The Search

I just finished this book last night and I am a little tired today because I literally could not put it down! It's just good storytelling without the need to get too sleazy (as in some other mystery books I've read lately.) I saw this book advertised in Soap Opera Digest and knew I had to give it a chance. Now, after this intense thriller, I am totally hooked on Heggan's work and plan to read her entire collection. Keep up the good work!

Christiane Heggan is simply AWESOME! I've read every novel she's ever written and THE SEARCH is another winner. I was hooked from page one and read it in record time since I COULD NOT put it down. I can't wait until the next one!

Sydney Cooper is an ADA in Philadelphia. When her friend Lily Gilmore is kidnapped in front of her eyes she is determined to find Lily and discover what is going on. Lily is an investigative reporter. Jake Sloan is an ex-DELTA force officer. Fourteen years ago he and Victor van Heusen left the force because Victor disobeyed orders. Jake was his buddy so he backed him up. Both were discharged. Jake felt betrayed by Victor. The FBI contacts Jake and asks his help catching Victor who has become an arms dealer. Jakes father is dying of cancer and this brings Jake back to Philidelphia to try to reconcile with his father. Finding he is back in town Victor thinks to get in touch with him. Syd lives across the hall from Jake's apt. She is following a lead left by Lily. Jake and Syd seem to be following separate trails but nothing is as it seems and all the leads combine to a startling climax. While Syd and Jake follow the leads they are also led into love. Very good book. Fantastic finish.

Assistant District Attorney Sydney "Syd" Cooper won her most recent case, putting Doug Avery behind bars. She is looking forward to a vacation at a Mexican resort which begins the next day. In fact, Syd is en route home to pack when Lilly, her best friend since second grade, calls her on the cell phone. Lilly is an investigative reporter and needs to meet with Syd as soon as possible. Syd pulls up at the meeting spot just in time to see some guys in a van kidnap Lilly. Forget the vacation! Syd is determined to locate Lilly. Was the kidnapping related to the investigation Lilly is doing on the car wreck of a senator's daughter? Was it related to the ex-husband who is out for custody of their six-year-old girl? Was it simply for ransom? Former special forces (DELTA) captain Jake Sloan has finally put the past behind him. Then the FBI approaches him to help bring down Victor van Heusen, Jake's former commander, who is believed to be supplying weapons to terrorists. To do this, Jake must return to Philadelphia and reside in an apartment across the hall from Syd's. (Doug Avery is an employee of van Heusen.) Jake must gain Syd's trust in order to find out if she knows anything about van Heusen, even indirectly. Now bullets are flying and time is running out. ***** This is the main plot but there is more going on than I state in the synopsis. The story is full of twists and I kept finding myself surprised. Author Christiane Heggan has composed a legal/police thriller that will keep you mentally on your toes and physically on the edge of your seat. Extremely well done. ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Philadelphia Sun investigative reporter Lily Gilmore asks her best friend Assistant District Attorney Sydney Cooper to urgently meet her at The Elwood Diner in South Jersey. Though irritated as she leaves with her aunt on vacation in Cancun tomorrow, Sydney drives the couple of hours to the diner only to be unable to prevent two thugs from snatching Lily in the parking lot. Competent County Police Chief Seth Yates leads the inquiries. In New Orleans FBI Agent Paul Ramirez recruits Jake Sloan, a dishonorably discharged Delta soldier, to catch his former commander, also dishonorably discharged Victor van Heusan, who allegedly sells illegal arms from his Camp Freedom militia base. Jake agrees to relocate to Philadelphia where his estranged father is dying from cancer to get close to van Heusan in Lancaster. Jake and Sydney meet while she investigates Camp Freedom because Lily was looking into van Heusan and his militia. The ADA and the veteran fall in love, but she wonders if her heart is betraying her brain because he seems in bed with van Heusan, whom she thinks snatched Lily. This exciting romantic suspense grips the audience from the moment Sydney is knocked down trying to prevent Lily from being snatched and never slows down until the final altercation. The story line is action-packed, but the triangle lead add intrigue and realism to the plot as Sydney and Victor compete for the attention of Jake though in differing ways as his relationship is more fatherly while hers is more girlfriend. Though the conspiracy seems farfetched (then again planes destroying skyscrapers did on 9/11), fans will enjoy this fine romantic thriller with the dual emphasis on relationships and action. Harriet Klausner