Fourth of July celebrations are ruined for Rockwell and Decker when ‘the perfect family’ are discovered dead and their house on fire. The only survivor is 4 year old Thomas who says the killer was a police officer. Can Will trust his own team…?
One Child Alive is a police thriller set in the US. This is the third book in the series and I have previously reviewed the second book Her Perfect Bones by Ellery Kane. There are mentions of family issues from the past but I think this book would work as a stand alone novel.
Detective Will Decker finds himself concerned when the police appear to be the main suspect. His partner has been replaced by a sneering cop who had a confrontation with the family’s father just before the murders. He relies upon Olivia Rockwell’s psychological knowledge to help unravel the truth from 4 year old Thomas but how accurate a witness can a child be?
Will’s partner JB was a source of light relief in the last book and still provides natural banter. However, his illness allows the plot to develop as Will is temporaily partnered with Graham. The animosity and sleaziness of Graham towards both Will and Olivia instantly made me see him as the prime suspect but he has friends in high places that protect him. It’s always great to have a characters we love to hate 🙂
Will and Olivia’s relationship takes a leap but there are still complications from their families. Both of them are so likeable that you are desperate for them to get together properly. Olivia manages to get involved in the investigation by finding clues but this puts her in danger…
One Child Alive is an entertaining and enthralling thriller and I look forward to seeing what happens for Will and Olivia next.
One, two, three. She counts the bodies dragged from the burning beach house, smoke rising from their cotton pajamas, and remembers a fourth; red hair, freckles, clinging to his mother’s legs, begging to watch the fireworks a while longer. “Where’s the little boy?” she whispers…
In the ashes of the Fox family’s seafront vacation home, Olivia Rockwell can barely hold back her tears as she wonders who in the close-knit town of Fog Harbor could destroy such a warm, loving family. Then she spots a little green toy soldier in the sand and follows a set of small footprints along the beach to an abandoned lifeguard hut. Inside, she finds the youngest Fox child, Thomas. The only survivor…
Holding his trembling body close, Olivia promises to keep him safe. She knows the agony of losing family at such a young age. But the second Thomas catches sight of Detective Will Decker’s sliver police badge over her shoulder, the little boy’s scream pierces the night. Could the family have been targeted by someone sworn to protect them? Is anyone safe if the police themselves are the primary suspect?
Unsure who she can trust, Olivia keeps hold of the tiny horseshoe charm she finds at the scene and follows the trail deep into the web of lies surrounding this seemingly perfect family. But just as a tip-off from a local lighthouse-keeper puts the killer within reach, tragedy strikes:Â little Thomas is snatched from his bed.
Up against a calculating monster who seems to know her every weakness, Olivia must dig deeper than ever before to find this innocent child. But when one twisted killer becomes two, can she stay alive long enough to save him?
A totally gripping and utterly addictive page-turner that will have you biting your nails and reeling at the twists. Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Lisa Regan and Kendra Elliot!
Author Bio:
Forensic psychologist by day, novelist by night, Ellery Kane has been writing–professionally and creatively–for as long as she can remember. Just like many of her main characters, Ellery loves to ask why, which is the reason she became a psychologist in the first place. Real life really is stranger than fiction, and Ellery’s writing is often inspired by her day job. Evaluating violent criminals and treating trauma victims, she has gained a unique perspective on the past and its indelible influence on the individual. And she’s heard her fair share of real life thrillers.
Ellery lives in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, a picturesque setting that provides the backdrop for many of her novels. If you don’t find Ellery interviewing murderers behind prison walls or pecking away at her latest novel, she is probably at the gym landing a solid jab-cross to a punching bag; riding bicycles with her special someone; or enjoying a movie the old-fashioned way–at the theater with popcorn and Milk Duds.
Ellery was previously selected as one of ten semifinalists in the MasterClass James Patterson Co-Author Competition, and she recently signed a three book deal with Bookouture for her new Rockwell and Decker mystery thriller series. The first book is scheduled for release in 2020.
If you’d like to receive a notification when new books are released, please sign up for Ellery’s newsletter at ellerykane.com. Ellery also signs e-books on authorgraph.com.
