I recently read Broken by Rebecca Zanetti, and it ticks off all of the boxes! The third book in her Deep Ops series tells the story of Dana Mulberry, an investigative journalist honor-bound to solve the case of her dead friend and fellow journalist. Our victim, Candy, specialized in the seemingly safe world of high finance. It’s not like she was scouring the wilds of a jungle looking for militant extremists seeking to topple governments; her death was a shocking blow for Dana and one she will not let go unsolved. Dana is a loyal and caring friend with a particular skill set for deep diving into research with a knack for connecting the dots along the way. With a story that hits this close to home for her, it’s not just a job, it’s personal.
Our hero is former Navy SEAL Clarence Wolfe. Oh boy, is he a hero I can get behind, he’s so broken, lost, and closed off, it’s my own personal reading catnip! He’s investigating his own personal case, but unlike Dana, he doesn’t plan on publishing the facts, he plans of taking down a backstabbing killer that betrayed him and his friends. Being the third book in the series, we’ve had the pleasure of watching Dana and Wolfe dance around their attraction for each other for a while now. When they are thrust together because their individual cases wildly intersect, Wolfe’s protective streak and Dana’s stubborn reliance collide in an explosive spark of chemistry and heat that will not be denied.
The danger feels incredibly real, the suspense is edge of your seat at times, and the deep dive investigating literally had me yelling ‘PLOT TWIST” at 2 in the morning! Dana is a fabulous heroine, clever, strong, and stubborn but not reckless. Wolfe is a beast of a man with a sweet, gentle side; he keeps buried until Dana clouds his vision and takes over his heart. It’s such a good story, suspense, and intrigue with a touch of Zanetti humor. And a hefty dose of heat! I love solving a mystery, and watching Dana work the case is fascinating.
I have a couple of suggestions for you to investigate if you’re interested in other amazing journalist heroines