Criminally Good Reads

COME TO ME

The first victim is found in a snow-covered Philadelphia field. Detective Vito Ciccotelli enlists the aid of archaeologist Sophie Johannsen to determine exactly what lies beneath the frozen ground. Despite years of unearthing things long buried, nothing can prepare Sophie for the matrix of graves dug with chilling precision. The victims buried there haunt her. But the empty graves terrify her-the killer isn't done yet.

SCREAM FOR ME

He is cold and calculating, the master of a twisted game. Even with Vito and Sophie hot on his trail, he will not stop. One more empty grave must be filled, and one last scream must be heard-the scream of an archaeologist who is too close for comfort and too near to resist...

DIE FOR ME

Die For Me is exactly the kind of crime novel I should have, if not hated, then at least not enjoyed. There are plot holes, so many plot holes, and the romance aspect caught me totally unawares. There's no mention on the book itself of 'romantic suspense' - just a game-programming serial killer with a medieval fetish which caught my twisted imagination and sucked me in. Misleading in many respects, but so ridiculously readable that I couldn't put it down either way.

Flails, boiling oil and exploding villains, there's plenty going on here and although the plot is at times holier than the church used in the video game footage, it's a giant heap of fun nonetheless. Rose's writing is engaging and compelling, and I'll certainly be looking to add more of her titles to my TBR pile - although with a 'don't look too closely' memo to self. 

If you're hardcore crime - be warned - you may well find this lacking in both procedural and plot tightness; but if you just want a fast-paced bit of twisted fun with a side of romance, you're all set.