A rural New Zealand vacation turns poisonous.

Antiquities expert Annalisse Drury and tycoon Alec Zavos are at an impasse in their relationship when Alec refuses to clear up a paternity issue with an ex-lover.

Frustrated with his avoidance when their future is at stake, Annalisse accepts an invitation from an acquaintance to fly to New Zealand—hoping to escape the recent turbulence in her life.

But even Annalisse’s cottage idyll on thefamily sheep farm isn’t immune to intrigue.

Alec sends a mutual friend and detective, Bill Drake, to follow her, and a local resident who accompanies them from the Christchurch airport dies mysteriously soon after. A second violent death finds Annalisse and Bill at odds with the official investigations.

The local police want to close both cases as quickly as possible—without unearthing the town’s dirty secrets.

As she and Bill pursue their own leads at serious cost, the dual mysteries force Annalisse to question everything she thought she knew about family ties, politics, and the art of small-town betrayal.

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Review

This is the fourth book of the Annalisse series.  It revolves around the relationship between Annalisse and her millionaire boyfriend Alec for the two seem to find themselves not only on some great traveling adventures but caught up in a mystery wherever they go.  The romance between the two only enhances the story and provides delightful subplots to the book’s main storyline.  

This story takes place on a New Zealand sheep farm with Bell having researched the country and sheep farming.   Her descriptions of the land, the politics, the police, sheep farming, etc are current and well-investigated, adding a great deal to the story.

A good friend, Ethan, whose step-father owns the sheep farm, has invited Annalisse for a visit.  Shortly after arriving in the country Annalisse and her traveling companion, friend Bill, find themselves being partial witnesses to a hit-and-run death as they try to maneuver driving on the right side of the road skillfully.  Needless to say, it is a little unnerving but when a second death occurs just a few days later Annalisse cannot help but feel like something is not quite right in New Zealand.

Bell has done a terrific job of weaving romance, murder, political intrigue, and personal identity issues all into one story.  This is a great 4-star read.