Michele Jaffe, Loverboy

I expected a hit story but totally disappointed at the end!!

Loverboy

Michele Jaffe

Ballantine, Jun 2004, $14.95

ISBN: 0345459237

Though the Las Vegas police believe that nuclear physicist Rosalind Carnow is a kidnap victim, the FBI knows she is the latest abduction of the deadly Hide and Seek serial killer Loverboy, who enjoys playing games by sending a collage of clues to the Feds. The FBI wants former agent Imogen Page, mourning the death of her brother, to lead the investigation because she has had the only success in interpreting the collages. However last time out the brass ignored her. The victim died and that haunts Imogen who also still shakes from the Connoisseur Killer case. She wants to refuse, but the collage makes her want to save Rosalind's life.

In Vegas Benton Arbor uses his connections to get involved in his best friend's abduction, but he and lead Detective JD Eastly want the Feds out of the case until Imogen works her immediate interpretation magic. As the clock ticks, Loverboy plays a game of cat and mouse with his toughest opponent being Imogen. She is in emotional overload even before taking on Loverboy who watches her every move, but adding to her tension is her growing feelings for Benton, who reciprocates the feelings of the synthesia suffering agent.

With police procedural romances like this one and BAD GIRL, Michele Jaffe is rising to the top of the sub-genre. The story line is action-packed and observing Imogen work her Shirley Holmes magic is a delight. LOVERBOY is a brilliant opponent though his ability to spy on the cops seems to easily achieved. Readers will appreciate this powerful serial killer romance that takes off the moment Imogen "arrests" Benton and never slows down until the final confrontation between the heroic duo and Loverboy.

Harriet Klausner