Terrific book that kept me hooked from start to finish. In the earlier books, the operatives at Secure One successfully stopped a trafficker and her subordinate, rescuing women who had been held captive. In both books, some women's bodies were found floating in rivers. The killer was dubbed "The Red River Slayer" and has remained unidentified for several years. This is Mack and Charlotte's story. Both were supporting characters in the earlier books.

Mack served in the military with the other team members and was injured in a mission that went wrong. His memories haunt him, and he feels guilty that he couldn't stop what happened. Charlotte escaped the clutches of The Miss, but her experience left her traumatized and wary of trusting anyone. Mack has been protective of Charlotte since the day she arrived at Secure One. I loved seeing him support her and work at building her confidence.

As the book opens, Secure One provides security for a senator's daughter's birthday celebration. When the body of a murdered woman washes up on the riverbank, Charlotte recognizes the woman as another of The Miss's captives. The team believes she is another victim of the Slayer, and there is a connection between the murder and the cases they worked on. They suspect that it is just a matter of time before there is another victim.

This action and suspense-filled story kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. Mack and Charlotte take the lead in the investigation with the backup of the rest of the team. Charlotte's artistic skills come in handy as they plot the killings and try to make sense of them. They get help from the senator's daughter, who brings a different perspective. There is also an unexpected arrival from Charlotte's past, which provides a link that sends her and Mack on a desperate journey. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a surprise revelation.

I enjoyed the development of Mack and Charlotte's relationship. Mack is such a tough guy on the outside, but his kindness and sensitivity toward Charlotte show a softer side to him. I loved watching him build up her confidence and show her the respect she deserves. The more time Mack spends with her, the harder he falls, but he is convinced he doesn't deserve anyone's love. I loved watching the changes in Charlotte as she healed. She has confidence in herself and her abilities. She is also very empathetic and sees past Mack's tough-guy façade to the hurting man inside. The picture she drew of him was heartbreaking and blew him away with her perceptiveness. Despite her self-assurance, she believes her past makes her unworthy of anyone. It takes nearly losing each other to realize they are exactly what each other needs.

One of the things I love about this series is the author's matter-of-fact treatment of her characters' physical challenges. They aren't made a big deal of; they are simply part of who the characters are.

#netgalley ( )

Especially the broken parts

Katie Mettner’s storied never disappoint and she has another gem on her hands with this one. Action packed, with characters that you can’t help but root for this installment can be read alone but then you miss out on how much character development that has gone on over the course of the series. I can’t wait for the next batch to hit the shelves and find out what Secure One has to deal with next! ( )

The Red River Slayer (Secure One, 3) by Katie Mettner

A fourth woman is found dead in a river, security expert (and disabled) veteran Mack is on the search for a serial killer. He will also do what ever it takes to protect Charlotte, a victim of sex trafficing.

While getting closer to solving the case, he is also getting closer to Charlotte. The two make a perfect pair if they would allow love to win.

The story moves at a fast pace with attention to detail, compelling plot, well developed (likabe) characters. Suspense, secrets, thrills and bit of romance, blending together in this good read. I was engrossed from the first page.

Overall I found The Red River Slayer very enjoyable. I highly recommend to all. ( )