Pamela Clare, Hard Evidence

Hard Evidence

Pamela Clare

Berkley, Oct 2006, $7.99

ISBN: 0425212602

Denver, reporter Tessa Novak stops for coffee at a gas station when a hysterical teenage girl rushes inside pleading for help in Spanish. A car drives by shooting the girl through the window. She dies in Tessa's arms. Though stunned, Tessa notice the man in the leather jacket who she believes is the killer, but is gone before the police can react. Former FBI Agent Julian Darcangelo cannot believe the witness spotted him though he is not the killer; instead he is undercover as pervert Dominic Conti.

Tessa provides a detailed account to include describing the man she assumes is the culprit: Julian. Meanwhile he hopes to finally catch master criminal Burien who escaped a sting three years ago because the Fed tried to save some young female civilians at the cost of two agents and a wound to his then lover Margaux. This time he allowed the innocent to die so as to not interfere with his obsession to stop Burien before other teens are kidnapped, abused, and killed. Julian frightens and warns Tessa to back down before kissing her; she asks who he is and he insists he is a good guy. As he struggles to keep her safe and catch the bad guy, they fall in love, but a betrayal leaves their lives in jeopardy.

This a superb romantic suspense starring a courageous, intelligent hero who has to work the case because of guilt over not being able to help the teen who died in her arms and a dark protagonist who never expected to fall in love. The return of characters from the previous novel EXTREME EXPOSURE and the rest of the support cast especially the Denver Police Chief add depth to the exciting story line. Though the motive for the betrayal seems a stretch, fans will appreciate this strong thriller.

Harriet Klausner