Robin Lamy is well on her way towards being imprisoned for murder if Detective Tom ‘Tomcat’ Hood has his way.  The cop, aptly nicknamed, has compiled evidence that he hopes will make a slam-dunk case against her.  Only one problem, she didn’t kill her husband.  If his partner, Detective Nick Ketchum, can get his mind off his lust for Robin long enough to work the case, his belief in her innocence may help.

Allie Hawkins has penned an excellent tale of suspense that will keep the reader guessing throughout.  There’s enough spice to make it fun without detracting from the key points we have to look for to figure out who the real bad guys might be.  Red herrings along the way will lead us down several paths which, to this reader, makes it just that much better.

Character building excels in this book.  Robin’s mom with multiple sclerosis is a fighter who adds unconditional love to the mix.  Nick’s brother Will, in a wheelchair after an accident, reminds us that being mobile on two feet doesn’t make a person any better.  He’s a computer whiz who helps at key points along the way.  Not all of the bad guys are capable of murder but several give us reason to despise them for their behavior.

Hawkins is a gifted writer who pulls us in and doesn’t let us go even after the case is solved.  Her style has made me an instant fan looking for more.  I don’t think any fan of great suspense blended with all the things that make a story memorable will be disappointed with this one.