| Ex-cop Paige Carmichael is now a Forensic Statement
Analyst. She reads the words of witnesses and criminals and
analyzes how and what they say to catch them in discrepancies and lies.
Most cops think her line of work is a joke -- until they see her in
action.
While teaching a course in Oklahoma City, Paige manages to convince a
room full of cops and security workers that her line of work can
actually help solve murders. Unfortunately, a killer from her past
who has escaped jail knows where she is and isn't concerned about her
cop associates. His only goal is to terrorize her and kill her.
Homicide cop Nate McCall is the first officer Paige meets in Oklahoma
and while they don't exactly get off on the right foot, she's thankful
for his attentions when the first attack occurs right at the police
training center. Her visit in Oklahoma City goes downhill from
there, and Paige quickly comes to realize that she's the target of an
insane killer who won't stop until he's in possession -- of her.
TRIGGER EFFECT was another fast paced read from the Bombshell line,
but this one didn't quite meet my expectations.
Paige was a believable enough character -- injured on the job, she
desperately wants to be in police work, so has taken on a new line of
work that allows her to continue helping with homicide cases. But
with her background she should know how to protect herself and have the
common sense to keep herself safe. Instead she frequently does
things that put her life in jeopardy, such as going to the worst parts
of town alone or going to meetings with anonymous callers without
telling anyone she's going.
Each time she did something that put herself at risk, it pulled me
out of the story. Had she done it to protect others I could have
understood it, but since she was the only person in the story at any
risk, it didn't make sense.
Nate was a good character -- solid, misunderstood, flawed, he was
easy to like and fit the role. His development was well paced and
well written.
Overall, TRIGGER EFFECT was an average read. It held my
attention as long as I forced myself to accept Paige's flaws but those
flaws are what keep this book from being a must-read. The author
has developed a really good story -- with better justification for
Paige's actions, this could have been a much stronger book.
Reviewed by Sue Waldeck for The Road to Romance
July 14, 2005 |
