"An adrenaline rush from start to finish"

Celebrated chef and divorcee Abbie DiAngelo hasn't expected her new-found success and peace with her son Ben to be shattered by the ominous return of her step-brother Ian MacGregor. He has evidence that her mother Irene has recruited an arsonist to cause the fire that killed her alcoholic stepfather and intends to blackmail her. Ian, meanwhile, who is just released from prison is pursued relentlessly by a betrayed mob boss Arturo. On the day of the exchange, Ian is brutally murdered and homicide detective John Ryan takes charge of the case. Just when Abbie thinks the nightmare is over, a deadly enemy awaits to turn her life upside down again.

Deadly Intent is high octane razor-edged suspense nifty with twisty red-herrings and jarring drama - and Christiane Heggan makes every of her characters relevant to the central plot, drawing out the usual suspects and motives. Ms. Heggan renders credibility to the story with a sense of time and venue in Princeton and an ordinary lukewarm romance between the protagonists Abbie and John that is believeable with emotional honesty and the right chemistry. Few can refute the story is bland when it is a rollercoaster ride of deception, mystery and vendetta and the desperate search of a mother for her son. No grand passion? Sorry - but the excitement is enough for me. Deadly Intent is an adrenaline rush from start to finish.

Reviewed by Desmond CHan
Posted January 27, 2003