Her family owns a casino. Her father was killed, and the murderer is in jail. Now Jolene is getting threatening phone calls, and an evil note arrives, signed "Bill" -- the name of the jailed killer. Is Bill her stalker? Perhaps it's the smarmy Les Voodre who has started attending her AA meetings or her AA sponsor Ron Keisler. Maybe it's Jake Farrell, hunky head of security at the casino. But Jake sets her loins afire, and she starts to fantasize about more than a fling.

Jolene's family makes a big deal of the loss of the patriarch, but it seems dear old dad was a really cruel jerk. Mom is remarried and much happier. Jolene still suffers guilt over her father's rape of a friend. Sister Melanie is being urged to get a DNA test, in one of the many convoluted plot factors I failed to understand.

Brother Alan is married to the rape victim, worried about his sister, and trying his best to keep the casino going. He is perhaps the most sympathetic character here. Detective Andy Martin has been taken with Jolene since he investigated her father's death. Author Marshall could have cut the cast a bit and further developed the central roles. I never warmed to Jolene, who seemed simply a collection of bad habits. Jake was more likable, but still somewhat incomplete.

The killer's motives were foggy. Why did he target Jolene? Why couldn't he reveal his identity to someone he was killing anyway? Why did he disguise himself as a "ghost" and then not let the victim see him? Why the brown wig when he was trying to look like a dyed blonde?

Author Marshall creates some powerful suspense, but I felt she could have simplified the plot and the cast to make the story stronger and less confusing. The title page calls this "The Odyssey Mysteries Book Two," and perhaps the author was trying to build interest in future volumes. For me, at least, she did not succeed.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Lynn Bushey
March 27, 2009