"fine regional romantic mystery"
Bailey Wells left her small hometown of Stokesville, North
Carolina hoping to become a success in the literary world,
but for the past two years she has served as the research
and editorial assistant to renowned mystery author Paul
Ellis. Now her boss is leaving New York City to relocate
in the hometown of his wife Helen, also Stokesville. Half
in love with her employer, Bailey agrees to accompany them
when they move to the south. However, instead of a welcome homecoming, Bailey finds the
murdered body of Helen floating in the pool of their new
home. Local police detective, widower and single father
of a preadolescent daughter Gabrielle, Steve Burke heads
the investigation, but he immediately notices that Bailey
is attracted to her employer as she tries to protect him.
Though he wants Bailey, Steven remains professional as she
is one of the two prime suspects, the spouse being the
other, in what looks increasingly like a crime of
passion. Unbeknownst to either of the pair someone wants
the truth involving a 1987 homicide to remain buried and
if more must die so be it. HOME BEFORE MIDNIGHT is an entertaining small town police
procedural amateur sleuth tale though some might quiver
that Bailey is a pro with her research into criminology.
The story line is filled with action, but is driven by the
triangular relationship between the author, the cop, and
the researcher. The whodunit is cleverly developed to
insure that Bailey and Paul are the prime suspects, which
leads to Steve struggling to control his desire for the
woman. Fans will enjoy Virginia Kantra's fine regional
romantic mystery. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 8, 2006
SummaryUSA Today bestselling author Virginia Kantra delivers a
haunting novel of suspense and passion, in which the sins of
the past are never forgiven—and murder is never
forgotten...
Years ago, Bailey Wells left behind her small-town North
Carolina roots for the high life in New York City, working
as a personal assistant to bestselling true crime author
Paul Ellis. Now, Ellis and his wife are moving to rustic
Stokesville, North Carolina, and Bailey follows
them—right back home.
When Ellis's wife is murdered in their new house, Bailey
attracts the attention of tough police detective Steve
Burke, who cannot share his growing feelings for her as long
as she is a murder suspect. But Bailey soon discovers that
the violence is far from over. And that to bury a secret
from the past, someone is willing to kill again...
| 
