"Fine police procedural romance"
In Denver police sketch artist Jane Russo needs to get
away from the pressure of failure that could mean the
death of an innocent. Her last case has destroyed her
psyche as she has failed to obtain a drawing of a serial
rapist-killer from the survivors. Jane does not follow
the book and is usually able to coax the information so
that she can sketch a portrait, but this time she has
failed though the culprit has struck several times. FBI Special Agent Caroline Deutch and survivor rights
advocate Alan Gallagher pressure Jane to try one more
time. The rapist abducted twelve-year old Aspen resident
Kirsten Lemke from the Snowmass slopes. Reluctantly, Jane
works with skeptic Ray Vanover to save the life of
Kirsten and bring a nasty felon to justice. As they
struggle with the case and Jane with Aspen being the home
of her somewhat estranged family, they fall in love, but
the preadolescent's safety comes first. Fans of police procedural romances will enjoy WITHOUT A
TRACE, a solid suspense thriller. The story line is
action-packed in a low key level as Jane and Ray interview
witnesses in an attempt to save a life. The estrangement
with her mother seems off kilter especially when Jane is
easily coaxed into dinner. Her sister's cavalier attitude
towards Jane's work feels too selfish for a mom. Still
the investigation is top rate and the romance as good. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 25, 2003
Summary"He did it again."
Four words and suddenly Jane Russo can no longer hide from
her duty. A rapist and killer is preying upon young girls
in Western ski towns... The FBI needs sketch artist Jane's
help—and sends Agent Ray Vanover to lure her back
into the game.
Now, with Ray's support, Jane must confront the demon from
her past—to give this new madman a face of his own...
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