DEAD SHOT

Author: Annie Solomon ISBN: 044661632X 3/2007 SUSPENSE Publisher: WARNER

THEY SAY SHE HAS A DEATH WISH. NOW SOMEONE WANTS TO GRANT IT. Critics call them provocative. Protesters call them obscene. But photographer Gillian Gray aims her macabre self-portraits at an audience of one-the faceless brute who murdered her supermodel mother. Their meaning is clear: "Come and get me." And someone's getting the message. Dead bodies start turning up in Nashville, posed to mimic Gillian's photos. Against her will, Gillian is guarded by tough ex-cop Ray Pearce, a man whose commitment to the job is as strong as his belief that Gillian is in real danger. Yet his protection may not be enough to stop a vicious madman from creating his next masterpiece: a portrait of the artist as a young corpse.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

DEAD SHOT grabs your attention with a wicked, chilling grip and hangs on with the tenacity of a bulldog.

Highlighted by two really spectacular lead characters and a creepy storyline, Ms. Solomon's dark, intoxicating tale is absolutely riveting.

DEAD SHOT's Gillian Gray is not typical heroine material, but Ms. Solomon's compassionate insight into Gillian's troubled soul is both compelling and touching. Ray Pearce, on the other hand, is a great hero - tough alpha exterior with a gooey marshmallow center guaranteed to set female hearts aflutter.

This mismatched couple provide a perfect balance for the other. A character in DEAD SHOT described Gillian as a "sick puppy" and his analysis is pretty much on target. Steady, solid, honorable Ray provides a much needed anchor for the emotionally fragile Gillian. These two lonely, complex characters set DEAD SHOT well above other bodyguard stories.

DEAD SHOT is top-notch work from the talented Ms. Solomon. The exceptional character sketches, the smooth pacing and the finely honed plot all combine for a dynamite experience.

Debbie Jett