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I discovered the Rocky Bluff P.D. series by F.M. Meredith a few years ago. At the time, Smell of Death was the latest release. Officer Stacey Wilbur was struggling as a single parent while she worked as the lone female on the Rocky Bluff's force. I loved this spunky, petite woman who mixed it up with the guys; but more than that, I enjoyed how this series showed how the job affects home life and vice versa.
The next book that came out was No Sanctuary. Again, Stacey Wilbur played a major role. She stumbles upon a car accident victim, but soon discovers foul play. What unravels is a story of two minister's wives, a marriage in trouble, and several suspects who could have wanted the victim dead.
I ended up purchasing the earlier books in the series: Final Respects, Bad Tidings, and Fringe Benefits. It was interesting to learn about some of the characters I had read about in the later books to see how their careers had developed over the years and how their personal lives had evolved. Each book focuses on different characters, though Stacey Wilbur and Detective Doug Milligan play important roles since Smell of Death, as readers watch their relationship shift.
By the time An Axe to Grind came along, I eagerly anticipated each new book. One of my favorite characters outside of Stacey and Doug is a rookie cop who seems to have the worst luck. Officer Gordon Butler made an appearance in earlier books, but by Smell of Death he had become not only a regular, but also the guy who provided comic relief for some of the darker scenes. Let's face it, crime is ugly, and Gordon offers the reader a way to ease back the tension a bit. If he didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any at all. Usually in the wrong place at the wrong time, he's the butt of many jokes back at the station.
Angel Lost is the latest release in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. It finds Stacey and Doug preparing for their upcoming wedding. Stacey now heads up the Vice Squad--she's the only member, but she heads it up. A flasher has been exposing himself to women jogging on the beach, so Stacey decides to set herself up as bait, which makes Doug less than thrilled. A new officer joins the force and ends up helping Stacey.
One of the major plot points of this book is the appearance of an angel in the window of a local furniture store. It causes some issues for our neighborhood officers.
Abel Navarro, who has been present in many of the Rocky Bluff P.D. books, also takes center stage in Angel Lost. He's married and the father of a beautiful little girl. His wife and his mother don't get along, which has led to several interesting scenes throughout the series. Abel's wife, Maria, is a nurse, and when her mother-in-law begins acting differently, she brings up her fears to Abel. His concern for his mother distracts him from his work, with dire consequences.
What I've enjoyed most about this series as it progresses is the focus on the characters. In Angel Lost, the reader sees even more of that than in previous installments.
The Rocky Bluff series has been published through three different publishers. The most recent books--No Sanctuary, An Axe to Grind, and Angel Lost--have been put out by Oak Tree Press. The next book is slated for release in 2012.
To read more about the Rocky Bluff books and their author, you can visit http://fictionforyou.com/.
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This looks like a series worth following. I will check it out.
Would you suggest I go back to the beginning and work forward, or would starting with the new one and catching up work?