Walk Into Silence by Susan McBride is the first book in the NEW “Jo Larsen” mystery series. Publisher: Thomas & Mercer, December 2016

A woman vanishes from a Texas town. Did she simply run off, or is something darker at play?

When Patrick Dielman shows up at Detective Jo Larsen’s desk insisting that his wife, Jenny, is missing, Jo wonders if it’s a case of a bored housewife running away.

But as she digs deeper into Jenny’s life, Jo learns that Dielman keeps a stranglehold on the family finances, down to the last nickel, and that Jenny’s first marriage dissolved following the death of her young son. By all accounts—including her doctor’s—she never recovered from the loss. Between a controlling husband, a tragic past, and a callous ex-husband, Jo can’t be sure if she should suspect foul play or accept that the woman may have wanted to disappear.

For Jo, whose own demons are shadowing her every step, finding Jenny becomes more than the typical protect-and-serve.

We are introduced to Jo Larsen whose past haunts her, particularly in this case that she is working, where the past is breaking to be free for both Jo and the victim. What an excellent and well-written plot that bridged two worlds to a conclusion that is worth the wait. This action-packed drama had me immersed in all that was happening from the words written by the victim, from Jo’s internal thoughts and from the supporting players who played a vital part in the telling of this captivating story. The mystery was staged perfectly to pull you in where the deviousness of the suspect was told in the victim’s words. Amid a kaleidoscope of dogged determination and police work, the case took on an interesting twist that truly enhanced the telling of this tale and the culmination exposed a killer with fallout from other contributing factors. Boasting a great cast of characters with engaging dialogue, this grippingly entertaining debut was a fantastic read and I look forward to more adventures with Jo and her friends.