When fans of Sophie Littlefield pick up Blood Bond, her new e-book only release, they will be expecting to encounter strong character development and a tightly-woven plot and that is exactly what they will discover.

The main character of the novel, Joe Bashir, is a true original.  Like many characters that are found in the mystery genre, he is charismatic and enigmatic.  But as a non-practicing Muslim Pakistani-American he has a unique viewpoint on the world, so much so, that he must remain distanced from that world in many ways.  His role as detective with the Montair Police department forces him to confront the worst society has to offer, but he still manages to face it with compassion.  His life choices, such as dating Amaris who happens to be Jewish, cause a rift with his immediate family; but his inability to fully commit to Amaris also places a strain on that relationship.  Joe Bashir is a man on a solo mission through life.

When Joe gets the call to investigate a death in one of the more affluent neighborhoods of Montair, he has no idea the profound impact the case will have on his life.  The death of Tom Bergman during a cocktail party appears to be part of an environmental protest gone wrong, but something doesn’t feel right to Joe.  As he begins to examine the close-knit group of people involved, he discovers that there may be another reason for the murder.  Someone’s past may be catching up with them.

It seems that several of the party guests were involved in the cover-up of a crime back in their college days.  Every year, they are mailed mementos on the anniversary of the incident.  It just so happens that this death has occurred on that same anniversary date.  Could this just be a coincidence or is someone’s anger escalating?

Littlefield peppers the story with individuals from various walks of life.  Suspects each have economic differences, troubled histories, and weak alibis.  When another body is discovered, it becomes clear that this killer must be stopped before more people die.  Joe’s investigation takes him to various locations around the West Coast and Littlefield successfully makes the reader feel that we are on the journey with him.

Of course, the killer is unmasked, but the real story lies in how the case changes Joe Bashir.  By the end of the novel, Sophie Littlefield has altered Joe’s world and readers will be anxious to read about his next investigation and how that mystery will ultimately affect and change Joe.

Blood Bond is the debut of another series that should continue to elevate Sophie Littlefield in the ranks of authors to watch.  We can count on Sophie, and Joe Bashir, to be around for a very long time.