Magic has always been a part of Samantha Shaw's life. Her grandpa, a magician himself, has been known to have a trick up his sleeve from time to time, which has come in handy on quite a few occasions. Samantha's dating business, Heart Mates, is about to get a make-over as she joins forces with the hot and sexy Gabe Pulizzi as they combine their two businesses under one roof. Despite their romantic involvement, Samantha is determined to make this venture a huge success while launching her own career, with the help of Gabe, as a private investigator. After the betrayal of her deceased ex-husband, Samantha has made a pact with herself not to rely on any man for his financial or emotional support, which makes her relationship with Gabe a little tricky, to say the least.

When a famous pseudo magician appears, the peaceful town of Lake Elsinore is turned upside down. Shane Masters is no ordinary magician. His spectacular show is actually called a spoiler because during the act, he reveals the secrets of the trade of an up-and- coming magician. The soon-to-be star's career is ruined and Shane's notoriety keeps him laughing all the way to the bank. To add insult to injury, the identity of the magician being exposed is not revealed until the night of the performance which has left the local magicians in a twitter. When summoned to ascertain which magician's head is up on the chopping block, Samantha Shaw finds herself conjuring up tricks of her own to help piece this rather unusual puzzle together. As key players start disappearing, Samantha realizes that it is going to take more than just magic to solve this mystery.

THRILLED TO DEATH is the fifth novel in Jennifer Apodaca's The Samantha Shaw Mystery series. Like its predecessors, it is an action oriented novel with the right amount of lust, intrigue and humor. The plot is plausible and entertaining while the characters are endearing and likable. The reader can easily relate to the lead character's daily struggle as she tries to balance being a hard-working mom as well as a sexy woman looking for love. Always a hit, Apodaca's latest addition is sure to be a winner with her devoted fans.