Dead...If Only by Heather Haven

Lee and Gurn are off on vacation and she really needs one.  She's been busy with the family business and some down time and Gurn are all she needs to relax.  She's not sure about this mud bath thing, though.  Somehow it just doesn't seem clean.  Then her phone starts to ring.  What now?

The author graciously shared a copy of this book with me for review (thank you).  It has been published, so you can purchase a copy now.

This was my first read about the Alvarez family and it was very enjoyable.  Big families who care for each other are special and that's what this family has.  When her brother calls in a panic because his pregnant wife is in the hospital and they are talking about charging her with murder, Lee's vacation is over.  She and Gurn race back.  When her brother tells her his wife said she saw a dead man on the streets in New Orleans, she knew she had to find him.  He had beat up Vicki's sister so bad she's in a nursing home.  They thought he blew his boat up at sea and died then but no...

Gurn has to call in old markers to find out where the dead man has been and where he is now.  Lee finds that out faster than he does.  Knowing the Feds don't care about the bad guy's past means the family has to handle it themselves.  Handle it, they do.

There's lots of action, interesting characters, and an entertaining family in the story.  You have two cats, a lady who sells voodoo supplies and you find out the bad guy is even worse than first thought.  I'm real glad that justice is finally served.

Ms. Haven pulls no punches and writes a gritty mystery as well as has a good love story going on.  I enjoyed this read.  Why not try it and see what you think?  If you like to read a series in order, grab the whole pile and settle down for a read.