One For Sorrow by Marlow Kelly is a novel with an intriguing combination of romance and mystery genres, and it forms book one of the Magpie Romantic Suspense Mysteries series. The protagonist, Georgina (George) Scott, is a police officer in the small Canadian town of Magpie. An undercover officer from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Liam Mason, is in town to investigate the theft of drugs from the police station. George is the prime suspect because it’s thought she’s giving the drugs to her drug-dealing father, Hank Scott. People don’t believe her when she says she is estranged from her father. Romantic sparks fly between George and Liam, which puts him in the awkward position of investigating a woman he’s attracted to. Complications arise when George gets injured and cannot continue her work in law enforcement, at least temporarily. The author notes that the book contains some coarse language and sex scenes, and there is one fairly graphic sex scene.

I enjoyed One For Sorrow very much. In true mystery fashion, it kept me guessing throughout. I didn’t know if George was really who she claimed to be. In fact, almost all of the characters could’ve gone either way: they could have been what they seemed to be or gone in another direction altogether. More importantly, the book fulfills its promise about being a “whodunit,” not only about the theft of the drugs, but other events, too. I didn’t know until the end who was stealing the drugs, how the budding romance between George and Liam would turn out, what would happen in the relationship between George and her father, and other matters. Author Marlow Kelly keeps the story interesting with unforeseen events, along with plot twists and turns. She also does a good job of developing her characters and their personalities. I recommend One For Sorrow to anybody who enjoys a good mystery and romance combination. They won’t be disappointed.

One For Sorrow is a work of fiction in the romance and suspense genres, and it serves as the first installment in the Magpie Romantic Suspense Mysteries series. It is aimed at adult readers and was penned by Marlow Kelly. The book follows Georgina Scott, a police officer dedicated to protecting the people from her criminal father, Hank. When narcotics are stolen from the evidence locker and find their way into Hank’s hands, Georgina is the prime suspect. Liam Mason is sent undercover to investigate Georgina, but this is derailed when she is injured in the line of duty and placed on sick leave. Can Liam determine whether Georgina is on her father’s payroll? Can Georgina prove her innocence?

A steamy mystery awaits readers of this initial entry in the Magpie Romantic Suspense Mysteries book, with Georgina Scott, a heroine for justice who has made it her life’s work to undermine her father’s criminal activities, being thrust together with Liam Mason, a thorough investigator who has been dispatched undercover to get close to Georgina. The pair have a sizzling chemistry that Marlow Kelly establishes quickly despite the high stakes of Georgina’s plight. Both characters are portrayed emphatically by the author, and their obvious attraction is teased out playfully as their investigation into each other goes on. One For Sorrow manages to take the cat and mouse dynamic of classic cops and robbers stories and add a sexy twist to proceedings by layering complex feelings of attraction and suspicion. I’d recommend this book to all fans of romance novels.