Customer Reviews

Deadly Impulse

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Deadly Impulse
by Olga Bicos

Book Reviewer: Pamela Ackerson (author--Home of the Braves trilogy)

Struck by lightning! Or was he? Ms Bicos has written an awesome story of suspense and intrigue. Romantic suspense is not one of my particular choices of a good read. But after reading the back cover it intrigued me enough to open the book and try it out. It was worth it. The book was a page turner. For a bit there in the middle it slowed down, rehashing the plot but once the "reminders" were given to the reader it zoomed again. Good book to curl up and read on a stormy evening with thunder as the background music.

I was a big fan of Olga Bicos' earlier books, and so I had no qualms in purchasing this one. Big mistake. This book embodies almost all of the flaws of the romnatic suspense genre: the gorgeous, vulnerable heroine (who doesn't realize how beautiful she is), the sexy, disheveled hero (yet with a touching vulnerability), an Adorable Kid, a bitchy, hungry social climber (you can just see the target on her back), and a soooooo predictable secondary love interest pair. Pfaugh. I kept thinking she'd make it fresh in some way, but no - you see every plot twist (more like a mild shimmy) telegraphed way in advance, and the whole book is one big "if only I could tell him/her" that artifically separate the hero and heroine.
I'm sorry I wasted my time on this book.

The trial ended with a hung jury, but most people believed that photographer Clayton Chase killed his pregnant wife Jillian though he insisted he was unconscious having been hit by lightning. Currently, Clayton receives mental counseling from Piper Jordan who specializes with lightning cases ever since her beloved spouse died when he was struck. She raises her two children though the older teen Mandy is not her biological daughter while her preadolescent son Simon suffers from electroporation as a result of the same strike that killed his dad.

Clay's lawyer Aidan Parks informs him that Florida is re-prosecuting the case. Clay cannot understand why Aidan represents him as Jillian's influential and wealthy dad wants Clay executed. Meanwhile Clay realizes that he is falling in love with his counselor especially when she is the only subject he can photograph since he was struck by lightning. However, he also knows, as the trial starts, he will not see her or help Simon who is only a scared child not suffering from an illness. To her chagrin, Piper is attracted to her patient, who is probably a spousal killer.

DEADLY IMPULSE is an exciting romantic suspense thriller that grips the audience who will want to know whether Clay really killed his wife. Though the story line has perhaps too many sidebars, ultimately they come together turning into a tense final confrontation. Fans will appreciate this strong thriller while hoping for a sequel involving a reappearance of secondary players, a married ADA and her private investigator spouse.

Harriet Klausner

I should have read the reviews before reading the book. It was an OK read, but about 100 pages too long! I do not recommend this book, and probably won't read others by the same author.