In Close [Mass Market Paperback]

Brenda Novak (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 25, 2011

Claire O'Toole's mother, Alana, went missing fifteen years ago. That was big news in Pineview, Montana, the kind of town where nothing much ever happens. Then, last year, Claire's husband, David, died in a freak accident—after launching his own investigation into Alana's disappearance.

Is Alana dead? Or did she simply abandon her husband and daughters? Claire is determined to find out—and her former boyfriend, Isaac Morgan, wants to help. Although their relationship didn't end well, he still has feelings for her. And yet it isn't until he starts to suspect David's death wasn't an accident that he's drawn back into her life.

Together, Claire and Isaac search for answers to the questions that have haunted Pineview all this time. But as they soon discover, someone's prepared to kill so those answers won't be found….

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I felt a real connection to the characters... It was an exciting, intriguing read."

-First for Women Magazine on Killer Heat

Novak "builds her characters and plot by adding genuine and recognizable feelings-from angst to passion to terror and beyond... A great end to a wonderful series."

-Suspense Magazine on Killer Heat

Body Heat "is a definite page-turner."

-RT Book Reviews

"Novak expertly blends romantic thrills, suspenseful chills, and realistically complicated characters together in a white-knuckle read that is certain to keep readers riveted to the last page." -Booklist on Body Heat

"Brenda Novak has written the best high-action thriller of 2010. White Heat far exceeded my expectations. From page one I was immediately hooked on this fast action plot that was like solving a Chinese puzzle box." -Midwest Book Review

With "distinctive characters and a nail biting plot, Novak's White Heat is flawless and easily a Best of 2010 contender."

-Suspense Magazine

"Novak writes gripping romantic thrillers."

-Library Journal

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has penned over 40 novels. A two-time Rita nominee, she's won The National Reader's Choice, The Bookseller's Best, The Bookbuyer's Best and many other awards. She runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com. To date, she\u2019s raised over $1 million. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Mira; First Thus edition (October 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778312666
• ISBN-13: 978-0778312666
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #449,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brenda Novak Bio

It was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak's career as a bestselling author--she caught her day-care provider drugging her children with cough syrup to get them to sleep all day. That was when Brenda decided she needed to quit her job as a loan officer and help make a living from home.

"When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book," Brenda says. But she sold that book, and the rest is history. Her novels have made the New York Times, USA Today and Borders/Waldenbooks bestseller lists and won many awards, including three Rita nominations, the Book Buyer's Best, the Book Seller's Best and the National Reader's Choice Award.

Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are proud parents of five children--three girls and two boys. When she's not spending time with her family or writing, Brenda is usually working on her annual fund-raiser for diabetes research--an online auction held on her Web site (www.brendanovak.com) every May. Brenda has raised over $1.6 million to date.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific small-town amateur sleuth October 29, 2011

By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME

Format:Mass Market Paperback

In Pineview, Montana fifteen years ago, Alana O'Toole vanished without a trace. The disappearance was never solved as the case went cold. One of Alana's two daughters Claire suffered another loss last year when her husband David began an inquiry into what happened to his mother-in-law only to die in an accident.

With a need to know and to pay homage to David, Claire begins an investigation into her mom's disappearance. Her former boyfriend Isaac Morgan offers to help her though he thinks her probe is a waste of time; he still loves her and feels bad with how their relationship ended badly. However, he becomes fully engaged when he finds evidence that David did not die in an accident; making him think the man found something that required his silence. Someone they know may have killed her mom and murdered her spouse.

This is a terrific small-town amateur sleuth in which the romantic subplot enhances the prime story line of someone apparently silencing those getting close to the truth. Like the lead female, readers wonder if the culprit is a family member as her paralyzed sister and her step parents want her to drop her obsession. As the killer has to be In Close to Claire with Pineview being a tiny town, fans will relish this tense psychological thriller in which an unknown predator kills anyone who learns the truth.

Harriet Klausner

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! October 29, 2011

By Casey Dare

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Still mourning the loss of her husband, Claire O'Toole finds documents that reveal her late husband's investigation into the disappearance of her mother fifteen years prior. With this discovery, Claire's determination to continue the investigation rushes forward and non-stop action ensues. Was her husband murdered for getting too close to the truth? Did her step-father do it? Her step-mother? Her sister? Someone close? Someone she loves? Will her search destroy what's left of her family? And will her ex-boyfriend, now her co-detective, destroy what's left of her heart? Or will he heal her?

Novak's reputation for world-building and depth of characterization shines brilliantly in this well executed romantic suspense. I eagerly awaited this book and boy was it worth the wait! It is so rare that I can get through a book and not identify the villain. In this book, I never figured it out until it was revealed in the end. I'm only sad that I have to wait months for her next release.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!! You Will Love It! November 18, 2011

By MBC

Format:Kindle Edition

Brenda Novak is the most spectacular writer. You will fall in love with her books! It's hard to say which is my favorite because I enjoy them all but this one I gotta say is one of the top :) I cannot wait until her next book comes out!I have read them all from her romantic Dundy books to her romantic suspense trilogies. They all capture you and take you for a ride. Keep up the great work Brenda

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "I found In Close to be an exhilarating novel harboring a sexy couple and heartwarming romance." January 7, 2012

By M. Nix

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Claire's mother went missing when she was a teenager. It's a mystery that has never been solved but always disturbed Claire. Claire has always been the caretaker. Her sister was paralyzed in a sledding accident and since then Claire has doted on her but it gets tiring as Leanne's attitude deteriorates. Claire's husband died in a horrible hunting accident. Since then Claire has just barely been living. She's decided to get on with her life and the first step is finding out what happened to her mother, Alana.

No one wants Claire looking into her mother's disappearance. That quickly becomes evident to her as she is attacked at her mother's old studio. The last person she expects comes to her rescue: Isaac Morgan. Claire used to be in love with Isaac but he never wanted anything more than sex and then she married David. However, she cannot deny the heat that course through her when he's around.

Isaac never forgot the one that got away. A torch burns bright within him for Claire and he cannot stand the thought of anything happening to her. If she is determined to go on with this investigation then he is going to help her and protect her while he's at it. If she happens to land back in his bed Isaac is cool with that as well. Danger lurks closer than they could ever imagine and if they're not careful Isaac and Claire could pay the ultimate price.

Brenda Novak's In Close is a gripping nail-biter. There are some scenes in this book where I was holding my breath fearing the outcome. I found In Close to be an exhilarating novel harboring a sexy couple and heartwarming romance. I loved everything about the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Claire's mother and following Claire as she finds the clues is fantastic fun.... While I wasn't as emotionally connected to this book as I was the first two in the series, I could definitely feel Claire's pain over the disappearance of her mother and the death of her husband. Ms. Novak continually surprises me with her clever mysteries and vivid storytelling. There were points where I literally felt like I was right there and could see and smell every detail. Sometimes that is good, sometimes not so much but it makes In Close unique and a hit. After reading the three books in the Bulletproof series, I am officially a fan of Ms. Novak's work and I intend to grab up everything she's written.

Miranda
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspense With A Touch of Romance November 14, 2011

By Mason Canyon

Format:Audio CD

If you're looking for suspense, mystery, a little romance, and a fair amount of action, then I have a story for you. IN CLOSE by Brenda Novak fits that bill. The audio version read by Angela Dawe brings the story to life even more.

Claire O'Toole has always wanted to know what happened to her mother, who went missing 15 years ago. After Claire's husband, David, is killed in a freak hunting accident, she resumes her search for the truth. It seems Claire's sister, step father and step mother would rather she left it alone.

Going through some boxes of her mother's, Claire also finds boxes of David's things. One box contains a folder pertaining to Claire's mother, Alana. David had been conducting his own investigation into Alana's disappearance before he was killed.

Circumstances reunites Claire with her former lover, Isaac Morgan. Both have fought their attraction to each other since David's death. Reading the files, Isaac believes David's death may not have been an accident. Seems David may have gotten too close to the truth about Alana's disappearance.

As the two begin to search for the truth, the old feelings between them come to the surface. Both refuse to share their true feelings with the other adding another layer to the story.

Author Brenda Novak keeps the reader (or listener) on pins and needles as she includes a number of red herrings along the way. Just when you figure out what happened, she drops a different clue causing you to ponder new suspects.

This fast-pace story is heightened by the wonderful narration by Angela Dawe. Her interruption of the characters adds depth to the story. She does a delightful job of giving separate voices to each of the characters, as well as expressing their emotions.... Her tone is perfect for this suspense-filled, action-packed novel.

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. Read more ›