering hints and warnings that lead her to suspect there might be more to this story than Martin initially revealed. And when a group of thugs shows up in Monterey, also on the hunt for a very frightened Coombs, Nikki begins to believe that there might be more to the story than Martin ever realized.

ONE GOT AWAY is a delightfully complicated mystery, one that constantly keeps readers --- much like Nikki herself --- on their toes. It’s also extremely violent in parts, and Nikki engages in behaviors that sometimes fall on the wrong side of ethical. But those who enjoy its twists and turns will be eagerly awaiting the next adventure. For one thing, Nikki takes on an unexpected (and surprisingly endearing) sidekick for part of her investigation, and readers will want to see more of their dynamic. For another, there are new complications in her romantic life, developments that I am sure will continue to be explored in subsequent books.

I imagine that once again I’ll continue thinking about Nikki Griffin until Lelchuk releases the next installment in the series.