Love Kills

Britt Montero is staying on a blissfully solitary tropical island while healing from the death of her fiancé when her best friend, photographer Lottie Dane, shows up. Lottie and Britt go surfing, and soon after expressing the wish that they'd brought a camera to capture the glorious views, they find one in the surf. It's a waterproof disposable camera with three exposures to go. So, while Lottie fills Britt in on what's happening back home in Miami and at the newspaper they both work for, they snap a few shots. Britt is intrigued to learn that the Cold Case Squad is looking for her. She is also suffering from cash flow problems, so she decides to head home with Lottie. They leave contact info with locals in case the camera owner appears, and then they fly on home. Back at work, Britt persuades her editor to let her return to the police beat, although he seems reluctant. Lottie shows her the photos she's developed from the found camera. The pictures portray a vibrant, handsome young couple obviously in love, probably on their honeymoon. Britt can't help but feel sad; if Kendall McDonald hadn't died, the pictures of the tropical honeymoon might have been of Kendall and Britt. At the police station, Britt discovers that the notorious kidnapper, Spencer York, has been murdered. York had been a kidnapper-for-hire for fathers without custody of their children, and his methods had been brutal. Britt had been instrumental in his arrest and imprisonment; she also had spoken to him right before he jumped bail. Now he is dead, and there are too many suspects. Britt gets an even bigger shock when she sees a Coast Guard alert for newlyweds missing on their honeymoon. She recognizes the photos. It's the same couple whose happy faces had appeared on the film from the camera she and Lottie found on the beach. Britt's personal story weaves through and between the two mystery plots --- and it packs some startling revelations. The characters in LOVE KILLS are fleshed out, three-dimensional and real, and they're surrounded by lots of terrific Miami atmosphere, capturing the flavor of the city. Edna Buchanan is masterly at pulling the reader along with clever cliffhangers; she also incorporates a chase scene that manages to be thrilling, frightening and crazily hilarious. Three plot twists truly surprised and delighted this jaded, seen-it-all mystery reader. LOVE KILLS is pure enjoyment, and while Buchanan is a new author to me (where have I been?), I plan to read every book she has had published --- ASAP. --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon ([email protected])

I realize now, and, much to my regret, that I should have read Buchanan's older novels first, because I've just been introduced to Britt Montero, the news reporter. However, I didn't get my hands on Buchanan's first Britt Montero novel until later. Now, after acquiring all of EB's books, I'm going back to read them in chronological order. Over the last four days, I've finished three of the books. In fact, I haven't done much of anything else but read. So, does that tell you anything? Yep, that's right, EB's books are "un-put-downable". She truly is the "Queen of Crime", bar none. In "Love Kills", the end leaves the reader hanging (sort of), and thinking they can't wait for Buchanan's next book to be released. The Cold Case Squad and Lt. K.C. Riley are entwined with Montero's reporting adventures, as well as the reporter's relationship in dealing with Lt. Riley, which is quite interesting. This is an excellent mystery novel. Buchanan appears to be one of a kind. Get the book, you won't regret it.

I have always been an Edna Buchanan fan, but this book is head and shoulders above the rest. First, she incorporates both Britt Montero and the Cold Case Squad into her novel. Second, there are corpses everywhere. I am not going to spoil the plot of the novel for you. But I will tell you that, if you're going to read it, to reserve some time, because every page will leave you turning the page. Before you know it, you'll be entranced in the novel. Excellent show, Edna!!!

In this latest suspense novel, Edna Buchanan weaves two of her best into an intricate storyline. I love the Britt Montero series and the Cold Case Squad. This novel attempts to combine both and succeeds. Although the ending leaves you hanging a bit, it was an enjoyable read. I cannot wait until the next book by the talented Ms. Buchanan. Keep 'em coming!

About an hour ago I finished reading this new novel and Ms. Buchanan has surely outdone herself this time! There are some characters in the novel I didn't trust, and rightfully so, but never would have guessed the reasons WHY I shouldn't have trusted them! I feel that this ranks among Buchanan's best fiction, alongside The Ice Maiden and Act of Betrayel, among others. We've had to wait four long years for another Britt novel, but here she is back, and with the guys from the Cold Case Squad too. The two sets of characters mesh fine together in this one novel. I've been lucky enough to meet Ms. Buchanan (twice) and it's nice to see how down-to-earth and friendly she is to her fans. She signed several books for my friends and myself and chatted with us for quite a while. Enough said, go out and read this book already!