4.5-STAR REVIEW: RAZING STAKES by TG Wolff

Post Views: 903

About The Book

The De La Cruz Case Files: Book 3
Publication Date: February 14, 2022

The first day of summer is the last day of a young accountant’s life. Colin McHenry is out for his regular run when an SUV crosses into his path, crushing him. Within hours of the hit-skip, Cleveland Homicide Detective Jesus De La Cruz finds the vehicle in the owner’s garage, who’s on vacation three time zones away. The setup is obvious, but not the hand behind it. The suspects read like a list out of a textbook: the jilted fiancée, the jealous coworker, the overlooked subordinate, the dirty client.

His plate already full, Cruz is assigned to a “special project,” a case needing to be solved quickly and quietly. Cleveland Water technicians are the targets of focused attacks. The crimes range from intimidation to assault. The locations swing between the east, west, and south sides of the city. This is definitely madness, but there is a method behind it.

The two cases are different and yet the same. Motives, opportunities, and alibis don’t point in a single direction. In these mysteries, Cruz has to think laterally, yanking down the curtain to expose the master minding the strings.

Excerpt

Buy Links

The Review

Cleveland Homicide Detective Jesus De La Cruz is no stranger to tough cases, but when an accountant is killed during a hit and run, the clues don’t seem to add up. In Razing Stakes, author TG Wolff delivers a police procedural full of unexpected surprises.

Cruz proves to be a likable character who is good at his job. His coffee addiction makes him relatable, as do his interactions with fellow officers. In addition to highlighting his cases, the book also probes into his personal life, which includes his girlfriend, Aurora. It’s evident that this book is part of a series because there are references to past events. However, I found this installment solid as a stand-alone story (although it did make me want to read the earlier ones).

As Cruz tries to track down the culprit from the hit and run, he’s also hand-picked for another assignment involving attacks on city water technicians. Much like his other investigation, the clues are random. With the help of his temporary shadow, a best-selling author, Cruz is relentless. The dynamic between Cruz and Professor Grayson Manor adds to the flavor of the storyline. When another body tied to the investigation is discovered, the stakes get even higher.

My only suggestion for improvement would be some light editing to tidy up some grammatical errors that undoubtedly slipped through the spell-checking process. Otherwise, I really enjoyed spending time with Cruz and learning more about his friends and family.

Razing Stakes focuses on two unrelated cases that hit close to home for Detective De La Cruz. Crime fiction readers will be drawn to the action, but they’ll stay for the hero and those around him.

About The Author TG Wolff writes thrillers and mysteries that play within the gray area between good and bad, right and wrong. Cause and effect drive the stories, drawing from 20+ years’ experience in Civil Engineering, where “cause” is more often a symptom of a bigger, more challenging problem. Diverse characters mirror the complexities of real life and real people, balanced with a healthy dose of entertainment. TG Wolff holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.