AN INNOCENT HOSTAGE - Deborah Fletcher Mello
The Sorority Detectives (Book #2)
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
BUY
Brenda Larnell (A)
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
REVIEW: First, I love the concept of the Sorority Row Detectives of Louisiana. These ladies are on the case and handle business. From the mother, Claudia Martin, founder of the detective agency, to her four daughters, Lenore, (PLAYING WITH DANGER) Alexis, Celeste and Sophie, who are known to take no prisoners. Let’s not forget the formidable underworld kingpin, Josiah Martin, the former husband of Claudia and father to the four women. Although Josiah operates on the opposite side of the law, he does not hesitate to step in when his family is being threatened.
AN INNOCENT HOSTAGE is Alexis’ story, and it is a page-turner from Chapter 1. We are introduced to Alexis, a Sorority Row PI, who becomes overwhelmed by an incident that triggers her PTSD. I’ll allow you to discover the reason. Moreover, somebody is following her. Enter Marcel Broussard, FBI Agent, and Alexis’ former lover. He needs her help. Why? That is the heart and soul of this well-written romantic suspense. Ms. Mello takes us into the bowels of a Cult, Saints of the Moral Order, flourishing in the Louisiana swamps that has gone from devotion to depravity. Ironically, both Alexis and Marcel are cult survivors. Marcel enlists Alexis’ to help him get his baby girl out. To be sure, Alexis has a lot of questions about baby Sabine, but when Marcel gives all the right answers, Alexis is on board to rescue an “innocent hostage” from the clutches of a religious cult that has gone rogue. There are a lot of tense moments, as Marcel and Alexis maneuver their way into the manic culture of the Saints of the Moral Order who are out of order.
There are supportive characters, and not so supportive side characters. I love Alexis’ family, especially her father who does not play about his family. On the other hand, there are characters with no redeeming qualities at all. One such character is Belinda. You will find out about her when you read the story. Although Marcel and Alexis had a rocky beginning, they ended up on solid ground with baby Sabine as their anchor.
AN INNOCENT HOSTAGE combines danger, passion, and drama in one intriguing story. I recommend it for your reading pleasure.
2 October 2025 | romcol@caribsurf.com
AN INNOCENT HOSTAGE is Alexis’ story, and it is a page-turner from Chapter 1. We are introduced to Alexis, a Sorority Row PI, who becomes overwhelmed by an incident that triggers her PTSD. I’ll allow you to discover the reason. Moreover, somebody is following her. Enter Marcel Broussard, FBI Agent, and Alexis’ former lover. He needs her help. Why? That is the heart and soul of this well-written romantic suspense. Ms. Mello takes us into the bowels of a Cult, Saints of the Moral Order, flourishing in the Louisiana swamps that has gone from devotion to depravity. Ironically, both Alexis and Marcel are cult survivors. Marcel enlists Alexis’ to help him get his baby girl out. To be sure, Alexis has a lot of questions about baby Sabine, but when Marcel gives all the right answers, Alexis is on board to rescue an “innocent hostage” from the clutches of a religious cult that has gone rogue. There are a lot of tense moments, as Marcel and Alexis maneuver their way into the manic culture of the Saints of the Moral Order who are out of order.
There are supportive characters, and not so supportive side characters. I love Alexis’ family, especially her father who does not play about his family. On the other hand, there are characters with no redeeming qualities at all. One such character is Belinda. You will find out about her when you read the story. Although Marcel and Alexis had a rocky beginning, they ended up on solid ground with baby Sabine as their anchor.
AN INNOCENT HOSTAGE combines danger, passion, and drama in one intriguing story. I recommend it for your reading pleasure.
2 October 2025 | romcol@caribsurf.com
