Bailey is an investigative reporter trying to stay ahead of the competition. Jacob is a homicide detective that doesn't care for reporters. An inexplicable murder that turns up no leads, no I.D., no murder weapon, & no suspect has both of them pursuing information in different areas of Austin. Faced with trying to solve the murder with each other's help they form an uneasy alliance trying to build trust with each other. Jacob is a protector and tries to fight his attraction to Bailey and she decides to go all in. Leads take them into territory that turns deadly as they both fight for their lives and will they survive to be with each other? Twisty and fast read that I read in one day. Looking forward to the next in series ( )

Hidden by Laura Griffin was a wonderful surprise for me. It is beautifully written and made me think of Person of Interest, a TV series. It is believable and has everything I could want in a romantic suspense novel. No jump in the sack sex, but more of an itch they try hard not to scratch. Once I began reading, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters and their need to go above and beyond to do the right thing, though it could cost them their lives.

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Bailey Rhoads is an investigative reporter for the local newspaper in Austin, Texas. Even though she has written some good stories that have put her on the crime beat, she still fears being laid off due to budget cuts. When a woman turns up murdered on a hiking trail, Bailey smells the possibility of a hot story, so she begins pushing for answers from lead detective Jacob Merritt. Jacob likes Bailey's determination and her intelligence, but he's already been burned by a reporter and doesn't want to get involved with another. However, after the feds move in and take over the case, Jacob isn't ready to give up, so he looks to Bailey to help him find out what is really going on.

Hidden provides some intense moments, but doesn't raise the level of suspense or emotion high enough. The characters are likable, but lack the dynamics to make them very interesting. The best part of the story involves the illegal use of face-matching technology. Overall, a decent romantic suspense that could have been better ( )

When a woman is found brutally murdered on Austin's lakeside hike-and-bike trail, investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads turns up on the scene demanding access and answers. She tries to pry information out of the lead detective, Jacob Merritt.

But this case is unlike any he's ever seen, and nothing adds up.

Bailey has a hunch the victim wasn't who she claimed to be and believes this mugging-turned-murder could have been a targeted hit.

As a ruthless hit man's mission becomes clear, Bailey and Jacob must embark on a desperate search to locate the next target before the clock ticks down on this lethal game of hide and seek

Thank you, Goodreads and Berkley Publishing Group for the chance to read Hidden #1 The Texas Murder File!

This was a nice paced mystery suspense and romance. There were spots where I found myself at the edge of my seat and other times not so much. But I will say that I was on the edge of my seat more then I was not. This was a good book to kick off a new series. A good starting point to show use what we can expect in the future with this series. I look forward to the next book to come. Happy reading everyone! ( )

Hidden by Laura Griffin
1st book in The Texas Murder Files series. Romantic suspense crime thriller.
Bailey Rhoads is a crime reporter investigating the death of a woman on the local running trail. Bailey tries to work with Detective Jacob Merritt but each prefer to keep certain details to themselves rather than share, though a mutual attraction pulls at them both. Their investigation takes them to New Orleans and to the FBI.

Chilling to realize that current technology could impact so much in life. The story includes a potential that wouldn’t surprise me is already in use somewhere.
Fast, daring and intriguing. I look forward to the next in the series.
4.5 ( )