The fourth installment in the Take it to the Limit series, The Stillness of Murder by Linda Opdyke is a classic, no-holds-barred thriller. The books follow Nashville husband and wife P.I.’s Ethan and Michele Jenks as they ignite a pulse-pounding showdown against dangerous adversaries. It’s a book that gave me strong Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibes, with a similar story about a power couple who seem averse to just sitting down for once and relaxing, preferring to put themselves in life-threatening danger repeatedly for our entertainment.
The book opens in the only proper way for a thriller, throwing readers directly into the action, “Ethan’s body lay taut, flat across the dirt and rock-strewn ground, his hands tightly clutching Mickey’s as she dangled helplessly over the edge of the cliff.” From this explosive beginning, we hear the name of the mysterious “Kirby Shepherd”, who their assailant kept repeating but neither Ethan nor Mickey have the faintest idea who he is. Often when I start with a book in the middle of a series, I’m completely lost. Thankfully, I largely wasn’t here. It’s pretty easy to get into and start reading, even though this is the fourth book (so I’m probably missing a lot of background). I immediately got the sense it’s not the type of book that’s trying to challenge you, or overly make you think. It knows exactly what it is, a thriller, and its only goal is to thrill.
The dialogue is fun and witty throughout. When their nurse mentions the news coverage as she’s recovering from the cliff ordeal, Mickey responds: “Not sure ‘non-life-threatening’ is how I’d describe hanging off a cliff.” These moments of levity balance the tension nicely and make the couple feel real. The story basically follows Ethan and Mickey as they uncover a decades-old vendetta against them involving the Burnett family and Ethan’s late father. Mickey goes undercover at the White Dog Bar to investigate, leading to dangerous encounters and shocking revelations about twisted revenge plots. Without spoilers, the investigation spirals into discovering that a lady called Hannah Burnett may have been plotting against the Jenks family.
The book is written in third-person limited point of view, shifting primarily between Ethan and Mickey. This allows readers intimate access to both protagonists’ thoughts and fears while maintaining suspense about what others might be hiding. (Minor quibble: the name Mickey for a female character threw me at first, as I’m used to it being a boy’s name, but it’s short for Michele and works well enough for her tough persona.) Even though it’s easy to jump into the series, the characters seem somewhat bare-bones at points, though this might be because I haven’t read the previous books. I still enjoyed reading them, and Mickey’s undercover work at the White Dog Bar is particularly well-executed. Her scene applying for the bartending job showcases her quick thinking and investigative instincts perfectly, using the cover story of “drifting” to explain her lack of references.
It’s simply a good time reading about this couple navigating both professional danger and personal intimacy. Lines like “She held his gaze, losing herself in the love in his eyes… It didn’t matter if their professional relationship was on an even keel or in shambles. Their love was rock-solid. Unconditional and unbreakable” balance the thriller elements with more romantic moments. In fact, their relationship reminded me a bit of the couple from The Conjuring, without all the ghosts, of course. They are generally pretty relatable characters, despite their dangerous jobs. It also has to be said, Hannah Burnett is a really strong villain, manipulative and vindictive. She’s the kind of antagonist who makes you genuinely fear for the protagonists, “Make sure you kiss your husband goodnight. For the last time.”
What really impressed me about this book is how it manages to keep the stakes personal while maintaining that larger-than-life thriller atmosphere. Many detective novels fall into the trap of making everything about the case, forgetting that their protagonists are actual people. Here, the author does an excellent job of reminding us that Ethan and Mickey aren’t just professional partners but a married couple who care about each other’s wellbeing.
Still, I do have some some slight constructive criticisms. On occasion, the prose goes too long without naming characters, relying only on pronouns, which can be a bit confusing at points. Additionally, the paragraphs are often quite short, sometimes just one line, and a bit more variety in paragraph length might improve the reading flow. Not to mention, I feel the book could have benefited from a few more action scenes to break up the investigative work. Lastly, the ending also feels somewhat abrupt. As soon as the antagonist is beaten, the story wraps up quickly. A bit more denouement would have been satisfying, though a sequel is likely on the way given the fact that this is already the fourth book.
In sum, this is a really addictive thriller that pretty much hits the mark with everything it sets out to do. I’m just knocking off half a star because of what I mentioned, and I feel it could do with something more to make it stand out in a crowded genre. The couple’s chemistry is excellent, the villain is genuinely menacing, and the plot twists keep you engaged. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller with good dialogue and a compelling central relationship, Still to the Murder delivers solidly. Overall, a very positive reading experience that left me wanting more.
Final verdict: Despite a few quibbles, The Stillness of Murder is is an excellent thriller that delivers pulse-pounding action, a genuinely menacing villain in Hannah Burnett, and a refreshing husband-and-wife detective dynamic. For fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels, Lee Child, or the Cormoran Strike series, Opdyke’s latest is a must-read that reminds you why you love the genre.
You can get your copy of “The Stillness of Murder” or read it for free on Kindle Unlimited here!
