Emma Cross traded her government position at the CIA for the staid pace of civilian life at St. Kilda Consulting. Her relatively tame job, investigating yacht thefts for insurance purposes, is about to hit some turbulence. When St. Kilda is approached about the Blackbird, a yacht suspected in an impending terrorist attack of an unknown nature, Emma is the logical person for the job. After all, the Blackbird is the twin of a yacht that she has been tracking. Unfortunately, the intel is sketchy, reminding her of the old days. The worst part is that she only has seven days to locate and confirm the identity of the Blackbird, ascertain and secure the deadly cargo, and determine the players responsible for the whole mess. Will she be able to pull-off the impossible, and accomplish all the mission objectives? Or will American lives be lost?

MacKenzie Durand, former Special Ops, makes his living piloting boats. His latest job consists of off-loading a yacht named Blackbird and delivering it to be outfitted before it goes to its owners. However, his military training has him looking over his shoulder and seeing too many suspicious coincidences. When he is approached by Emma Cross, he is wary of jumping into the investigation and trusting people he doesn't know. Mac is a man who relies on his instincts. The longer he listens to them, the louder they are screaming that something isn't right. With no other recourse but to follow those instincts, he signs on with St. Kilda. Will they make it out of this impossible situation with their lives? What will he do if he survives it?

Elizabeth Lowell gears us up for a fast paced ride loaded with action and tinged with romance. Emma and Mac join forces to combat an unknown enemy. They make a great team and use it to their advantage, even if the lines between duty and passion blur a little. I always enjoy sitting down with a good thriller and Ms. Lowell does not disappoint. She keeps giving you little pieces of the puzzle, but never enough to give you the full picture until the right moment. DEATH ECHO hooked me from the beginning and reeled me in for an exciting read. This is definitely a great summer catch.