""Frightening Suspense""

The opening scene is the brutal slaying of a young woman by someone wanting revenge against FBI agent, Pierce Quincy. The police rule it an accident.

Pierce visits ex-girlfriend, Rainie. She has just passed the test to become a private investigator. He hires her to look into the death of his daughter because he is not convinced that it is really an accident. They put their heads together and decide on a course of action. Rainie interviews the daughter's friends and finds out that there had been a new boyfriend but no one has ever seen him. Many dirty tricks are being played against Pierce. Because he has profiled so many bad guys sending them to prison, he doesn't know where to look first. He returns to his job at Quantico feeling heart broken and guilty that he wasn't there when his daughter needed him.

When Bethie, Pierce's ex-wife, meets the handsome and debonair Tristan Shandling, she is thrilled. She is so lonely and he is such an understanding and interesting fellow. Uh, oh.....

Kimberly, Pierce's younger daughter, is trying to deal with the death of her sister. She thinks she is having anxiety attacks when she feels someone is watching her. The story builds to a frightening climax with a totally unsuspected killer.

Rainie and Pierce are troubled individuals who have a very difficult time accepting each other and getting together. Rainie is gritty and not the most likeable character. The murderer is the most fascinating character in the cold- blooded way he kills his victims and his originality in getting back at his perceived enemy. Lisa Gardner writes some very violent books. I don't think I will ever forget the story about the elephant in THE NEXT ACCIDENT. She does have a way with words to keep the reader glued to the pages of her books. Her writing is seamless carrying the reader along on quite a trip through murder and mayhem. I have read all of her books finding them fascinating, frightening and unable to put down. THE NEXT ACCIDENT is Ms Gardner's first hardcover novel and I am sure it won't be her last. This is another of her books that will go onto my keeper shelf.

Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman
Posted October 18, 2001