Author: Cynthia Eden

ISBN: 9780446559256

Publisher: Grand Central (Hachette Book Group)

Click Here To Purchase Deadly Lies

Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes paranormal romances and romantic suspense novels. She is currently very busy writing her stories for Grand Central Publishing and Kensington Brava. She has always wanted to write, and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters, vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories. Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology and Communication.  Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. Other titles include: Eternal Hunter, Midnight Sins, and Hotter After Midnight.

FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is still haunted by her past. On a previous case for the Serial Services Division, she was abducted and forced to endure her worst fear by a mad man. Her fellow agents aren't sure she's ready to return yet, so she pretends to be a more confident and completely in control woman. In an attempt to keep the darkness at bay, she shares an unbridled passion with a handsome stranger. But personal and professional lines are crossed when successful entrepreneur Max Ridgeway's brother is the next in a line of kidnappings targeting rich families. Some victims have returned with scars, some have returned in pieces. The attraction between Max and Sam is undeniable, but neither is who they seem. Yet they must trust each other to work this case of deadly lies or Samantha's nightmares will become all to real... again.

This is the third book in the SSD series with Deadly Fear and Deadly Heat coming before. Though part of a series, these are stand alone reads. I didn't find this book near as haunting and powerful as the first two, but nonetheless it was a stellar read. Mostly in part because of the author's detail to post traumatic stress syndrome and working it into the plotline for her heroine.

After reading all three books in this series, what stands out most memorable to me is the epilogues, told through the point of view of Hyde, the head of SSD. He has his own traumatic past and reasons for joining this division of the FBI, which we learn little by little at the end of every book. I don't know if this is the last book in the series or not, but I hope not for several reasons, especially Hyde's.

As with all Cynthia's books, she spins a web of lies, murder, and deceit so deep you must keep reading or succumb to insomnia. The secondary characters are essential and interesting, the plot is fast-paced, the romance hot, and the setting vivid. Recommended.