HELLO, DARKNESS by Sandra Brown
Sandra Brown's latest novel, HELLO, DARKNESS, is a romantic thriller which would make a great movie. It has it all - a beautiful heroine, a rugged hero, a sadistic killer, and a twist at the ending plot. If you have all that, it has to be good and this one definitely is.
The book centers around Paris Gibson, a late night radio host in Austin, Texas. Paris is basically a disembodied voice that reaches out to the lonely and the lovelorn. She plays their musical requests and offers some simple advice when asked. When she is off air she guards her privacy fiercely and doesn't let pictures of her be printed anywhere.
One night Paris gets a call from a man who identifies himself as "Romeo." He says he and his girlfriend broke up because of Paris' advice on the air. He has kidnapped this girl and will kill her in seventy-two hours. He says her death will be all Paris' fault.
Now a race against time starts. When she goes to the police Paris learns that an old friend, Dean Malloy, has joined the Austin department as a criminal psychologist. He and Paris share a past but now Paris wants to keep him at arm's length. The circumstances of the possible crime force them to work together and that brings out old hurts and fears.
The story is a fast moving one that keeps you on the edge of your seat as you are reading. The identity of the killer is somewhat predictable and some may guess the person early on, but others may be totally surprised. In any event you won't be bored by the story and that is a definite plus.
Brown not only focuses on the struggles of Paris and Dean to find the killer, she also takes a look at the problems parents face with their rebellious offspring in this modern world. It is not a pretty picture. The villain is the Internet. It is there that Sex Clubs spring up and teens sign on to get hooked up. "Romeo" uses this information as a way to make sexually active young girls.
Sandra Brown is great at writing plots that grab the reader right from the start. She makes her stories tense and tight. She also adds in some romance and sexual tension to spice things up. It all turns out to be the perfect romantic thriller for modern times.
HELLO, DARKNESS is another winner for Brown. She has had a past streak of best sellers and this one should not break her record. Pick it up, read it through, and have a great time!
HELLO, DARKNESS is published by Simon and Schuster. It contains 404 pages and sells for $25.95.