False Witness by Andrew Grant

Cooper was accustomed to seeing dead bodies because he's a cop, but this one is sad.  It's beautiful young woman who is nude and has been strangled, then tied up in sheets like a birthday present.  There are no clues...

Ballantine Books and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published.

There is another death before they develop a suspect.  He's a bit slow but he does what he's directed to do.  He delivered her car to her right before her death.  They find some other connections and decide to bring him in.  Right before they enter the house, it blows up!  The fire investigator said it was just his misfortune for lighting a cigarette in a house with a gas leak.  The cops wonder if that was true.  The suspect is in the hospital and may not survive.  He can't speak well.  Before they get to him he's flatlined.  Did someone help him again?  He was recovering...

When a third death happens, they know they were wrong.  The problem is that they don't know who it could be but they start searching again.  There's a nest of vipers in town and the one manipulating everyone is smart and hides well.  But Cooper doesn't give up...

In the meantime, his girlfriend needed some "space" and he's leaving her alone.  He hopes their relationship will improve but he doesn't know if it will.  He finds out more about his family secrets and that doesn't help resolve the problem.  I want to read the next book in this series and see what she decides.  I know what I'd do but she's not so sure.