Review: Circle of Vengeance - Ramona Richards

Review: Circle of Vengeance - Book #2 Star Cavanaugh Cold Case Series - Ramona Richards - October 2022

For fans of cold cases, small-town secrets, and the kind of mystery that slowly unravels like a tangled ball of wool on a rainy afternoon, Circle of Vengeance by Ramona Richards delivers a suspenseful and intriguing read.

 Star once again finds herself diving deep into a case that many people would rather keep firmly buried in the past. Twenty-five years ago, a young girl named Hope Marshall vanished without a trace. Months later, tragedy struck again when her mother, Genevieve Marshall, was discovered murdered in the barn on the Turney family farm. The shockwaves of that crime rippled through the community, and the blame ultimately fell on Kevin Turney, who was convicted of the murder despite always maintaining his innocence.

Now, decades later, Kevin’s daughter Jill Turney wants the truth uncovered once and for all. She’s determined to clear her father’s name and prove that the Turney family and their farm aren’t cursed by the tragedies of the past. To do that, she turns to Star, whose reputation for solving difficult cold cases makes her the perfect person to take another look at what really happened back in 1995.

But as any seasoned mystery reader knows, digging into the past can be a bit like opening Pandora’s box once it’s open, there’s no closing it again.

One of the aspects I enjoyed most about Circle of Vengeance was its past-and-present storytelling. The novel alternates between the events of 1995 and the present day, slowly revealing clues that piece together the truth behind Hope’s disappearance and Genevieve’s murder. It’s the sort of narrative that keeps you turning the pages, much like when you promise yourself “just one more chapter” before bed  and suddenly it’s well past midnight.

Of course, the deeper Star digs, the more dangerous things become. Someone clearly doesn’t want this case solved, and before long Star finds herself in the crosshairs. As secrets surface and bodies begin to pile up, the investigation becomes a race against time to uncover the truth before the past claims another victim.

With its blend of mystery, danger, and a touch of romantic suspense, Circle of Vengeance is an engaging addition to the Star Cavanaugh series. If you enjoy small-town thrillers filled with long-buried secrets and determined investigators who refuse to give up, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Pa3UIR