Sergeant Nora Keyes is the bomb squad specialist for the Courage Bay, California police department. One afternoon, a call comes in about an explosion at a local motel. Nora wastes no time making her way to the scene, especially once she hears that arson investigator Sam Prophet from the Courage Bay Fire Department is already there. She and Sam have never gotten along. Their investigative styles are completely different – he’s slow and precise while she’s more intuitive – neither of them has much use for the other’s methods. Normally they go out of their way to avoid each other, but she has no intention of letting him take over a case that’s clearly hers.

At the scene, Sam is just as unwilling to concede the case to her. Working separately, they each determine that the cause of the blast was an explosive packed into a cell phone. To their mutual surprise, they learn that each of them has been working on a series of bombings involving explosives in cell phones. Their unwillingness to share information meant that each of them was unaware of several cases the other knew about, possibly allowing the bomber Sam dubbed “The Trigger” to remain free longer than if they’d worked together. When their bosses order them to collaborate, Nora and Sam finally combine forces to catch the bomber. As they spend more time together on the case, they slowly get to know each other, and the two former adversaries discover feelings for one another they never would have expected.

The Trigger is the 11th book in Harlequin’s Code Red continuity (although four books precede it – three published within the Superromance line and the fourth as an anthology). As with all the books in the series, it does stand alone. At the same time, there are some welcome indications that an ongoing storyline has been simmering beneath the surface throughout the series. Several incidents from different books that seemed unrelated at the time are connected here, as the story arc finally emerges and starts to come together. That doesn’t mean it’s necessary to have read any of the others to enjoy this one, but it clues in readers who have been following the series that they will receive a payoff for their loyalty in the next and final book.

This is a very plot-driven story that works more for its suspense element than the romance. The love story is reasonably developed, but it wasn’t what kept me turning the pages. It’s mostly overshadowed by the investigation to catch the bomber (and rightly so). Fortunately, the suspense element is intriguing enough to justify its dominance in the book. While The Trigger’s identity isn’t hard to deduce, the story is fast-paced and well-plotted. The main characters’ occupations are interesting, and the author peppers the story with a good amount of detail that makes them and their investigation sound authentic.

The characters are a little stiff and some of their reactions and dialogue don’t ring true, but for the most part they’re both likable and engaging. Nora is a strong, confident heroine. I liked some of the role reversals from the usual gender roles they exhibit. She eats junk food while Sam is the health nut who watches what he eats. She’s the wild one with the fancy sports car, while he’s the more sedate one. Probably as a result, he seems somewhat less interesting than her, but as a couple, they’re well-matched and seem right for each other.

After a shaky beginning, the Code Red series seems to have hit its stride in the last few entries. The Trigger is another pretty good read, an engaging suspense story that moves quickly and has plenty of action. Hopefully the trend will continue as the series reaches its conclusion next month in Justice for All.