CHOSEN TO DIE

Author: Lisa Jackson ISBN: 9781420102772 8/2009 SUSPENSE Publisher: KENSINGTON ZEBRA

He'll Choose Them. . . Detective Regan Pescoli has worked the "Star Crossed Killer" case for months, never imagining she'd be captured by the madman she's been hunting. Regan knows exactly what he's capable of—and avoiding the same fate will take every drop of her courage and cunning. Abduct Them. . . Regan Pescoli is unlike any woman Nate Santana has met before. But now she's missing, and Nate knows something is dangerously wrong. The only person who can help him find her is Detective Selena Alvarez, Regan's partner. As Nate and Selena dig deeper into the Star-Crossed Killer case and the body count rises, the truth about Regan's disappearance becomes chillingly clear. And Kill Them. . . In the desolate Montana woods, evil is lurking. And with time running out, the only way to save Regan will be to get inside a killer's twisted mind and unravel a shocking message that is being revealed, one body at a time. . .

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

CHOSEN TO DIE is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller that kept me turning the pages even when I was scared stiff! Lisa Jackson’s writing style is so engaging I felt like I was along for every ride her tough-as-nails detective took. When my heart slowed, I sat back and smiled, fully appreciating that I’d been taken on the adventure of a lifetime. Granted, I’m not sure I’m brave enough to relive some of it, but I enjoyed it just the same.

Regan is a detective who is fast on the trail of a madman called the Star Crossed Killer. She becomes one of the lunatic’s victims, held hostage by the man she knows is capable of hideous acts. With time running out, Regan does all she can to escape while her partner, Selena Alvarez, and the man who has a bit of Regan’s heart, Nate Santana, work from their end to figure out just where she is being held before it’s too late to save her. The plot gallops along, becoming more intricate with each page.

While there is some romance to this tale, it is more a story of survival and wits than hearts and flowers. I loved watching the twists and turns, even the horrifying ones, and applauded when Regan sunk her teeth into her assailant. I was never sure whether she would survive, and while I won’t give the ending away, I will say I believe Ms. Jackson ended this story perfectly.

CHOSEN TO DIE has placed Lisa Jackson squarely on my must-buy list. It takes a lot to scare me, but this book did—and I loved every minute of it!

Kay James