The Search
Christiane Heggan
Mira, Jan 2005, $6.99, 400 pp.
ISBN: 0778321266

Philadelphia Sun investigative reporter Lily Gilmore asks her best friend, Assistant District Attorney Sydney Cooper, to urgently meet her at The Elwood Diner in South Jersey. Though irritated as she leaves with her aunt on vacation in Cancun tomorrow, Sydney drives the couple of hours to the diner only to be unable to prevent two thugs from snatching Lily in the parking lot. Competent County Police Chief Seth Yates leads the inquiries.

In New Orleans, FBI Agent Paul Ramirez recruits Jake Sloan, a dishonorably discharged Delta soldier, to catch his former commander, also dishonorably discharged Victor van Heusan, who allegedly sells illegal arms from his Camp Freedom militia base. Jake agrees to relocate to Philadelphia where his estranged father is dying from cancer to get close to van Heusan in Lancaster. Jake and Sydney meet while she investigates Camp Freedom because Lily was looking into van Heusan and his militia. The ADA and the veteran fall in love, but she wonders if her heart is betraying her brain because he seems in bed with van Heusan, whom she thinks snatched Lily.

This exciting, romantic suspense grips the audience from the moment Sydney is knocked down trying to prevent Lily from being snatched and never slows down until the final altercation. The storyline is action-packed, but the triangle lead adds intrigue and realism to the plot as Sydney and Victor compete for the attention of Jake though in differing ways as his relationship is more fatherly while hers is more girlfriend. Though the conspiracy seems farfetched (then again planes destroying skyscrapers did on 9/11), fans will enjoy this fine, romantic thriller with the dual emphasis on relationships and action.

Harriet Klausner