Dead By Morning (Dead by Trilogy #2/Griffin Powell #12) by Beverly Barton
Romance Suspense
May 1, 2011
Paperback
Kensington

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: She walked out of the study, her head held high, her shoulders straight, and her heart breaking into a million pieces.”

This was a hard book for me to review. I have always been a huge fan of Beverly Barton. I was deeply saddened to hear she had passed away. The Griffin Powell series has been a whirlwind of suspense, intrigue, and romance starting with the first one-After Dark. Ms. Powell has never made it easy for her lovers-Griffin and Nic for example-but that made it even more thrilling. In the 12th of the Griffin Powell Agency series-Dead By Morning, we see signs that the long standing Malcolm York arc may be coming to an end. While I enjoyed this story, I have noticed in the last few books that the romance and plot hasn’t been as cohesive as the earlier ones. The surface is scratched but Barton’s trademark ability to imbibe her stories with nerve shattering tension and suspense isn’t felt here.

Dead By Morning focuses on Maleah Purdue and Derek Lawrence. Maleah and Derek first met in Dead By Midnight.These two have butted heads since day one. Maleah thinks that Derek is a womanizer and far too controlling for her piece of mind. Derek thinks Maleah is beautiful, intelligent, and he wants her,; but she brings out the alpha in him and he doesn’t like the possessiveness he feels towards her.

A serial killer begins to target members of the Powell agency and people they hold dear to them, copying the MO of a serial killer in jail-Jerome Browning. Maleah and Derek will have to go deep into the mind of the serial killer to try and stay one step ahead. This requires Maleah to lay herself bare before Browning and match wits with him in order to secure the information they need to catch the copy cat. As our two protagonists play a dangerous game of cat and mouse; Griffin Nic, and the rest of the Powell agency are investigating along the sidelines, trying to see who or what is targeting the agency and why. We are given clues that Griffin’s arch nemesis, Malcolm York, may be back in play even though he has been thought long dead.

The pacing of the storyline deviates; fast moving at some points then slowing down in others. I have always enjoyed her conversational writing style and found it was enhanced by different POVs which all play an integral part in the overall arc. The plot is an intriguing read, set up with multiple sub plots that build the suspense layer by layer, until we reach the conclusion of the main conflict which leaves you shocked at it’s duplicity and deception.

Maleah and Derek are both interesting characters. Both are products of an abusive childhood-though each have chosen to deal with it in their own way. Maleah is guarded and controlled. She allows no one close to her and maintains a high level of independence. Derek is happy go lucky; only allowing those to see what he wants them to see. He has only superficial relationships; never committing anyone. When they meet it’s like oil and water. Derek can’t help but feel protective of Maleah while she sees his protectiveness as a way to control her. As they spend more time together, the attraction that has always been there begins to deepen into something neither of them are prepared for.

I did feel that they didn’t flesh out as well as they could have. I found their bantering tedious at times and Derek annoyed me with his protectiveness. He tended to treat Maleah like a child at times. He does eventually ease up which advances their relationship. The romance is prickly and I felt the catalyst that brings them together just seemed to appear out of nowhere.

The main arc, which adds tension and mystery through out the series, didn’t seem to advance much this go around. The secrets Griffin, Sanders, and Yvette all share are still a huge barrier standing between Nic and Griffin and I find myself as tired of them as Nic is. It’s only at the end that we are given the answer to one secret. A secret so overwhelming that may drive Nic away once and for all.

I did enjoy getting to know Luke, Meredith, and Rafe.. These are some volatile characters who’s backgrounds will make fascinating stories

Our secondary characters are a huge part of the storyline but I felt much of them were used a place markers. POVs are given which help more the plot along but they remain largely inactive, making appearances here and there.

Our villains are very amoral and the evil they commit makes for some uncomfortable reading. Devious and deceptive; their seeming normal appearance adds to the overall horror. As we race towards the end, you see that this is not isolated. The killings are only a small part of the game. We begin to see the intricate ties and bonds that links everything and everyone together in this story. While the main conflict is satisfied, a dramatic cliffhanger and epilogue shows us that this is only the beginning.

Over all, Dead By Morning, is a some what muted version of her previous books. While the tension and suspense is still there, it was overshadowed by a less then exciting romance. Though I honestly feel this book is a solid C, the ending is a definite B. So I am going to compromise.

Rating: C+

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