Geneva Chase is now freelancing for Lodestar Analytics. She has been tasked to investigate the deaths of Morris and Julia Cutter, retired CEO of Continental Petroleum and Gas and his wife. The police said it was a murder/suicide but Eric Cutter, son of the couple, disagrees. As Genie investigates, CP&G execs encourage / threaten her to finish the investigation quickly. The reason - a climate control hearing in DC that could harm their business. As Genie finds, the wealthy oil industry will do everything to protect its interest.
Always fun reads, with a nod to escalating climate crisis. Looking forward to book 5! ( )

Shadow Hill by Thomas Kies is the fourth instalment in the Geneva Chase series but it reads well on its own. The book begins in Greenwich, Connecticut at the high-end home of Julia and Morris Cutter, where they are discovered deceased. Both have been shot and the police quickly come to the conclusion that this is a case of murder-suicide. Morris is the retired CEO of an oil and gas conglomerate. Geneva Chase, a private investigator, is hired by the son to look into his parents’ deaths because he believes they were both murdered for reasons unknown. His father had been about to deliver a report on Capitol Hill that would prove climate change was not caused by the petroleum industry. Who killed the Cutters? Why were they killed? Who was worried about what Morris might do? Why is Capitol Hill part of the story? This is a David and Goliath story. Shadow Hill is a fast-paced thriller that becomes more and more intense with the turning of each page. Gemma Chase is a believable strong protagonist who makes this mystery a success. I look forward to reading more books by Thomas Kies. Highly recommended. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I have read this entire series over the last few months and I am hooked! I love Geneva Chase! Genie is now freelancing as a crime reporter and as a "researcher" for an investigative firm. Genie's first assignment with Lodestar is to look into the deaths of Morris Cutter and his wife that the police have ruled as a murder/suicide. Cutter is a recently retired CEO of a large oil and gas company just days before he is due to testify on Capital Hill regarding a new study which shows that fossil fuels are not responsible for global warming. Soon a suspect begins to emerge: a volatile environmental group. But the oil and gas company is not at all happy that these deaths are being investigated again as the new CEO is now scheduled to testify and is willing to go to extreme lengths to shut it down and therefore any negative press.

As always this is a smart concise mystery but this one the author definitely has a message to share with regards to climate change. I loved that Genie is on the wagon throughout this book (I never liked the constant drinking side story). This book could be read as a standalone but I would highly recommend starting at the beginning. You will understand all the supporting characters so much better.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a free copy of #ShadowHill in exchange for an honest review. ( )