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Tulsa, Oklahoma has been rocked by a series of murders where the dead men are all drug dealers. They all have the look and feel of being vigilante killings and while other cops would rather look the other way and let the good samaritan continue his moral cleansing, Detective Tony Ceola’s not one of them. He’s determined to see justice carried out and is relentless in his pursuit of this elusive killer. From the instant Tony sets eyes on his sexy new neighbor Selena McCaffrey, he’s irresistibly attracted to her. Little does Tony know the true reason behind Selena’s seemingly innocent entry in his life.
Deadly secrets from her past have come home to roost and Selena’s been blackmailed into leaving the balmy shelter of Key West to come to a hot and sweltering Tulsa upon the instructions of her sadistic mentor, Uncle William. The price for his silence – Selena has to kill Tony. Soon Selena’s life becomes hell as she finds herself torn between self-preservation and the love slowly developing between herself and Tony. Temperature rises and passion sizzles even as a lethal web of lies and deceit surrounds the lovers. How it all ends makes for some terrific suspenseful reading.
“The Assassin” can easily be hailed as outstanding debut by author Rachel Butler. Beautifully interweaving sensuality with suspense, and with a strong, well-developed character cast, the book is almost impossible put down till the end. Selena McCaffrey is one intriguing multi-racial heroine whose kick-ass attitude taken together with her artistic temperament and sleuthing abilities keeps the readers on their toes. Tony Ceola is equally interesting whether it is his dedication to his job or that towards his family. Relentless tension, a truly nasty villain, and a strong secondary cast of characters further add to this novel’s charm. On a side topic, Butler also touchingly depicts the mental and emotional toil Alzheimer’s disease has, not just on the person suffering but also the family members. With a strong premise and a complex cast of characters, “The Assassin” trumpets the beginning of a new must-read romantic suspense series.
Reviewed by Rashmi Srinivas
for The Road to Romance
March 21, 2005
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