KISS ME, KILL ME, book two in the Lucy Kincaid series by Allison Brennan, begins just a few weeks after the conclusion of Love Me to Death. Lucy is dealing with the emotional fallout from her confrontation with a serial killer and the derailing of her plans to join the FBI. Sean Rogan, partner in the security firm RCK East with Lucy's brother Patrick and Lucy's lover (much to Patrick's displeasure), pulls her in on a missing person investigation. Lucy's skills in cybercrime and tracking on-line predators may be the key to finding his teenage cousin-by-marriage, Kirsten Benton. Their investigation quickly uncovers Kirsten's secret life as "Ashleigh", a girl who frequents an on-line sex site and the underground world of instant raves that involve music, drugs, and sex with strangers.

Lucy and Sean's investigation unexpectedly overlaps with the hunt for a serial killer being led by FBI Agent Suzanne "Mad Dog" Madeaux. The "Cinderella Stranger" has killed four women and each body has been found among the debris of a rave. Each woman was asphyxiated and left with only one shoe. Witnesses are hard to come by and so is a suspect. Lucy, Sean, and Suzanne will need to join forces to find Kirsten and stop the killer in time to prevent another death.

Ms. Brennan ratchets up the suspense on page one and keeps it going until the last page. The quick pacing and careful revealing of clues to the killer kept me reading late into the night. In this book, the romantic element is the continuing development of the relationship between Lucy and Sean. I enjoyed watching them build and grow their relationship in the midst of some serious challenges. Though I always prefer reading books in a series in order, this book can stand alone.