Detective Shoni Alexander's career is on the skids. After her mother's death from a hit-and-run, Shoni battles fatigue and anger over the lack of justice in the case. The driver escaped prosecution due to a technicality. The need for revenge eats into her gut. Her boss threatens to remove her from her current case involving a serial arsonist due to lack of results. What Shoni doesn't need in her life are any more complications. However, when a gang assaults a homeless man, her life takes a dramatic turn.

John McClane remembers nothing of his past. He's been on the street for several weeks with only vague flashbacks. An uneasy feeling keeps him from going to the police for help. But when he sees an arsonist setting a fire, John gets intense police scrutiny. While Shoni interviews him on the street, an attempt is made on his life. The evidence shows a professional hit man behind the endeavor. Shoni glues herself to John while trying to unravel the mystery. Feelings flare between them, but John's murky past prevents them from acting upon those feelings. Danger increases as more attempts are made on John's life. Shoni and John flounder, as they do not know who to trust. Who are friends and who are enemies?

Ms. McKade has created an intensely suspenseful drama set within a five-day time span. Using the premise of not being able to trust keeps the tension high. Add three-dimensional secondary characters and you have a top-notch romantic suspense novel.