Mystery
![Laura Griffin - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_laura_griffin.jpg)
Midnight Dunes (The Texas Murder Files)
When the shocking discovery of a murdered woman's body disturbs the tranquility of tourist season, the police detective in charge of the puzzling case must work alongside the new filmmaker in town to pursue every lead in the new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.
After a scandal derails her television reporting career, Macey Burns comes looking for a change of pace in Lost Beach, Texas. She's ready to focus on her first passion-documentary filmmaking-and has a new job working for the island's tourism board, shooting footage of the idyllic beachside community. Her plans for a relaxing rebound are dashed when she realizes the cottage she's renting belonged to the woman whose body was just found in the sand dunes.
Detective Owen Breda is under intense pressure to solve this murder. Violent crimes are rising in his small town, and he can't stand to see anyone else hurt…especially not the beautiful documentarian who keeps showing up at the precinct.
With the clock ticking, cameras rolling, and body count climbing, Macey and Owen must use all their resources to find the killer without getting caught in the crosshairs.
After a scandal derails her television reporting career, Macey Burns comes looking for a change of pace in Lost Beach, Texas. She's ready to focus on her first passion-documentary filmmaking-and has a new job working for the island's tourism board, shooting footage of the idyllic beachside community. Her plans for a relaxing rebound are dashed when she realizes the cottage she's renting belonged to the woman whose body was just found in the sand dunes.
Detective Owen Breda is under intense pressure to solve this murder. Violent crimes are rising in his small town, and he can't stand to see anyone else hurt…especially not the beautiful documentarian who keeps showing up at the precinct.
With the clock ticking, cameras rolling, and body count climbing, Macey and Owen must use all their resources to find the killer without getting caught in the crosshairs.
Editorial Reviews
"Griffin's characters leap off the page, and she throws myriad twists, turns, and red herrings into her taut plot as it rockets to a heart-pounding finale. The result is a high-stakes romantic thriller that's sure to please."-Publishers Weekly
Praise for Laura Griffin and her novels
"I love smart, sophisticated, fast-moving romantic thrillers and Laura Griffin writes them brilliantly."- New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz
"Gritty, imaginative, sexy! You must read Laura Griffin."-New York Times bestselling author Cindy Gerard
"Top-notch romantic suspense! Fast pace, tight plotting, terrific mystery, sharp dialogue, fabulous characters."-New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan
"A gripping, white-knuckle read. You won't be able to put it down."-New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak
"An emotional, exciting page-turner. Griffin deftly balances the mystery and the love story."-The Washington Post
Praise for Laura Griffin and her novels
"I love smart, sophisticated, fast-moving romantic thrillers and Laura Griffin writes them brilliantly."- New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz
"Gritty, imaginative, sexy! You must read Laura Griffin."-New York Times bestselling author Cindy Gerard
"Top-notch romantic suspense! Fast pace, tight plotting, terrific mystery, sharp dialogue, fabulous characters."-New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan
"A gripping, white-knuckle read. You won't be able to put it down."-New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak
"An emotional, exciting page-turner. Griffin deftly balances the mystery and the love story."-The Washington Post
Readers Top Reviews
Kindle Kindle
Great storyline and plot. I really liked this story and I am a big fan of Laura Griffin. I would definitely recommend this book.
Patricia A Smith
Good character development and great story line. Holds your attention for the entire book. I had to force myself to stop reading so I could go to sleep. Definitely recommend!!
Book LoverLovestorea
I always enjoy a Laura Griffin book. For some reason this one just didn’t have what the other ones had. It felt off and the romance felt strained. I didn’t feel a connection between them. The ending was not what I expected. Sort of left you hanging. Kind of a disappointing book for me. Hope the next one is more exciting with a better ending.
MThomasJaime Reynold
It was solid and interesting. I had pre-ordered it so had forgotten anything I’d read about it. When I started reading it, it felt like I’d already read it. I finally realized it was in the same small town as the last book with some of the same characters. It felt a little too similar to the last book. On the other hand, a couple of characters seemed to act very differently this time and not in a good way. One in particular was just annoying, and we had too much of her internal thoughts. I have probably read every Laura Griffin book, this one just lacked something. Solid story but not a particularly satisfying one for me
jwreinhold
I always get so excited when I see a new book by Laura Griffin. Her stories are always filled with characters that you wish you could be friends with, characters you like, characters that are fleshed out with strengths weaknesses, and some insecurities, like the rest of us. The storyline is always clean, gripping, with some edge and bite, and moves along without bogging down and becoming sluggish., there are always a few twists and I am always surprised by the ending. When a local girl, Julia Murphy, goes missing and later is found murdered, it is up to Detective Owen Breda and the local officers of the Lost Beach police force to find out who is responsible. Owen and the others work diligently to find the who and the why in order to bring justice to the victims. Macey Burns left the world of reporting behind and has come to Lost Beach to follow her passion for film production. By taking this job for the tourism board for Lost Beach she hopes to get her fledgling production company off the ground...what she didn't expect was to be thrown in the middle of Owen's investigation and in the path of a murderer. I am really hoping to see some of these characters again! Great job Laura!
Short Excerpt Teaser
One
Macey Burns drove through the drumming rain, gripping the wheel until her knuckles were white.
"Are you here yet?" Josh asked.
"I'm running late," she told him over the phone. "I hit traffic leaving town and then it's been pouring the last two hours. I just crossed the bridge."
"It's-"
Noise drowned out his words.
"What?" she asked.
"It's a causeway. No one calls it a bridge here."
"I can barely hear you. Where are you?"
"At that bar I told you about, the one with the pool tables," he said. "You're going to love it."
Macey tore her gaze away from the highway to check the clock. It was almost eleven, and what should have been a four-hour drive had taken more than five.
"Sounds good, but not tonight. I haven't even found the house yet, and I still need to unpack the car."
"That's okay. I'm about to leave anyway. Where are you, exactly?"
"I think I may have missed the turn," she told him. "I just passed a sign that said White Dunes Park, five miles."
"No, it should be coming up on your right. You'll see it."
Josh had been on the island all week scouting locations and already knew his way around.
"You need help unpacking?" he asked.
"I'm good."
"So, hey, heads up. I just found out that Channel Six is down here."
"Channel Six from San Antonio?"
"Yeah, Rayna and her crew. They're reporting on that woman who went missing two weeks ago. She disappeared without a trace."
Macey had read an article about it online. It was the type of story that normally would have captivated her attention, but she'd managed to push it out of her mind.
"We're not here to do news," she reminded him.
"No kidding. I just thought you'd want to know. In case you see them in town."
Rayna had once been Macey's fiercest rival, but that was months ago, before Macey walked away from her job and her life and the endless slog of the twenty-four-hour news cycle.
Her tires hit a slick patch, and she clenched the wheel. She didn't want to think about her old job right now. She just wanted to get to her destination. Her shoulders were in knots from the drive, and she wanted a glass of wine and a steamy shower.
"So, are we still on for tomorrow?" she asked Josh. "Nine o'clock?"
"Assuming the weather clears. No use scouting locations in the rain."
"It's supposed to be beautiful," she said. "Let's start on the north end. We can meet at my beach house."
Beach house. She pictured the sun-drenched deck overlooking the surf. She'd been daydreaming about it since she first found the listing.
"Sure you don't need help with the equipment?" Josh asked.
"I can handle it."
"Okay, well, see you tomorrow, then."
She ended the call and squinted through the swishing wipers at the sign up ahead: White Dunes Park, 2 Miles.
A strobe of lightning lit the sky, revealing empty fields on either side of the two-lane highway. She was well past the tourist center of Lost Beach, past the hotels and restaurants and T-shirt shops.
She hit a bump, and the car jerked right. Her heart skipped a beat as the Honda fishtailed and skidded. She clenched the wheel and tried to get control, but it careened onto the shoulder with a jaw-rattling thunk. She jabbed the brakes and slammed to a halt.
Macey blinked at the windshield, shocked. ...
Macey Burns drove through the drumming rain, gripping the wheel until her knuckles were white.
"Are you here yet?" Josh asked.
"I'm running late," she told him over the phone. "I hit traffic leaving town and then it's been pouring the last two hours. I just crossed the bridge."
"It's-"
Noise drowned out his words.
"What?" she asked.
"It's a causeway. No one calls it a bridge here."
"I can barely hear you. Where are you?"
"At that bar I told you about, the one with the pool tables," he said. "You're going to love it."
Macey tore her gaze away from the highway to check the clock. It was almost eleven, and what should have been a four-hour drive had taken more than five.
"Sounds good, but not tonight. I haven't even found the house yet, and I still need to unpack the car."
"That's okay. I'm about to leave anyway. Where are you, exactly?"
"I think I may have missed the turn," she told him. "I just passed a sign that said White Dunes Park, five miles."
"No, it should be coming up on your right. You'll see it."
Josh had been on the island all week scouting locations and already knew his way around.
"You need help unpacking?" he asked.
"I'm good."
"So, hey, heads up. I just found out that Channel Six is down here."
"Channel Six from San Antonio?"
"Yeah, Rayna and her crew. They're reporting on that woman who went missing two weeks ago. She disappeared without a trace."
Macey had read an article about it online. It was the type of story that normally would have captivated her attention, but she'd managed to push it out of her mind.
"We're not here to do news," she reminded him.
"No kidding. I just thought you'd want to know. In case you see them in town."
Rayna had once been Macey's fiercest rival, but that was months ago, before Macey walked away from her job and her life and the endless slog of the twenty-four-hour news cycle.
Her tires hit a slick patch, and she clenched the wheel. She didn't want to think about her old job right now. She just wanted to get to her destination. Her shoulders were in knots from the drive, and she wanted a glass of wine and a steamy shower.
"So, are we still on for tomorrow?" she asked Josh. "Nine o'clock?"
"Assuming the weather clears. No use scouting locations in the rain."
"It's supposed to be beautiful," she said. "Let's start on the north end. We can meet at my beach house."
Beach house. She pictured the sun-drenched deck overlooking the surf. She'd been daydreaming about it since she first found the listing.
"Sure you don't need help with the equipment?" Josh asked.
"I can handle it."
"Okay, well, see you tomorrow, then."
She ended the call and squinted through the swishing wipers at the sign up ahead: White Dunes Park, 2 Miles.
A strobe of lightning lit the sky, revealing empty fields on either side of the two-lane highway. She was well past the tourist center of Lost Beach, past the hotels and restaurants and T-shirt shops.
She hit a bump, and the car jerked right. Her heart skipped a beat as the Honda fishtailed and skidded. She clenched the wheel and tried to get control, but it careened onto the shoulder with a jaw-rattling thunk. She jabbed the brakes and slammed to a halt.
Macey blinked at the windshield, shocked. ...
