Review: Thick as Thieves

Thick as Thieves by Sandra Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. 

 After leaving her home twenty years ago with her father missing and older sister now responsible for her care, Arden Maxwell is back in Penton. Pregnant and wanting to fix up her childhood home to start fresh, Arden suddenly loses the baby. With her sister Lisa hounding her to leave Penton and come live with her, two months later Arden is rising out of her grief and deciding that she needs answers to the night her father disappeared. 

Ledge Burnet knows that Arden is in town and has been trying to keep an eye on her while keeping his distance. He's always been waiting for the truth of that night twenty years ago to come out but he doesn't want Arden to get caught in the crossfire. 

The past with all its lies and history swirl in the Texas bayou. 

“Talking about it is the surefire way to get caught.” 

Thick as Thieves starts with a prologue from twenty years ago as four individuals meet after robbing a large family goods store. From there we jump to present time and interspersed with Arden and Ledge's point-of-view chapters, we get flashbacks to the robbery night from the individuals involved. The main robbery outline is revealed early and instead the finer details of the night are left to be colored in as you read. For the most part, the reader knows more than Arden, which I liked, and we're following along as she discovers what happened and who to trust. 

“One of these days I'll probably have to kill him.” 

The leader of the robbery group, Rusty Dyle, had a credible role as villain but while he had the power, sheriff's son and then District Attorney, he lacked a strong motive or a certain je nais sais qoui to his thoughts and actions; he fell a little flat as the bully for the sake of being a bully villain. Ledge as our cool, solid, but shadowed hero that almost had more chemistry with his hate relationship with Dusty than his lusty one with Arden. There's some underlining sizzle between the two but the romance thread felt forced with Ledge instantly lusting after Arden and Arden feeling strong caution but physical attraction seeping through. They lacked an emotional and relationship development closeness and we mostly just get in kisses and “I want you” forced in between the robbery and murder mystery and Arden searching for answers. 

He lowered his head and focused on the one stair step between them. “Because I would be seeing you every day, but having to keep my hands off you.” He looked up at her from beneath his brows and spoke from the heart. “And I don't think I can do that.” 

I thought the mystery, thriller aspect of this was paced well, it's gradual with answer reveals but the story pulls you in. As this read more as a mystery/thriller to me, I did like it but anyone reading this for a strong romance plot, I would say lower your expectations as Arden and Ledge's relationship depth isn't there. A big reveal was left to the very end that made me want to go back and read the story to see if there were clues I missed and while there was some surprise to it, I felt more irked deceived than enjoyed deceived because of how late it was left to be revealed. While I enjoyed the easy pace for the vast majority, I did think the ending left too much for the very end and made it feel piled on, especially for the character of Arden, who don't get to really see work through the reveals. 

“I take to you, Ledge.” She hugged him tighter. 

This had a strong beginning and middle with a gradual paced mystery that gives a lot of answers but saves big truths until the very end. The romance felt forced for the most part but the overall story will definitely capture your attention and have you contently wandering in the slow mysterious Texas bayou for hours.

View all my reviews