A construction company comes under suspicion when the disappearance of one of their employees is brought to the attention of a journalist in the suspenseful sleuth mystery, On the Border (A Samantha Church Mystery) by Betta Ferrendelli. One year sober, single mom Samantha Church is finally pulling her life together in the aftermath of her sister's murder and her ex-husband's suicide. A reporter for The Perspective, a small newspaper in Colorado, Sam and her boss, Wilson, endeavor to bring justice and quality news to their community. Recently an anonymous letter handwritten in Spanglish is addressed to Sam and dropped off at the office. Unable to translate the message, Sam turns to Hunter, the new bilingual reporter, for help. Working together, Sam and Hunter find the man who wrote the letter. Frightened of adverse repercussions, the informant reluctantly tells them that his cousin Javier had a disagreement with their employers and then mysteriously disappeared. The details he relates indicate the company may be using illegal laborers. As Sam and Hunter continue investigating, it appears that Javier may have been murdered. Can Hunter and Samantha uncover the story of Javier's disappearance? Or will they be the next victims?

On the Border (A Samantha Church Mystery) by Betta Ferrendelli is another exciting episode in an outstanding series. Sam and Wilson are relatable protagonists with realistic struggles and personal issues. I appreciated how some of the hardships of undocumented workers are brought to light. With all of the main characters having intense and well-developed histories, I was able to connect with each of them from the very beginning. Their combined backstories set the mood and scenes for the plot which culminated in a surprising and heartrending conclusion that left me reeling. Amateur sleuth fans will enjoy reading this riveting mystery.

On The Border is a work of mystery fiction with plenty of intrigue and suspense, and was penned by author Betta Ferrendelli. One of the Samantha Church Mysteries, this fifth installment sees our central heroine hot on the trail of another investigation which could make for an incredible major news story. The plucky reporter joins forces with up and coming cub reporter Hunter for this new investigation, which hints at murder, money laundering and harboring undocumented workers. What results is a wild and sinister twist where our heroes face new villains who are determined to keep their secrets buried and protect their interests.

Author Betta Ferrendelli has crafted an engaging and high-octane mystery novel that combines sleuthing, suspense, action, and high drama to create a true page-turner that you’ll find hard to put down. The narration cuts to the quick of the action and delivers much of its exposition through active scenes with plenty of dialogue, which increases the pacing of the novel really well. Hunter is a truly enigmatic addition to the cast, and indeed the development of both the heroes and villains of the piece is well crafted to add another layer of realism to the mystery. In terms of plot, the story beats are well-timed to unveil different aspects of the mystery bit by bit, and the style allows readers to figure things out without being spoon-fed the excellent conclusions to the drama. Overall, I would certainly recommend On The Border for your next engaging mystery read.