I Did Something Bad

DEBUT Khin Haymar, a freelance journalist based in Yangon, Myanmar, has just been offered the job of a lifetime: profile megastar and famously private actor Tyler Tun as he returns to Myanmar to film an action rom-com. If she can manage a scoop, it could even translate to a permanent position with the Vogue offices in Singapore. When Tyler stumbles on a man threatening Khin in the park on the first day of shooting, he intervenes, and the stranger ends up dead. Tyler and Khin have too much at stake to risk going to the police, so they agree to cover up the murder and continue as usual. Between dodging the police, overzealous fans, and the paparazzi, along with researching why the dead man was targeting Khin, the two start to grow closer. VERDICT The movie-star romance gets new life from its Myanmar setting, and the realistic and moving portrayals of lifelong friendships add depth to the story of two professionals struggling to maintain boundaries in the face of growing affection. This is a winning fiction debut from War (You’ve Changed).Wheatley, Denise N. Hometown Homicide. Harlequin Intrigue. (A West Coast Crime Story, Bk. 4). Sept. 2024. 224p. ISBN 9781335456953. pap. $7.99. ROMANTIC SUSPENSEPolice officer Drew Taylor is shocked when he’s asked to head up a homicide case by the Colorado chief of police as several other officers outrank him in seniority, but the chief assures him he’s the right one for the job. Stepping up and taking charge at the crime scene earlier put Drew on the radar of several higher-ups, and there was no doubt who they wanted to lead the case. Nia Brooks, a former 911 dispatcher and now rookie police officer, has been assigned as Drew’s mentee. Nia quickly learns the homicide case is connected to a devastating dispatch call she had previously taken and is determined to help catch the killer. Nia and Drew find their mutual attraction worth exploring as they work closely together.