Some secrets are dangerous to dig up.
I don’t usually read Romantic Suspense, but I picked up Miranda Warning by Heather Day Gilbert because it’s set in West Virginia. I’m doing the 50 States Challenge in my book journal, and this one let me cross West Virginia off the list.
The story centers around Tess and Thomas, a young married couple newly expecting and living with his parents while paying down student loans. That setup felt completely believable to me. Heaven knows student loans can be an albatross. Tess made a great narrator, and I really enjoyed how the book alternated between her present-day sleuthing and Rose’s haunting, slightly disturbing voice from the past. The two threads tied together in a way that gave the story more depth than I expected.
One thing I especially appreciated was the portrayal of marriage. The author nailed the little ups and downs that come with being married, which made Tess and Thomas feel like a real couple. I also liked that the romance never overshadowed the mystery. There’s affection and connection, but no unnecessary “sweaty details”.
As for the suspense, it built up slowly but steadily. At first, Tess was just curious about the mystery, but the deeper she dug, the more dangerous things became. Nothing was as it seemed, and by the end Tess was in real danger. That shift kept me engaged, though I will say the book dragged in a few places. Not enough for me to give up on it, but enough to cost it a star.
Overall, I’d call this a solid four-star read. Miranda Warning delivered a nice balance of romance and mystery, with a strong sense of place and a narrator I rooted for. It’s not my usual genre, but I’m glad I read it.
