A mystery made chilling by its plausibility.
St. Augustine is known for its old-world beauty, sun‑washed beaches, and thriving tourism. It’s less well known for its vulnerability to human trafficking, an issue that never makes it into travel brochures. Professional forensic photographer and private investigator AJ Buchanan learns this firsthand while putting together a marketing booklet for the Women B&B Owners Association. Happily married and living in sleepy Chastity Creek with her cop-turned-attorney husband, Travis, AJ has been enjoying quality time with her family and meaningful connections in the community. But AJ’s life has not always been so peaceful. Eight years ago, her first husband was killed in the line of duty by his boss and mutual friend, Hank Mangano, though the official reports disagree. At the time, AJ upended her life to get to the truth behind her husband’s tragic death, but eventually she had to move on, though Hank’s betrayal never stopped hurting. While in St. Augustine finalizing the marketing campaign, a little girl who seems out of place in the crowd catches AJ’s eye. Then, a man checks into a B&B under her late husband’s name. Certain that this is no coincidence, AJ and Travis uncover unsettling links between human trafficking, drug runners, and the truth behind the death of her first husband. Never one to back down from a challenge, AJ joins Travis and a few scarred‑but‑steadfast friends as they push into dangerous territory in search of answers.
A mystery made chilling by its plausibility, Gone in a Flash lands with extra weight because the crimes at its core aren’t imaginary or exaggerated. Audiences will feel the same shockwave of realization as the main character, who admits, “I almost wish I didn’t even know this stuff was going on. It’s like a genie in a bottle – now it’s out, I can’t put it back in.” Though this is the third book in the series, Quatrano naturally threads in character histories so that even first-time readers of the Point and Shoot series never feel out of the loop. The plot is suspenseful and the subject matter cuts deep, but the lovable characters remain the story’s steady, beating heart. Nowhere is this more striking than in the scene where AJ, aching in her own grief, chooses to comfort the widow of the man who murdered her husband, a moment of compassion that is as aspirational as it is unforgettable. Even when the emotional weight is at its heaviest, the noble‑hearted characters keep the light from being smothered, settling readers into a stable middle ground where the themes can be borne without collapsing under their gravity. If you’re looking for a clear-eyed crime thriller that is as earnest as it is unflinching, Gone in a Flash should be at the top of your reading list.
