Rookie FBI Agent Kimberly Quincy is a woman on the edge, but Lisa Gardner does not write cardboard characters. In THE KILLING HOUR Kimberly discovered a dead body while doing a training run. Determined that she would someday follow in her famous father's footsteps, she wanted to investigate the crime. So she got to see the autopsy.

Already strung out from her mother's and sister's deaths (revealed in earlier books of Ms. Gardner's), Kimberly nonetheless launched herself into the investigation. Joining her was Special Agent Mac McCormack. He believed the killer of this girl was the same as one he'd investigated in Georgia a few years earlier.

To round out the cast of characters are Pierce Quincy, former profiler and Kimberly's father, and Rainie Connor, Pierce's partner and a former cop. The quartet risked their careers and engaged in lots of unorthodox behavior to find this killer. Kimberly found herself attracted to Mac.

As a subplot, Pierce and Rainie were having some trouble, and I have to say Ms. Gardner had me convinced that they would not work it out, but they did in true happy ending style.

I find all of Ms. Gardner's work gritty and intense. This isn't your fluffy beach read. This story had a lot more meat to it and many twists and turns. I highly recommend it.

Reviewed By: Chris Redding
© August 2004