This is one of my all-time favorite series and I was especially looking forward to this one because the author was supposed to use my husband’s name in it. She did and it was so great seeing his name. Fast-paced with multiple POV, it was full steam ahead to a shocking conclusion. Can’t wait for book 24 in this amazing series!

Written by a favorite author, I really like this series. Great characters who keep the story moving quickly. Suspense…red herrings…guessing…family and friends…murder and mayhem…the recipe for a good story. Secrets abound…parenting…thanks Netgalley.

I devoured The Couple’s Secret in a single day, my poor dog Finn was completely neglected because I could not put this book down! I’ll be making it up to him with extra carrots, but wow, what a ride. Lisa Regan once again delivers a tightly paced, twisty procedural that had me second-guessing every assumption I made.

When a couple who vanished seven years ago is found murdered in a submerged car, Detective Josie Quinn reopens the cold case, only to discover their perfect life was built on secrets. As the body count rises, Josie must untangle the truth before a killer strikes again.

I genuinely didn’t see the final reveal coming. With my hopelessly romantic lens, I completely ruled one character out, and while another had me suspicious (thanks to my endless hours watching crime dramas where the husband is always suspect #1), I never came close to putting all the pieces together. I love when a thriller surprises me, and this one did it again and again.

Wren was a standout for me. Writing teens that feel authentic is so difficult, and Lisa nailed her voice. She was sharp, believable, emotional, and never once did she feel like a caricature. I genuinely enjoyed every scene she was in, even when she was being a brat. On the flip side, Noah was harder for me to stomach this time around. Some of his behavior was triggering, and I found myself yelling “girl, RUN” more than once. But Josie’s grounded, loyal nature is part of what makes her such a strong and steady protagonist, and it’s a testament to Lisa’s character work that I can still root for them even when I struggle with their dynamic. It’s also a testament to how much Josie has grown as a character since Vanishing Girls; she’s more self-aware, more emotionally open, and that growth makes her journey all the more compelling.

Turner, though, TURNER. That subplot hit me right in the chest. I had a hunch something was going on with him, but Cassidy’s reveal still knocked the wind out of me. I’m begging, BEGGING for more of his backstory. He’s layered (like an onion; a pickled onion, definitely vinegary), complex, and unexpected, and I want all of his secrets peeled back. Please tell me he’s getting a bigger spotlight soon!

What I always love about this series is how Lisa balances intense, emotional investigations with these soft slices of domestic life. The moments with Shannon and the non-work crew bring so much humanity and texture to the story. They make Josie feel like a person, not just a detective, and that emotional depth is what keeps me coming back.

The mystery was taut and compelling, the twists were genuine gut punches, and the emotional stakes were higher than ever. I’m still reeling over Riley. 😭

This one blew me away. Another knockout in an already stellar series.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From the very first page, Josie’s life is a whirlwind. Now the guardian of a teenage girl, she has two full-time jobs and a full life. She’s not positive that she’s great at the guardian part, but she’s learning and wants to help Wren deal with the massive loss she’s had in her short life. If anyone knows grief, it’s Josie, so she yearns to connect with the girl, even as Wren is slow to warm up. But, as always happens in Denton, a new case comes across Josie’s desk in the midst of all this. Or should I say a new old case? A cold case, we could say. Very cold. Like something hidden in the depths for years that has once again seen the light of day and must be solved.

The moment Josie is called out to the river, this mystery pulls the reader into a perplexing case where a perfectly happy couple enjoying dinner vanishes into thin air. But we all know that doesn’t happen, nor is every couple perfectly happy. Everyone has a secret life behind closed doors, and Tobias and Cora are no exception. However, with a case that is now seven years old, there are no apparent clues and no witnesses to help guide the investigation. Not even Tobias and Cora’s kids know what happened to their parents that night.

Josie knows she can piece this puzzle together if she’s dogged enough to follow the evidence and ask the hard questions. Lisa Regan skillfully peels back the layers of Cora and Tobias’s life like an onion, revealing some surprises that the reader won’t expect and some people who may know more than they let on about that night seven years ago. Josie’s mantra has always been that someone always knows something, and that keeps her on the trail of a seemingly useless circle of nothingness until she begins to uncover a web of deception that is years in the making. Tobias and Cora harbored many secrets, not just from their children but from each other. Once Josie gets a bite of that, it transforms her case into a thrilling exploration of hidden truths and the complexities of human relationships, both seen and unseen.

The Couple’s Secret is a must-read for anyone who loves a suspenseful, twisted, cold-case mystery with a psychological mind twist. As always, the pacing is excellent, and the slow reveal of Cora and Tobias’s secrets will keep you guessing until the very end. Josie’s methodical yet intuitive approach makes for an engaging read every time. Her team always has her back and I love seeing the growth and depth of the team, despite Turner’s involvement, and how they work together until the bitter end. What I loved most about The Couple’s Secret was the personal growth of Josie in caring for Wren. She hurts for her, and she learns very quickly what motherhood is all about. Josie puts her entire heart and soul into everything she does, including her family. Seeing her with Noah and Wren as they begin a life together as survivors was the best part of this entire book. After twenty-three books, Josie has learned to find happiness in all the messiness, and that is something we can all learn from her when it comes to life.

WOW.

I’m not even sure where to start. Y’all this is book 23 and Lisa Regan still manages to blow my dang mind.

For me the theme of this book is HEART. Book 22 was so pulse pounding. Book 23 is subtle with the mystery and then when it all starts to come together your mind is blown. I mean I was seeing a bit of what was happening but man when you start seeing it all click…WOW. It is wild.

And while Josie is trying to figure out this twisted murder mystery her life is so very complicated. And I absolutely loved seeing all the complexities of what she was dealing with. Lisa Regan has weaved a complicated, twisted mystery while simultaneously giving us long time readers more and more depth into Detective Josie Quinn. We also see the perfectly imperfect world that surrounds her. I want to elaborate but I don’t do spoilers of any kind. Suffice to say that I loved how the author is taking this series. And if you truly know Josie you know that this is her path.

So I’ll leave you with this…There is sooooo much HEART in this book. It’s absolutely AMAZING and it never ceases to amaze me how talented this author is. I could not put this book down. And now I can’t wait to get back to Denton.