Blow Up by Ellen Crosby

Series Name: Sophie Medina Mystery Book #3
Genre: Traditional
Release: May 2, 2023
Format: Print, Digital

Photojournalist Sophie Medina must figure out how the death of a Supreme Court justice and the murder of a homeless man are related before she becomes an assailant’s next target.

International photojournalist Sophie Medina and her old school friend Father Jack O’Hara are out for a run on Capitol Hill when they find the body of Associate Supreme Court Justice Everett Townsend lying in an alley, barely alive. Townsend, a diabetic, later dies in the ER from complications due to hypoglycemia.

His tragic death has unexpected repercussions for Sophie when Javi, a young homeless man of Sophie’s acquaintance, is murdered. Before he died, Javi told her a shocking story about Townsend that could have a devastating impact on the nation’s highest court – and on the American justice system – if word got out.

Unable to persuade anyone that what she learned is true and on the run from whoever is protecting Townsend’s dark secret, Sophie searches a collection of her photographs of Washington D.C.’s homeless community, looking for evidence before everything blows up in her face . . .

The third Sophie Medina mystery, following Ghost Image and Multiple Exposure, is a great choice for readers who enjoy fearless female sleuths, well-plotted puzzles and gripping political intrigue.

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Dru’s Short Musing:
Well-written, a tightly woven and solid mystery that kept me immersed in all aspects of this fascinating story.

The mystery was nicely executed with the right number of suspects, clues and a few red herrings tossed in to make the drama an enticing read. The pacing was on par with how well this story was told. There were a few player roles that were pivotal to the actions that led to the apprehension of the killer. The narrative was visually descriptive, and the dialogue moved the story forward giving me a sense of where the next scenario was taking place. Sophie is a tough protagonist and I love seeing her shine in her element. The author does a great job in the telling of this tale and I can’t wait to see where we are headed next. Overall, an engaging drama that I could not put down until all was said and done. Excellent read.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the author.