Book Review: In Two Weeks’ Time

Reviewed by John M. Murray

A taut psychological thriller exploring the trauma of war and one woman’s attempt to open herself to rewarding human connection

Samantha “Sam” Reeves has settled nicely into a successful career as a private investigator, lurking around motel rooms and golf courses to suss out cheaters and other mundane scandals. But then one of the men she’s investigating winds up murdered. 

The murder itself is a means of delivering a message to Sam—one that shakes her to her core. She finds unlikely solace in the arms of Casey, a marketing director at the same country club where the murder occurred. The pair crackle with electric romance, but the message to Sam is just the beginning. Ten years ago, Sam served as military police, and her current case seems connected to a failed mission that still haunts her to this day.

The mystery behind Sam’s failed mission keeps the story taut and tense, as she recalls painful memories of the events leading up to that mission. While she investigates the country club murder, it becomes rapidly apparent that she’s the true target. Sam’s psyche wavers as she’s assaulted by memories of the past and someone trying to punish her for what happened ten years prior. The race to solve the mystery is suspenseful with each reveal building to the killer’s identity and why Sam could pay the ultimate price.

In a stark contrast to the gruesome murder and violent wartime memories, the romance that unfurls between Sam and Casey is dynamic with a keen balance between erotic and endearing. Even from the first meeting Sam responds to Casey’s voice as it “hummed through her body and echoed through her thighs.” This isn’t just flirty banter but a deep connection between the two that surprises them both. Rooting for Sam to solve the mystery quickly becomes overshadowed by rooting for her to lower her emotional guard. Sam reacts physically to Casey, but also emotionally and the more the two spend together, the stronger the pull between them becomes.

Sam and Casey are the focal characters, but Lassen fills the story with engaging secondary characters too. Sam has an endearing relationship with the local police chief with clear signs of respect and admiration. Everyone she comes across could be the unknown killer, making everyone a suspect, but Lassen skillfully imbues everyone with sympathetic qualities. 

In Two Weeks’ Time is a suspenseful thriller rooted in the psychological well-being of a solider turned P.I. attempting to do good in civilian life. Sam’s haunted by her war experiences but maintains a charismatic exterior. Her budding romance with a charming marketing director injects warmth, but the mystery behind the murders and how they connect to Sam keep the story fascinating. The tantalizing truth always feels like it’s just one page away.

Thank you for reading John M. Murray’s book review of In Two Weeks’ Time by Rebecka Lassen! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

The post Book Review: In Two Weeks’ Time appeared first on Independent Book Review.