A MelanieM Review: Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis #6) by Rhys Ford

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

Final book in the Dirty Series arc.

Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.

Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track—until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.

As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers. Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.

What a magnificent story! Even with all the intricacies, cultural layering and mysteries that have flowed through all the stories of the Cole McGinnis series, really none can prepare you for this book. Its just that powerful and emotionally wrenching.

The big mystery and heartache at the center of this series has been why Cole McGinnis’s cop partner on the force and close friend/brother shot Cole and killed his lover. It was an act of betrayal that Cole never quite recovered from, even with his strong and passionate love for Jae-Min Kim. Like that saying that all roads eventually lead home, Rhys Ford has been leading Cole and the readers back to the beginning where Cole will find out the answers to the violent action that shattered his life. This is that book.

Little by little, more things from Cole’s past find him again. Some are indescribably wonderful and moving, some heartbreaking, and raw. You never know from page to page which element Rhys Ford is going to serve up, what you can be certain is that it will piece your heart, make you weep with either joy or pain with the believable anguish that Cole is going through, along with his family and loved ones. There are some devastating events here, sometimes one after another. After a while I thought I had become inured.

I was so wrong.

Its because Rhys Ford writes so beautifully that her characters resonate so with the reader, as does the pain and emotional turmoil they are going through. Here emotions, thoughts, even rage that Cole had imagined he had buried rise up, overwhelming him, and the reader in the process. At parts, the story is so moving, I had to stop reading, because I couldn’t see the Kindle any more through the tears. I don’t think anything can prepare you for parts of this book.

The relationships here are deepened, even more realistic than ever as certain elements are revealed about peoples lives, the comedy that is a hallmark of this author ‘s writing and this series is ever present, a necessary levity when the angst threatens to swamp us and the lives involved. Clowns and llamas are a perfect pairing and I can only imagine how Rhys Ford saw that.

Rhys Ford is not one to give up the mystery easily. Its been years in the making so its a heart-racing, white knuckle, fast paced scary race at towards the end. What a shocker! I did not see that coming, even after all those books, so well done, Rhys Ford. That was really a great twist. Then you went on and delivered further. How worthwhile an ending. Its superb. Ford really pulls it all together. First a shocker, then a summation, and then a epilogue that will leaving you giddy with joy.

Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis #6) by Rhys Ford is one spectacular book. Never has her characters been more nuanced, more moving and real. The story includes stunning narrative explosions, a conclusion to a convoluted mystery spun over 6 stories and characters that will never leave me. This jumps to into Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Word’s Top Ten Rec list. Its February so for you readers still new to the series, you have plenty of time to read through the series before the book comes out in March. Pay no attention to anyone trying to spoil this book for you. No no NO! Its too good a tale for that. Make sure you pick it up fresh! But pick it up you must! Highly Recommended as is the series.

Cover artist Reese Notley does a wonderful job with the cover and branding the series.

Sales Links coming in March

Book Details:

Expected publication: March 2016 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
Original TitleDIrty Heart
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesCole McGinnis #6

Cole McGinnis Series: