"Terse romantic suspense"

In New Orleans, former assistant District Attorney J.D. Damascus has never recovered from the murders of his wife and two children. The state fried Angel Gonzales for the crime, but J.D. believes the wrong man was executed. His career is in shambles as he drinks away much of his day, J.D. defends hookers and is considered a disgrace by his politically prominent family.

Holly Jones finds J.D.'s phone number on the wall of a jail cell and calls him to help her with her shooting a man. Holly insists it was self-defense and that she is not a whore though J.D. does not believe her nor care. She is free because the victim, the chief of police, cannot afford the publicity. Holly fears that a serial killer, having murdered her friend, is coming for her next. She turns to J.D. for help; reluctantly he becomes involved and suddenly has a reason to rejoin the living.

Though the identity of the killer is easy to guess, readers will appreciate this terse romantic suspense. J.D. is an interesting protagonist as he pulls himself out of his depression to keep Holly safe even at the expense of family ridicule and risk to his life. Holly is a delightful female lead who does not want to be a heroine or fall in love as all she desires is to feel secure. Sub-genre fans will treasure this fine novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 25, 2003

Summary

WHAT IS A MAN'S WORSE NIGHTMARE?

Once J.D. Damascus had a wife and two children who were the light of his life. He was the most feared assistant district attorney in New Orleans. Now four years later, he's a man on a verge of a breakdown. A down-and-out lawyer barely scraping by since the vicious slaying of his family by the notorious French Quarter killer. Damascus is certain that the wrong man was convicted and executed for his family's deaths. And his fears come to pass when the French Quarter Killer returns, and a new killing spree begins.

HOW DOES A WOMAN ESCAPE HER PAST?

Holly Jones escaped the dangerous red light district, but her best friend wasn't so lucky. When Holly hears that the French Quarter killer is alive and again prowling the streets, she risks her life to save her friend from becoming his next victim. Confronted by a police department intent on keeping the serial killer's resurrection from becoming public knowledge, Holly is forced to turn to Damascus for help.

Holly and Damascus must join forces to end the nightmare once and for all. But each of them has secrets—some forgivable, some not—that could jeopardize their hunt...