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Hello, darkness
680 pages
A ticking-clock thriller wrapped in a steamy second-chance romance, where past secrets are just as dangerous as the killer on the loose.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like watching a digital clock count down in a dark, locked room. It is a propulsive, high-stakes blend of psychological thriller and steamy romance, where the tension of a serial killer hunt is matched only by the crackling, unresolved history between the two leads. The mood is distinctly dread-soaked and urgent, keeping you on edge as the protagonist's carefully constructed isolation is shattered by a terrifyingly intimate threat. The prose is sharp and cinematic, designed to keep the pages turning at a breakneck speed while delivering satisfying emotional beats. It will thoroughly delight readers who crave romantic suspense that doesn't skimp on the grit, offering a perfect balance of heart-pounding danger and passionate reconciliation.
- Mood
- tense
- claustrophobic
- steamy
- dread-soaked
- Tone
- suspenseful
- urgent
- romantic
- gritty
- dramatic
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- confronting past trauma · second chance romance · vulnerability of public life · race against time · obsession and revenge
- The writing
- Fast-paced and accessible, prioritizing sharp dialogue and visceral tension over flowery description.
- The arc
- Moves from isolated, guarded anxiety to high-stakes terror, culminating in a cathartic release of both romantic tension and psychological dread.
- Who it's for
- Fans of romantic suspense who love a ticking-clock thriller paired with a complicated, emotionally charged second-chance romance.
Content notes
- kidnapping
- threats of violence
- stalking
- past trauma
- murder
About the book
Since moving to Austin to ease the pain of past, tragic mistakes, she has led a life of virtual solitude, coming alive only when she hosts her show. To her loyal listeners, she is a wise and trusted friend who not only takes their music requests but listens to their problems and occasionally dispenses advice.
Paris's world of isolation is brutally threatened, however, when one listener -- a man who identifies himself only as "Valentino" -- tells her that her on-air advice to the girl he loves has caused her to leave him and that now he intends to exact his revenge. First he plans to kill the girl, whom he has abducted -- which he says he will do in 72 hours -- then he will come after Paris.
Joined by the Austin police department, Paris plunges into a race against time in an effort to find Valentino before he can carry out his threat to kill -- and to kill again. To her dismay, she finds that one of the people she must work with is crime psychologist Dean Malloy, a man with whom she shares a history that had a catastrophic effect on both their lives. His presence arouses old passions, forcing Paris to confront painful memories that she had come to Austin to forget.
As the clock ticks down, and Valentino's threats come closer and closer to becoming a reality, Paris suddenly finds herself forced to deal with a killer who may not be a stranger at all.
Description from Open Library.
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