In this suspenseful romantic thriller, the fourth in Flade’s Philly Heat series, public defender Hannah Patel's life is being threatened by a devious stalker. Assigned to watch over her and investigate her case, Detective Doyle Murphy feels in his gut the stalker won’t stop until Hannah is dead. Complicating the case, though, is how his life becomes entangled with Hannah's professionally and personally, especially as romance buds in the midst of attacks on Hannah and those closest to her—and as Doyle remains convinced the stalker must be “a serpent hiding in plain sight.” Watching and plotting his next move, that culprit becomes even more obsessed and enraged the closer Hannah and Doyle get to one another, putting both of their lives in jeopardy.

Flade has written an entertaining thrill ride of a story filled with twists, turns and romance. Beautiful Dangerous proves to be a page-turner from the opening chapter. As Hannah endures grief from the death of her brother, Doyle makes startling discoveries that could connect that death and Hannah's current predicament. Hannah proves a strong protagonist, as, facing pressures from work and the stress of keeping her family out of the loop and safe, she still is determined to help Doyle bring her stalker to justice. The burgeoning connection between Hannah and Doyle, meanwhile, is touchingly developed in moments like Doyle talking her through a panic attack with patience and empathy.

Flade deftly sows reasons for readers to feel that everyone Hannah knows is a potential suspect, and the final revelations prove jolting. She also blends the sweetness of a new romance with the death, violence, and tension of a thriller, with welcome attention paid to Hannah’s trauma and healing. With a smart, quick witted protagonist, and a strong, emotionally intelligent love interest, Beautiful Dangerous will grip fans of fast-paced suspense novels with themes of romance, mystery, and murder.

Takeaway: A scary-good romantic thriller where no one is to be trusted.

Comparable Titles: Julia Heaberlin's Black-eyed Susans, Lisa Lutz's The Passenger.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A