Eve Wilson is a graduate student doing her thesis on the
addictive controls of virtual reality games on the
internet. Eve has at least six test subjects that she
considers "red line" -- they are spending more and more time
in "Shadowland" than is considered healthy. Eve is not
supposed to know these volunteers other than by their
online personae, but she has discovered who the ones are
that may have a serious problem in real life. When one of
her subjects is reported to have committed suicide, Eve
feels a responsibility for the death. After all, these
people answered an ad about being used as testing material,
and now their addiction gets in the way of a healthy mental
life. Knowing she faces expulsion for having confidential
information, Eve reports the untimely death to Dr. Donner,
her graduate advisor. He is upset that Eve has the
audacity to suggest that there was not enough follow up on
the situation, and will have to discuss the matter of her
breaking confidentiality with the Dean.
Eve works evenings in a bar owned by a former cop, Sal, and
his wife, Sally. Eve is the survivor of a brutal slashing
and raping, and was left for dead. She has had surgeries
done to her face and is just now able to function around
strangers. Sal's place is a cop hang-out and there is one
in particular that has caught Eve's attention. Noah
Webster has been coming in with his partner, and always
orders a tonic water. Noah really doesn't like this
drink, but he wants to see Eve. Ten years ago he lost is
wife and son in a car accident, and for the next eight
years drowned his sorrows in alcohol. He's been sober for
two years, but it never gets easy. He's very attracted to
Eve, but feels he has too much emotional baggage to take
the step toward her. Likewise, Eve feels a connection to
Noah, but trust doesn't come fast or easy.
Two more of Eve's study subjects "commit suicide", or so
the press is told. Actually, it is obvious these women
were killed by a sadistic psychopath. What Noah and
his "Hat Squad" can't figure out is the connection these
victims have until Eve goes to the police and tells them
these women are study subjects in a cyber village called
Shadowland. Now, the police have something to go on and
know that the predator is choosing these women from a
virtual reality game -- a very deadly game.
Karen Rose writes edgy, gritty, and totally engrossing
tales. In this story the reader is in the killer's head,
watching through his eyes as he kills, but not knowing his
identity. Noah is a terrific, flawed, but strong hero
and he is perfect for Eve, as he brings out her
strengths. He needs Eve's guidance through cyberspace to
investigate the murders. This is one white-knuckle, pulse-
pounding story that is impossible to put down even when you
are being frightened to death yourself!
FYI: Eve was introduced in Ms. Rose's debut thriller,
DON'T TELL (2003).
New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose
delivers her latest pulse-pounding suspense novel, where
the line between the virtual world and everyday reality
blurs when it comes to murder.
Eve Wilson's face
was once scarred by a vicious assault. Terrified and
ashamed, she escaped to the online realm, where she could
choose the face she allowed people to see. Years later,
her outer scars faded and inner scars buried, Eve has
fought her way back to the real world and is determined to
help others do the same. Now a graduate student
moonlighting as a bartender, Eve researches the addictive
powers of online communities. When her test subjects begin
turning up dead as a result of apparent suicides, she
doesn't know where to turn.
Homicide detective Noah
Webster is one of the few people who believe the victims
are connected murders. Eve becomes Noah's online guide and
realizes that the handsome detective may have secret scars
as painful as her own. As Eve and Noah chase a killer who
is always one step ahead of them, together they try to
overcome the tragedies of their pasts and learn to trust
again, but they soon discover that danger is much closer
than they think.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy