Police detective Jen Dillon has a lot on her plate. Between finding a brutal serial killer who is preying on her city’s women and raising a son on her own, she doesn’t have time for a man. But when FBI Special Agent Will Anderson joins the hunt for the killer, she starts to reconsider.Will’s focus is on the killer. He believes him to be the son of a serial killer he caught years before. But when … before. But when he sets eyes on Jen for the first time, he still wants the killer, but he also wants Jen.
The killer has goals, too. He wants to trap the man responsible for putting his father in prison. Jen Dillon is the perfect bait.
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This captivating book is why I didn’t go to sleep until 3AM! Once I got into the storyline, I just couldn’t put the book down.
This is an intense criminal drama with romance and suspense. There are no turf wars in this book between the local police and the FBI. There is excellent collaboration between Special Agent Will Anderson and Detective Jen Dillon, that spills over into the bedroom. Yes, their personal relationship develops quickly, but I would imagine everything is heightened when you are tracking down a serial killer.
The last quarter of this book is so intense. The killer is out for revenge and has planned for every possible scenario. He directs Will’s every move, and leaves nothing to chance.
The author introduces about five possible suspects, and that kept me guessing. The reveal is masterfully design to keep the readers in suspense until the very last moment.
I appreciate that Ms. Powell didn’t take the expected route and put a minor in harms way. I hate when a plot takes that direction. She added originally by adding a morale question involving a longtime and respected detective. The readers are given a brief relief from the tension, as the storyline includes some warm family moments.
Overall, this is just a darn good book!
An Exceptional Blend of Romance and Crime Thriller
I once read that if romance was part of the name for a book’s genre (e.g., historical romance, romantic thriller, etc.), the romance would always take precedence and the plot might become a backdrop for intimacy. At the opposite extreme, thrillers may have the main characters jump into bed even when their behavior is more surprising than the story’s plot twists. When and how did this attraction develop when they are on the verge of a grisly death? But author Lolli Powell avoids either extreme with skill and finesse, producing a tale in Death Notice that is as naturally romantic as it is gut-wrenchingly tense.
Our female protagonist, police detective Jen Dillon is gutsy, determined, and resourceful, as we learn as the tale unfolds. But she’s also a bit flummoxed by her attraction to FBI Special Agent Will Anderson. It’s not the time or the place for a man. So, she deals with it with common sense, showing a bit of sardonic wit along the way. “… she saw Madeline direct an appreciative look Will’s way, and she felt a disturbing pang of possessiveness. She quickly subjected it to an unmerciful death.” But the attraction is mutual and grows despite the timing, her job, and her son. And the danger of their situation becomes an impetus for passion, rather than a barrier.
As much as I enjoyed the romance, I’d have to say the crime thriller was even better. After delving into the understandable confusion of two lovers-in-the-making, author Powell takes us inside the mind of a serial killer. And the result is truly creepy. Other than the killer’s ultimate target—Will, using Jen as bait—both who he is and who he’ll kill next are well disguised. The author kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing to the very end.
Questions left in my mind by the time I finished were few and extremely minor. One, for example, was why the police were following the killer’s possible targets (which were many) and not the suspects (which were few). But all told, those issues were nothing compared to the tension created as the killer slowly closed his trap on our two protagonists. It’s a real, white-knuckle read with romantic breaks to catch your breath.
Not a dull moment to be had in this book. From the start, you’ll want to keep turning the pages. Engaging, well-written plot, great characters, believable situations and actions. Sexy FBI agent Will and Detective Jen have to face more than a serial killer on the loose; sparks fly between the two the moment they set eyes on each other. You’ll have plenty of suspects to choose from… Will you guess right?