ARC Review: Deep Tide by Laura Griffin

Deep Tide
Author: Laura Griffin
Series: The Texas Murder Files (Book 4)
Publication: Berkley (April 25, 2023)

Description: An undercover FBI agent and a coffee shop owner who values her independence must team up when a local barista is found dead in their coastal Texas town in this new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

With two brothers on the police force, Leyla Breda is well aware of the rising crime in her small beach town, but she never expected it to show up on her doorstep. When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she’s deeply shaken, and as a new law enforcement officer in town begins to circle her place of business, her instincts only sharpen.

Sean Moran is on an undercover mission: The seaside community of Lost Beach may look like a picturesque postcard, but his team suspects it’s a point of intersection for several crime syndicates that the FBI has been investigating for years. Even so, when the brash and beautiful Leyla Breda starts bossing him around, he's immediately intrigued. He knows her brothers want him to back off, but every time he sees her, he feels more of a spark.

Leyla’s connections in the local community and Sean’s skills allow them to go deeper into the case together than they would be able to go alone. But when a single crime spirals into something much darker, Sean’s carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn.

My Thoughts: This romantic suspense title pairs coffee shop owner/caterer Leyla Breda with undercover FBI Agent Sean Moran. Leyla has just finished catering her police officer brother's wedding when she discovers the murdered body of one of her brewistas Amelia in the alley outside her beach shop. 

Leyla and Sean met at the wedding. He's one of her brother's friends. They are attracted but she's made it a rule not to get involved with tourists. She has no desire for a short-term romance. It doesn't help that lying to her because he's part of an undercover mission.   

While they are getting to know each other, Natalie Lswson, the youngest and only woman on the police force, is given charge of investigating the murder. She has to deal with some jealousy from other more experienced officers and her own self-doubts as she tries to figure out who murdered Amelia. It doesn't help that the murder may have ties to the undercover investigation and she keeps getting stone-walled by other agencies. 

This was an engaging and action-packed thriller and romance. It is part of a series but stands alone well. 

Favorite Quote:

Leyla trudged up the creaky wooden stairs to her apartment. She was utterly tapped and even her arms felt heavy as she fumbled with her keys and unlocked the door. Stepping inside, she closed her eyes and leaned against the wall.

Quiet. Finally. The sudden lack of sound and motion made her feel dizzy., the way she used to feel as a girl after spending all day playing in the waves.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.