I’m hooked on Kay Hooper’s psychic series. The concept is such an interesting one, and it’s a twist on romantic suspense that sets her apart from most other suspense authors. Her latest entry, this time in hardback, is another consistent entry in the series.

A serial killer is after women in the small town of Hastings. Its victims all fit the same physical criteria: beautiful, successful and blonde. Police Chief Rafe Sullivan is doing the best he can, but he knows he needs help. Enter Special Agent Isabel Adams. Another member of Noah Bishop’s special psychic FBI unit, Isabel requests to be assigned to the case. Isabel had visions of the killer and feels her connection and her psychic abilities are the best chance to solve the case. She also knows that she fits the killer’s profile and will attract his attention. Isabel takes a brand-new partner and goes to Hastings.

Isabel seems perfect on the outside. Beautiful, capable, psychic – she seems to have few flaws. However, she does have issues. Her determination to catch this killer comes from her knowledge that this is the same person who killed her best friend years ago. Isabel’s gift of clairvoyance stems from a traumatic event she endured as a teenager. She suffers from her visions and cannot shield her mind from everyday life.

Rafe’s a good, solid guy. Determined to solve the case, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it done. He knows he’s attracted to Isabel, and he’s intrigued rather than freaked out about her psychic abilities. He accepts her pretty much as she is.

As much as Hooper focuses on suspense now, the major part of the story is still the relationship between Rafe and Isabel. Working so closely together to solve the case provides a convenient link for the suspense and the romance. The link between them is even stronger as Isabel’s abilities respond to something in Rafe. Their relationship is integral to her being able to be an effective clairvoyant.

Hooper doesn’t drop many clues about the killer’s identity. The many subplots she has going are all compelling, even the ones that don’t seem like they should be, such as Hollis’ potential relationship with a witness. Since the killer left little evidence, the focus of the police investigation is on the victims. There’s as much mystery in the victims’ lives and who they were as there is in who killed them. Isabel’s partner Hollis, a character from a previous book, is on her first foray into fieldwork using her new psychic abilities. One of the sheriff’s deputies, so good at her job, hides a secret home life.

Hooper gives a lot of explanation about how the various types of psychic abilities work. Readers who’d rather get on with the story will probably find it too much detail, but I found it fascinating. For all Isabel’s supposed connection with the killer, we don’t see much of it. We do get the killer’s thoughts, but through the killer’s mind, not Isabel’s.

One quibble readers might have is Bantam transitioning the author to hardback midseries. Seems an odd time to do it.

Though I didn’t feel like I was constantly on the edge of my seat, Sense Of Evil is a fascinating book. I was compelled to keep reading it, several times late into night. Hooper’s fans won’t be let down with her latest.