"Chilliing romantic suspense."

Mara Douglas thinks that the worst has already happened: Seven years ago, her ex-husband abducted their young daughter and both of them seem to have disappeared from the face of the earth. Now a child advocate in the justice system, Mara protects other children as she could not protect her own. But she's about to face a new nightmare, in the form of a serial killer who's targeting women named M. Douglas. Her sister, Annie, an FBI profiler, doesn't think Mara is taking the danger seriously and persuades agent Aidan Shields to watch over her - by moving in.

Aidan is still recovering, physically and emotionally, from an ambush in which he was seriously injured and his brother Dylan, Annie's fiancé, was killed. On medical leave, he struggles with the guilt of not being able to save his brother. The last thing he wants is to be responsible for someone else, but he agrees out of his loyalty to Annie.

The uneasy alliance between two wounded people gradually becomes friendship and something deeper as Mara and Aidan try to stay one step ahead of the evil that threatens not only their happiness, but their very lives.

I liked how Mara and Aidan's relationship developed slowly, as they learned to trust each other and themselves. The suspense element is also well done, with chilling glimpses into the mind of the killer. There's a bit of head-hopping (shifting POV) that distracted me from time to time, but it's a minor quibble. Lovers of romantic suspense will enjoy this book and will no doubt be hooked for the next book in the series, DEAD CERTAIN (coming in July), which is set up nicely at the end of this one. Following in August will be DEAD EVEN.

Reviewed by Lenore Howard
Posted May 12, 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 . . .