I had to pause the ’10 before the end’ challenge I’ve been doing because I had the opportunity to ARC read the newest Carla Kovach novel called ‘their deadly truth’ and is the 18^th one in the Gina Harte series.

Gina is a DI in Cleevesford and she and her team are the best in solving hard cases. The last case she solved she did something that damaged her relationship with Briggs beyond repair. He’s not only the DCI – also known as her boss, but has been her crush for ages and with this their on / off relationship seems beyond repair.

Tina has had it, she has been renting out a space on her driveway to people who need it so she can make some extra money; the one that has parked on her driveway has overstayed her welcome with 4 days (!!), she’s fuming because her next costumer will be arriving soon. When she steps outside, she notices a fleet of flies flying around the boot of the car and smells a stench like no other. There is a body in the boot, she knows that for sure.

When the body has been discovered, it’s not soon after that a second body drops; the only thing the two murders have in common? A blue teddy-bear has been left at the scenes. Gina and her team can’t seem to make a connection. The only thing worrying Gina is that DCI Briggs has been pulled of the case and has been brought in for questioning on multiple occasions. With a new DCI being brought in that will keep the team in the dark on Briggs part in all this.

Justine has been living her best live, well except for her husband because she is sure he’s been cheating on her. She has the best friends she can think of. Her son has been evading her ever since the murder of Kain Pickering has come out. What is her son hiding? And her husband hasn’t been home or hasn’t contacted her in quite a long time now. When one of her friends go missing and the police are thinking her husband is one of the prime suspects; she tends to believe them, why? Well, why would he be on the run?

There’s a whole lot of things happening in this book; friendships that aren’t as they seem, set ups, Gina being kept in the dark on Briggs has been eating at her throughout this book. She is being stonewalled whenever she brings Briggs up to her boss. Is he a suspect or will he be a victim? I can’t believe I didn’t see it coming.

I’m giving this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars!