Meryl Sawyer, Kiss of Death

Kiss of Death

Meryl Sawyer

HQN, Jan 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 0373771754

Wealthy Calvin Hunter flies his nephew Adam to his villa on the Greek Isle of Siros in a private plane because he needs to speak with him. Calvin, who has such limited ties with his San Diego family members that he did not even attend his half-brother's funeral, informs Adam that if he dies, he is to investigate the cause. Adam, a former cop turned private investigator, agrees though the request seems odd as his uncle explains nothing further.

Two months later Adam learns his Uncle Calvin died. So unable to accept coincidence; he begins inquiries into the death. Whitney Marshall takes over her missing cousin Miranda's dog caring duties which include living in a caretaker cottage on Calvin's estate in San Diego. When her new abode is bombed, Adam and she assume her cousin is the target and there is a tie to the late Calvin and his money with nothing except the canines linking anyone. Adam vows to keep the woman he is falling in love with safe and learn who killed his uncle as he believes a murder occurred and that same person is responsible for the caretaker cottage bombing.

KISS OF DEATH is an exciting action-packed romantic private investigative thriller starring two likable believable protagonists who with every step together fall deep in love and even deeper in danger from an unidentified adversary for unknown reasons except the unclear nebulous connection to Calvin. The story line grips the audience from the opening line of Adam Hunter, You're

Dead and never slows down through several intriguing twists including canine capers until the final confrontation. Meryl Sawyer further cements her growing reputation as one of the top guns of romantic suspense (see HALF PAST DEAD).

Harriet Klausner