Andrea Kane, Twisted

Not just anyone could gain access to the FBI's top-secret Quantico facility but best-selling author Andrea Kane could and did. When you read Twisted, you'll believe you're there with her every fascinating, grueling, shocking step of the way.

Dare you to put this book down after reading the following opener: "She was a true warrior. Even the weapon hadn't been enough to make her submit. Not like the others. Not until she'd felt the prick of the blade, sensed drops of her own blood........"

From the start we know that Kane has created one of the most frightening psychopaths of recent memory. Who is he? Why is he committing this heinous act? Will there be another?

To answer these questions Kane introduces Sloane Burbank, a former FBI agent. She left the Bureau to work as a negotiator after a stab wound deprived her of the use of one hand. Although her current schedule is packed Sloane immediately responds when she receives a call from the parents of a childhood friend, Penny Truman, who went missing some time ago. Penny's father is a renowned cardiologist, so he would have been prime for extortion but no such attempt was ever made.

Sloane's ex partner in the Cleveland office and former lover, Derek Parker, is the FBI agent in charge of Penny's case. He's busy elsewhere hoping to catch a man, Chen, also known as "Little Dragon." Three women have been slain in a similar manner - the only clue is that they all worked at Fukienese brothels which has been linked to Chen. Derek considers Penny's disappearance a nowhere to go case.

Nonetheless, Sloane prevails upon him to help her ( thus author Kane can show her skill at describing unresolved feelings between the two of them).

It soon becomes clear that Penny's disappearance may have been due to the machinations of the same killer responsible for the deaths of the prostitutes. As some of the pieces of the puzzle begin to fit it appears that Sloane is to be the next victim.

With traces of romance and an intriguing plot reinforced by assiduous research Kane has fashioned a chilling can't-put-down thriller.

Twisted

Andrea Kane

Morrow, Mar 2008, $23.95

ISBN: 9780061578892

FBI Agent Sloane Burbank is on extended medical leave having come close to bleeding to death and suffering a severe hand injury. When the Feds offer her an office job the field agent declines. Instead decides to become a private consultant providing self defense seminars using the Krav Maga methodology to universities. She finds teaching quite enjoyable.

Hope Truman arranges for Sloane to visit her at her expensive Manhattan apartment to discuss the disappearance of her daughter Penny almost a year ago as the NYPD and FBI put their investigation on simmering, which means they will get back to it if workload allows; in other words cold case. Hope begs Sloane to find her daughter hopefully alive; Penny has been Sloane's best friend since elementary school so she drops everything to investigate. Sloane uses her FBI background to learn what the agency knows. That takes her to her former lover, Derek Parker, who remains the agent in charge on paper. Currently he works on deadly gang warfare in Chinatown as part of an Asian Criminal Enterprise Task Force. Derek is outraged to be forced back on a cold case especially with Sloane, but they soon learn other females, all with connections to Sloan, have vanished without a trace over the last year, but neither sleuth can understand why.

This engaging romantic suspense thriller stars two likable protagonists and a TWISTED killer who worships Athena 'the true warrior'. The story line is at its best when the lead pair follows clues that continually link back to Sloane. Derek is an interesting male lead as he slowly turns from resentment and outrage to protectiveness and love. Although the romantic subplot between him and Sloane seems out of place even with their history and readers will know why Sloane, mystery fans will enjoy this tense thriller.

Harriet Klausner