The Negotiator
Grade : B-

Dave Richman's life takes an unexpected turn when a simple trip to the bank turns into a dangerous hostage situation. Dave, an FBI agent, is considering his options when Kate O'Malley, the hostage negotiator, enters the scene. Dave's first instinct is to take control of the situation, but once he hears Kate's calm Southern voice, he wisely decides to let her do her job.

After their grueling day together, Dave feels a connection to Kate, and because she's very appreciative of the humor he added to the dire situation, she allows him a glimpse into her life. Although they are very attracted to each other and get along fabulously, they come to the conclusion that it would be best if they remained friends. Both have intense, life-threatening careers and their differences of faith make any long term relationship seem impossible.

When Kate begins to receive threatening messages and her stalker bombs a plane, killing 200 innocent people, the couple must work together to find the criminal before he strikes again. During this crisis they fall deeply in love but must work through their differences before they can even think of building a life together.

Kate, raised in orphanage, has taken some hard knocks in life and has seen the worst side of human kind. As a result, she puts little faith in a God who allows innocents to die. Dave is also no stranger to the darkness of human nature, having spent the majority of his life protecting his sister from a stalker, but it's his strong belief in God that has molded him into the person that he is. Will these two be able to overcome such differences in a believable manner?

Luckily the answer is yes. There is no preaching, no pushing and no domineering tactics from Dave. Because he allows Kate the freedom to come to her own conclusions, this aspect of the story worked well. He is sensitive to her feelings and their romance is a very sweet one amidst all of the darkness that they encounter.

Kate's pain filled past is only alluded to, which caused a bit of confusion at times. There was never any explanation as to why she hated her father with such venom or why she had no contact with her mother. Because her past plays a big role in the story, its lack leaves a void that should have been filled by the author. Still, Kate's a great heroine, and one worth rooting for. She's a tough cookie with a soft heart who is dealt one painful blow after another, yet she somehow manages to cope, and eventually finds peace within herself.

The Negotiator is a grueling and tense read that tackles painful issues. Although the suspense sometimes overshadows the romance, this is a riveting read. I look forward to more exciting tales of the O'Malley family.

Reviewed by Laurie Shallah
Grade : B-

Sensuality: Kisses

Review Date : January 17, 2000

Publication Date: 2000

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Laurie Shallah

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