FROM THE PUBLISHER

For Paris Gibson, her popular late-night radio show is both an escape and her one real contact with the outside world.

Since moving to Austin to ease the pain of past, tragic mistakes, she has led a life of virtual solitude, coming alive only when she hosts her show. To her loyal listeners, she is a wise and trusted friend who not only takes their music requests but listens to their problems and occasionally dispenses advice.

Paris's world of isolation is brutally threatened, however, when one listener - a man who identifies himself only as "Valentino" - tells her that her on-air advice to the girl he loves has caused her to leave him and that now he intends to exact his revenge. First he plans to kill the girl, whom he has abducted - which he says he will do in 72 hours - then he will come after Paris.

Joined by the Austin police department, Paris plunges into a race against time in an effort to find Valentino before he can carry out his threat to kill - and to kill again. To her dismay, she finds that one of the people she must work with is crime psychologist Dean Malloy, a man with whom she shares a history that had a catastrophic effect on both their lives. His presence arouses old passions, forcing Paris to confront painful memories that she had come to Austin to forget.

As the clock ticks down, and Valentino's threats come closer and closer to becoming a reality, Paris suddenly finds herself forced to deal with a killer who may not be a stranger at all.

FROM THE CRITICS

Fascinating....Will keep you up past your bedtime.

Early Show

A gripping story of abduction, betrayal, and murder that could have been ripped straight from the headlines.

Publishers Weekly

Cue another run up the charts for bestselling Brown (The Crush), who knows just the right mix to spin: a second-chance-at-love theme rocked by the rhythms of families-in-jeopardy and the hip-hop beat of an at-risk teen subplot sure to alarm the most jaded of parents. Her latest thriller, set during a steamy Austin, Tex., summer, revolves around Paris Gibson, host of a late night radio show that dispenses classic love songs along with advice for the lovelorn that turns deadly after a caller takes Paris's on-air advice to dump a possessive boyfriend who turns out to be another regular caller, "Valentino." Refusing to be dumped, "Valentino" makes the girl his captive, phones Paris that he will kill her in 72 hours ("...her death will be on your conscience") and implies Paris may die next. Paris contacts the Austin police and reunites with one-time lover, Dean Malloy, a police psychologist who was also her dead fiance's best friend. "Valentino" 's victim, Janey Kemp, is the missing 17-year-old daughter of a prominent judge and a founder of a Sex Club Web site that arranges illicit parties that Dean's son, Gavin, also frequents, connecting him to Janey's disappearance. Paris and Dean's romance is almost trivial beside Janey's dehumanizing captivity, although Brown's shallow characterizations of Janey and other Sex Club teens registers the only off note in this fast-reading thriller. The adult suspects are better developed: Lancy, an ex-con/janitor/former porn star trying to make good; Stan, a radio employee whose family connections are the only reason he has a job; John, a cop who sees nothing wrong with "hands on" undercover work; and Brad, a sex-addicted dentist. The unmasking of the killer comes with a riveting finale that will leave fans begging for an encore. Agent, Maria Carvainis. Major ad/promo; 5-city author tour. (Oct. 7) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Paris Gibson is a popular late-night radio talk-show host who specializes in sensual music and on-air telephone chat with her viewers. One night she receives a call from Valentino, one of her regular participants. Because Paris has advised his girlfriend to break up with him, Valentino has kidnapped the girl and will kill her in 72 hours. Paris joins forces with the Austin, TX, police, teaming with Dean Malloy, a criminologist, to find the girl and her abductor before it's too late. Unfortunately, Paris and Dean have a long, tragic history, which complicates their partnership. As time races by, the danger draws nearer to Paris, with the identity of the villain well camouflaged by the author. The adult characters are well drawn and believable; the teenage girls, however, appear to be almost caricatures. The boys are much more realistic, especially Dean's son. Victor Slezak is an excellent reader; his Valentino is threatening and unbalanced from the very first. Slezak does not, as many men do, try to raise his voice to falsetto for the women; rather, he uses a slightly lighter tone for the female voice, which works well. Essential for mystery collections. Nancy Reed, McCracken Cty. P.L., Paducah, KY Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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