Starred review from August 16, 2010
Jacobson’s third thriller featuring FBI profiler Karen Vail (after Crush) sizzles with nonstop action and startling details about drug trafficking. When Karen’s lover, Det. Robby Hernandez, disappears in California’s Napa Valley while she’s busy catching John Wayne Mayfield, the notorious “Crush Killer,” Karen is horrified to learn that she may have blown Robby’s cover. As part of a DEA operation, Robby was investigating drug cartel kingpin Carlos Cortez and his associates, including the CFO of a mobile wine bottling company, César Guevara. Guevara was funneling drugs for Cortez and using Mayfield to eliminate anyone opposing the drug lord. For years the DEA has wanted to take down Cortez, and now Karen does, too. Refreshingly real, Karen doesn’t let her tough “take no prisoners” attitude stand in the way of following her heart. While this dizzy nail-biter is a direct sequel to Crush, enough backstory will keep new readers up to speed.