Beyond the Smoke is the third book in the Manhattan Sloane Thriller series. I would greatly urge you to read this series in order as Manhattan Sloane does not lead a quiet life. Her past definitely effects her present and her future.
Sloane and her life partner Finn Harper have both retired from their jobs in police work. They have opened a PI investigation business and are starting on their major contract with the City of San Francisco. The new mayor wants to clean up the police department and reduce the number of cold cases.
Stacy Lynn Miller is definitely tying up all the loose ends left from books one and two. This is wonderful because book two left Sloane’s life ripped open and I know I feel better now that all the puzzle pieces have fit together.
This is not the best novel from the series but it is the most important and possibly satisfying one. Miller’s writing is consistent with the first two books but this story lacked the thrill ride which the first two definitely had. It is more focused on the emotional and cerebral side of Sloane. She has grown so much from book one page one to now and we as readers need to allow her to do so.
It feels like this series is tied up tightly however Miller has left the door open slightly for more stories. I hope she does continue on with Sloane, Finn and Eric.

This novel was given to me as an ARC for a honest review by NetGalley.

Engrossing crime/drama/thriller. Manhattan Sloane was a San Francisco police detective and is now a private investigator. Her new business and life partner of six months is Finn Harper, an ex DEA agent. Sloane considers them child-hood soul mates originally meeting at the age of 13. They have a new contract to go through cold case files for the SFPD. One cold case relates to the death of a cop that was a friend of Sloane's and inspired her to join the force. It also has ties to her last work partner.

I was very engaged with all aspects of the story. There are many complexities going on; politics from the new mayor and the SFPD, relationships with previous partners, finding ways to balance work and family with an almost gown step-daughter and of course trusting your new love interest. I like that Finn and Sloane balance and center each other. They don't try to be rogue but need to work the system to get the help they need and solve the case. As a couple they are loving and supportive but still have jealousy and family issues to deal with.

I think that this is for anyone who enjoys good police or P.I. crime dramas. Finn and Sloane are already a couple but time is given to developing their sapphic romance. This is the third in the series but enough background is given I was up to speed quickly. I'm so glad to have read this book and will look for more by Miller. Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.