A death in a senior persons' retirement home is not, on the face of it, unusual. However when an apparently healthy man in his seventies dies, his friends and the police wonder why. Another question - if Henry Robbins had no remaining family, why would he take out a life assurance policy? In CAVANAUGH STRONG, Detective Noelle O'Banyon and Detective Duncan Cavanaugh see no evidence of foul play, but find matters strange enough to be worth investigating.

A previous inmate of the home, Sally, who was in training for a marathon, also died suddenly after taking out a life policy. Noelle only hears about this when her grandmother Lucy connects the two incidents and mentions the deaths of her friends to the policewoman. While suspicious, this still doesn't prove anything. Noelle and her partner are not homicide detectives, but if there was a matter of insurance fraud, that is something they could investigate. Maybe it's time to get started.

Be on the lookout for dodgy dealings, car crashes and persuasive powers in this adult romance as the detectives pursue their enquiries. I've read a few books by Marie Ferrarrella by now and enjoyed all of them, so given that she has written over 200 books I have a lot more enjoyment ahead of me.

CAVANAUGH STRONG takes an interesting topic - adults who become more vulnerable because of their age - and reminds readers to talk over such matters with senior relatives or friends to ensure they are not being misled. The romance stands on its own feet and comes to a pleasing conclusion.