Scream for me, by Karen Rose

My first book by KR. It's the second book of a trilogy, something a bit uncommon in romantic suspense.

Thirteen years ago Alex's life collapsed when her twin sister Alicia was murdered and her mother killed herself. She managed to pull herself together and build a life, but now the past comes rushing in when her stepsister Bailey dissapears leaving a traumatized 4 years old behind. Alex has to leave everything to come to her hometown, where nobody's worried about Bailey's dissapearance.

What's even creepier, a serial killer had started copycating Alicia's murder. The detective in charge, Daniel Vartanian, has his own luggage. His brother was a serial killer too, and a rapist. He had photographs of gang raped girls... among them, Alex's sister.

It looks like this crimes are related to Alicia's murder, but how? And does Bailey's dissapearance have anything to do with it? The argument gets more twisted as old secrets surface, and the public image of respected town citizens is jeopardized.

In this book, the suspense is heavier than the romance, although all the town knew when Alex and Daniel got laid. I can only say I'm glad this investigation wasn't real (and not only for the gruesome crimes) because it was biased and wouldn't have standed a real trial. On one hand, Daniel was the brother of a murderer who had some relation to the current crimes and was dating his prime witness. On the other hand, Alex tagged along through all the investigation (when does a witness roam the streets with a couple of cops looking for a dangerous suspect?).

Anyways, the book was gripping and entertaining although, morbid as I am, I would have liked a little more description. A good asset was the hero's hound, Riley, a sad looking and puking basset.

The only thing that pulled me off a little was that, as the middle book in a trilogy, I was a little lost at the beginning when they talked cryptically about events in the previous book, and there were a couple of major mysteries left unsolved.

The series are:

1.- Die for me: Vito & Sophie. Simon Vartanian (Daniel's brother) is the bad guy. (2007)

2.- Scream for me: Daniel Vartanian and Alex Fallon (2008)

3.- Kill for me: Luke Papadoupolus & Susanna Vartanian (Daniel's sister) (2009)