Three Steps Behind

By Dani Pettrey

A suspicious death. A desperate search for truth. With danger hovering, can they uncover the killer's plan?

Private Investigator Deckard MacLeod is thrilled when Harper Grace returns from her humanitarian trip overseas. It's been three months since he's seen her, but when she shows up on his front porch haggard, with a desolate look in her eyes, he knows something has gone very wrong.

Harper, a forensic botanist, needs refuge, and that can only be found with Deckard, who is a protector at heart. But after what she's endured, how can she possibly move forward with a relationship? Deck deserves someone whole, someone present, and her mind is still imprisoned in that desolate land.

She's barely set foot on Deck's ranch when news comes that her dear friend died suddenly. A heart attack in her early thirties? Something feels very off. As clues surface and suspects become evident, Harper trusts her gut to lead her and Deckard forward, but the closer they come to the truth, the closer they get to death. And if they aren't careful, it'll be their own. . . .

Dani Pettrey keeps readers on the edge of their seats in this taut romantic thriller filled with high-stakes action and suspense. For readers of Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, and Elizabeth Goddard.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764238507
• ISBN13: 9780764238505
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 288 Pages

Customer Reviews

Adventure continues

Deckard and Harper had a second chance romance vibe in this book as they reconnected. They already knew each other well but this time around Harper had trauma to heal from and Deckard had to reassess his stance on relationships. Harper’s trauma was the prologue of the book and it was difficult to read. I enjoyed how well they worked together; Deckard protected and investigated while Harper thought through all possible scenarios and connected the dots. Their investigation into Harper’s friend’s death took interesting twists and turns. There was also a subplot involving a colleague of Harper’s. We were also introduced to Aubry the FBI agent and Bristol, the oldest of the MacLeod siblings, in this book. They had their own criminal to catch and their interaction was snarky, witty, and full of fire. The fourth book of the series promises to be explosive and redemptive as Bristol and Aubry take the stage. I love the MacLeod siblings but there were too many subplots in this book which distracted me. But if you enjoy romantic suspense, I’m sure you will enjoy this book and the series. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House via Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.