"Deservingly belongs to our keeper shelves"

It isn't difficult to see why Tess Gerritsen is such an accomplished writer of present medical thrillers including THE SURGEON and THE APPRENTICE. Her earlier foray into romance suspense distinguishes her as one of the few who churns out jugular action and gorgeous romance - and KEEPER OF THE BRIDE displays her punchy, knockout style within a laconic 250 pages.

ER nurse Nina Cormier not only had her wedding plans bombed when her intended hooked up with another woman, and narrowly escaped a planned bombing. Was it a deliberate attempt on her life or one of the guests in her wedding? Why did the characteristics of the bombing point to the work of dead terrorist Spectre? Sam Narvarro, the Portland detective is determined to root out the perpetrator but passion gets in the way of his obligations. Danger arises when Nina and Sam is thrown together in the mad schemes of a vengeful bomber...

KEEPER OF THE BRIDE may have a cliche plot but maestro Gerritsen moves the story swiftly and gives her characters dimension with insecurities and sincerity. It is a mystery wrapped with treachery and cutting suspense right up to the explosive climax - and with Ms. Gerritsen's background as a physician, forensic evidence flows along to give credibility to the plot. This book deservingly belongs to our keeper shelves with her clean dissection of suspense and love.

Reviewed by Desmond CHan
Posted December 8, 2002

Summary

Had she survived because of fate, coincidence or just luck? If Nina Cormier's wedding had taken place, she would be dead. But after the bride was left at the altar, the church stood empty when the bomb went off. It wasn't until a stranger tried to run her car off the road, however, that she realized someone wanted her dead. But who?That's what Detective Sam Navarro needs to find out . . . fast. As a cop, he knows better than to become attached to the woman he's trying to protect. But as a man . . . With a nightmare unfolding around them, Sam and Nina decipher the stunning truth. Now they're at the mercy of a brilliant madman who plays for keeps . . .