In the previous novel, her spouse caught New York City private detective Lauren Laurano in the arms of another woman. Months later, the Laurano relationship remains troubled, but Lauren and Kip are trying to save their marriage. Towards that end, they leave the Big Apple to help some friends renovate a house recently purchased in Seaview, Long Island. However, before they can recapture the magic that they seem to have lost, Lauren stumbles over a suspicious death.

To KipÆs displeasure, the victimÆs mistress, who does not believe her lover committed suicide as the police have declared, hires Lauren to uncover the truth. Lauren soon learns that the seemingly tranquil town is actually a hot bed of violent crime that includes nine allegedly accidental deaths over the past five years. At the same time, she does not believe a sociopathic serial killer is systematically bumping off people. Instead, the answers are out there and it is a much uglier conspiracy than even Lauren expects to find.

Sandra Scoppettone is renowned for her intriguing Lauren Laurano mysteries and her newest entry, GONNA TAKE A HOMICIDAL JOURNEY, proves that very few writers compare to her. The use of flashbacks connects this novel to the previous one and aids the new reader in understanding the characters without alienating the old reader. Ms.ScoppettoneÆs ability to provide her characters with human emotions, strengths, and especially weaknesses is awe-inspiring and is only one of the reasons they are fan favorites. This is must reading because it is more than an interesting mystery; the novel is good literature.