Francesca Moretti, private investigator and ex-cop, was hired to find April Bonner. The last missing person case didn't end well and left her with images of the nasty discovery. This new case brought her to the Wheeler Salvage Yard. The leads pointed to the owner of this vast wasteland of junk, and she was immediately shaken by a sense of foreboding and menace. She was discovered nosing around the yard by none other than Butch Vaughn, the man who had lured April with his on- line dating post. Of course he didn't use his real name, or divulged that fact that he was married, but his on-line photo is what Francesca used to find him.

The local sheriff had just hired Department 6, a private security firm, to investigate the discovery of the graves of murdered women in Dead Mule Canyon. The firm sent Jonah Young and, as luck would have it, Jonah and Francesca had a past that was going to wreak havoc on their working together on this case.

The Wheeler family is beyond creepy and, as the case unfolds, each member seems to have something to hide. Just what exactly are they all working so diligently to cover up? Do the Wheeler's have any connection not just to April but to those women found in the desert? So, as Francesca boldly confronts them, you begin to realize she seems to jump into situation after situation without regard for her own safety. She knows what she wants -- clues and answers.

There is an ever present sense of danger surrounding Butch or his brother-in-law, Dean. No denying the temper Butch doesn't even try to hide or Dean's mental imbalance and his morbid interest in violence. All the clues point to Butch or Dean. Rooting out the real murderer is going to be difficult and dangerous and Francesca has no choice but to work with Jonah.

Jonah is beginning to take the assaults against Francesca personally, even though he won't acknowledge how he still feels about her after all these years. Francesca is equally guarded around him. But as she becomes the newest target all bets are off as Francesca and Jonah realize that time is not on their side. The problem is the nagging feeling that a piece of the puzzle is missing. Just who are they looking for?

Well, Novak did it again. You know you are reading a really good murder mystery when you are saying aloud "oh no", and "don't turn off your cell phone." Novak puts you right in the middle of the story and, with KILLER HEAT, it's not where you really want to be.