"Another wonderful novel by Luanne Rice"
John O'Rourke is the defense attorney for serial killer
Greg Merrill, AKA "The Breakwater Killer" and many people
are not happy he's handling this case. When a brick is
thrown through his front window, he knows he's in for a
rough time, as are his Children. In the middle of all of
this, John is dealing with his feelings about his wife's
recent death, and her adultery. Kate Harris arrives on John's doorstep seeking his aid.
Her sister is missing; a possible victim of Merrill, the
body has never been recovered. John is reluctant to
discuss his case with Kate but finds himself drawn in to
the mystery surrounding her sister's disappearance
nonetheless. Although the meeting of John and Kate was
under unfortunate circumstances, she finds herself drawn
to his young children... and to john. She may be just what
he needs to heal his wounded spirit. But danger is all
around as they try to solve the mystery of Kate's sister. The Secret Hour is classic Luanne Rice, though she reveals
her darker side in the psychological undertones found in
The Secret Hour. However, as this was the abridged version
of the story, a lot of the details that should have really
provided the darker feel were missing. Even so, the
suspenseful air comes through loud and clear, keeping the
reader guessing. The surprise twist at the end threw this
reviewer for a loop as she was not expecting that turn of
events. As always in a Luanne Rice novel, relationships of many
kinds are showcased. One will find the bond between a
father and his children, the sometimes upsetting
relationship of a lawyer with a guilty client, the love
between sisters which is the strongest relationship bond
in this story, and the love that grows between people
proving that family is what we make of it, and is not
always formed by blood. The tender feelings that develop
between John and Kate are well done, making readers
understand what is going through their minds as they form
this unlikely bond. © Kelley A. Hartsell, December 2005. All rights reserved.
Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Courtesy CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
Posted July 9, 2006
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