Pulitzer Prize-nominated reporter Moira Harrison, lost in a blinding rainstorm after dark, suddenly sees a terrified figure in her headlights. Slamming on the brakes, she tries to avoid the person, but loses control of her car. She feels the impact and then careens into the woods, finally striking a tree to come to a crashing stop.

Shaken, she knows she must call 911 to help the person she struck and to report the accident. A man appears at her car door to find out if she’s okay—then tells her there’s glass on the seat—to be careful while he brushes it off. Shifting in the seat, she feels the glass penetrate her thigh. The man tells her that he will look for the person and call 911. Then her world goes black.

When she comes to, she is alone—no emergency vehicles are there. She makes her way to the road, but the person she struck has vanished—only skid marks remain. She can’t convince the police who respond to her call that there was a person—in fact, she can’t convince anyone. Moira can’t forget the look of terror in the woman’s eyes, though, and so she decides to see if a private detective firm will take the case. Reluctantly, the ex-homicide detective turned private eye decides to investigate.

As clues begin to surface, they find that someone doesn’t want the case solved—and will go to any lengths to prevent them from doing so. You will want to help Moira and Cal Burke, the handsome P.I. assisting her to find the solution. A great read – you’ll want the entire series!

Irene Hannon is the author of several action-mystery series including The Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice. This, the first of the Private Justice novels, is a worthy addition. Hannon has more than 40 novels to her name, two RITA Awards from the Romance Writers of America, a National Reader’s Choice Award, and a Daphne du Maurier Award. More information about Irene is available on her website, www.IreneHannon.com.

I was given a copy of Vanished by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my unbiased review.