"Stupendous serial killer romance"

Archer Lowell, Curtis Alan Channing, and Vince Giordano share a jail holding cell waiting for the law to process them when all hell breaks loose as someone escapes custody. To pass time while the complex is totally shut down, the trio discusses why they are here when the conversation turns to who would they like to kill. They agree that to be successful they would have to exchange victims like the Hitchcock and DeVito movies did.

Not long afterward a serial killer appears murdering three females with the same name M. Douglas as listed in order in the phone book. Next on the list is court appointed children's advocate Mara Douglas. Her sister FBI profiler Dr. Anne McCall calls in a favor owed her by FBI agent Aidan Shields. She wants Aidan to protect her sibling. However, Aidan wants to refuse as he wants to go into guilty seclusion following the death of his brother on his last assignment. Still for Anna he will do what he cam to keep Mara safe. Moving in with her in her Philadelphia area home, Aidan and Mara fall in love, but he fears if something happens to her he will die too.

The first of Mariah Stewart's "Dead" books is a stupendous serial killer romance starring two wonderful lead characters. The twist of who performs the killing is provided in plain sight yet the audience will wonder whether Strangers on the Train really occurred. Fans of tense thrillers that never let up until the climax will know that this novel is dead on in exciting action and a breathtaking romance.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 18, 2004

She had nothing left to lose....except her life.

Summary

Three devious prisoners vow murderous revenge.
Now the first is free.

It was inescapably chilling, as if the murderer was methodically working his way down a page torn from the phone book. The three victims brutally killed in their own homes had one thing in common: they were all listed as M. Douglas. The fact that Mara Douglas is next on the list has her jumping at shadows, until FBI agent Aidan Shields shows up to make sure she doesn't become the fourth victim.

Aidan has been out of commission since an undercover operation went bad more than a year ago. Back on the job, his razor-sharp instincts are returning. But it will take all of Aidan's wits to stay one step ahead of the elusive killer who has engaged him in a deadly game—a game in which Mara's life is the prize. A game only one can win . . .