The Killing Room

I never received my books

"Jake" McCoy is a detective, who has taken some leave time after being injured in the line of duty and Nicole Westbrook is a psychologist and closeted lesbian. The two meet in the wilds of Colorado where Jake is recuperating and Nicole is vacating. Nicole is hopelessly lost when she meets Jake. Their attaction sizzles and they have great sex in a hot spring. The memory of their encounter lingers in their minds but they never think they'll meet again but, of course, they do. There is a serial murderer loose in Denver. The women are victims of abuse who have two things in common: a rape crisis center and Dr. Nicole Westbrook. When Jake goes to meet said Dr. Westbrooke she has no idea that this is the woman she had mind-blowing sex with. The novel deftly combines a great romance with a great mystery. There is also an interesting sub-plot revolving around Nicole's closeted life-style and her membership in a closeted professional women's organization. As she becomes more involved with Jake, she starts to question her lifestyle; the group and the lie she has had no problem living with for years. The suspense rises and continues to a surprising wrenching conclusion as Jake races to save Nicole from a mad killer who is hunting her. Read it. Savor it. Gerri Hill's writing has grown tremendously over the years and this is her best novel to date. It will be hard for her to top the romance, suspense and intensity of this book.

If you are a fan of novels by Dean Koontz this is the novel for you. Several women are graphically murdered. The slim clues point to one common thread, they were all being treated by a psychologist for emotional and physical abuse suffered at the hands of husbands or boyfriends. One by one their bodies are uncovered, each one progressively suffering worse horrors. I don't want to give a major plot element away but these murders are simply an extension of another horrendous crime that also is graphically portrayed. Surrounding these crimes is the intense attraction felt between Jake and Nicole. 38 year old Jake is an all around terrific person, loved by friends and liked by everyone she meets. 36 year old Nicole is a person who feels deeply the need to help others and loves her job but is suffering emotional burnout. All of Nicole's friends are professional associates, closeted lesbians and insist that to succeed she must be too. This traps Nicole is a cycle of meeting women who are either not looking for a serious relationship or who are more committed too their careers than anything else, and none of the many dates she goes on appeal to her. Jake gets told point blank by Nicole that they have no future because they are in different social circles. What happens is a push me - pull you, where Jake and Nicole alternately reach out for the other or pull back thinking it is hopeless. Nicole eventually cuts off communication at a time when Jake needs her the most, convinced that it is the best for both of them. The juxtaposition of violence in the external world at the same time a torrid attraction is taking place intimately between Jake and Nicole made for an interesting read. Excellent writing as always from this Lambda Literary Award nominated author. The almost 400 page novel was a page turner that keeps the reader from doing anything but finishing the book. The ending was perfect for the plot and it is readily apparent why this book has garnered many positive reviews.

It seems like a long time since I've read a really good book, but 'Killing Room' certainly made up for that! This is by far the best book Gerri Hill has offered. This reader was hooked by the end of the first sentence. The author introduces two characters from very different backgrounds. First, there is the cop - Jake. Jake is a tough cop with high standards and a love for the simple things. Secondly, there is the uppity psychiatrist - Nicole. Nicole is a black sheep in a clique of high society, professional lesbians. Nicole's patients are about to put her over the edge. She goes backpacking alone to reconnect. While in the wild, she gets lost and finds herself a guest at Jake's personal "spa" in the hot springs of Colorado. Totally out of character, Nicole shares her body with Jake, but they share nothing else except first names. Jake returns to work from disability leave, only to find herself leading an investigation that centers around the beautiful Nicole. Even though she doesn't mix business with pleasure, Jake cannot resist the lure of the enigmatic doctor. The only problem is neither Jake nor Nicole believes they are meant for each other. The hot springs are only the beginning. This book is steamy from beginning to end. The sexual tension between the characters is palpable. The characters are richly developed and dimensional. This one's a keeper!

Set in Denver and the surrounding countryside, this is the tale of a cop, Jake, recovering from her wounds - both physical and mental - and a psychologist, Nicole, vaguely aware that she wants more than her life is offering her. Nicole takes a week away from her practice ostensibly to stave off burnout. When she gets lost hiking in the mountains she comes across a beautiful stranger in a hot springs and falls immediately into lust. After Jake recoups from her physical wounds, she returns to work and catches a case that has no leads. She painstakingly goes over every possible clue until she finds a common thread. That thread leads her to one of Denver's elite psychologists, Nicole. Together with Jake's partner, they try to figure out who the killer is. This book surprised me on so many levels. It is a first class mystery with lots of twists and turns and unexpected suspects. It is a romance between two women and the author ably conveys the gut-level attraction. I suspect that over the years, I have read so many lesbian novels that have been formulaic that I really expect every one I pick up to be the same. I guess hope does spring eternal because I keep buying them hoping against hope for something different. But this is one is different, and how! It is well written, with the descriptions of Colorado's spectacular scenery so vivid that they make you want to pack your car and go see what Jake has seen. I can't remember the last time I was so pleasantly surprised by a book - any book!

If you liked Gerri Hill's first six books, you're going to love her seventh, "The Killing Room". Hill holds true to her ability to create realistic characters and put them in a setting to intrigue, entertain, and, yes at times, titillate. From the first page to the last, "The Killing Room" is filled with the best components of a romantic mystery. It'll make you laugh. It'll make you cry. It'll make you sit on the edge of your seat wondering what's coming next. And when you read the last page, it will leave you wanting more. I highly recommend "The Killing Room" to anyone who enjoys a good romantic mystery, and if you aren't into police dramas, you will want to read it anyway. I did, and I loved it. Finally, my best advice is to expect the unexpected and be ready for an extremely enjoyable read!