This book captured me from the first sentence and I hung on tightly until the last page! Susan knows how to write suspense and the reader gets to enjoy her expertise! The characters come alive and you could swear you know these people! I happen to live in the area where this story is set and it makes it even more real for me. I can identify with all she is writing about. This book is centered around gangs - a very prevalent storyline in our times, unfortunately. Although this is book #4 in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. Darcie is the EMT of the First Responders, which is what the series is based around. She is innocently trying to visit a little girl she helped save when she is suddenly fighting for her life as she's being strangled! She has no idea what's going on but manages to get away for a moment and call Detective Noah Lockhart who shows up with back up but loses the attacker. Thus begins the investigation that leads in many directions. The reader never quite knows who the attacker is or who sent him. It could be several people. That's the great writing of Susan - letting the reader see how police work is done! Along the way we get to know the darling little girl, Isabel, and her grandma, Pilar. We also get to visit the First Responders once again, which is always my favorite part of a series! Darcie and Noah each have issues regarding a child in their past that keeps them from forming present relationships but as they work together, perhaps they can overcome that and trust each other with their hearts!