Crime Books

This book is one of the ultimate companions to the blockbuster show of the same title.

In a day and age when show creators and producers have gotten into the habit of talking down to their ausiences, Whedon again breaks the mold by sharing the direct scripts with us, the loyal fans.

I remember how happy I was when I heard that BTVS was going to be a television series and this book brought back the early euhphoria that I experienced with the revival. Thank you again Joss for everything.

Of course it's not all in the dialogue. You've got great acting, directing, editing, costuming, etc. HOWEVER, the Buffy writers obviously not only love what they do, but are also very good at it.

The pop culture references mingle freely with the historical. Renaissance Poetry class was never so much fun.

These scripts give you a chance to catch anything you might have missed the first time around. It's peppy. Is Poppy a word? Well, I know it's a word, but is it a word the way I mean it? Anyhow, I would recommend this book for any Buffy fan.

Watching "Buffy" T.V. series or cassettes is huge enjoyment already. Reading this script brought pure delight: sharp wit, self-derogatory under-/overstatements, punch and speed - this script is, quite definitely, for lovers of language. Stage directions, as indicated between parts of dialogue,are about as savoury as dialogue itself. I've just one reservation:I suppose, to really relish this book as it should be relished, one should obviously have seen related episodes on either TV or cassette. One then remembers Charisma Carpenter's studied drawl, Sarah Gellar's brisk deadpan humour, and Nicholas Brendon's fantastic "fool's faces". Only then does one realize, not just how good the writing is, but also, how brilliantly the whole cast has done its job. Yes, this definitely does show just how brilliant the whole "Buffy" act was - and still is. Can we PLEASE have scriptbooks of what follows?!...

The good news is that original shooting scripts of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" are available, as in this volume offering up the first six episodes of Season One. But the bad news, relatively speaking, is that we just get the scripts without any extras. The pages are your traditional Courier style font (including the title page), and while the pages are not in blue, pink, green, yellow, goldenrod and salmon to reflect the various revisions, if you follow the revision dates on the top of the pages you can figure that part out. Therefore, while I appreciate having the original scripts in front of my while watching the episodes so I can see what has been deleted/added/changed (these are not transcripts; big difference), I would have really liked to have a bit more such as introductions by the writers talking about the genesis of the script ideas or problems they had to overcoming in putting the script into production, beyond the production notes and stage directions. Certainly some of what I am looking for can be found in "The Watcher's Guide," which covers the show's first two seasons, but given how first-rate the BtVS companion volumes have been I am rather surprised this is a comparatively bare bones effort.

Included in this volume for those of you who do not have the first 100 episodes totally memorized are "Welcome to the Hellmouth" and "The Harvest," both written by series creator Joss Whedon, "Witch" by Dana Reston, "Teacher's Pet" by David Greenwalt, "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date" by Rob Des Hotel and Dean Batali, and "The Pack" by Matt Kiene and Joe Reinkemeyer. After the two-part pilot these other episodes reflect a time when the Buffy mythos was just starting to get organized. After all, Buffy has yet to find out about Angel's true nature and the emphasis is on how high school is a living hell if you are a teenager, but even more so when you are perched on the Hellmouth. Besides, once you get the first half of Season One you have to pick up the second half as well. Then there is Season Two...

It's valuable for fans of Buffy, full of hints and descriptions that make the tv episodes even more enjoyable; it's also a very cool book for anyone interested in writing tv scripts who're curious about the format, or looking for insight into how to blend comedy and suspense and juggle an excellent ensemble cast without shortchanging anyone.

This is the second in a series of 3 and I loved every one. This is the first review I have ever written so it had to be really good for me to make this effort! I have read all of Pauline B. Jones' books except Do Wah Diddy Die, which I am about to start. Every one of these books really pulls you in and makes you want to read more. You can't put them down. I want to say I especially liked this Lonesome Lawman Series, but then I loved them all! So I can't really play favorites. It is very suspenseful & romantic with a little humor thrown in! I especially appreciated the author's humor. Read all of this author's books. You will be glad you did.

Phoebe Mentel (computer handle "Pathphinder") is very good in virtual reality computer simulations. She has gotten so good that finally she is going to do something she has longed for a long time to do. She is going after the very powerful Peter Harding with a little help from Phagan, her anonymous boss and a few other fellow runaway outcasts. But, almost from the beginning and thanks to a very small mistake on her part, things begin to go haywire.

At the same time, Deputy United States Marshall Jake Kirby is chasing the same group for other cyber rimes. He has been called to the scene of the death of one of his fugitives. Ollie Smith is dead and was wanted for a variety of computer crimes and high tech burglaries. Jake soon realizes that Dewey Hyatt, another man he is looking for has been to this same apartment where Ollie died.

Bryn Bailey of the FBI soon joins Jake in his inspection of the scene. She works electronic crimes and gotten a hot tip from the mysterious Phagan. She has been hunting him and he still sends her leads to other problems as well as attempting through cyberspace to romance her. While on level she is flattered and interested, on another level she is annoyed with how he toys with her. He toys with her again by leaving her a computer message in Smith's apartment.

While the computer isn't helpful, they find a couple of clues that lead them to JR's Bar in Estes Park, Colorado. Phoebe's one little mistake has lead them to her doorstep and she begins a cat and mouse game with Jake while at the same time, going forward in her plans for revenge. She has very personal reasons for going after Peter Harding and her hatred will not allow her to back down and change her plans now. Once committed, she can't let go. Phagan also plays his own game with in games and continues to seduce Bryn. Soon, both agents of law enforcement face the choice between their hearts and their jobs as the plan works towards a violent conclusion.

While I have simplified the story considerably, there is no simplifying the results of this book. This is a very good novel with plenty of action and complicated characters. The computer stuff was more of a background level and did not overshadow the plot or storyline. The characters are real and complex and the story has plenty of twists and turns. At 242 pages, it was well worth the read and I look forward to reading more work by this very enjoyable author.

Also the third part of Pauline Baird Jones's "Lonesome Lawman" series is definitely worth reading. We are reunited with old friends, hence fans of Matt, Dani, Jake and Phoebe shouldn't miss reading this novel on any account. Even Phagan is part of the gang again. All in all, a successful end to the saga of the good looking Kirby brothers. Action and fun guaranteed!

Once again Pauline Baird Jones gives her readers a great story of mystery, thrills, and romance. It's little wonder that she's becoming one of the fastest growing stars in the genre!

If you're facing a dull evening and want to liven it up with something warm and fun, pick up Pauline Jones's book. A fast paced interesting read.

Okay, I'm not so much into mysteries and thrillers. But this book is a "genre-bender" in the best sense. It offers so much, in both depth and edge-of-seat storytelling. If you like to be simultaneously entertained and challenged, this book is for you. I enjoyed the HECK out of it.

Considering that several Texan cults are currently in the news (like the FLDS and that creepy guy who lays down naked with virgins,) Callous is spookily prescient and yet hauntingly timeless.

The action centers around a cult, the Country Congregationalist Bible Church. (Get the reference to Our Town?) This church isn't *predicting* the end of the world. It's *instigating* it. The church's pastor, while not a POV character, is a cross between Barack Obama and Charles Manson: witty, smart, and charismatic enough to get people to follow him to Hell.

The five main characters are varied and all at odds with each other. Diane, the DA, and Zeke are members of the cult. Zeke's daughter goes missing on the first page.

Diane's husband, Max, is the head deputy and the best investigator in Texas, and he investigates the girl's disappearance, even though he thinks she's probably just run off with some boy.

Vanessa, the Cassandra and the vamp, is the missing girl's childhood friend and now a forensic scientist. She's convinced that the girl was taken by a serial killer because she sees all the signs, but no one will listen to her.

The last major character, P.J., is the only witness, maybe. She's a Goth and a high school girl, adopted from India when she was small child.

This missing-person mystery segues artfully into an inquiry into the nature of evil and memory. I'm an MD, and the careful and accurate reaches into neuroscience are all correct and startling. This is another example of a novelist, like Proust, scooping the neuroscientists, except that Kenyon is a neuroscientist and is writing about the soul and pack of neurons that we think we rise above.

There is one lovely section that does for neuroscience and memory what Primo Levi (in The Periodic Table ) did for carbon and the period, this one, right here.

Veronica

T K Kenyon is launching a literary career from small town Texas. Like the best mystery writers, she has created a unique geographic niche with characters that are every day believable. CALLOUS is hardly a stereotypical mystery where the only plot motivation is to figure out whodunnit. The characters and plot are complex. There is more in the lives of the husband and wife detectives than solving mysteries. You care about them as people as they sort out the differences in their lives. CALLOUS is for those who enjoy mnystery, for those who care about characters, and for those who just enjoy a good can-t-put-it-down read. Highly recommended.

Suspenseful and populated with well-drawn characters, Callous is a multi-layered, page-turning crime novel of high quality. Loved it.

What is it about small towns? Are they magnets for outrageous murderers or what? Or, maybe it's just TK Kenyon's over-active but well-expressed imagination that makes you want to look inside the brain of every slow-talkin' hayseed you meet to see if there's mayhem lurking around somewhere in there.

Like Kenyon's first novel, Rabid, this one draws convoluted lines of battle between science and religion. There is also a big dose of small-town intrigue and some really smart law enforcement folks, although you don't always notice that right away. Kenyon has a way of painting vivid characters with a broad brush, although she also keeps a few character traits in reserve to keep things interesting.

The book starts conventionally enough, with the disappearance of Ester, the adult daughter of a rancher in Texas. Chief Deputy Max, an old-fashioned cop if there ever was one, is on the case with his wife, County DA Diane, who is a secret Bible reader. You can't have a murder mystery these days without forensics, either, so Ester's childhood friend Vanessa carries on that theme.

The tension and suspense build throughout the book, which makes it a tempting one-sitting read. If you get hooked on it, though, take time to enjoy Kenyon's characters, who offer a lot of detail to study. There's an unconventional ending, too, but I better not say anymore about that.

Carlton Stowers does an excellant job brining in the reader to this story. A muder for hire that ends up with the wrong people killed. The story is true and takes many strange and unexpected twist and turns. This is the most interesting book i have ever read,Stowers makes you feel like you know the people involved.

Those readers who were greatly affected by this story might be interested to know that Deeb was later given a new trial and acquitted. Spence was finally executed in 1997. The Melendez brothers are still in prison. A Westlaw or Lexis search provides a great deal of info on the aftermath.

A very affecting book, teenagers are even targets of their own friends, and yet becomes a case of mistaken identity. Shakes your faith in some police tho, thank gosh for a man who would not let it go. A page turner right to the end.

I lived in Waco when these murders happened. The fact of mistaken identity scared everyone. I live only about a 1/2 mile from where the murders took place. Also, the young man that was murdered had the same last name as me, which is not a common last name. My mom was always being asked if it was her son and I if he was my brother. Even though I was living right there and heard it on the news and read it in the newspaper constantly, it still made the hair stand up on my arms when I read the book.

I read just about every true crime book that comes out and this one, for me, is definitely in my top five out of many. The writing itself is excellent and the details are outstanding. Truman Simons must certainly be the most dedicated investigator to ever work a murder scene and his dogged dedication alone resulted in finding the murderers and punishing them accordingly. The book was especially intriguing with psychics, one that told the police many "sightings" she had that were right on the mark most of the time. This book is so well written that the pain the victim's families felt from losing their children will haunt you for a long time. I promise this is one crime book that you will read repeatedly. If you are a dedicated true crime buff, do your best to find this book and read it! My hardback copy is one of my true crime collection treasures! I've read it three times over the years and each time I couldn't put it down.

This is a great book in the Joe Grey series. Joe, Dulcie and Kit find the clues that prove Chief Max Harper did not murder anyone. Great way to introduce the Garza family into the series. I just wish my cat would talk to me!

If you appreciate cats, love mysteries and just want a relaxing and fun read...then read the entire Joe Grey series. Excellent!

Joe Grey, the talking tomcat, is furious. Two women, a mother and her grown daughter, have been savagely murdered while out riding, and the younger girl who was with them at the time has disappeared. What's worse, Molena Point Police Chief Max Harper is the only suspect. While Joe and his feline partner Dulcie have often tricked and manipulated Harper in their previous investigations, and he's not yet aware of their secret, they like and respect the veteran cop, who is a longtime buddy of Joe's human housemate, Clyde Damen. Joe can't believe that anyone would think such an upright law-enforcement officer capable of murder and worse. Naturally, he and Dulcie and their new sidekick--"the Kit," another gifted feline--set about to prove Harper's innocence. While the resolution of the murders isn't unexpected--the motive was simple revenge--the means the three cats employ to prove it are, as always, clever and suitably feline, and their rescue of young Dillon is full of thrills.

This book was utterly delightful with Joe Grey's deep respect for the Chief of Police, Max. By proving Max's innocence, Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit all provided bits and pieces of the puzzle, including a daring rescue of the 13 year old girl who witnesses the murder. The story definitely kept me on my toes wondering what was going to happen next...Now I wish the next book of Ms. Murphy's would come out even sooner than January so I can start reading it...

I think this is certainly one of the best Joe Grey books, if not THE best. Joe and Dulcie are joined by their new sidekick called "The Kit", a tortoiseshell kitten who has an insatiable craving for adventure and danger. There has been a murder of two women on a bridal path and the third rider, the cats' friend Dillon has disappeared, maybe murdered too or kidnapped. Joe's greatly admired friend, Max Harper, the Molina Point chief of police is the one and only suspect in the murders. Joe is spitting mad that people will believe his friend Max could do such a thing. Naturally, Joe "knows" that Max is innocent. The Kit has witnessed the end of the murders and been scared witless by all the violence but she was too scared to know what she saw or to recognise anyone. The three cats run afoul of Joe and Dulcie's old nemesis, Lee Wark who knows their secrets about understanding human language and having high intelligence. He would absolutely love to put a permanent damper on their crime solving shenanigans. He thrives on killing cats anyway. Kate Osborne, who can change to a cat and back to a human is back on the scene and terrified because three convicts have escaped, including Lee Wark who knows her secret also. She seems to have a "thing" for Joe's human housemate, Clyde Damen while Clyde's old girl friend, Charlie seems to be sweet on Max Harper now.

How Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit thread their way through this maze of tangles, car chases, and a haunted house that's home to a cougar makes a fine story. It's also amazing that three small cats could get through all the perils without losing one or more lives. Ms. Murphy only gets better! She adds more polish and finesse to the stories every time. I'm anxious to read "Cat Laughing Last"

Another great book from Roberta Gellis in the Magdaline La Batarde series. She manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.

Certain that I will enjoy this book as much as the other Madalene La Batarde series once I check it out of the library. Advise anyone who wants to read it to check it out at their local library. $87.88 is outrageous and stupid. My recommendation, Amazon should reign in booksellers who are trying to artificially inflate prices. Sure they deserve a mark-up, but get real. I laughed when I saw these prices. May the booksellers have a well stocked and dusty shelf of nonsellers.

This is a mystery novel set in the Middle Ages, part of Roberta Gellis' series with Madeleine la Batarde and a worthy addition to the series. As a mystery it is enjoyable both in terms of the puzzle presented and in terms of solution without the scientific evidence we are accustomed to accepting. (No fingerprints, much less DNA) However, it is also well worth reading for the glimpse into life as it was lived in the Middle Ages, which can be surprisingly modern in some ways and just as surprisingly incomprehensible in others. Ms. Gellis has a truly fine grasp of what the dry history must have meant to the people who were living it and a talent for conveying the feel of it so that the reader feels he or she has had a chance to visit the era rather than be lecturec about it. For instance, she can convey both the insanitary conditions and the people's total acceptance of those conditions as "ordinary" life. That is a talent in the writing that is extremely enjoyable.

This is Roberta Gellis at her best. It has an intriguing plot with many surprises. The Magdalene La Batarde series are generally very good, but this is possibly the best yet. The historical setting is as enthralling as ever, and the fix the Bishop of Winchester finds himself in can only be solved by the genius of Magdalene and her women and her faithful Bell. If you like a very entertaining mystery this is great.

Gellis' books in this historical series, of which this is the most recent, are all enjoyable reads. While one gets a bit tired of the female protagonist continually reminding everyone in sight that she is a prostitute/whore, nevertheless, the implications of Chains of Folly advance the story through the increasingly intricate machinations and intrigue going on around her to the questions posed in the first volume, and played with intermittently in the subquent ones: Can Madelaine continue to develop her menage of interesting people to provide a semi-respectable and secure place of resort? Or, will the secret in her past be discovered? What will then happen to her? Will her noble protector help or abandon her? What will her jealous, difficult lover do? Because of these questions, in one sense, this particular book in the series is a filler; in its own right, it is a fascinating account of the political and military situation in medieval England and how the leading characters in the story schemed and battled for position and security. Buy it, but look forward to the next volume also.

I thought Charmed was just absolutely adorable, and because of this one book alone, I intend to pick up all of Beth Ciotta's books. I highly recommend this light-hearted romp. :)

Charmed is the second book in the triology by Beth Ciotta. Although this second entry can stand alone, you won't get as much enjoyment out of it if you haven't read the first book, Jinxed, which introduces you to the very interesting secondary characters of the book. Both books are well worth the read if you are looking for something light - in tone, in humor, and in suspense. The book has been synopsized very well in other reviews so I'll cut to the chase - it's like a warm fuzzy pair of bunny slippers. Cute, comfortable and just makes you feel good. The characters are lovable, there is a little sexual sizzle, which keeps it from being a kiddie book, with a dash of mystery and sip of pathos (in the main character's sister, who is featured in the 3rd book in the series.) I'll definitely keep this book for those times when I need something light and easy and quick to read.

I picked up this book because I'd been reading the author's blog and found her "voice" in her entries to be one I enjoyed. I was not disappointed by the decision. "Charmed" is a delightful story, not quite romantic comedy, but definitely not your average romantic suspense. Bodyguard Colin Murphy is called in by a friend to watch out for a "princess" who's in danger. He's not expecting a children's storyteller with a princess persona. Ciotta gets things moving from page one and doesn't let up until the end.

There's a tremendous amount of humor mixed in with the action that follows, all of which arises naturally from the movement of the plot rather than having the feeling of "insert joke here" that one sometimes encounters when reading romantic comedy. Since Lulu not only works children parties, but is a roving entertainer in an Atlantic City Casino, there's a great deal of material to mine and Ciotta doesn't hesitate to do so. The hero being forced to don the troll suit is great. Trust me.

I will confess that there were a few moments near the beginning where I felt Lulu threatened to veer into "too stupid to live" territority, but since her escapes from the situations caused by those moments actually a) moved the plot forward and b) caused Lulu to take another look at the situation around her and realize it really *was* as serious as Colin was trying to tell her, they bothered me far less once I was pass them. Part of Lulu's character is that she does try to look at the world with a sunny disposition and treats people as if they are well-intentioned until they prove otherwise. Since there's a lowlife after her, this causes more than one problem, and in dealing with those problems, we see her grow and change, revealing a strength of character at the end of the story that wasn't obvious at the beginning.

It was an easy and entertaining read, and this is one author whose other works I'll definitely be taking a look at.

This book took off from the beginning with a hook that landed me immediately, characters that sang with believability, and venues that I found shiek and fascinating. I admit that when I started reading the book, I was scared because I don't read romance generally. But while the romance was plentiful and sensual, the drama and intrigue interspersed throughout kept me turning the pages.

Beth writes with a style that puts the reader into the heads of the characters. Not forced, not flowery. Real, gut-level prose that you can picture real people saying.

Just about anybody will be able to see a bits of himself or herself in this novel. It's a sweet read for an afternoon at the beach or for savoring over a few days during breaks from reality.

Beth Ciotta's second romance is a fun, humorous, and exciting romantic suspense novel! The characters are intriguing; the suspense keeps you turning pages; and the setting is so real that you feel you are in Atlantic City. Don't miss this exciting book!

The entire series rocks! If you like vampire romances, you'll likely love these books. It's great to watch the characters mature over the series. ;-)

This book draws you into solving the mystery with Nikki and Michael, and before you know it, you are wishing that they would hurry up and get together.

Book 3 of the Nikki and Michael series. This time the case Nikki deals with hits closer to home. Nikki also tells Michael that she wants to be with him, but he has to accept her as a full time partner in their cases. Great read, really keeps you hanging. There is a little bit of romance in this series, but it isn't too heavy. Book still falls under sci-fi/fanstasy.

This was a real good book. Can't wait for the Fourth Book Kiss the Night Goodbye. Keep up the good work.

This was my first Keri Arthur book, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. The plot was fast paced, well-crafted and believable. The romance (which was also well done and well developed) wasn't the main thrust of the book, the story was. The only problem I had with this particular book is that I didn't get a complete mental image of the three main characters, Jake, Nikki and Michael. I suspect that the problem was that I hadn't read the other books in the series published before this one. But, since I loved this one so much, I intend to not only read those books, but the rest of Ms. Arthur's books. A great read!

In Comeuppance, author Martin A. Greis harks back to the great police procedurals of the past,but with a twist--his good-cop protagonists are given a fair share of both personality and humanity. From experienced cop Morten Hopkins, with his own share of problems and an uncanny intuition in solving crimes--to novice Danny Hicks, who retains a certain innocence and altruism in spite of the harshness of his job, readers will find a number of enjoyable characters in this book, and Greis's accessible style entertains to the very end. Aficionados of the genre will enjoy this close-up look at the Twin Cities crime scene.

This fast-moving yarn really defines the term "page turner." A truly superior book in its genre. Realistic, moving, detailed but not over-detailed. If you like to read murder mysteries, this is THE book for you!

I rubbed my eyes all night, but had to finish this book in one sitting. Greis grabs your attention and makes it all but impossible to put aside until the end. Greis lives in the St Paul area and it is a delight to read about places and roads I am familiar with. Refreshingly, nobody in this book is an "angel", altho there is a devil. The characters are allowed to be human, to screw up, to mean well. As a Minnesotan, I had to chuckle about the ice-house villages that spring up around here every winter. Placing some of the action on the frozen lake rings true in prose.

Irene S., A reviewer, March 11, 2004,
A WICKED MYSTERY!
From the opening page, this is an engaging read: colorful characters, convincing details, and lots of intriguing development. I got so immersed that I think there really is a Detective Mort Hopkins out there on the streets of St. Paul!

I enjoyed it a great deal. It is one of those books that is once started, is hard to put down. A local audience will enjoy not only the story line, but also all the local geographic references, plus the wonderful Minnesota mannerisms that we are also so familiar with. All in all, a very fun read!

Kevin Donovan
Grant MN

When was the last time you truly cared about a character in a book you were reading? I did, during the past week, as I was reading Elise Title's Conviction. Natalie Price, a superintendent of a Massachusetts prison halfway house, is a fully developed character about whom we care enough to take her into our heads and really think about, even when we are not reading. The plot is carefully crafted, and we want to read even faster than usual. The relationships between the characters are subtly nuanced, backed by the author's instincts and training as a psychotherapist. We can experience Nat's morning sickness even as she goes abut her exhausting days attempting to solve the murder of a Boston socialite who alo happens to be a very special call girl. We are there, in the midst of it all, and have the final satisfaction of "solving the case"! Read it!

Yet again, Elise Title riveted me to her pages. A prolific writer who continues to surprise me. If you haven't picked up one of her books you're missing out.

Tired of standard chic lit? Then grab Conviction and meet Natalie Price. Take your beach reading to a new level with this fantastic blend of mystery, murder, and sex.

In 1994 Elise Title was still writing Harlequin Romances. In 1996 she turned a page and penned ROMEO, a chilling psychosexual thriller that readers still find riveting. Then, a few years later, she published what would be the first in a new series starring Natalie (Nat) Price. CONVICTION is the third offering in that series.

Price is a savvy law enforcement officer, employed by the state of Massachusetts as the superintendent of Horizon House, a halfway house for prisoners. But when Jessica Asher, a call girl with a high society clientele, is murdered, a tsunami-like scandal breaks in the wake of her death. The tidal wave of public slander could reach into the secret lives of a coterie of powerful men who comprise the movers and shakers in Boston's hoi polloi.

Nat's boss is the Deputy Police Commissioner who liaises between the Corrections Department and the Parole Board. He is a married man and the father of two sons, who Asher was blackmailing. When he emerges as "the suspect most likely," the head of the Department of Corrections wants Natalie to investigate. Could Asher have had her hooks into others with deep pockets and trysts to hide? The only way to find out is to enter her world.

So it won't surprise readers when Natalie goes undercover as a call girl. Adorned in a wig, draped in designer clothes and "faking it" with a padded bra, Price enters Jessica Asher's dangerous playground. Her sleuthing takes her to some of the darkest spots in Boston's vice-ridden underbelly. Things move quickly in this shadowy place, and Natalie has little time to reflect upon how ironic it is that her life is in danger for a man she doesn't even like.

Title is still honing her skills as a writer of police procedurals and has not entirely reprised her startling performance in ROMEO. CONVICTION has its share of melodrama, which emerges when her hero faces a clearly unplanned and unwanted pregnancy; when she becomes involved in an imbroglio of wills with a female colleague; and when she puts the two Carlyle sons, one a disabled man and the other a thug, directly in the line of the investigation into their father's seamy love life. On the debit side, Natalie Price is a compassionate woman and a good law enforcement officer who has her priorities in order. She displays a strong penchant for fairness and getting things done. These qualities work to define her, and if the series continues, she should become even more finely limned.

Elise Title has the ability to write and to tell a story. Both ROMEO and CONVICTION are proof of that and attest to the fact that she also has talent and imagination. With a bit more honing and perhaps a return to more complicated plots, she has a good chance of winning an audience of mystery readers who expect interesting stories, fully believable characters, a fast-paced narrative and sophisticated prose. This book is a perfect beach/vacation read, and in her next appearance, Natalie Price hopefully will appear in full blossom.

--- Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum

I loved this book. Conviction is a magnificent mystery, never a dull moment, so intriguing I couldn't put it down till the end. Nat Price is such a cool character to follow. Can't wait for the next book in the series!