Scorpion [Paperback]

Goes far beyond what I expected. The suspense and action in this book were so well written it gave me goosebumps. The characters are equally lovable and the romance feels real. Bailey's strength combined with Marty's innocence makes for a beautiful combination. The dialogue is down to earth and quick with wit and there is much humor to balance the drama of the story. I reccomend this book highly for anyone ready for a thrilling read!

Thirtysomething Marty Edwards from Atlanta, Georgia has a niche in the book market, she investigates (with the help of locals, the local police and district attorney's office) cold cases. She finds herself in sleepy Brownsville Texas (population 100,000) investigating a 10 year old murder of an 18-year old, but the local police don't seem too eager to solve the case.

Detective Kristen Bailey, transferred from Houston, with a few strings pulled, two years ago . Absolutely no one on the Brownsville force wants her there. She gets assigned to report on Marty's every move.

What follows is a crime spree with shot gun blasts, safe houses, snipers, drug dealers, weapons dealers, fake ids and disguises, ambushes, millions of dollars in loot and more dead bodies then either of these women care to see. A very realistic romance develops between the two women without being clunky to the fast paced story.

Perfect beach read or book to take on vacation.

Some of Gerri Hill's recent novels haven't been as strong as her earlier ones, but that changes with The Scorpion. Hill has produced one of the strongest books of her career.

Marty Edwards is an investigative reporter who has found her forte in cold case crimes. She enjoys reopening cases, discovering new information and bringing closure to the families. When she is asked to look at a ten year old murder in Brownsville, Texas, it seems to be a routine situation. Kristen Bailey has been a police detective in Brownsville for two years, but she hasn't been accepted by the force. When she is assigned to babysit the evidence Marty wants to look at, she thinks it's just another example of the department not letting her do the work she's capable of. She can't understand why her lieutenant is so paranoid about Marty looking into the case, but her curiosity is roused when someone tries to kill Marty twice. Marty has uncovered the existence of The Scorpion, someone who not only controls the crime in the city, but the police force. When a third murder attempt is aimed at both of them, the women flee along the Gulf Coast. The only way they can save themselves is to go back where they started and solve the crime, but they have no idea who they can trust. It certainly isn't the police.

The best part of The Scorpion is that Hill works the plot so expertly the reader won't know who the kingpin is until the end. Up to that point there is tension and excitement. The book is fast paced, so the reading moves quickly. The awakening that comes between Marty and Bailey is a strong part of the book, but it doesn't overshadow the mystery, as happens in so many novels. While the reader will care about them, the more intriguing question is who the Scorpion is and how he became so powerful.

Gerri Hill has crafted an intriguing crime drama with a touch of romance. It can be a good way to spend a couple of hours of entertaining reading.

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