Unexpected Partners

by Michelle Larkin

When Dr. Chloe Maddox leaves her life in LA to join the Boston Police Department, she wants nothing more than a fresh start, even if she does rebuff the friendly advances of her colleagues and spends her nights alone. She seems to be succeeding until the man who murdered her fianceé and left her for dead turns up at the precinct in connection with another case, and she must face the past she can’t outrun.
Detective Dana Blake uncovers Chloe’s secret and convinces her to testify against the dangerous psychopath. When he is released on bail, Dana and Chloe take temporary refuge in a safe house where Chloe tries to keep her distance despite their undeniable attraction.
Forced to flee, they soon find themselves running from a serial killer intent on recapturing his prey. Except this time, he has his eye on Dana, too.

Cover Artist: Tammy Sedick
Genres: Intrigue & Thriller / Romance

Genres: Crime, LGBT, Lesbian, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Lesbian Romance

229 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2018

About the author

Michelle’s an author of lesbian romantic thrillers, a long-distance runner with no sense of direction, and a nunchuck-wielding sidekick to a pair of superhero sons.

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Not as good as Larkin’s first book, but this is still a good crime-romance story. Larkin’s debut book Mercy really stuck with me because it was so entertaining. It had some bumps, but I didn’t care. In this book the entertainment factor wasn’t as high which made the few bumps less palatable. It still was a good read and Larkin is on my authors to watch list.

The story is about two women, Chloe and Dana, who work for the Boston Police Department. Chloe, who now works with victims, was actually a victim of her own. Left for dead, Chloe has trouble remembering everything she went through. Shortly after working in Boston Chloe sees the man who tortured her and her memories start coming back. Can Chloe and Dana get him behind bars before he takes another victim?

This book actually had a darker tone than I was expecting. I read a lot of crime books so I’m used to gritty but this serial killer/rapist/torturer didn’t sit so well with me. Most of what happens comes across in memories so you are not reading about actual rape scenes, but still this is some sick shit so it was not pleasant to read about.

There is a good amount of action which I liked. The book is a good quick pace and you don’t really want to put it down. There were a few suspend disbelief moments. Times you wanted to say why is this character doing this? With everything going on you would think they would be smarter. I also thought it was odd how much Chloe’s character changed. She is completely different in the first quarter of the book compared to the rest.

I thought the romance was decent for the circumstances. There is only so much new relationship building you can do in one book when lives are on the line. I would not call the relationship insta-love but it is a fast progressing relationship. I don’t mind so much when danger is all around so I’m giving Larkin a pass here.

Overall this was a good read. I wish I liked this more than her debut, but Larkin is definitely on my radar now. If you are looking for a crime-romance with some grit, give this a shot.

An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.

[Joc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, Larkin gives her characters truly awful back stories. It’s been four years since Dana Blake’s wife was abducted and murdered but she’s still in mourning until the murderer is found. While chatting to her friend Maribel, who is a prosecutor, she meets Dr Chloe Maddox. Chloe is a behavioural profiler in the sex crimes division and fairly new to Boston Police Department. She is also a rape survivor. They have a good connection almost immediately

I was riveted by this story even though there were a couple of holes in the plot and at times my suspension of disbelief was a little stretched. One thing was that someone shoots a 9mm and nobody in the house heard it. I don’t know, maybe a 9mm is a really quiet gun. Dana and Chloe are both strong women and likeable characters. Given their respective traumas, they’re both perhaps a little too strong. The pace and my desire for a good outcome made it easy to sweep the inconsistencies to the back of my mind.

Taz, from the K-9 unit, was a great supporting character with a lot of personality. I hope I don’t get shot down in flames for this but I’m not really a fan of animals playing big role in romance novels because I sometimes feel like I’m being tricked into liking the novel based on the cute pet rather than the writing skill, even more so when the animal takes centre stage on the cover. Taz wasn’t like that for me here, partly because I am in awe of working dogs and partly because he may as well have been another human character.

I enjoyed this so much more than Larkin’s first novel, Mercy, and I liked that there wasn’t a paranormal aspect to this one. There are a lot of vicious and violent aspects to the novel because of the nature of the crime committed and some were difficult to read. I’m glad she didn’t shy away from them but if rape and violence are triggers for you, this might not be a good one to read.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[AnnMaree Of Oz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deeply emotional and confronting story - but with a lot of goodness at it's core.

So this book deals with deeply disturbing circumstances of abduction, brutal rape, and murder of multiple victims, it is upsetting and raw, but dealt with in a realistic and caring manner.

Dr Chloe Maddox is a behavioral profiler for the police department, and specialized in sex crimes after having survived her own abduction and rape. Detective Dana Blake's wife was a victim of the same offender, but did not survive the ordeal. Infact Chloe is the only sole survivor of multiple victims to this vile perpetrator.

Chloe had lost a lot of memory in the aftermath of her ordeal, but in the two years since it has slowly been coming back, and infact suddenly seeing the rapist brings forth more memories of that night, and much clarity to start the ball rolling for the prosecution.

The support shown towards Chloe by Dana, and also their ADA friend Maribel was lovely and kind. It makes you recognize despite the sick and twisted things people do to others, there are indeed people out there who yearn to help and support victims and get them justice. Which was very much what the book was about.

The investigation was palpable and anxiety inducing as all the pieces are unraveled and put together. The heart-wrenching emotion of each character and their loss, but also their determination to not let evil win was endearing to me.

Dana and Chloe have a connection, and both have grieved their spouses who were both victims of this serial offender, and find solace in the knowledge that they can relate on levels that no other person possibly could. The romance is sweet and loving, and very understanding.

It's not an easy book, at all - but the message of hope and love was overwhelming and stronger than that of despair and loss.

[Jem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the author's debut book, the dark supernatural thriller Mercy so picking up her second book should be a no-brainer. Except that the blurb sounds like a lot of other cop thrillers--another variation of an overdone theme? To be honest, it's getting harder and harder to tell them apart. Even the names of the main characters have a tendency to run together when you've read a dozen or more of them. (well, except for Sanne and Meg, you can't ever confuse those two)

So, is this yet another forgettable, run-of-the-mill crime thriller? Fortunately, no. There's enough different here to actually make an impression. And worth picking up.

Chloe is a behavioral profiler with the Boston PD known for her uncanny ability to get victims to talk. What no one knows is that her special 'talent' might have come from a very dark place--from being a victim herself, of a crime so horrific even her mind refuses to remember most of it.

Dana is a detective in the "family justice" unit of the Boston PD. Four years ago, she lost her wife to an unsolved murder. Life has to go on. But her love life doesn't.

A chance cafe meet and mutual interest in running sets up possibilities. But before anything has a chance to start, Chloe comes face to face with her bogeyman. In her own police station....striding in confidently and smiling coldly at her, as if he owns the world, which he probably does. And thus begins a tale of a thrilling and chilling cat and mouse chase. But who's the cat and who's the mouse?

Despite the very dark subject matter, the author strikes a good balance between dread and despair, humor and sweetness. The good gals are smart and capable. And so is the bad buy. They're pretty evenly matched throughout. There is no damsel in distress here. Well there are, but they both give as good as they take. There's a dog who must have been a cop in a previous life, or a wrestler. Lots of twists and turns, some more believable than others.

But here's the thing I really liked about the book. The main characters are damaged and they've suffered greatly but they're not incapacitated or beat down by it. Not when it matters anyway. Chloe in particular. She may seem like the distressed damsel in this situation but there's a reason she lived. She's an incredible fighter and go-getter. Whether it's because she's faced down death before and knows the fragility of life, or she's just the type of person to grab the bull by the horns, there's not much beating about the bushes when it comes to what she wants. Well, not that there's any opportunity to indulge, what with psycho running loose. :) Readers expecting a deep dive into the women's emotional issues will need to look elsewhere. These women have had years to deal with it and it's not the main subject of the book. They're doers. And getters. And when everything is on the line, nothing is off the table, not even their lives.

Overall the book is a very entertaining thriler, with emphasis on "entertaining". Good pacing and sustained tension throughout. It spends just the right amount of introspection to get us inside the characters but doesn't dwell too long there to bog down the pace. A slew of interesting characters support our leads, most notable of which is the K-9. The only negative I can think of is probably the extended ending. Now that went from thriller to rom-com territory fast. Fan service time? Lol. The romantic reader in me loved it though.

4.5 stars

ARC from Netgalley and BSB

P.S. Couple of loose ends I noticed, despite the extended ending attempting to close every single one. Who owns the finger? And why was the bad guy in the station in the first place?

Also, there's a bit of an issue with the blurb. A single extra letter. Chloe had, a fiancé, not fiancée.

[Agirlcandream · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this even more than the authors first book, Mercy. No paranormal help with this one. Just a ruthless serial killer with unfinished business and two women in his sights.

Chloe is the woman who survived although she continues to carry scars both physical and emotional from her attack. She now works as therapist for the Boston PD, helping other victims assist the police in finding their attackers. Dana lost her wife two years before to the same serial killer who attacked Chloe and soon finds herself both running from the killer and trying to protect this woman she has just met.

I loved the fast pace and non stop action in this crime thriller/romantic intrigue novel. The women form an instant bond over their shared hatred for this killer with seemingly unlimited funds and connections which reach beyond prison bars. Their relationship heats up but so too do the dangers they face. The secondary characters are well developed and play an important role in the women’s survival throughout the novel. Taz the K-9 dropout and Chloe’s personal bodyguard, Maribel and Charlie are all effective at keeping the women grounded and adding some levity to an otherwise dark and dangerous story. I loved how strong both Chloe and Dana prove to be. They are facing a talented killer but they remain determined to catch him using all the resources they know.

There were times when the book takes on action movie sized proportions and yes there are grim scenes which might upset some readers. There were also times when I thought the women raced into danger without full use of the police resources available to them. Suspending belief is sometimes part of the fun reading thrillers and Unexpected Partners finds a nice balance between action and the reality of two strong women facing down their enemy.

4.5 stars

ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.

[Tere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Chloe Maddox is a cop turned sex crime profiler who has restarted her career at the Boston Police Department, where Dana Blake works as a detective. One evening, Chloe sees a suspect in the office that triggers lost memories from when she was abducted and left for dead two years prior. Dana immediately recognizes that Chloe has a connection to a previous case and is the only one capable of sending the psychopath to jail. As the suspect is arraigned and released on bail, Dana and Chloe find themselves running away from a serial killer. Can they survive and help each other move on from their previous traumatic experiences?

This book was intense, with crimes that are sexual in nature. However, a lot is implied and thankfully not described in detail. The two main characters endure many ordeals, yet are strong and have great, immediate chemistry. Even though circumstances are not ideal, the budding romance is not too much of a stretch as it’s skillfully written.

The story captures the reader right away and moves along with several action scenes. I feel there was probably one too many of such scenes, but the book kept my attention all the way to the end. The secondary characters are well done and enjoyable. I also liked that, although the book lacks of a formal epilogue, there was complete closure for all the characters.

For all the animal loving readers, there is a wonderful canine in this one. Unfortunately some of the interactions seemed a bit far fetched and the veterinary medicine felt like it was pulled right from the human medicine side of things. Nonetheless, I enjoyed Taz and especially, the book’s dedication. I agree with Ms Larkin, humans are flawed and dogs love us unconditionally and do lead by example!

This is Ms Larkin’s second published work. I picked this one up after enjoying her debut novel ‘Mercy’ pleased to see law enforcement characters continue to be the main characters in her stories. I will definitely be looking out for her next book.

Overall a solid action, crime-romance. 4 stars

[MJSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I usually only give 4 stars to a book I’d possibly re-read, but I’m breaking that rule here, because I will not be re-reading this. I haven’t read this author before, and the book itself is well-written, but just too dark for me. I knew it was a cop drama, but the psycho in this book was too much for me. I loved both main characters and how they connected despite (though probably because) of what they’d been through, but there was way too much Silvio in this book for me.

Maribel, Charlie and Taz are also great characters (though I agree with Dana, Taz is a weird dog), and the way they work together to get justice was great, and I loved how strong both women were (especially Chloe given what happened to her) but like I said, the rest was just too dark. Maybe it’s a reflection of all the “me too” stuff going on, but I can’t take reading about this stuff in my down time. It feels like it’s everywhere else already.

That said, Michelle Larkin is a great writer, and the characters were compelling and totally deserved the HEA. I’d read something by her again, but will have to wait and see if she branches out from cop stories. If you like thriller cop stories, this one should suit just fine.

[Samantha Luce · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4. Instalove alert. If you dig that then you will love this. If instalove is not your favorite then this may rub you the wrong way. The two leads are confident and competent. They work together as police partners and as romantic partners. The bad guy is particularly evil, but that's all he is. He's a cookie cutter evil jerk. The dog is seriously too amazing to be true. There's lots of action and suspense, but it keeps piling on until it's a little bit too much. Overall not bad. The romance is good.

ARC received for an honest review.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books should definitely come with some warnings. There is recounting of sexual abuse, kidnapping, abduction, violence and animal cruelty. I would say these things are in there, but they aren’t too graphic, or at least not as graphic as it all could have been.
By no means is this an easy book, from start to finish it is about one of the previously mentioned nasty subjects, but there is some lightness in there. Especially with the dog, Taz, he might be my favourite character. That’s not to say I don’t like the main characters, I do actually. Both Dana and Chloe are strong individuals and have their share of trauma to overcome. It’s cute how they find each other, I like that there is no drama between them piled on top of all the other things that are going on. Do I think they move too fast? No doubt about it! Do I mind? Only a little, it doesn’t “upset” me the way it usually does. I think it has to do with the crime storyline. I feel like that is the main focus of this book and I think it is setup very well.

If you like crime stories with a side of strong female characters and a little sapphic romance this is the book for you.
4.5 stars

[A.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was hard to read at times, not because it was a bad book but because of the hard subject matter.

I did like the book, as it made me feel all sorts of emotions and was even teary at one particular moment of the book. The secondary characters were also a joy to read, especially Taz.

This is the first work I've read by Michelle and it definitely won't be my last.

Review also posted here: https://wp.me/p4Pp9O-Mn

[Laure · Rating 1 out of 5]

OKAY, SO … I haven't read "Mercy" yet but I've read "Endangered" & those who have read my review on it know that I’ve loved the book … So I wanted to read the other novels by Michelle Larkin. Let me say that I find it difficult to believe the books are from the same author.

My rating : 1 ☆

I think I’ll be among the minority of people who weren’t thrilled by the novel but that’s a fact. It saddens me a lot but from my POV, because not placed in a dystopian world like « Endangered », « Unexpected Partners »’s story, despite its interesting plot, is just inconsistent and, yeah, let’s say it, incoherent … It was like if Ms Larkin was not able to decided how to develop it ...Seriously, I don’t buy it, like, at all !!! With a traumatic past like Chloe, it already seems very weird that she’s not suffering from a super duper PTSD (not a dormant one like it seems being the case here) but to see her back to work in such a delicate role (just that, it would have taken a lot of time, a lot more ...) and also live and even fall in love (with a woman when she hasn’t even finished to grieve the loss of her fiancé) while remembering more and more every day about what happened to her & working (even unofficially) on the case and chasing her predator, well, all this doesn't seem believable.

The idea of the novel was interesting but, to be plausible and captivating, all the intrigue should have happened in a way much longer time frame, like a cat and mouse game lasting several months or even a year or two (at least …) … Here, way too many major events happen in a definitely too short time window and having both MCs who weren’t at 100% psychologically (they even seemed to be super clumsy for so-called top-notch cops) being able to catch a psychopath like Sylvio in just a couple days whereas he was active since at leat 2 decades, it enters the miraculous category. A lot of mysteries stay unexplained and it’s really bothering me : the logistics, how on earth Sylvio could have known when and where to find the ladies, etc, etc… And the way they all acted after Sylvio was arrested and recognized guilty, Gosh !!! Let me say that, that was pure nonsense … Seriously, the more I read, the more incoherent the book was becoming …

And about Taz … Don’t get me wrong, I do love dogs and I know / knew clever & amazing ones but, as much as I loved him (he won the star …) the way he is treated, like if he were actually human is a bit too much, even for me …

Like I said, I loved « Endangered » so :
° I’ll definitely give its sequel a try if there’s one someday
and
° I’ll also give « Mercy » and Michelle Larkin’s next book a shot.
‘cause I don’t want to stay blocked by this bad experience …

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was certainly a ‘bloody’ story that verged on the WTF. Very much a crime thriller, two Women surviving beyond amazing odds. Read with a large pinch of salt….

[Jane Shambler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome.

But... If I'm honest the star of this story is Taz. He is the most amazing and entertaining character in this story. Sorry, you're gonna have to read the book to find out who Taz is.

The story is brutally honest and Larkin is an excellent writer. She also tackled many issues with compassion and understanding.

I can't find the words to express what I experienced while reading this book. All I know is Larkin is someone I will read again and again.

Excellent book

Enjoy!

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a compelling page turner!

This is the first book I've read from this author and I can certainly say that it won't be the last! This story touched me on so many levels because this talented author did a fabulous job of blending atrocious crimes with a budding romance and the gradual build up kept me up long into the night. I don't think I'll ever forget Dana and Chloe because these women have been through things I am not sure I'd be able to cope with. I'm a huge fan of this author's writing now and I can't wait for her to release another captivating romantic thriller.

[MaxDisaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
This wasn't bad, but I'd like to know more about the how and why. Don't get me wrong, I understand not getting all the answers is realistic, psychos rarely confess everything, but I'm curious and like to know stuff.

I'd also like to know why it's called Unexpected Partners. That was one of the few expected parts

[MEC · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to get over some of the key plot points and for that reason was never able to just sink in and enjoy the book. Both MC had some pretty horrific backstories that in themselves strained my disbelief but they bounced out of all that and into romance so fast my head was spinning. Enough people enjoyed this book that I will assume I'm in the minority and put it down to my reading entirely too many mystery and procedural books to ignore some stuff and focus on the romance.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Dana Blake of the Boston Police Department is trying to move on from the death of her wife at the hands of psychopath after being abducted, raped, and tortured for twenty-five days. She meets the new profiler, Dr. Chloe Maddox. When Chloe ends up in the bathroom throwing up after seeing a man brought into the station in cuffs, Dana finds out that Chloe, too, had been abducted just like Dana’s wife. They quickly realize Chloe’s attacker was also the attacker of Dana’s wife. It quickly becomes obvious that the psychopath, who always kills his victims, is coming for Chloe, the one who survived his attack, and possibly Dana.

There are many very good things about this book, the characters are very likable, including Chloe’s dog Taz, the plotline unique, the pacing fast, and the writing very good. However, it can be a difficult book to read. Larkin gives the details of Chloe’s abduction and what happened to her in the subsequent twenty-five days, albeit in the form of Chloe’s memories. Larkin ramps up the tension steadily through the book.

There are many things wrong with this book. Once it becomes clear the psychopath is hunting Chloe, she and Dana don’t take any precautions to protect themselves other than being together 24/7. They go running in a remote location unarmed and alone, they hike into the mountains again alone and unarmed. They take many more unlikely chancesThere are many more inconsistencies throughout the book that are annoying and can take the reader out of the story, but to list them all would be to spoil the book for the reader.

However, if the things wrong with the book don’t particularly bother you then this book will keep you turning the pages.

[Bee Sherrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Detective Dana Blake lost her wife to a serial murderer she promised to find her killer. Four years later and she isn’t any closer to fulfilling her promise and her friends are trying to get her back to living her life again, you know moving on. Dr. Chloe Maddox joins the Boston Police Force looking for a fresh start. She was attacked and left for dead by the same killer that took Dana’s partners life. She just wants to get on with her life but when the psychopath who held and tortured comes back into her life she teams up with Dana to try to stop him from killing any more women. This is a nice fast paced story that keeps you engaged from the very first page. Very enjoyable read with more than a few twists and turns.
ARC via NetGalley

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly funny despite all the morbid psychopathy.

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an unsettling read. Having strong female leads supporting each other was a nice redeeming factor in opposition to the creepy bad guy. I enjoyed the flow of this read much better than the author's previous read, Mercy. Entertaining thriller that kept this reader interested throughout. Dr. Chloe Maddox, working to get past her abduction, almost death, and murder of her fiancee'. Detective Dana Blake, upset and looking for the criminal that abducted and killed her wife. The backstory for both characters is limited but the little we do know is very sad and unfortunate. I also smiled as ADA Maribel was presented and the clothes she had on. She was definitely "styling". Maribel and Charlie added levity to an otherwise dark and dangerous story. I appreciated how strong both Chloe and Dana prove to be as they faced a talented killer.

ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley.

[Anne]

DNF. This book had potential but felt unfinished, or at least unpolished. I can usually cope with one major factual flaw in a book, but by the time I got to the second one, I stopped reading.

First, Maribel, the friend of one of the MCs, Dana, does some research on the other MC, Chloe, at Dana's request. That part makes sense. But then Maribel tells Dana she has a way to get Chloe to talk about what happened to her--only Dana never got the chance to tell Maribel that Chloe was reluctant to discuss it. Maribel is omniscient, apparently. This put me off because it felt lazy on the author's part.

Second, Chloe was so badly beaten (in the past), she was in a coma. This woman is the same one who's so beautiful that most men lose major IQ points when they're around her. That she'd be outwardly scarless and have no obvious physical signs of that beating wasn't believable to me (given the "bloody pulp" level of beating, I'm talking about more than the bite marks mentioned). Maybe if I'd kept reading, the author would eventually mention such signs? Or at least a limp or other permanent injury?

The dialogue and chemistry between the leads was promising and I would have continued had I not been so put off by the issues above.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars, I enjoyed the mystery of this book and how the crime played out. This story revolves around Dana Blake, a Boston detective whose wife Gabbi was murdered and Dr Chloe Maddox, a behavioral profiler who barely survived a kidnapping. Chloe does not remember anything from the kidnapping, where she left in front her old police department barely breathing. She sees her kidnapper and the memories come flooding back so Chloe and Dana work their hardest to find and stop this killer from committing any more crimes. They also find a connection to Gabbi's killer and Chloe's kidnapper.

This book was interesting, as the mystery and the tracking of the killer kept me reading the book. The book did drag a little, as to why I am only giving it 3.5 stars. A lot of the book was all the law with the killer, as they are trying to persecute him. The killer is flushed out and deep, as well as Chloe's and Dana's relationship as the book goes on. It does develop awfully fast in the middle of the book, which I find unbelievable. I would not necessarily re-read this book or recommend it.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A serial killer mystery with a chance for justice & romance

“In that moment, she realized she cared enough about Chloe to support her in whatever way she needed. As a colleague, friend, or as a partner somewhere down the road. She was in Chloe’s corner for life.”
+ • + • + • +

A serial killer mystery that offers a chance for justice & romance for two policewomen— one a sex crimes detective whose wife was murdered 4 years ago & the other, a sex crime behavioral analyst & profiler whose fiance was killed when she was kidnapped & subjected to 25 days of brutality before being dumped & left for dead. They are seeking closure, but they get a second chance… if they survive.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

An "edge of your seat" thriller. Many exciting and scary action scenes. The characters are very likable and the dialog is crisp and natural. That being said..If I had written this review after reading the first 3/4's of the book , I would have said this was one of the best thrillers I've read but then the story got silly. The ending chapters are a bit fairy tale sappy. The friends are way over the top sweet. Almost a comical contrast to the horrors of the previous story. That sort of ruined it for me. If you like a good thrilled with a cutesy ending, this story is right for you.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am not usually a fan of police novels, but this one may make me change my opinion. The characters were very realistic and were developed well. The attraction and love story were delicious to read and the ending was very satisfying. I am hoping this will be made into an audiobook because the story would be great to listen to and hear it come to life.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected Partners by Michelle Larkin is an action packed adventure/romance that tells the story of two Boston police detectives who are being stalked by a serial killer. Dr. Chloe Maddox has a history with the killer since he murdered her fiancé two years ago and left Chloe for dead. Detective Dana Blake’s wife was assassinated by the same suspect four years ago, and now he has chosen Dana as his next victim. Both team up to first stay out of his clutches, which isn’t easy, and then to find the evidence they need to bring him to justice.

There is a lot of action in this story that will keep you interested and sometimes on the edge of your seat as you read, so those of you who like action and violence in a story should be well satisfied here. I liked the main characters and could see the chemistry between the two, and enjoyed the way the romance was treated throughout the story. The secondary characters were also well-developed and made the tale better. My absolute favorite character is Taz, Chloe’s German Shepherd, who was trained to be an attack dog in the police K-9 unit but was flunked out by his trainer. It was a good thing Chloe took him before he could be euthanized, what they usually do to trainees that don’t make the cut. He turned out to be one of the most important characters in the book as far as I’m concerned. I fell in love with Taz.

I did have one problem with the story line. There were a couple of plot holes in the story, things that were mentioned and then just dropped. It kind of bugged me because I think it would have made the story stronger if those things had been resolved. I still enjoyed the book, but felt it could have been a stronger tale if all the loose ends had been tied up.

I’m giving a trigger alert here. There are discussions of rape and violence against women in this book. If that is going to make you uncomfortable, then you might want to miss this one. If, however, you like a good action-packed adventure and don’t mind some violence in a story, then this might just be the book for you.

I received an ARC from Net Galley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[Stebie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is my first book by Michelle Larkin and the reason I was drawn to Unexpected Partners was because I love myself a f-f, cop story with brave strong women and while the story does contain the mentioned, I didn’t quite enjoy this story as I had hoped.

The characters Dana, a police detective and Chloe, a behavioral profiler for the sex crimes division for the BPD meet by chance at a café and later partner up in hopes to take down this psychopath/sociopath who is connected to both of their very sad, very awful back story.

I was taken aback and a little disturbed by how much darker the story actually was. I read a lot of crime books and watch the occasional crime show but I felt myself grimacing at this serial killer/torturer/stalker baddie who I thought was too evil for no good reason besides that he had always enjoyed dismembering things despite a rather healthy upbringing by loving family members. His reasoning for choosing his victims is beyond maddening! There were many times I wanted to throw the book in the air in disbelief as some scenes were just so beyond my imagination it felt like a really bad horror film or a Mission Impossible movie where you can’t help but roll your eyes.

There is a decent amount of action throughout the story so it very easy for me to keep on reading. The romance is sweet if not a little too insta-love despite what happened in each of the MC’s past. The secondary characters Taz, the dropout K-9 dog is adorable even if it’s a little hard to believe a dog like him could exist and ADA Maribel are interesting enough characters.

Overall, not a bad story but it just wasn’t for me.

WARNING for rape/torture/murder/violent aspects and scenes in this book. It was a difficult read for me and if the above are trigger warnings for you, maybe pass up on this one.

An ARC was received by Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know what to expect from this book as I had not read any books by Ms. Larkin, nor a book about two women who fall in love. The attraction and love that slowly developed between the two women was done in a tasteful and caring manner. Dr. Chloe Maddox had been a victim of a serial killer. When she was abducted, her husband was killed and she is the only victim that survived. Chloe was a police officer at the time and has since joined the Boston Police Department as a behavioral profiler. She meets Boston P.D. Detective Dana Blake whose wife was also a victim of the same killer. The police believe they know who the serial killer is, but have not been able to get enough evidence against him. When the killer comes after Chloe to finish what he started, her police trained dog, Taz, Dana and the department will be there to make sure he does not succeed. I really enjoyed this book, the strength of the characters, the action and unique storyline. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a mystery which centers around a serial killer. It has plenty of suspense and romance.

The two main characters are Chloe Maddox and Dana Blake. Both women are employed by the Boston Police Department. Chloe recently joined the department as a crime profiler. During the previous year she was abducted, raped and brutally injured. She does not recall much about the kidnapping, but bits and pieces are slowly returning after she sees her kidnapper at the police station.

Dana is a detective who works in the family justice division. She, too, is carrying emotional baggage. Her wife was killed as a victim of a sex crime. Dana and Chloe are thrown together to solve a series of killings.

The third special character in this story is Taz, a dog who was dropped from the K-9 program. Chloe adopts Taz for protection and company. Taz has a great personality and is very intelligent.

I found the plot to be very well written with a lot of twists and turns. From the very beginning I was drawn into the story. Readers will find it a page turner. Ms. Larkin has done a wonderful job with character development and I would not be surprised if she writes a sequel revolving around the same individuals.

I recommend this book and give it 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.

I was given this ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one is safe in Michelle Larkin’s Unexpected Partners! Holy sugar what a thrilling mystery ride Larkin takes us on. Larkin immediately lets us in on who the bad guy is but is slow to give the details of just how diabolical this killer is. On the one hand I felt really bad for the characters and on the other hand I was figuratively rubbing my hands in glee to have such a great mystery in my hands.

Larkin’s supporting cast is fun and I really hope I see everyone who survived this book again - see I am not giving away any spoilers (hehehehehehe). I cannot really pick a character I liked best because I loved them all, well except for the bad guy. Larkin gives a teaser of an ending as to the why this happened and then wham blows that to shreds - I loved it!!

There was nothing not to love in this book.

I got this book from my library. I love my local library and you should check out yours too. Request LGBTQ+ books and they will stock them! #ebooksforall