Title The Detective’s Daughter ~ Secrets of Griffin Gate
Author Darcy Flynn
Genre Romantic Suspense
Book Blurb
Years after Detective James Ross is murdered, his daughter, LUCY, returns to Griffin Gate—the Ross family home—to find out who killed him. Her only clues come from an old family video recorder depicting her father’s last moments before he was shot. In the process of readying the place for her mom’s arrival, and applying her meager sleuthing skills to the crime, she uncovers hidden gems in the Victorian house. Lucy realizes Griffin Gate is more than just the family homeplace. It has harbored secrets not only about her past, but also about her father’s murder.
Scottish Detective MALCOLM KNOX has chosen to spend a sabbatical year in Arkansas working with the Diamond Creek Police Department. Malcolm chose the town in order to find out who killed his dad’s oldest and dearest friend, James Ross. During Malcolm’s investigation, he discovers that Lucy, the beautiful and secretive woman he meets at the Policeman’s Masked Ball, has also moved to town with a secret mission—one that undermines him and his investigation.
When Lucy becomes the target of someone’s malicious pranks, she and Knox must trust each other and work together to discover and stop the killer before he closes in on her.
Excerpt
Funny, how a mask caused one to focus solely on the eyes. She looked deeply into his, wondering what he must be thinking. Are they the mirror of the soul?
Then, there was his beard—also a mask of sorts, covering his lower face—making her focus on his mouth and his lips as he spoke—every curl and nuance. What would it be like to feel those lips on hers?
She swallowed and shoved such thoughts aside. “What brings you all the way from Scotland to this little Arkansas town?”
“Business.”
“What kind of business?”
He pursed his lips as if thinking. “Research. I’m honing my observation skills. It’s sort of a spectator role.”
She thought about how, moments earlier, he’d watched her before he approached. “What are you observing?”
“The police department—but enough of that. I’d like you to dance with me.” He took her hand and led her onto the open floor without asking or waiting for her reply.
“Are all Scots this forward?”
“I can’t speak for all Scots, but I like to think of myself as confident.”
“I’d call your actions authoritative,” she said.
“I guess you could say it that way.” His left arm encircled her waist.
He gazed down at her as the band started playing Into the Mystic. The man singing even sounded like Van Morrison, and the song was so very, sweetly, romantic.
Malcolm drew her close and moved across the floor. “So. When are you going to tell me?”
“Tell you what?” She gazed up into those blue, blue eyes, the bluest she’d ever seen—deep like the ocean on a stormy day.
“Your name?”
“It’s… Lucy.”
“She hesitates,” he said. “And your last name?”
“Just Lucy.”
“Cryptic, too.” He paused slightly, then swung her left, sidestepping another couple. For the next minute, they simply slow-danced to the hypnotic rhythm of the piece. Fighting the urge to rest her head on his shoulder, she focused on the top button on his tux. She swallowed, and her heart fluttered.
Ever so gently, he cinched her closer. Completely aware of how his movement made her body yield to his, she willingly conformed. No longer a schoolgirl, she reveled in this moment of pure romance. Never in her life had she felt so drawn to a man. Strength and masculinity flowed from him—gentle and persuasive as he led her through each step.
She lifted her gaze to his as they danced, and she found him studying her with those dark-blue eyes that seemed to challenge—to question her in some way. Such focused attention sparked an interest she found hard to ignore. His very persona made her want to test him.
She wondered what he did for living and knew instinctively that his request for a dance went deeper then mere formality. She felt like a mouse to his cat and searched her mind for his motive.
Could he possibly know her identity?
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)
Author Biography
Darcy Flynn is known for her heartwarming, sweet contemporary romances. Her refreshing storylines, irritatingly handsome heroes and feisty heroines will delight and entertain you from the first page to the last. Miss Flynn’s heroes and heroines have a tangible chemistry that is entertaining, humorous and competitive.
Darcy lives with her husband and a menagerie of other living creatures on her horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee. She raises rare breed chickens, stargazes on warm summer nights and indulges daily in afternoon tea.
Social Media Links