THE SALT MAIDEN

Author: Colleen Thompson ISBN: 0843960175 12/2007 SUSPENSE Publisher: DORCHESTER

Deep beneath the desert lies a woman's body, mummified by salt, abandoned by those who ought to seek her. With her rests a secret that someone will kill to keep buried. Devil's Claw It's a barren wasteland, the dead center of nowhere, and the last place Dana Vanover wants to be. But it's also the last known address of her missing sister. Determined to locate Angie, Dana won't be deterred by suspicious rednecks, snakebite, or even the grim prognosis of Sheriff Jay Eversole: no woman could survive more than a week alone in the burning heat of Rimrock County. But the endless sands aren't the only thing hotter than the chili served up in the Broken Spur café. Despite small-town dirty politics, a deadly car chase and a dangerous paternity search, Dana and Jay can't keep their hands off each other. In the least populated area of the country they've managed to find love. Now all they have to do is stay alive long enough to uncover...The Salt Maiden.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Colleen Thompson's THE SALT MAIDEN is an edgy, suspense-filled book that tells the story of Dana Vanover. Dana, who is searching for her missing sister, follows the clues to the small desert town of Devil's Claw, Texas, where she finds herself caught up in a dangerous mystery. In this small, barren town, the local citizens do not want her nosing around and things quickly turn deadly. The local sheriff, Jay Eversole, tries to protect Dana, encouraging her to leave the search to the professionals. All of this just adds to Dana's determination to keep looking. Soon, Jay and Dana find themselves working closely together to stay alive and find answers. Their relationship takes a passionate turn, adding romance to an already spell-bounding story.

The author's wonderful use of the desert setting creates a sense of isolation that, with the hostility of the locals, adds a sinister overtone to the story from the very beginning. The mystery builds quickly, and as the questions grow, so does my need for answers. This fast-paced story drew me in and allowed my own curiosity to hold me captive until the very end.

Jay and Dana are fully developed and compelling characters with a rich dialogue. Their individual needs, as well as their combined passion, reached out and touched me as the reader. I found myself quickly forming an attachment and concern for their well-being.

THE SALT MAIDEN has a great sense of danger and suspense that takes place in a lonely and isolated desert setting, creating an almost haunting atmosphere that adds to the draw of the story. The main characters are two lonely people that come together in search of answers, but are drawn closer through shared experience and passion. Combined, these things make THE SALT MAIDEN a romantic suspense that readers are sure to enjoy.

Anita Hartsell