REVIEW: Copycat Killer by Laura Scott

Copycat Killer by Laura Scott  is the first book in Harlequin’s series True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn. Luara Scott begins this series with lots of action, suspense, caring and camaraderie. She introduces the characters of the new Brooklyn K-9 unit in a unique way. First some are introduced to the heroine and her niece via a tour of the unit as a way to make their visit to the station less stressful. Then Willow and Lucy get to visit the kennel next door to see some of the dogs.

Willow Emery is concerned about her three-year-old niece Lucy. She believes her brother Alex and his wife Debra are neglecting Lucy. Last time Willow stopped in to visit the house was trashed and filty dirty. Liquor bottles and empty takeout containers were everywhere and there was practically no food in the house. She sould have called Child Protective Services but wanted to give her brother a chance to clean up his act and do right by Lucy. She is back to see if there is an improvement. As she approached the house she noticed the gate was open. What? Now she notices the front door is partway open. Something is very wrong. She enters and hears sobs. There’s little Lucy hovering over the very dead bodies of her mother and father and crying. There’s blood all over. They both had been shot dead. Willow’s 911 call results in the fast arrival of K-9 Detective Nate Slater and his yellow lab partner Murphy. This is just the beginning of the deaths and the threats.

K-9 Detective Nate Slater and his partner Murphy respond to a 911 call and pull up to what turns out to be a horrific scene. A woman with a little girl was standing by a tree outside a neglected house and he told them to wait in his SUV while he waited for backup before entering the house. After his backup arrived and a quick inspection in the house he went back out to his SUV to question the woman and child. The little girl is a witness. He knows he needs to tread carefully. What little she could tell him chills him. This is eerily similar to a cold case murder from twenty years ago. Is it the same murderer? What is the motive? Where was this murderer for twenty years? Or is this a copycat?

I admire Ms. Scott’s characterization of Willow and Nate as strong, caring people who both had adversity to overcome in their youth. The plot flows well and kept me turning the pages. I hope the rest of the series will be as thrilling and entertaining as this book. Next book up is Chasing Secrets by Heather Woodhaven.

Book Info:

Publication: April 1st 2020 | Love Inspired Suspense | True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn #1

Murder strikes close to home

for a new K-9 unit in Brooklyn

When a double homicide is strikingly familiar to a twenty-year-old cold case, Detective Nate Slater is rattled by the parallels. With a child as the only witness, he and his K-9 partner must protect little Lucy and her aunt, Willow Emery. Nate’s rough past means he always keeps an emotional distance…but in this case getting closer is the only way they’ll all survive.