Mariah Stewart, Last Look

Last Look

Mariah Stewart

Ballantine, June 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 0345492226

In 1983, in the town of Hatton, Shannon Randall disappeared and the chief of police thought that eighteen-year-old Eric Beale from the wrong side of tracks had something to do with it. Out of his depth, he calls in the FBI who sends Special Agent Matt Ranieri to take over the case. Although he couldn't get a confession out of Eric, Shannon was seen in his car, her blood was found on his shirt as was her homework book. When the case comes to trial, Matt is so convincing that the jury finds Eric guilty and sentences him to death. He is executed eight years later.

In the present, Shannon's body with a bullet and stab wounds is found on Shelter Island off the coast of Georgia. She died approximately eight hours ago which means an innocent person died. Special Agent Andre Shields is assigned to find out who killed Shannon assisted by Matt's daughter FBI agent Dorsey Collins who is unofficially working with him. When they arrive in Hatton, Dorsey thinks that Shannon ran away and was a victim of abuse. Getting answers in the small town won't be easy as the townsfolk know how to keep secrets. As the FBI agents work the case, romantic feelings spring up but they don't let their feelings get in the way of finding out who beat up Shannon before she ran away and never returned home.

Mariah Stewart can always be counted on to write an exciting, romantic, suspense thriller and LAST LOOK is no exception. The protagonists are totally believable in their actions and desires, especially Dorsey, who know what she learns will hurt her father whose reputation was made by the Eric case. Ms. Stewart does a good job of showing how the small town inhabitants close their doors politely to the outside authorities.

Harriet Klausner