A serial killer is on the loose in Yorkshire.  The killer has a penchant for blondes and two teachers from the Burndale School are the latest victims. Elizabeth (Beth) Canham is the new teacher at a school. Griffin Fairfax is the father of one of the students.  As their relationship progresses, doubts about Griffin start to creep in especially when Elizabeth finds out that he had connections to each of the victims.

His Wicked Sins is a fascinating story as the author switches between the past and present.  Not to give away the storyline but Elizabeth and Griffin have experienced traumatic events in their pasts and the author does a great job of letting the reader know about it.  Griffin is everything you could want in a hero: handsome, rich and tortured.  Elizabeth is the intrepid heroine.  They make a genuinely nice couple and readers can see how they would be attracted to one another.  The story is reminiscent of classic gothic love stories. The mystery of who the killer is and the tension that builds seems to drive this story as Elizabeth needs to find the truth.  Thrown in this mix is Griffin’s daughter, Isobel who hasn’t spoken since the death of her mother.  All this makes for a riveting story.

I loved how the author moved between the past and the present.  This reader would have loved to seen more of Henry and Melanthe, especially their respective past and how their relationship developed after his proposal.  It was very touching to see what happened to them and the obvious happiness they found together. 

His Wicked Sins was a first-class page-turner.  I couldn’t put down the book as the story and the characters drew me into their world.  Don’t hesitate to pick this one up you won’t regret it!

July 12, 2008