Marla Hancock, a stay-at-home mother, has left her verbally abusive marriage and temporarily moved in with her sister, Shelly. But after dropping off her eldest child at preschool, Marla disappears and isn’t seen again. Shelly can’t believe her sister would leave her children behind. Due to their town’s under-resourced police department and limited media resources, Shelly fears Marla’s case won’t get the attention it deserves, or worse will never be solved. So, several weeks after filing a missing person’s report, she reaches out to TV journalist Jordan Manning for help.
Weeks after solving the Masey James and Tiana Mosley cases, Jordan Manning’s career has taken off. Jordan’s investigative and reporting skills in those murders have elevated her status in the newsroom, as well as her public persona, gaining her a reputation as more than your typical news reporter: a “fixer” with a vigilante edge, dogged and undeterred to seek the truth. But even with this new status, Jordan still feels pressure to prove herself as a young Black professional. When Shelly reaches out to her, she understands her concerns and feels compelled to do all she can to find Marla.
As Jordan goes to any lengths to track down Marla, she unravels a dark web of secrets and scandal that may lead right to Marla.
Release Date: Mar 12, 2024
Series: Jordan Manning
Book:Â 2
Publisher:Â HarperCollins
Imprint: William Morrow
Price: $14.99
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Some people know Tamron Hall as a talk show host, but before that she was a national news anchor – and now she’s a crime fiction author as well. Watch Where They Hide is the second book in the Jordan Manning series. Jordan Manning is a television journalist in Chicago who becomes totally invested in the crime stories she reports. While the first book was a suspenseful, thought-provoking thriller, this follow-up is an interesting procedural that includes a behind-the-scenes look into the world of broadcast journalism. Jordan is contacted by a woman who insists her sister is missing even though local law enforcement isn’t taking her seriously. Even though not everything about the story adds up, Jordan won’t give up until she finds out what really happened to Marla Hancock.
Jordan Manning is an appealing main character. I like her intelligence and her determination as she fights for justice for those who need someone to stand up for them. Even as she experiences more success in her career, she still has to tiptoe around racial issues as a Black woman who wants to be taken seriously in her field but has to worry about offending others. Jordan is also afraid her personal life is taking a back seat to her career and wonders if she’ll ever be able to get married and balance that with her demanding job as an investigative reporter.
In her quest to find out what happened to Marla, Jordan sometimes rushes in too quickly, potentially putting herself in danger. However, I admire her willingness to go all in for the people who turn to her for help. The story of Marla’s disappearance is engaging and seeing some of the things that go on behind the camera at a newsroom are fascinating. The ending isn’t necessarily happy, but it is satisfying and hopeful. Fans of Tamron’s first book, as well as author Hank Phillipi Ryan will enjoy this gripping story.
~ Christine
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