Book Review: Bait

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Bait     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Karen Robards
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romance   Romantic Suspense   Police Procedural   Thriller   FBI
Putnam, Jul 2004, $24.95

The serial killer informs FBI Agent Sam McCabe that Madeline is next. Creative Partners owner Maddie Fitzgerald hopes to win the multimillion-dollar advertising of Bechler’s Pet Chow. That night Maddie awakens because she knows someone is in her hotel room. Panicked she stabs the intruder with a pencil and flees.

The next morning, Sam learns the serial killer murdered Madeline Fitzgerald, but that another Maddie was in the hotel and survived an assault. Sam tries to interview Maddie but she is hostile towards the Fed. Maddie wins the contract and returns to St. Louis where she calls a mob number to warn them if they kill her, evidence from her father’s work will surface.

Sam realizes the killer knows he made a mistake and will try to murder Maddie soon. When someone shoots her, he stays at her place to keep her safe. Unable to resist, they kiss. Both love and hate the emotions they feel, but soon make love. While still in each other’s arms, the killer calls so Sam can hear him murder Carol, which reminds them that he has a killer to catch and she has a past that would destroy an FBI Agent’s career.

Fans of police procedural romances will enjoy the action-packed thriller that does not slow down until the final confrontation ties up all loose ends. The attraction between the lead couple is handled nicely except for making love with killers chasing them. Though the killer’s need to flaunt Sam seems out of character since he is atypical as he “cleansing” his past, readers will enjoy this solid suspense story.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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