Next of Kin

Set in Portland's gritty law enforcement world, this second entry in Jae's Portland Police Bureau series follows Detective Aiden Carlisle as she navigates the competing demands of a committed relationship and a case that cuts uncomfortably close to home. When a disturbing new investigation intersects with her partner Dawn's therapy practice, the boundaries between professional duty and personal loyalty begin to blur. Meanwhile, Deputy District Attorney Kade Matheson faces her own reckoning, as years of burying herself in casework leave her unprepared for what the case stirs up in her personal life.

Abby Craden brings considerable range to a story that balances procedural tension with emotional interiority. She handles the shift between Aiden's guarded detective voice and Kade's more buttoned-up professional register with clear distinction, keeping two parallel storylines easy to track over a substantial 15-hour runtime. The pacing rewards patient listeners, building quiet dread alongside genuine romantic warmth. Craden's naturalistic delivery suits Jae's character-driven style, making the audio format a particularly satisfying way to experience this Golden Crown Literary Award-winning thriller.