Relatively Rainey by R.E. Bradshaw

Relatively Rainey
by R.E. Bradshaw
Pages: 240
Date: June 13 2015
Publisher: Author
Series: Rainey Bell Thrillers (Fifth book in series)

Review
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0
Read: June 24 2015

This is one of those wherein some would say something like "why'd anyone even bother labeling it lesbian?" Why would they say that? Because there's no sex. Apparently some see "lesbian" as "here be sex between women inside the pages of this book." meh. It be a lesbian married to a lesbian and raising three kids.

Okay, I admit I wrote that first paragraph because I couldn't think of anything else to write. I know why I label things the way I label them. Same reason I labeled this a mystery. And crime. Because it contains those elements. Now if there had been sex, well, I'd probably have added erotica/adult, or other label. As that would be an added element to be labeled.

That's enough talking to myself.

Rainey's suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from all the damage and danger she's suffered over the years. Though, mostly and specifically from the attack by the Y-Man (that's the media's name for they guy, right?). Waking up screaming, and at times coming periously close to injuring her wife, Katie. She must work on this issue in this book. *nods*

Meanwhile, Katie's suffering from a nasty illness picked up from her triplets. Who suffered greviously from this illness shortly before Katie caught it.

It's been a while since I've read the Rainey series. I remember everyone except Wendy. I'm not exactly sure why I don't recall her. But, meh. She's an officer of the law. Trying to make her big break. Has this case involving underage male prostitutes and dead underage male prostitutes. Gets into trouble over it. But she's a Bell, specifically Rainey Bell's sister. So . .. trouble follows the Bells.

This is kind of incoherent. But it is roughly 2 am. So, I blame that.

Mystery-wise, we have three "mysteries" in operation: (1) Someone has escalated from stealing underwear to become a sadistic serial killer and must be tracked down and stopped; (2) someone's killing boys; (3) ... other than an added element of danger, I forget why the ex-FBI agent is involved in the story. No real mystery here. He's an abusive asshole who keeps trying to kill his wife. Wendy was able to lure the wife and kids away and save them. The ex-FBI agent turned to Wendy as a target since he can't find the wife. I have a vague sense that there are more than three mysteries I should mention. I suppose a fourth would be (4) why, and/or what has triggered Rainey's PTSD nightmares, and how can she "fix" herself before she accidentally kills her wife and kids.

hmms. I think I just fell asleep a few moments there. Really too late to be attempting to write something.

Lot going on in the book. Solid book. Good characterization. Other than having Molly the lawyer pop up for like three seconds, have one solid scene then leave the book forever more. It's like Patrick Stewart showing up at the end of Robin Hood and noting that he's King Arthur and he's back now. And stuff. Or, Sean Connery did a bunch of cameos as well. I've some vague idea he popped up for like three seconds on Hunt for Red October. See, if my brain worked all this would be ordered more coherently. And be one line. As in: Molly turns up in this book, but it is just a cameo appearance, a few lines, before she leaves again. Ah, the "other than" part has to do with sadness that it's just a cameo/and or the feeling of forced inclusion.

I've noticed that before in Bradshaw books. In the book titled Molly, Bradshaw has a couple from another book pop up for like three seconds to wave at the reader, then poof. A problem with that is that I hadn't actually read that book they are in yet, so some bits slipped out. Just in the three seconds they were on the page. Though that's more of a issue for that Molly House on Fire book (and Waking up Grey, as the cameo couple is from that Grey book that I haven't read).