Last summer, veteran television writer, producer and showrunner Scott Shepherd treated us to his first mystery novel, THE LAST COMMANDMENT, and it was an absolute winner. Even more importantly, he introduced us to a set of characters from both sides of the pond --- New York City and London --- that he has reassembled for his sophomore effort, SHOULD I FALL.

"...an expertly plotted mystery... Shepherd has raised the stakes significantly and put one of his principal players in peril, which makes the suspense factor that much more intense and the emotional investment through the roof."

While the previous book featured a clever and brutal serial killer that NYPD Detective John Frankel and Scotland Yard Inspector Austin Grant were simultaneously tracking, this sequel is far more personal. It deals with secrets in Frankel’s past that threaten not only his career, but also his upcoming nuptials to Grant’s daughter, Rachel.

Right on the heels of Rachel penning the successful “The Last Commandment” article for Vanity Fair, which described the exploits contained in the earlier book, Frankel popped the question to her and she accepted. However, their wedding is put in serious jeopardy when Rachel enters Frankel’s apartment to find his ex-wife, Julia, dead on the floor with a bullet wound in her chest. Frankel is nowhere to be found.

Rachel’s first call is to her now-retired father, who catches the first flight over from London to New York. Upon his arrival, they receive word that Frankel has been apprehended and is being held for suspicion of first-degree murder. As far as everyone knows, Julia lived in Hawaii and was seeing a man by the name of Pablo Suarez for several years. They also are aware that Frankel had been enjoying a bachelor’s weekend with a friend in Wisconsin. His work weapon was not fired, but his backup piece has not been accounted for.

Following the initial interrogation, a big piece of information comes out that could change everything. It turns out that Frankel had gone to Hawaii, not Wisconsin. Rachel wonders what in the world would make him fly there, especially with Julia in the Big Apple. Frankel remains tight-lipped about this, even though he maintains his innocence when it comes to Julia’s murder and promises to come clean about everything when the time is right. Rachel begins to wonder if she can marry a man who is capable of keeping such secrets from her.

The focus then shifts to the mysterious Pablo, who has since gone missing in Hawaii. Because he must remain in New York City’s five boroughs while still under suspicion, Frankel sends Grant and his bride-to-be to Hawaii to dig up as much as they can about Pablo and hopefully locate him. Unfortunately, they pretty much come up empty. On their way back to NYC, they learn that Frankel broke his five-borough restriction. He ends up finding Pablo in Maine, but not in the way he had intended, which only leads to more disturbing discoveries and questions that need to be answered as soon as possible.

SHOULD I FALL is an expertly plotted mystery with characters whom readers have grown to care about. Shepherd has raised the stakes significantly and put one of his principal players in peril, which makes the suspense factor that much more intense and the emotional investment through the roof. I cannot wait to spend more time with these engaging characters.