What a powerful book! I have always enjoyed this series because I love the characters. Eve is so damaged but so strong. Roarke is a romatic hero to die for. I love the touches of humor and humanity. I smile every time Eve sees Trina and is afraid that she is going to inflict some sort of beauty treatment on her. But this episode ramps up the intensity a lot. A violent pedophile that Eve puts away almost as her first case has escaped from prison and is determined to continue his criminal ways. And punishing Eve for catching him is very high on his to-do list. Everything about Isaac McQueen reminds her of the horror that she lived when she was a small child. She sees herself in all his victims. Now McQueen has gone to Dallas and kidnapped the last victim of his previous spree. Eve has to go to try to catch him and cage him for good. She and Roarke travel there with Eve very off balance. She has no good memories of Dallas. After all, that is where she ended up as an eight-year-old bleeding, battered, and with a broken arm after she managed to kill her father. She is also off-balance because she doesn't have her team with her. Her friends are all working the case from the New York end. Luckily, the Dallas Police Department is both smart and competent. In fact, the twin sister of the woman McQueen kidnapped and who was also one of his victims is on the force. Besides trying to find McQueen, Eve makes another startling discovery that brings back her childhood. The story is filled with traumatic events. But it is also filled with the love and support that exist in her relationship with Roarke. Their love is tested but holds up remarkably well.This was an excellent, emotional episode in a wonderful series. If you are reading the series, you don't want to miss this one. If you haven't started the series yet, why not? It has mystery, romance, and humor in a futuristic New York.
