"Fascinating Romance with a Mystery Twist"

Ms. Joyce once again enchants readers with this, her third installment in the Francesca Cahill series. Miss Cahill, a New York heiress in the early twentieth century, is a unique combination of beauty, bravery, and intellect. As she continues in her amateur sleuthing efforts, she also teams up with New York City Police Commissioner Rick Bragg.

On assignment in one of her first paying cases, Francesca is literally up a tree spying on a man suspected of adultery. As she falls from the tree, she stumbles upon the body of a young woman with a cross carved into her throat. But she learns from Bragg that this is the second woman murdered in this manner. Could there be a serial killer among their midst?

Together, Miss Cahill and Commissioner Bragg traverse across New York, from the tenements to the ballrooms of the very rich. Though married to a woman he has not seen in four years, Bragg finds himself attracted to Francesca who returns his affection. But theirs is certainly not a simple romance, as two honorable people are faced with the attraction of their lives.

This latest read from Ms. Joyce blends a delicious combination of mystery and romance with a cast of fascinating characters. The complexities of their relationships give rise to anticipation of further installments of this series. Will Francesca's sister Connie find happiness with her husband, Neil? How does Hart, Bragg's rake of a half-brother, fit into Francesca's life? And most importantly, will Francesca and Rick be able to make their dreams a reality? The pleasure of this read is only somewhat dimmed by the prospect that the reader will have to wait until the next Miss Cahill novel for some of the answers to these compelling questions.

Reviewed by Sheri Melnick
Posted February 28, 2002

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Summary

Francesca Cahill comes from one of New York's best families and he life has been mapped out for her—marry soon and well. But this young lady has discovered that she has a particular penchant for sleuthing, and our intrepid crime- solver extraordinaire is once again on the trail of a killer. But this time, she is in trouble...

And not from The Cross Killer. Rather, she must carefully find her way, torn between two bitter rivals—the city's noble Police Commissioner, Rick Bragg, and his oh so notorious half brother, Calder Hart. As their rivalry heats up, as Francesca falls deeper in love with Bragg, as her fascination with Hart grows, The Cross Killer is about to strike once more, this time, close to home and the heart.