Ricochet

Starred review from June 19, 2006
No one does steamy suspense like Brown (Chill Factor
), as shown by this expert mix of spicy romance and sharply crafted crime drama. Det. Sgt. Duncan Hatcher, a sexy Savannah homicide cop, falls hard for Elise Laird, a dishy damsel-in-distress, the moment he spots her at a police awards dinner. Too bad she's married to Judge Cato Laird, who consistently subverts Hatcher's efforts to bring local drug lord Robert Savich to justice. When Hatcher and his feisty partner, Det. DeeDee Bowen, are called to the Laird home after Elise supposedly shoots an intruder in self-defense, the desperate trophy wife confides to Hatcher that she believes her husband, a secret Savich crony, intended her to be the intruder's victim. Later, as the uncertain Hatcher grapples with his desires, Elise vanishes, leaving behind another dead body. Tight plotting, a hot love story with some nice twists and a credible ending help make this a stand-out thriller.

Starred review from August 15, 2006
Best-selling author Brown (Chill Factor) delivers one of her best novels ever with this taut and suspenseful tale of a cop, a judge, a trophy wife, and a renowned criminal. Savannah-based Detective Sgt. Duncan Hatcher has been trying to put drug kingpin Robert Savich away for years, but he can't make anything stick. A mistrial granted by Judge Cato Laird enrages Duncan, and he winds up charged with contempt of court. Not long after, Duncan and his partner, DeeDee Bowen, investigate what appears to be a self-defense shooting by Laird's gorgeous wife, Elise, at the Laird residence, but they don't buy her story that she interrupted a burglary. Elise complicates matters when she asks Duncan for help. Her request, along with his powerful attraction to her, may compromise the investigation and Duncan's career. Brown deftly keeps the surprises coming, and readers won't lose interest in this fast-paced, steamy story that's sure to be on waiting lists through the fall. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/06.]Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2006
Detective Duncan Hatcher has no reason to like Cato Laird, the judge who let Robert Savich, a Savannah crime lord, slip through the cracks by declaring a mistrial over a juror conflict. But Duncan is all business when he and his partner DeeDee Bowen are called to Laird's house one night to find Laird's beautiful wife, Elise, has fatally shot an intruder. Duncan and DeeDee are immediately suspicious of Elise, who managed to kill the man, Gary Ray Trotter, with a single, precise shot. Elise denies knowing Trotter, but Duncan isn't comfortable dismissing the case as self-defense. When Elise comes to him with the seemingly preposterous assertion that her adoring husband actually wants her dead, Duncan is more suspicious of her, even as his attraction to her grows. He continues to pursue the investigation, despite the fact that Cato himself clearly considers the case closed. But when Elise's car is discovered on a bridge with a dead man in it and no sign of Elise herself, Duncan realizes he may have misjudged Elise and fears it might be too late to help her. Gripping and absorbing, this is Brown's best thriller in years and a must-read for her many devotees.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)

Starred review from October 2, 2006
A sultry noir in contemporary clothes, this tight new thriller from Brown plays like measured chaos. The plot is twisting, the characters are well shaded, and Brown manipulates each string with a skilled hand, creating a story that will keep listeners puzzled and rapt. Narrator Boutsikaris is a perfect complement to the material. He lends the characters just enough twang to betray their Southern heritage but not so much as to make protagonist Duncan Hatcher seem anything less than a shrewd and hard-edged detective. And for Elise, the gorgeous but married damsel in distress who ties Duncan's libido and loyalties into knots, Boutsikaris employs a lilting tone that simultaneously suggests sweetness, sin and mystery. Did Elise's husband, a distinguished judge, hire someone to kill her, or is she involved in a plot with a drug dealer? Is Duncan making a mistake mistrusting Elise, or is his wariness the one thing that will save him? With Brown's skill for creating rich, layered characters and Boutsikaris's talent for embodying them, this audio doesn't disappoint. Simultaneous release with the S&S hardcover (Reviews, June 19).