by Andrea Kane
First published 2011
Judge Hope Willis watched helplessly as a car drove away with her struggling daughter inside. Years of deciding family fates in court mean nothing now that she cannot protect her own child. Krissy has been kidnapped, and time runs short. Hope's husband opposes her next move, but she contacts Casey Woods anyway. Casey leads Forensic Instincts, a team of unconventional investigators who operate outside legal constraints. Her crew includes a behaviorist, a tech expert, an intuitive, and a former Navy SEAL. Each member brings unique skills and personal motivations to their work. Casey reads people instantly and accurately. At Krissy's home, she spots a nervous spouse, a guilty conscience, and a nanny who acts suspiciously with her phone. Secrets threaten to surface as the team digs through evidence. While police work within the system's limits, Forensic Instincts follows different rules. They know small details matter. A suspect's breathing pattern or Hope's hidden family history could determine whether Krissy returns alive or disappears forever.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, race-against-time
Setting: Krissy's Home
400 pages · Hardcover · MIRA
Content warnings: kidnapping