Samantha Graves, Sight Unseen

Sight Unseen

Samantha Graves

Warner, Apr 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 0446618381

Raven Callahan has a unique job description of legalized thief as she recovers stolen art for the Antiquities Preservation Institute (API) to return to the lawful owner. API management, including Raven's immediate supervisor "Bigs" Bigley, recognize that she is the best recovery agent in their firm. What they do not know is why she is so superior to the rest. She has psychometric skills so that when she touches something her five senses receive images, sounds and feelings.

A killing maniac has kidnapped her current partner Walter, threatening to kill him if Raven fails to steal Vassalo's self portrait from Matador's Auction House in Miami. However, also at the auction house is former cop David "Dax" Maddox who recognizes Raven. He is on a vendetta since he left the force following the murder of his police partner, which he blames himself for; he needs to destroy the killer. Reluctantly tied to a mad man's death threats, Dax and Raven must team up, but neither trusts the other as a thief and a cop, even a legal thief and a former cop, see the world from different perspectives.

This is a refreshing, paranormal, romantic, suspense thriller in spite of combining two overly-used recent themes: that of the art thief with that of the psychic. Though Raven's skills are more obvious and legit in some ways, she will remind the audience of Blanche in Hitchcock's Family Plot. Dax adds to the investigation as he has his own agenda and as a cop distrusts burglars even those allegedly legit. Fans of psychic, romantic, investigative thrillers will want to read the brisk, unique and fun SIGHT UNSEEN in one sitting.

Harriet Klausner