Will Novak is a loner who works hard to protect his privacy. His one concession is his partnership with Claire Morgan in their private investigation agency in New Orleans. Will especially hates anyone coming uninvited to his secluded home, an ancient mansion on a defunct sugar plantation near the Louisiana bayou. He's doubly incensed when the person showing up on his porch is Mariah Murray, his dead wife's sister from Australia. Mariah, who's always been manipulative and deceiving, is the one person he hates the most in this world. Whatever she wants, it can't be good.

Mariah weaves an elaborate tale of needing Will's help in rescuing a childhood friend who's gone missing. The friend was a successful artist with a controlling husband and young son, then one day they all disappeared from their home in Australia. Mariah claims she's traced them to a secluded area in northern Georgia. Fearful that her friend is being held captive by an abusive husband, Mariah knows she can't go in alone to free her and her son. From past experiences, Will knows he can't believe anything Mariah tells him, but how much of what she claims is actually the truth? He can't take the chance that her friend is in dire need of help, especially with a young son, so he agrees to accompany Mariah to the small Georgia town to find out for himself what's going on. What transpires after their arrival places both of them in more danger than either could have anticipated. And sure enough, Mariah hasn't been telling Will all of the truth, which could cost them their lives.

BAD ROAD TO NOWHERE by Linda Ladd is a spinoff of her greatly entertaining Claire Morgan Investigations series featuring Claire's enigmatic business partner Will Novak. The storyline gives readers a more thorough understanding of what has made Will the solitary man he is today. I was fascinated with Will Novak following his introduction in the Claire Morgan novel, DEVIL DEAD, then further developed in GONE BLACK. Imagine my delight when I learned that Will Novak was going to get his own nail-biting case to resolve in BAD ROAD TO NOWHERE. And what a suspenseful thriller it is! As always, Ms. Ladd deftly handles the progression of a gripping and complex plot with remarkable characters and realistic settings. Her descriptive prose always keeps me absorbed and hastily turning pages until the exciting conclusion. I hope this means there will be more Will Novak adventures in the future.