Veena’s review of Twisted by Laura K. Curtis
Romantic Suspense published by Intermix 19 Nov 13

This book starts out with a bang and keeps on going with its various twists and turns about life in a small town where people are few and memories are long. I was fascinated that even people who were relatively new to the town and had no experience with the events in question still had strong feelings about them. Talk about a lemmings mentality.

Lucy Caldwell is a successful true crime writer and she’s finally returned to where it all started. Her mother’s murder changed her life, causing her to run away in fear. But she’s grown up now, a successful true crime writer and a top-notch investigator. She needs closure and she’s finally built up her courage to return, ready to take on the town in her quest for the truth. Luckily for her there’s a new sheriff in town, and while most of the townsfolk turn their backs to her, he steps to Lucy’s side, ready to help her in more than solving a cold case.

Ethan has his own baggage and is determined to rise above that to help Lucy, who fascinates him. Suddenly the quiet backwater, where the biggest crime is a speeding ticket once a quarter, is popping and the body count is  growing. It’s almost like there’s something dark and insidious that’s been festering a long time and Lucy’s return is the catalyst that pops the top off the bottle, releasing the darkness.

Ms. Curtis does a terrific job of portraying the psyche of a small town, especially one with secrets to hide. The story unfolds and there appear to be plots within plots with the only stable points being Lucy, her brother, Ethan and the police deputy who’s the only friend that Lucy has in the town.  Clearly something happened with her mother such that a group of people are playing sadistic games targeted at driving Lucy away.  I was constantly gasping as the story unfolded, but the piece de resistance is the villain who is revealed at the end of the book. I just would not have guessed it to be him.

This is my first book by this author and I can assure you that it will certainly not be my last. Another keeper on my bookshelf.

Grade: A

Summary:

Lucy Sadler Caldwell is a successful true-crime writer. But the one story she’s never been able to come to terms with is the murder of her own mother–until now. She’s returned to Dobbs Hollow, Texas, the hometown she fled seventeen years ago, to finally expose the real killer.

After a bullet took out his knee in Houston, Detective Ethan Donovan found himself without a lot of options, which is how he ended up as Chief of Police in Dobbs Hollow. Lucy sure isn’t asking for his help–she’s not big on trust–but he can’t help feeling a strong desire to come to her aid.

And though Lucy is armed to the teeth, she will need all the help she can get. When she starts digging into the past, she unearths a psychotic killer who will stop at nothing to silence her forever…

Read an excerpt.