Stella Cameron, Body of Evidence

Body of Evidence

Stella Cameron

Mira, Mar 2006, $7.99, 416 pp.

ISBN: 0778322785

In Pointe Judah, Louisiana, Emma Lachance is unhappy with her marriage to the town mayor, as Orville is a womanizing cheat who verbally abuses her in private while adoring her in public; she knows his rages having witnessed dishes and TV's smashed. She considers a divorce, but has feared to do so until she found an encouraging support group. Meanwhile she receives a pleasant surprise when she runs into Finn Duhon, who once had a crush on her.

However, as Emma and Finn talk and walk, they are stunned when they find the corpse of local reporter Denise Steen, who has ripped into the corrupt mayor and town council. Not long afterward other corpses of influential females follow. Emma ponders whether the link is Secrets, a support group for women, as each of the dead people belonged to the organization. She also wonders if she, as a member could be next, and whether her spouse is behind the homicide growth industry. Emma turns to Finn, a former special ops soldier, to help her investigate what is happening to her town.

BODY OF EVIDENCE is an action packed romantic suspense thriller that grips the audience the moment the lead couple discover the first corpse, and it never slows down until the final confrontation. Emma is a courageous individual who, because she is smart and brave, will keep the audience wondering why she stayed so long with odious abusive Orville. Finn is a classic type hero coming to the aid of the woman he loves (though it is convenient that his former occupation is special ops, and his timing in terms of coming home impeccable). Still, this is an exhilarating thriller that has several Stella twists to keep readers wanting to know what next.