Customer Reviews

Deadly Intent

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was anything but bland as one reader put it....I read 2-3 books a week and this is the best one I've read this year so far. Abbie DiAngelo is visited by her step-brother soon after his release from prison because he saw her in the news as a top chef and restaurant owner. He thinks she's his ticket to some serious money after he schemes with another inmate to blackmail her. I give nothing away here (as it's also in the back cover of the book), her brother is killed before she delivers the money he wants. Detective John Ryan, finds she's not telling the truth but is seriously smitten with her. You would think that after the step-brother dies her problems are over, but they are just beginning as there is another man out there wanting the money she was going to give her brother because "if he was going to give it to her brother, she has it and can give it to him....." A great story. Another Christiane Heggan favorite is Betrayals. If you haven't read that one, you're missing out....

Despite the terrible fire in her childhood and traumatic divorce, Abbey DiAngelo has a good life as a successful chef and restaurant owner now. All this is threatened when her step-brother is released from jail, armed with evidence that could destroy her family's happiness. In order to buy his silence, she agrees to pay his blackmail, but before she can deliver, is attacked by a mysterious figure, and later learns that her step-brother has been murdered.

Yet the threat does not end with his death. In fact, it only becomes worse as the murderer sets deadly sights on Abbie now. Her only hope of salvation lies in homicide detective John Ryan. As past secrets come forth and loved ones are drawn into the line of fire, these two find not only danger, but romance. Yet it could all mean nothing if Abbie's son falls victim to a killer.

***** In this novel, you will find that Ms. Heggan has delivered her best book to date. The suspense holds your interest from the first to the last page. Although the romantic element comes along late in the book, it in no way disappoints, and the human element of the plot is well developed, adding rich depth to the plot line. This is a great way to start the new year. *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Though her beloved mother Irene suffers from early stages of Alzheimer's, award-winning chef Abbie DiAngelo feels life is good. The single mom is proud of her nine-year-old son Ben and her restaurant Campagne is the hottest spot in Princeton, New Jersey.

Her era of good feeling ends when her stepbrother Ian MacGregor reenters her life for the first time in almost three decades. He demands she give him $100K or he will provide evidence to the Palo Alto police that her mother killed her stepfather by having a fire set to their home. Abbie's counteroffer is 48K, which Ian accepts. However, his former partner Arturo Garcia arrives in town, seeking vengeance on Ian who betrayed him to the cops ten years ago. Arturo kills Ian. The police lean towards Abbie killing her sibling, but Detective John Ryan, a single dad, thinks otherwise. As they fall in love while he conducts his homicide investigation, Abbie finds her life spin into something worse as someone she cherishes is kidnapped with only John willing to risk all to keep everyone safe.

This exciting romantic suspense picks up speed the moment Ian begins his extortion plot and never eases up until the final twist occurs. Though the kidnapping seems contrived, readers will enjoy the tension that the plot emits. Abbie is a wonderful lead protagonist whose courage to confront her foes will make her a fan darling. The support cast rounds out a strong plot even if Scott Rolen was traded during the last season from the Phillies.

Harriet Klausner

Ian McGregor is at the bottom of the human race and while in prison sees his ex step sister Abbie Di Angelo on television who he hasn't seen for most of his life and decides he will con her and blackmail her into giving him $100 000 dollars. He and Earl Kramer a death row inmate develop the plan and when Ian is released from prison he pays his step sister a visit. Giving into the blackmail for her mother's sake, instead of Ian at the drop off point for the money she finds Artura Garcia with a knife and only narrowly escapes death. She does not know who he is but he wants money that Ian owes him and he will stop at nothing to get it. Ian is dead and John Ryan is investigating his death and takes a very close interest in Abbie.

This is a pretty good book although a bit predictable at the end as the criminal mastermind is very easy to work out. Still you are captured by the novel's high quality to want to know what happens at the end. The characters are very well developed and you definitely want to know what they are going to do next.

Celebrated chef and divorcee Abbie DiAngelo hasn't expected her new-found success and peace with her son Ben to be shattered by the ominous return of her step-brother Ian MacGregor. He has evidence that her mother Irene has recruited an arsonist to cause the fire that killed her alcoholic stepfather and intends to blackmail her. Ian, meanwhile, who is just released from prison is pursued relentlessly by a betrayed mob boss Arturo. On the day of the exchange, Ian is brutally murdered and homicide detective John Ryan takes charge of the case. Just when Abbie thinks the nightmare is over, a deadly enemy awaits to turn her life upside down again.

Deadly Intent is high octane razor-edged suspense nifty with twisty red-herrings and jarring drama - and Christiane Heggan makes every of her characters relevant to the central plot, drawing out the usual suspects and motives. Ms. Heggan renders credibility to the story with a sense of time and venue in Princeton and an ordinary lukewarm romance between the protagonists Abbie and John that is believeable with emotional honesty and the right chemistry. Few can refute the story is bland when it is a rollercoaster ride of deception, mystery and vendetta and the desperate search of a mother for her son. No grand passion? Sorry - but the excitement is enough for me. Deadly Intent is an adrenaline rush from start to finish.

Really liked her books. Was a new author for me.
Had loved the Mary Higgins Clark books and these remind me a little of her books just a tad more racy in parts. Still a good read.

This is my first book by Christiane Heggan. The suspense in the book was pretty good, while the romance was so-so.

Ian MacGregor is an inmate in prison when he sees his ex-stepsister on tv. He hasn't seen her in 28 years since a fire destroyed their house and killed his father. When he sees her on television getting interviewed about her new restrurant, he devises a scheme of blackmail.

Abbie DiAngelo has finally got her new business off the ground. She is very happy with her life. She has a nine year old son, a mother who lives close by, and a restrurant that is doing excellent business. When Ian comes back into her life, she sees her dreams going down the drain.

When Ian first tells Abbie about the blackmail, her first thought is to go to the police. She doesn't want her mother hurt though, so she agrees to pay him half the money he originally wanted. When she goes to the drop off to give him the money, Ian isn't there and she is attacked. Later, she finds out Ian is dead.

John Ryan is the detective in charge of the case who knows that Abbie is hiding something, but he doesn't know what it is. He is also going through his own ordeal, deciding how he could get his son to live with him full time, while juggling his job and making his ex-wife happy with the arrangement.

The romance between John and Abbie is sweet, but not very explosive as I normally like reading. The mystery was enjoyable and I believe that you will enjoy the book if you like romantic suspense.

Abbie DiAngelo lives an almost perfect life with her nine year old son, Ben, while running an up and coming restuarant in Princeton, NJ and helping to care for her mother who has early stage Alzheimers. Then her step brother whom she has not seen in decades reenters her life and things get complicated. He's blackmailing her, then he's murdered. She, though not a suspect, is implicated and must lie to protect her mother from police investigation. That scrutiny comes in the form of a very attractive detective, John Ryan. The attraction is immediate for both but Abbie cannot confide in Ryan because of her allegiance to her mother. In addition Ryan and his partner are concerned with the serial killer who is molesting and murdering young boys in the Princeton area.

Ryan finally discovers Abbie's connection to the murder case he's investigating and helps to prove her mother's innocense. Their relationship develops and all is well until Ben is kidnapped. Noone knows whether the kidnapping is related to the serial killer or to the blackmail scheme. Does it seem unlikely that two such ominous events would be centered around one town and one family? Sure, but this is romantic suspense.

Though at times incredible the tale is well told and makes for good light reading.

The book was a fast read. The characters were the most interesting part. The woman is a chef and the man the lead detective. Both come to the relationship with plenty of baggage and a kid. The suspense left a little to be desired but all in all it was good and I DO recommend it.

Despite the terrible fire in her childhood and traumatic divorce, Abbey DiAngelo has a good life as a successful chef and restaurant owner now. All this is threatened when her step-brother is released from jail, armed with evidence that could destroy her family's happiness. In order to buy his silence, she agrees to pay his blackmail, but before she can deliver, is attacked by a mysterious figure, and later learns that her step-brother has been murdered.

Yet the threat does not end with his death. In fact, it only becomes worse as the murderer sets deadly sights on Abbie now. Her only hope of salvation lies in homicide detective John Ryan. As past secrets come forth and loved ones are drawn into the line of fire, these two find not only danger, but romance. Yet it could all mean nothing if Abbie's son falls victim to a killer.

***** In this novel, you will find that Ms. Heggan has delivered her best book to date. The suspense holds your interest from the first to the last page. Although the romantic element comes along late in the book, it in no way disappoints, and the human element of the plot is well developed, adding rich depth to the plot line. This is a great way to start the new year. *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.