Field Of Graves by J. T. Ellison

 

Someone is targeting young girls.  The first body is found posed, nude, at the tourist attraction in Nashville called The Parthenon.  The second is found in the river.  Taylor Jackson and her team are called to the murders and soon realize that both girls are connected to Vanderbilt University so this will be a high profile murder.

Jackson is recently back at work after being involved in an internal situation where she ended up killing another detective.  She was cleared of any wrongdoing but her dreams haven't cleared her yet and most nights are consumed with nightmares.  

Dr. John Baldwin is an FBI profiler.  But he hasn't worked in months, not since one of his suggestions about a murderer led to three other FBI members being killed as they tried to arrest the culprit.  Baldwin feels guilty and can't believe he isn't the cause of three of his co-workers losing their lives.  He has come home to Nashville, taking a leave of absence from the bureau, although in his mind he has quit.  He is in a deep depression but agrees to help out Jackson's team when his former boss calls and asks him to.

More bodies turn up and they all have a connection to Vanderbilt.  Taylor and Baldwin work the case and soon sparks are flying between the two of them.  Both these wounded detectives could find a way out of their issues as they work to solve the case before more victims can be targeted.  There seems to be a connection to the classics and hopefully that will propel the case forward.

Although this is not the first book published about Taylor Jackson and her team, it is the first one in terms of backstory and introducing the characters.  There is Sam, the forensic pathologist who is Taylor's best friend.  Her team members' background and expertise are all explored.  Readers who are interested in police procedurals will find this a good introduction to a series that has been successful.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.