Suspense fans should pick this one up. Taylor Smith writes a tightly suspenseful novel that keeps you reading to the end. Romance fans, beware. The hero and heroine are not who you might think they are at first.

Journalist Claire Gillespie is on the trail of a killer. Her lover, FBI agent Michael Kazarian, has been murdered and Claire wants to know who did it. Her policeman father also was murdered and the case is still unsolved. Claire suspects Michael’s widow, Laurel, who is also a profiler for the FBI, and her supposed lover Gar Doucet. Claire goes to California to ostensibly cover a story – the Southland Snatcher – and while she’s there, to check out Laurel who has been reassigned to the Bureau in Los Angeles under Claire’s old friend Dan Sprague.

Well, from all indications, Dan and Claire are the hero and heroine, and the story is told from their viewpoints. However, midway through the book, Laurel and Dan make love. This is the first book I’ve ever read where the hero and heroine are not together as lovers. It made for an interesting book but could be confusing to the romance reader who expects the hero and the heroine to be lovers. The back blurb does give you the impression that Claire and Dan are involved, which is not the case.

As Smith weaves her story, the Southland Snatcher mystery becomes the main focus and it is exciting. Trying to figure out who the culprit could possibly be, kept me reading into the night. The identity of the Snatcher is a complete surprise, as is the truth behind Gar Doucet, who Claire thought was Laurel’s lover. Doucet is supposed to be a bad guy, and he sure acts like one at first, but don’t be too sure. Smith is a suspense master and can twist you around with the best of them.

Both Claire and Dan are likeable people. As I said before, the back blurb will give you the impression that they are going to be lovers – but they are not. They are good friends who are working together to solve the mysteries, and they do fall in love – but not with each other.

This is one that will keep suspense fans reading and won’t let go of them. The point of view keeps the reader off balance and interested in the story. However if you are a romance lover expecting the hero and heroine to fall in love with each other, it may leave you a little cold.