Gone Too Far – Devlin & Falco #2

Author: Debra Webb
Genre: Crime Thriller
382 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer, 2021

Synopsis
As veteran detectives of the Birmingham Police Department, Kerri Devlin and Luke Falco have seen it all. So when the city’s new hotshot deputy district attorney turns up dead as part of a double homicide, the partners immediately get to work.

But this is no ordinary case. Devlin and Falco quickly link the murdered DDA to one of their own: former BPD detective Sadie Cross. But Sadie’s fractured memory is yet another puzzle to decipher, as she only recalls bits and pieces of her violent past…a past that may hold clues to the motive behind the murders.

As the group slowly begins to unearth the truth, they soon discover that the more secrets are revealed, the more fatal the consequences.

My review
Gone Too Far is another twisty, fast-paced crime thriller by Debra Webb. While it may not be a gritty, hard-hitting portrayal of crime, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the various threads of three intense storylines come together by the end of the novel. Kudos to Webb for her creativity and skill in weaving such an intricate, detailed plot that all ties together in an exciting and satisfying conclusion.

Two major situations hit Kerri Devlin and Luke Falco hard. Devlin’s 13-year-old daughter, Tori, finds herself entangled in an incident where a classmate is critically injured, and rumors quickly spread, suggesting that either she or her best friend, who was right next to her, may be responsible. On the professional front, Devlin and Falco are called to a scene at a business where two men have been executed. However, Devlin is sidelined from the investigation into the school injury due to Tori’s involvement, and when the murder case is handed off to higher-ups, Devlin and Falco no longer in charge. Left with little to do, the pair is stuck handling the grunt work while others take the lead on both cases.

In this second installment, Devlin and Falco have established a strong professional rapport, and there are subtle hints that their personal relationship might evolve into something more. I particularly enjoyed learning more about Sadie Cross, who is still struggling to rebuild her life three years after her undercover operation within the Osorio Mexican drug cartel went terribly wrong. After her cover was blown, Cross suffered severe memory loss, leaving huge gaps from months of her life that she can’t remember. She was later found abandoned, injured, and emaciated under a railway bridge. While still piecing together what exactly happened during that time, Cross is separately investigating the murder and also agrees to assist the Devlin and Falco by leveraging her connections.

The three storylines gradually converge, blending into a single, compelling narrative. Along the way, more people meet tragic ends, and several shocking revelations come to light. Cross uncovers startling truths about her past that leave her reeling, and as the investigation unfolds, a massive criminal conspiracy begins to take shape. One that stretches all the way to some very powerful and high-ranking figures.

Overall, Gone Too Far was a fast-paced, highly entertaining read. Webb is a talented writer and I’ve found this series perfect to pick up when I’m looking for a twisty escape into the lighter side of crime fiction.

My recommendation: worth the read!