Secret Investigation
by Elizabeth Heiter is the second book in the “Tactical
Crime Division Series.” This series is an anthology
of books where each author writes about a different character
in the TCD.
The opening prologue sets the tone for the rest of the book.
It is very powerful and gripping as it shows how those serving
in the military sacrifice their lives to protect Americans.
The plot is a reminder of the early days of the War on Terror
in Iraq, where Army soldiers and Marines were not provided
adequate body armor. In this story, US Army Captain Jessica
Carpenter, a single mother of three children, and her unit
died senselessly. As her world went dark, she realized that
the body armor did not prevent the bullets from hitting her
body. Thankfully, she was wearing a camera so those back home
could realize what went wrong.
“When I received my story background from the publisher,
I knew my hero, Davis, was an Army Ranger, now works for the
FBI, and will go undercover in a company. I took it from there
and started thinking how I wanted the plot to tie into his
background. I gave him an investigation where he knew something
about the issue and that he also had a personal connection
since someone who died was a friend. I made my heroine the
CEO of the company that was to blame for the death of the
soldiers.”
The TCD is assigned the case, and the FBI Agent in charge
is Davis Rogers, who was a friend of Jessica and served as
an Army Ranger. He goes undercover in the company responsible,
Petrov Armor, to find out what happened. Working closely with
the young CEO Leila Petrov, who is ruled out as a suspect,
they intend to uncover the truth, while risking their own
lives.
I wrote Leila as a young CEO of the company, in her thirties.
Many believed she was put in charge because she was the daughter
of the company’s owner. I have this book quote, “Nepotism
had a way of opening doors that nothing else could.”
It showed who had the power, the importance of family connections,
and how people derived power. She felt she always had to prove
herself and feels she is taken less seriously because she
is a woman. Leila is independent, determined, competent, and
has built a wall up, a professional façade. She is
calm, bold, tough, has a dry sense of humor, and takes responsibility.
While Davis is quietly intense, thoughtful, and is influenced
by the Ranger motto. He is very focused, can be a bit cocky
and somewhat of a flirt.”
This is a riveting and realistic story showing how those serving
need the protection of not only equipment but Americans as
well.
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