On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up—not today.
Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling Run.
It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there’s no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend’s past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?
I have a wildly specific book for you! Looking for a book with a missing true crime podcaster, an investigative journalist dating a private detective, and a small upstate New York town? You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh has all of the above (and more, swipe to see)!
The most important thing to note about this book is that while it is technically the first in a new series, it is part of the Melinda Leigh universe, making it actually the 20th book in 4 inter-connected series. And I have read all previous 19 books, so I’m fully credentialed to review this one!
It follows Olivia Cruz, who is first introduced in the sixth book of the Morgan Dane series. Olivia is a true crime writer, and she met private eye Lincoln Sharp during an arduous kidnapping. Since then, they’ve been a dynamic partnership romantically and occasionally professionally. When Olivia’s former coworker turned true crime podcaster, Zoe March, goes missing, Olivia and Lincoln team up to find her. Olivia’s tech wiz niece, Nicki, joins in as well, and the three work together to track Zoe down.
The highlight of this story was Olivia and Nicki. Olivia is in her forties and I really appreciated having a mature, logical lead. Nicki’s college-aged antics were a perfect counter, with some chaotic vim and vigor. I really enjoyed their relationship, along with the rest of their immediate family. I also really enjoyed the characters from other books that popped in briefly.
I love Leigh’s writing style and structure. Her books are often categorized as romantic suspense, and there’s always a clear procedural structure that I enjoy. Leigh’s unique and memorable characters, along with her expertly paced storylines, are what sets her apart in the genre, and always brings me back for more!
If any of this book’s wildly specific traits caught your eye, you should definitely give it a shot! I’d also recommend it if you’ve read books from the Scarlet Falls, Morgan Dane, or Bree Taggert series!
Thanks to Netgalley and Brilliance for the free advanced copies in exchange for an honest review!
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