Staged Evidence is the second book of Traci Hunter Abramson’s A Pen & Dagger series. Reading the first novel sets up the relationships between the characters, but you could read this as a standalone.  The story starts out in classic Abramson fashion immediately pulling readers in with an intense scene. However, this tale is a bit different. In many of Abramson’s books, something is always happening and characters are in constant danger. This story breaks from that mold. It doesn’t feel as fast-paced, but it is still filled with uncertainties, romance and intrigue.

The main focus of the tale is the relationship between Tessa Seidel and Parker Sawyer. Parker is a new character in the series and he is seamlessly melded into the lives of the other characters. He has an interesting back story and certainly grabs the reader’s attention.

The author pens every character as though he or she is the main focus of the story. What does that mean to a reader? It means the secondary or peripheral people in the book have their own personalities and come across as fascinating and real rather than just plot advances. It will be interesting to see who becomes the focus of the next installment of the series.

Review of an Advance Reader’s Copy Provided by the Publisher

Content Analysis

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: Several scenes where people are found dead with blood pooling; there are many references to these murders throughout the book; a character is grabbed by someone, but she fights him off; a report that two people were shot and killed; a scene in which people are fighting – characters are shot at, strike one another with objects.

Sex/Nudity: Non-married characters kiss and embrace.

Mature Subject Matter:

Murder, death of parents.

Drug/Alcohol Use:

None