Contemporary

I wasn't sure if I will like the book because I don't like Heather Graham's historicals. However, this was a good story.

Ann Marcel, an artist, has been divorced for 5 years. She and her former husband had a lot of problems but now they are friends again. Together they have a grown daughter. One day Jon arrives in Anns flat and there is everythere blood on him. His last words before he is in a faint are "I didn't do it".

A striptease dancer named Gina was murdered and there is a blood trail from the place of crime to Anns flat. That's why Jon is a suspect. The police believe he was the killer of the woman. Ann knows he is innocent but this isn't what detective Mark LaCrosse thinks. He notices that Ann lies to him.

Before Jon falls into the coma he whispers the word "Annabelle's" to Ann. This is the club there the dead woman worked at. And Jon has painted her. He was a good artist like Ann. Ann starts to investigate. And Mark LaCrosse is always right behind her.

Then a second woman is murdered, but noone knows who she is. She was strangled while the first was stabbed to death. Mark is the investigating police detective and he recognize that Jon can't have killed another woman while he is in a coma. He tries to protect Ann now because he doesn't want another victim.

Between Ann and Mark is a great power of attraction. When Ann goes to the bayou to visit Gina's relations, Mama Lili Mae, a voodoo-woman, a storm separates Ann from the others and she feels that someone is pursuing her. Mark rescues her and he takes her to his home in the bayou. Now the passion between them can't be stopped any longer. But they still have to find a killer.

A fascinating story but I would say that to all books about cajun heros ;-)

Heather Graham has created two unusal characters because both are in their forties. Maybe the story isn't all time logical and the motives of the killer are not so clear but I will try another of Heather Grahams contempories.