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Homicide Detective Crista Santiago left the Houston Barrio long ago, leaving behind her brother, her gang member ex-husband and her abusive step-father. Now she’s back working for the Houston Police Department on the Chicano Squad. Her newest case has her back in the thick of the Barrio. A young girl was shot in her home in what appears to be a gang related case, but things aren’t adding up. On top of everything else, the Captain over the Chicano Squad doesn’t want Crista on his team and he’s making things very difficult for her.
Alex Del Rio’s young daughter, Sam, was shot through a window in their home and everyone thinks it's gang related. The detective assigned to the case is pushing for information and Alex doesn’t think Sam is ready to be questioned. Alex works for the Mayor supervising a program to get kids off the streets and to keep them out of gangs. He lost his wife two years ago and now he's settled in Houston with his daughter and mother-in-law. There are those who don't like Alex meddling in gang business and may want him out of the way.
Alex is attracted to Detective Santiago and wants to get to know her better. Crista knows that acting on her attraction to Alex is wrong, since she’s working on his daughter’s case. Alex won’t take no for an answer though and when they share their first kiss, they both know there’s no going back.
THE WITNESS is a compelling story with well defined characters and a story that takes you into the world of the Hispanic community and gang life. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would like to read the others in the series. Linda Styles mastered the development of the characters and brings the reader into the story with her descriptions of the community, family life, gang activity and police corruption. THE WITNESS is a story that you can sink your teeth into and walk away with a good feeling.
Reviewed by Jennifer Ray
for The Road to Romance
January 11, 2005
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