COUNT TO THREE

4 stars out of 5

Somewhere I read that this is the first in what will be a series. If that's true, it's off to a pretty good start. The lead character, neophyte private investigator Dani Callahan,  started down her career path a few years after her kindergarten-age daughter, Tinsley, was abducted. Intent on one day finding her still-missing daughter - or at least finding out what happened to her - she's divorced Tinsley's father Matthew and is trying to make a living in the real world.

Finding out what happened to Tinsley has turned into borderline obsession, but Dani is otherwise likable. Her younger assistant, Quinn Sullivan, not so much. She, too, comes from an emotionally charged background; but unlike Dani, she's often loud, strong-willed and a person I'd probably keep around for half a day before telling her I'm the boss and if she can't accept that, hit the bricks. Together, though, they make a competent team; that said, I'd have loved it more if Dani had just once stood her ground when Quinn started to go off the deep end instead of rationalizing that the behavior comes as a result of Quinn's prior life experiences.

In Sacramento, teenager Ali Cross goes missing. Not long thereafter, a 12-year-old boy comes in wanting to hire Dani to investigate; it seems he witnessed the abduction, although he didn't see enough to be helpful to the police. But he's upset that he did nothing to try and stop the abduction at the time (he, too, has a history of being thought of as a "troubled" youth - it seems that emotional baggage is a must for characters in this book). He's also upset that, in his view, the police have done little to track down the culprit.

Except maybe for one; the detective who worked on Tinsley's case got to know Dani very well and since has served as a kind of mentor to her. Although he's about to retire, he's willing to listen to Dani's accounts of the newly missing girl, offering advice and, when necessary, some real help with the case. As one might expect, the investigation into Ali's disappearance unearths clues about Tinsley's as well. But while that's helpful to Dani - maybe - the first order of business is finding Ali before something terrible happens.

There's no shortage of action along the way (as well as some fairly gruesome scenes). If I have a complaint, it's that the whole thing too often reads like a cozy mystery. It's got all the ingredients, not the least of which is an overabundance of melodrama - plus characters who fit the role almost perfectly: A female character who tries to stick to the straight and narrow but often ignores advice - usually resulting in her life being in danger. A partner/friend/roommate who's headstrong to the point of totally annoying and often leads said private eye into situations a rational person would avoid like the plague. A seasoned law enforcement official who feigns annoyance at said private eye but humors her, possibly at the risk of his or her own career. A character - usually a very young or very old buttinsky - who noses around, often at inopportune times. And finally, an ending that demonstrates that God's in his heaven and all's right with the world.

Overall, though, the story was intriguing and enjoyable and one I recommend, especially for fans of this author (as I am). I do, though, wonder if, in future installments, Dani's detective will continue working with her after he retires. My bet's on yes, and if I'm right, I'm looking forward to reading it - he's a solid guy with Dani's best interests at heart who is able to keep her grounded (and happily, more than once preventing her from crossing that cozy mystery line). Between now and then, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get in on the action early on with a pre-release review copy of this one.

Count to Three by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, December 2021); 283 pp.