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Depths of Deceit is full of secrets. From a missing sister to a rival PI Jamie Rush is on the job in her second book in the series.
You can read more about the book below and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Book Details:
Genre: Mystery, Female PI
Published by: Red Adept Publishing
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Number of Pages: 292
Series: A Jamie Rush Mystery, #2
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Synopsis:

Two sisters.
One deadly secret.
No time to lose.
PI Jamie Rush has her hands full with small-time skip-tracing and surveillance jobs in Port Alene, Texas. The work is steady, though she still struggles to make ends meet. But when her partner, Cookie, brings in a low-paying and potentially time-consuming case, Jamie takes it on out of loyalty.
Cookieâs childhood friend, Renata, needs to find her younger sister, Leah. As Jamie digs into Leahâs past, it becomes clear that the missing womanâs life was shrouded in secrets, the kind that could jeopardize those involved in the case.
To complicate matters, PI Alastair Finn has returned, and heâs willing to reclaim his town by any means necessary. Jamie has never been one to retreat, and Alastair enjoys a good fight. Sparks will fly.
A missing woman. Felonies. Finnâs return. Every twist reminds Jamie that sheâs still an outsider in this town. Jamie must prove herself all over again, and the stakes have never been higher.
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
The mermaid in the truck bed was what caught Jamie Rushâs attention. The cast-iron figure peeked over the hatch, her carved, flowing hair and demure smile in view. This was supposed to be a standard identify-and-repo job. Jamie was certain she hadnât seen a mermaid on the itemized paperwork. Brody Rutger, in addition to hiding from creditors, had added theft of a local celebrity to his resume.
The day had started strong, with a lead on Rutger and an opportunity to catch him between fishing charters, using a boat heâd quit paying on months before. Suddenly, Marian the Mermaid was caught up in the mix.
And something was going on with the weather.
The month of November normally brought a steady stream of long-term vacationers from the northâaffectionally called Winter Texansâwho fled harsh winters for the promise of more tepid temperatures. Those whoâd already set up residence in Port Alene were likely to be disappointed. Port A, usually quite predictable in her warmth, had suddenly changed her mind. That day, she was trading humidity for frigid air, and the wind, once laced with a warm, salty breeze, was offering only a cold shoulder. The palm trees lining Island Main bristled from side to side, and the town seemed to have turned inward in response. The icy wind whistled in the gap of her Tahoeâs window.
Jamie shuddered at the weatherâs frigid downturn, while her partner, Cookie Hinojosa, all but cursed Mother Nature. He believed anything under seventy degrees was downright blasphemous. Jamie tilted her head toward the gray sky and welcomed the sting of air on her cheeks, her head briefly popping out the driverâs-side window. Cookie glanced over and shook his head.
âYouâre very grumpy this morning,â Jamie said. She gave him a once-over, taking note of the large Dallas Cowboys logo on his chest, the silver star claiming almost all the space between his shoulders.
âI see you found your favorite winter hoodie. Probably more fun to wear when theyâre winning.â
Cookie turned to her and scowled. âEt tu, Brute? Youâre going to dump on our favorite team? Really?â
Jamie reached over and gave her partnerâs meaty shoulder a squeeze. âThey need to earn our love by playing better. And weâve been damned patient.â She rubbed her hand up and down his sleeve, noting the fabric felt cold. âYou should probably break down and buy a proper winter jacket.â
âThis is South Texas. Only snowbirds wear âproperâ winter jackets.â
Cookie dismissed the idea of wearing anything that added additional bulk to his substantial frame. âMy Hawaiian shirts are sad from neglect.â
She had to agree. A long-sleeved Hawaiian shirt would look ridiculous on anyone. She rubbed her hands together and hoped the cold snap would soon dissipate, returning the balmy temperatures Port Alene normally delivered.
âIâm going to pull back a bit,â Jamie said.
Their skip of the day, Brody Rutger, owed their client, AAA Repo Services, $15,027. Brody had ducked all attempts at collection, so Jamie and Cookie had been hired to locate him and return the boat. Jamie and Cookie specialized in skip tracing, which essentially meant finding people who didnât want to be found. They worked skips but also some surveillanceâwhich paid well but was boring beyond beliefâand some divorce cases, which also paid well but renewed Jamieâs resolve to never get married. In Jamieâs experience, if a person disappeared, the reasons involved money, private information, or violence. And secretsâalways a secret.
***
Excerpt from Depths of Deceit by Laura Oles. Copyright 2022 by Laura Oles. Reproduced with permission from Laura Oles. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:

Laura Oles is the Agatha-nominated and award-winning author of the Jamie Rush mystery series, along with short stories and nonfiction. With two decades of experience in the digital photography industry, Lauraâs work has appeared in trade and consumer magazines, crime-fiction anthologies, and she served as a business columnist. Laura loves road trips, bookstores and any outdoor activity that doesnât involve running. She lives in the Texas Hill Country with her family.
Fun! I love listening to you read the excerpt. Sounds like a great book.
Ahh! Thank you. â„ïž