The Cost of Crude is a romantic thriller written by Inge-Lise Goss. Julie is substituting for Pam, Mr. MacIntyre's secretary. MacIntyre is the CEO of Wilton Oil & Gas Company, and he's hosting a meeting between his executives and the executives of CT Oil. Contrary to his usual practice, MacIntyre has given instructions that the meeting would not be recorded, but Julie has other plans. She's borrowed a small recorder and four bugs from a friend, and she's planted the bugs in the conference room. Later on, Julie is discovered as she's retrieving the bugs and she's questioned. Julie confirms that she only wanted to find out if the two companies were planning to merge, as she was concerned about her future as an employee. Gwynne, Julie's close friend and co-worker at Wilton, is horrified when she hears that Julie was killed in an accident with a semi-trailer. Gwynne knows that Julie was uncomfortable driving anywhere near semis, and she suspects that her friend's death has something to do with the disappearances of other Wilton employees. Julie's grandmother also harbors suspicions and has hired Ruben to investigate her death.

Inge-Lise Goss' romantic thriller, The Cost of Crude, is exciting and fast-paced. The author's experience auditing the oil and gas industries makes the story feel very authentic and real. Gwynne and Ruben are great main characters, both headstrong, independent and determined to keep things professional, and it's fun watching them interact. The plot is well-developed, and the reader is swiftly thrown into the action from the very first page. I enjoyed seeing how Ruben and his security team worked together and functioned as a team, complete with undercover agents and even a doctor who has miracle healing salves that work overnight. The Cost of Crude is also filled with political intrigue, and the main storyline is especially relevant with current concerns over the environment and the effects the oil and gas industries are having on it. The Cost of Crude is recommended reading.

The Cost of Crude by Inge-Lise Goss is a riveting tale of intrigue and murder. After hearing of her friend's death, Gwynn Reznick discovers that her death was not the accident that she was told, but a corporate cover-up. As Gwynn works with investigators, she gets pulled deeper and deeper into the mystery behind her friend's death. While the mystery begins to unravel, it is discovered that there have been several deaths, all with suspicious circumstances that lead to one place: the oil company where Gwynn works. With all the dangers surrounding her, she starts to associate with Ruben Dordi, the lead behind the investigation and her adviser on the ins and outs of a detective's world. The further in that Gwynn delves, the higher the body count. With all this death, one has to ask how much would you sacrifice to avenge your friend's death?

The Cost of Crude by Inge-Lise Goss is a page turner. As the reader gets pulled into the Texas oil industry, the thicker the plot. This is the kind of book that grabs you with its teeth and even though it's in the morning hours, it won't let the reader go. It demands attention in its hyper speed pacing and seamless transitions from one scenario to the next. The tension between the heroine and the cast of characters is gritty yet smooth. Every character feels genuine, with conflicts that are not only commonplace but also life changing.