Murder, mayhem, and mystery. I would love it if we kept our clothes on.
I just finished reading Depth Perception by Linda Castillo, and it earned a solid four stars from me. I originally picked it up because I thought it was another entry in the Kate Burkholder series. I was initially disappointed to discover it wasn't. It didn't take long for the murder, mayhem, and mystery Ms. Castillo writes so well to convince me I'd picked up a winner.
The story follows two people returning to the small town they once called home. Nick has just been released from prison after serving six years for a crime he didn't commit, framed by his business partner. While he was behind bars, his young son drowned in what was ruled an accident. Natalie returns after spending two years in a coma following the brutal murders of her husband and son and her own suicide attempt. Those murders remain unsolved, and she's determined to find the person responsible.
Before the deaths of Nick's and Natalie's sons, several other children's deaths had also been dismissed as tragic accidents. When two more children disappear, Nick and Natalie begin asking some uncomfortable questions. Suddenly, all those accidents don't look accidental anymore.
By now, I really should know better than to suspect the obvious. Linda Castillo has fooled me enough times that I should know the most suspicious character usually isn't the guilty one. And yet she surprised me again.
One thing I appreciated was how the mystery kept expanding. What begins as two parents searching for answers slowly grows into something much darker. The emotional stakes are high because this isn't just another police investigation. Nick and Natalie have lived with unimaginable loss, and their determination to uncover the truth gives the story real heart.
The novel also includes a paranormal element. After waking from her coma, Natalie discovers she can communicate with her deceased son through trance writing. Normally, that's not something I gravitate toward, but I thought it worked well here. Whether you believe in that sort of thing or simply see it as part of the story, it adds another layer of mystery and reinforces Natalie's role as an outsider in her own hometown. More importantly, it becomes an integral part of solving the case rather than feeling like a gimmick.
Nick and Natalie also make a strong investigative team. Once Nick begins accepting Natalie's unusual abilities, they complement each other well, and their shared grief creates a believable partnership built on understanding as much as attraction.
Now for my one complaint.
As many of you already know, when the clothes start coming off, I start skipping pages. The romance itself didn't bother me, but the explicit love scenes pulled me away from a mystery I was eager to get back to. Your mileage may vary, but I'd have happily traded the steamy scenes for a few more pages of investigation. Or even another murder. I'm not too picky.
Fortunately, the mystery is strong enough that it more than makes up for it. The ending ties everything together, justice is served, and there are no frustrating loose ends left dangling.
If you enjoy mysteries with emotional depth, personal stakes, and just a touch of the unexplained, Depth Perception is well worth the read. Just remember: if you think you've figured out the villain halfway through, Linda Castillo is probably smiling.
