What happened to the gripping plots that I usually associate with Catherine Coulter? What happened to rich characterization and page turning suspense? This effort falls short in a plainly weak attempt. The characterization is thin and the plot lacks the intrigue that makes thrillers thrilling. The female lead in this novel is supposed to be strong, but comes across as weak. The bimbo at the gym served no purpose at all, and why was Wade's quest for Karen's job hammered into us at every turn? The Sheriff should have the skill to at least shoot where she's aiming. It was insulting to every small Sheriff's office in the southeast by the way the deputies were portrayed as incompetent and completely fallible. I grew more disgruntled as I plowed through this 370-page noose. By the last page, I felt cheated by the whole experience. Your time would better be spent in an afternoon nap than in reading this WEAK thriller that lacks intrigue.