I have been a Laura Griffin fan for a number of years. I know when I pick up one of her books, I will have great heroines and heroes, a good mystery and a satisfying ending. Far Gone does not disappoint. However, this book is Griffin’s first novel out as a hard copy and the price is a little steep. If the price puts you off from purchasing this book, then just wait until the end of August and it will be out in paperback.

Andrea Finch’s life has gone to hell. Her career as a police officer in a small Texas town is in jeopardy after she is put on administrative leave for an off-duty shooting that took place in a convenience store. The only thing that is standing between her and regaining her badge and gun is attending counseling and an internal affairs hearing. It sounds pretty straightforward, but in the interim, Andrea’s younger brother Gavin shows up needing money…fast. Gavin is supposed to be safely ensconced in his university dorm working towards a degree in some type of computer programming. But Gavin the wunderkind has left school and now Andrea has no idea where he has gone. Since she is on leave, she decides to take her time off to find out what is going on with her brother.

Jon North and a small FBI team have been in Texas investigating an off-the-grid group that is suspected of terrorist activities. His gut tells him that this group is responsible for a high-profile political murder years before, but he does not have the proof that will get the entire FBI behind him and his boss has given him just a few weeks to find something or he will pull the plug on the investigation. The last thing Jon North needs is some small town cop messing up his surveillance. Enter small town cop Andrea Finch. She doesn’t care what the FBI says, this group might have her brother and she is determined to rescue him no matter what Jon North says. She and Gavin lost their parents when they were young and grew up with their grandparents. For most of their lives it has been she and Gavin against the world. Once Jon figures out that Andrea will not let her personal investigation go, they form an uneasy alliance.

Andrea is not your typical female cop heroine. She is scruffy and beats around in old comfortable clothes and boots. There is no transformation from the cop persona to the uber beauty. She is what she is and makes no excuses for it. That was refreshing to read in a romance novel. Jon is much more typical of the alpha male FBI agent and while I did like his character, he was more stereotypical. Despite Andrea’s training and competency, he feels it is his duty to protect her when she is perfectly capable of protecting herself. The contrast between the characters did work, but it made Jon seem just a tiny bit of a caricature. With the characterization of Andrea, I would have liked to see a more egalitarian relationship between the two.

Having said that, the story still works and the suspense is pure Laura Griffin. She keeps you guessing until the very end and that ending is a satisfying read. The author does a good job of balancing the romance with the suspense and neither suffers from neglect under her hand. If you are a Laura Griffin fan like I am, this is one you will want to add to your collection.