Author: Cynthia Eden
Genre: Romantic suspense, thriller
Published on: February 4, 2014 by Montlake Romance
Nothing is deeper than the desire they can’t fight—or deadlier than the evil they can’t escape.
They were only supposed to have a professional relationship, but FBI agent Kyle McKenzie has been fantasizing about his sexy partner, Cadence Hollow, from the moment they first moment. It takes the darkest case of their careers to finally bring their hidden desire bubbling to the surface. Once they’re in each other’s arms, though, they swear that nothing short of death will part them. The Night Hunter—a cunning stalker whose four-state, fifteen-year abduction spree began in Paradox, Alabama, with Kyle’s sister—may be only too happy to oblige.
In the small town, Kyle must confront the painful past he’s been hiding from Cadence. Kyle vows to put the Hunter behind bars…or in the ground. But the one thing that obsesses Kyle more than his sister’s grim fate—his furious love for Cadence—is the weapon the Hunter will use to lure his pursuers into the mouth of a murderous trap.
Suspense author Cynthia Eden delivers another hit with Scream For Me. Even though this book is part of the same series as Die for Me, it introduces new characters. The protagonists are Kyle McKenzie and Cadence Hollow, two FBI agents who arrive in Paradox, Alabama for an investigation. The local police chief, James Anniston, summoned them. Someone abducted a young woman at a highway in the dead of night. Anniston requested McKenzie because the abduction resembles one that happened fifteen years earlier. McKenzie worked that case.
Right from the start, you find out that Kyle and Cadence are attracted to each other. They’ve had romantic feelings for a long time, but haven’t been brave enough to act on them. Both Kyle and Cadence have a deep secret that they aren’t yet willing to share with each other. Cadence, though, knows enough to be aware that Kyle may be too close to the case to be objective.
The bad guy this time around is the Night Hunter. The media christened him so because he targets young women, kidnapping them on dark highways. Kyle and Cadence work with the police to help stop the killer. Cadence proves to be rather integral to the case. As a profiler, she is known for placing herself in the mind of the victim instead of the killer. Cadence and Kyle ask the police if they have any ideas where in Paradox the perp could hide his victims. They find out about a large system of caverns nearby. Almost no one ever goes there, since professionals deemed them unstable. Kyle and Cadence decide to search the caverns and the surrounding grounds, anyway.
It is soon clear that the Night Hunter takes pleasure at taunting Agent McKenzie. Cadence is aware of this and warns her partner not to let the killer get to him. Things become personal for Kyle soon enough, until the FBI chief considers removing him from the case. When the Night Hunter threatens Cadence, that is the last straw for Kyle. He becomes determined to find the killer no matter what. Who is the Night Hunter, though? There are a few characters who could be that killer. It may come as a bit of a shock when the Night Hunter’s identity is revealed. I didn’t see it coming.
Scream for Me was a highly enjoyable book. There are plenty of thrills, and the plot is well done. A few things are left without explanation, though. The author never reveals why two suspects are adamant that the same woman can alibi them out. Cadence was also hard to read at times, especially when she had to decide whether to give in to her feelings for Kyle or not. All in all, Scream For Me is a compelling, suspenseful read. Mystery and romance readers alike will enjoy this book.
My rating: ★★★★ 1/2
4.5 stars - A fantastic page-turner!
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