Twisted Truth
Rogue Justice, Book #1
Melinda Leigh
5 Stars

Synopsis:

When Detective Seth Harding responds to shots being fired, he faces a familiar sight: a double homicide. However, he is shocked to find a young boy chained in the basement. The terrified child refuses to speak, but Seth knows he is the key to something sinister.

Reluctantly, Seth calls the only social worker he trusts with the traumatized boy—his wife. Carly is recovering from her own trauma suffered on the job, but she can’t turn away from this case, not from another child in trouble. With torrential rain bearing down, threatening to isolate their little town in a killer flood, Seth and Carly know the best way to keep the boy safe from danger is to take him back to their farm.

But danger is as relentless as the storm. And it’s following them all the way home. (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I have read all of the book in the Rogue series and they are all great. I enjoyed getting to spend time with Seth and Carly again and to find out what has been going on in their lives. I enjoy Carly’s family and it was nice to be able to catch up on them also. Her whole family is very caring and always want to do what is right. They will do whatever it takes to keep everyone safe, especially a child. The family closeness and concern is just one of the things that make this series so special.

The writing style flows smoothly and the novella is an easy read. The author is very talented in creating tension and suspense with just the written word. There were plenty of times that I was afraid to swipe the page, for fear of what was going to happen. The mystery is carried on well throughout the novella and there were plenty of twists and turns.

I would recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys a well plotted mystery suspense. When i saw that there was another novella (actually there are two) in the Rogue series, I was beyond excited. Do yourself a favor and start reading from the beginning, you will not be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this novella from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the opportunity to read and review this novella.

I was intrigued by this novella as it is listed as romance, but the blurb sounded more like murder mystery/suspense. Well, it is mostly murder mystery/suspense and the romance doesn't really appear until the end. It was a fast paced, action-packed story with great characters, but I would have liked to have seen more of the romance part of the story. I am, however, going to read the next novella in the series.

"Small Town Rule #1: There's always room for pie." Since my motto is "There's always room for dessert", I knew I would love this book and the characters in it. This is a short read but it was fast-paced. A double homicide, a small boy chained up in a basement, a torrential rainstorm. From beginning to end, it was packed with adrenaline pumping action and suspense with some humor thrown in. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake Romance for letting me read a copy of Melinda Leigh's "Twisted Truth" in exchange for an honest review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing short story

not a fan of short stories but this one blew my mind away...so much action in so little a book, no spoilers from me but its worth a read

will be keeping an eye out for more books by this author

This is the first book in this new series by this author and what an amazing start. This is a quick read with lots packed into it. This is a suspense romance which will keep you hooked till the end. This is a fast paced story with lots of twists and turns. This novelle will keep you on the edge of your seats till the very end. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

Detective Harding is called to a possible shooting and discovers a small child chained up in the basement. His wife, Carly, a social worker is helping but suffering distress at her last case. Can they keep the boy safe when everything around them is hell.

I love Melinda's books do this for me was a perfect read with her mix of intrigue, love, rage and family. Can't wait for book 2.
Thank you netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

It’s wonderful to re-visit the little town of Solitude, and visit with Seth Harding and his wife Carly, but then death and evil never rest and so neither does Seth and his team and Carly.

Responding to a double homicide and finding a child chained in the basement is not something Seth was looking forward to. More than ever, bringing Carly in to help with the child is just as painful, with Carly recovering from a trauma. But justice never rests, and where a child is involved, Carly will move heaven and earth to protect the child and get to the bottom of the deaths of two who are not even the child’s parents. As the case becomes complex, so does the danger surrounding their family and team. With death shooting bullets at them, Seth and Carly have to work together to outwit death and save their family.

Another adrenaline pumping short novella, entwining an intriguing plots along with Seth and Carly’s new life, their daughter, mother and their farm. It’s nice to see the after of Seth’s and Carly’s fragile relationship and the inroads they have made after reconciling, and reading about the supporting casts, always makes it extra special.

“Twisted Truth” is book one of the Rogue Justice Novellas, and co-written by Melinda Leigh (Book #1) and Book #2 will follow written by Kendra Elliot. Brilliant at what she does best, writing romantic suspense keeping her readers enthralled, Melinda Leigh pens another thrilling story around Seth and Carly.

Received an ARC from Montlake Romance via Net Galley for an honest review.

It is a stormy night and Detective Seth Harding is called to shots fired in what is usually a quiet neighborhood. The police find the bodies of a man & woman in an upstairs bedroom of an almost empty house. As they are looking around for clues outside they hear a noise and follow it to a cellar with outside opening. Inside is a boy about 6 or 7 chained to the furnace. He is so traumatized he cannot speak. Seth's brother-in-law goes down there with Seth and immediately the boy takes to Bruce. They take him home with them after having him checked out. The storm continues and the clues come in slowly. This boy has been missing for months and it was thought he was dead. The story goes on to tell the reader about how they follow the clues and what happens to the boy. The rain never lets up but then it is Oregon where this all takes place.

Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot have created such an amazing series of characters, that when I hear there's a new book coming out I feel as though I'm hearing from an old friend.
I absolutely loved connecting again with the Taylor family in the latest offering of the Rogue series!
There's drama, intrigue, romance...a few surprises and heart stopping moments!!

Detective Seth Harding receives a call of possible shots fired and rushes to the scene only to make a gruesome discovery, two victims have been gunned down in their home. As the property is being searched another shocking discovery is made when they find a young boy being held in the basement chained up. The child obviously is completely afraid of the detectives as they try to free him from his prison so Seth calls in his wife who works for CPS.

Carly is still reeling from a previous case but knows if her husband is calling her in the middle of the night that there is a child that desperately needs her. After arriving at the scene to pick up the boy Carly finds that he will not talk and tell what has happened to him so it’s up to the detectives to find out just who the boy is and where he came from and to track down the killer that is on the loose.

Twisted Truth by Melinda Leigh is the first book in the romantic suspense Rogue Justice series. This book is a little different for this genre in the fact that the main characters are already married and have an established relationship. Seth is protective of Carly in their relationship but knows she is strong enough to be the best at her job and trusts her being brought into the case.

Having read Melinda Leigh before I knew that I should be in for a very good read and I wasn’t disappointed in the least. From the very first pages the story is full of action and moves by at a very fast pace. My only complaint which isn’t too much of a complaint though is I wouldn’t have minded if the story weren’t fleshed out more and made into a full length novel since this one is only a novella. Still with being a short read there was tons packed into the story and I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Seth is called to a crime scene and finds more than just dead bodies. He must call his wife Carly in to help with a child that was locked in a basement. Trying to find out who the child is turns into trying to save his and their lives. They must find out who this child is before the killer finds him.

When Detective Seth Harding responds to a shots fired call, the last thing he expects is to find a child chained in the basement and his seeming kidnappers murdered in their bed. But, who is the child? But rescuing from his, now deceased, kidnappers is just the beginning, the child is still in danger and by helping him Seth is also putting his own family in the line of fire.

Melinda Leigh is fast becoming an auto-buy author for me, every book of hers that I have read I have really enjoyed and Twisted Truth is no exception. It is a novella and the start of the Rogue Justice series, with a different author writing the second book. I haven’t read any of Leigh’s back list, however, I get the impression that these will be characters that you have seen before. However, although this has prompted me to try and find which particular book they are from, it didn’t take away from my understanding nor enjoyment of this book.

What I liked about this book was that Leigh managed to create fantastic atmosphere in a very short space of time. This book is set in a small town and it is becoming increasingly isolated as a big storm is coming in, cutting the characters off from assistance. It all adds to the sense of urgency and danger created by the discovery of the murders and the child. As the book goes on you discover some answers…only it just leaves you with more questions. Questions that I hope will be answered in the next novella written by a new author to me, Kendra Elliot.

This was a great launch into the Rogue Justice series, not only does Leigh create a great atmosphere, but a brief glimpse into these characters lives has got me intrigued enough that I will be looking for more.

Shots Fired! Detective Seth Harding is called to the scene of a double homicide ... a young couple killed in their bedroom. It's a horrific scene and questioning neighbors, no one knows much about them.

Checking the perimeter of the house, Harding finds an outside entrance. He is shocked to find a young boy chained in the basement. The boy has obviously been there a while and although he doesn't speak, he is terrified.

Were his parents the murder victims? Was he being held for ransom .. or worse? Did the murderer know there was a boy there .. or was he scared away before grabbing him?

It's going to be a long night, filled not only with torrential rains, but danger at every turn.

This is a novella, a short read, fast-paced, packed with action. The backdrop of a monsoon-like rain storm makes it all the more suspenseful.

This is a very familiar author to me, and she never disappoints. Book 2 of this series ...TRUTH BE TOLD is written by another very familiar author, KENDRA ELLIOT. Each works very well as a stand alone .. no cliff hangers.

Many thanks to the author / Montlake Romance / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Twisted Truth is a Novella that will have readers unable to stop reading until the very last page and begging for more.
The story will have all the same characters readers have comes to love from the other Rouge Series written by Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot.
The characters stay true to themselves which will have readers feel like they are coming home. Patty is one woman I wouldn't want to cross and even with the dark under tone in the story there is just the right amount of light humor.
The series gives a quick background but I would recommend readers pick up the first in the entire Rouge Novella Series to better understand the amazing characters Melinda Leigh has created.

This is a cant miss series for Mystery loves. It might only be 110 pages but it packs a punch readers will love.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy and as well the author and publisher Montlake Romance.

This is a quick read as it's a novella but it is full of story. You don't feel like you are missing anything when you read this book. I really enjoyed the story between Sean and Clare and how much they love each other. This book you get the main story about finding the boy but you get so much more from the other characters too.

Melinda Leigh does know how to weave a tale. Twisted Truth had me in its grips from the very beginning. The pace was perfect with no dragging, boring fill-in words. I couldn't put it down........read it in one sitting. For anyone who enjoys a really good thriller you can't go wrong with anything written by Melinda Leigh.

Twisted Truth was an enjoyable romantic suspense novella that's light on the romance but packed with action and suspense.

Detective Seth Harding responds to a shots fired call where he is horrified to find a child chained in the basement of the home where a double homicide occurred. Seth knows there's more to the case than meets the eye and calls in his wife Carly, a social worker, to care for the terrified child. Carly is recovering from a case gone wrong a month ago, but she knows she can't walk away from the little boy. When flooding isolates their town, Seth and Carly have no choice but to take the child with them, but they're unaware of the danger following them home.

Twisted Truth is told in alternating chapters from Seth and Carly's points of view. Seth is great at his job and is good at finding information that helps him with his cases. He's extremely dedicated to his family and his number one goal is to ensure their safety. Carly has been struggling since a case went sideways a month back and has been having a hard time dealing with her grief. I liked that Carly acknowledged she was having issues and decided to seek help to work through everything.

The mystery aspect of the story was very well done which is something I've come to expect from a Melinda Leigh book. The different threads of the case tied together very well and the investigation moved along at a good pace. The history of the young boy was interesting and created some great avenues for Seth and Carly to explore. The final third of the book was packed full of action and I couldn't put the book down as I needed to know how everything would work out. Plus, there's a great scene where a pygmy goat named Prince Eric saves the day and how could I not love that?

Overall, Twisted Truth was a gripping story and I highly recommend it for fans of romantic suspense that's light on the romance. I can't wait to pick up the other novella in this series, Truth Be Told, soon.

Twisted Truth is Book One in Melinda Leigh's new Rogue Justice series. It appears to be a spin-off from another series which I do plan to go back and catch up on but this story stands fine on its own.

This book isn't the typical romantic suspense as the main couple is already married. This story is primarily centered about Seth and Carly doing all they can to keep their marriage together while coping with stressful work situations.

In this story Seth stumbles up on a small boy chained in the basement of a home after a couple was found murdered. This short story is jam packed with drama, action and suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Great start to a new series!

An ARC copy of the book was received via NetGalley.

Melinda Leigh never ceases to amaze me with her suspenseful writing!

I was so tense last night while reading that I gave myself a migraine 😬#worthit

I loved this book so hard! Seth is a wonderful man, and Carly is so much stronger than she thinks. Together they're the perfect match in their itty bitty town :)

Buckle up, because Twisted Truth is going to take you on a ride :)

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Twisted Truth by Melinda Leigh that I read and reviewed.
Twisted Truth, part of the new Rogue Justice series, was a very good novella by Melinda Leigh. This novella focused around an a double homicide that Seth Harding is investigating. Things take a the when a child is found chained up in the basement and he has to call his wife Carly a social worker to help with the case. With nowhere to put the child but at her mother's house and with the only person the child trust being Carly's brother Bruce, the police officer who cut him free from his chains that where holding him, now Harding's entire family is involved in the case are in danger.
This book was for the most part a short read but it was filled with a lot of action. Also, if you have read any of Leigh's Rogue series before you will be familiar with most of the characters and be able to pick up right were you left off and this was another great addition to Rogue family.I
Twisted Truth gets five out of five stars.