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Berkley, Jul 2004, 6.99, 336 pp. ISBN: 0425197085 Like many NYPD Detectives and cops in general, Nick Sinestra is divorced and supplements his salary by working celebrity events as a guard. Unlike other police officers, Nick also enhances his income by selling “findings' to the sleazy Star Gazer tabloid. His current target for both of his moonlighting jobs is shy widow Portia Wells, whose deceased husband was the president of the highly regarded Nature Preservation Society. Nick follows her from Manhattan to New Rochelle. When an aggressive reporter arrives, Portia realizes that Nick sold her out. Because of a confrontation with a homeland security specialist, Nick's superior places him on vacation for a month, his first time off in over a year and a half. This enables Star Gazer to send Nick to Colorado to find information on the reclusive Portia. As he tries to regain her trust, Nick realizes that someone is trying to frighten Portia with each incident, more dangerous than the previous one. As the New Yorker falls in love with his pigeon and Portia reciprocates, thugs, most likely working for builder Mahoney, assault her leaving his beloved ON THIN ICE. Lynn Erickson has earned a deserved reputation for powerfully taut romantic suspense tales and her latest AFTER HOURS will substantiate her esteem. The story line starts slow as Ms. Erickson introduces the two key players and the mistrust that is critical to the novel. Once Portia returns to Colorado, the novel accelerates until the final confrontation. Although the audience ironically knows who is pushing Portia ON THE EDGE, readers will appreciate the unfolding of the drama as Nick risks his life to keep his beloved safe. Harriet Klausner | ||
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Plot & Themes Time/era of story Hidden Identity/Secret Motive Yes Is really... - trying to carry out business objective Main Male Character Profession/status: Age/status: - 20's-30's Main Female Character - 20's-30's Profession/status: Setting United States Yes The US: - West Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Focus of story - equally on him and her How much dialog - significantly more dialog than descript |
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