Staged Evidence: A Pen & Dagger Novel By Traci Hunter Abramson-Romantic Suspense Review

Book Synopsis

From the queen of clean romantic suspense—one terrified witness, one unsuspecting Broadway playwright, and a killer who won’t stop until the final curtain falls.

When Tessa Seidel delivers costumes to a Manhattan television studio late at night, she expects an empty set—not a murder scene. After stumbling upon a woman’s body and nearly being attacked by a man fleeing the scene, Tessa escapes with no idea who to trust—and a fear that the killer knows who she is.

Desperate, she runs to a friend’s beach house in the Hamptons, where Broadway playwright Parker Sawyer is retreating to finish his next script. But he knows danger when he sees it and offers to shelter Tessa, even when they find out she is being accused of committing the murder.

Back in Manhattan, CIA operatives Kimber Seidel and Brandon Hale realize Tessa is being framed. But with a powerful suspect manipulating the investigation, clearing Tessa’s name won’t be easy.

If they can’t unravel the truth in time, Tessa won’t just be the prime suspect—she’ll be the next victim. 

Book Details

• Publisher: Shadow Mountain
• Publication date: April 7, 2026
• Language: English
• Print length: 304 pages
• ISBN-10: 1639934731

• ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

My Review

Traci Hunter Abramson has done it again! I’ve been absolutely loving the direction she’s taken with her writing over the last few years, and 

Staged Evidence, 

the second installment in her A Pen & Dagger series, hits the mark.

The murder mystery is packed with twists, especially as we catch up with Kimber and Brandon from book one (Novel Threat). The stakes are personal this time: Kimber’s sister, Tessa, has been framed for murder. Forced to go on the run, she finds shelter in the Hamptons with Parker Sawyer, a Broadway playwright who happens to be the nephew of Kimber’s boss.

I absolutely loved the forced proximity of their situation. Being tucked away in a beach house created this cozy, high-stakes environment where their connection could really breathe. It wasn't just "insta-love"; it felt like a natural insta-connection that grew as they learned to trust one another. Parker is incredibly protective, but I loved that Tessa was just as fiercely protective of him. One of the most creative parts was seeing how Parker used his playwriting skills to help solve the case, weaving his career directly into the plot to communicate with those on the outside.

The plot moves at a breakneck pace, and I felt so much secondary anxiety as the detectives closed in. Traci expertly scatters clues and red herrings throughout, keeping the suspense at a fever pitch until the very last act. I ended up staying up way too late just to see how it all unraveled! While you could read this as a standalone, I’d highly recommend starting with book one to get the full experience. Traci Abramson always leaves me wanting more, and now I’m just anxiously waiting for the next release.

****Meet Author Traci Hunter Abramson****

Traci Hunter Abramson, a former Central Intelligence Agency officer, was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the CIA for six years until she resigned to raise her family.

Traci is a popular writing instructor and keynote speaker. She has written more than fifty best-selling novels, several of which have won awards. Traci was also honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2025 for her contribution to the writing community. She loves hearing from her readers. Learn more about her...

HERE: https://www.traciabramson.com/

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