The Deadliest Denial

What I love most about Colleen Thompson's romantic suspense novels is writ large in The Deadliest Denial: high personal stakes, depth of characterization, and keep-you-guessing plot twists. Like Fatal Error, The Deadliest Denial is as much a family drama as a whodunit. Ms. Thompson skillfully demonstrates that the ties that bind are sometimes the ties that kill, and weaves that complexity into a gripping story that leaves two people, rather than one, on the run to track down a murderer. Or has Claire misjudged her loving husband -- the one she's been told tried to have her killed -- and is now tempted by the arms of a man who wants her dead? Gorgeous, insightful writing. A keeper.

When San Antonio Policy Sergeant Raul Contreras and Buck County Sheriff Joel Shepherd visit Claire Winslow, she fears the worst bring that her beloved husband died in the line of duty as his partner recently did. However, she realizes there are things apparently worse than death when the two law enforcement officials inform her that her police officer spouse Spence has been arrested in Little Bee Creek charged with killing Adam Strickland over gambling debts. In shock, by their accusations, she is further stunned when they insist she was his next target. Claire has further problems when someone vandalizes her horse ranch several times. As she panics over why someone is attacking her, Spence skips bail to see her. He pleads with her that he is innocent and plans to prove this; he also asks her to trust in their love. Claire wonders if he can be that good of a performer that he seems to be telling her the truth because she knows the two cops who insist her husband wanted her dead and that Spence was psychological struggling with his partner's death. Of course she realizes he could have achieved his objective rather easily if that was his true goal so she agrees to help him not knowing the risk from the person who betrayed both of them. Though readers know early on that Spence is an innocent fugitive, Colleen Thompson provides a powerful thriller as the beleaguered hero seems unable to prove it (think of Dr. Kimball). The story line is action-packed yet the key lead couple seems genuine especially Claire, who wants to believe, but has doubts. Though coincidence is used to uncover clues, fans of psychological police procedural will appreciate this tense, exciting and entertaining thriller. Harriet Klausner

Claire Winslow's husband, Spencer, a ten-year veteran of the San Antonio PD, hasn't been himself these last six months. Not since he'd watched his partner gunned down by a shoplifter, and then had to turn his own gun on the twelve-year-old to stop the kid from killing again. Claire knows it haunts him, that the therapy hasn't really helped, but she's damned sure not going to believe Spence has gone crazy. Crazy enough to hire a hit man to do murder. Even when she's shown irrefutable proof the person her husband wants killed - is her. But Spencer Winslow is arrested, not only for conspiracy to murder his wife, but also as a suspect in the disappearance of another man, someone who dared to take a second look at Claire. And while her husband paces his cell like a caged animal, screaming her name, Claire has no choice but to face reality. Her over-protective father, Will Meador, and an old friend, the sheriff of her hometown county, Joel Shepherd, make sure that she does so. Spence is guilty all right. He knows it. In the past six months, he's tried to escape the pain eating at his heart. And in that escape, he's buried himself in a layer of sludge too thick to clean up. He knows there's no way out for him except to drown in the pit of despair he's dug for himself. Claire is no stranger to the pain of loss. She lost her mother to a hunter's stray bullet when she was only two and her only sister to cancer when Claire was sixteen. But this one, this betrayal of her heart, threatens to destroy her. So she latches onto her new project, with its daily responsibilities to help her face her waking nightmare, one hour, one minute at a time. She returns to her Texas Hill Country home in Buck County, to the Monarch Ranch, a horse therapy rehabilitation center for sick and damaged children, an undertaking she's planned, organized and raised funds for over the past two years. The ranch is the realization of her lifelong dream, and now its reality will save her. Or kill her. The beautiful terrain and cliffs above the creek of her property can bring either healing peace or isolated fear. When Spence skips out on his bail and someone begins to vandalize the ranch, Claire's heartbreak turns to terror. Could the man to whom she is married, her lover - her very best friend - come home only to destroy her dream? Could Spence, her one soulmate in this life, the one who fathered the child she just found out she carries, be hiding in the darkness waiting to kill her? Claire is a stubborn woman. And even when her husband confesses his sins to her, she will not let him destroy himself. She will not let him sacrifice what they have to try to cleanse his soul. Will her willingness to continue to believe in him end up being her deadliest denial? Author Colleen Thompson leads us once again down a trail of events and plot twists that will have you following her page after page to the end of this suspenseful story of family secrets, love, trust and