Customer Reviews

With Malice

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Detective Karen Sweeney is called on to investigate two seemingly unrelated murders on the same day. Senator Grant Lawrence learns that his beloved nanny and former lover have both been murdered on the same day. He knows there is a connection and that it is being hidden to protect his political career and his family. Karen trusts the senator but is disturbed by the hidden agendas that impede her investigation. As each is drawn into the deepening suspense and political agendas they form a tenuous relationship that is strongly tested before the final resolution. This plot is believable and very well developed. The personalities and motivations of Lee's central characters are beautifully defined. Once I began I was unable to stop reading until the end. I have read Rachel Lee before and I believe this is her best effort to date.

but not my last! This lady is special and her little extra touches make the story even more wonderful. She spins this tale of murder, betrayal, kidnapping, and more with style and grace.

I loved the characters--all of them--but especially Karen, the Tampa detective. I was moved to tears several times while reading the story, and the plot was intricate and suspenseful. Every time you thought things couldn't get worse--they did, and it was difficult to sort out the good guys from the bad guys. Mystery, suspense, fine character development, and a little romance--all the things I appreciate in a book, and, believe me, I'll be back for more!

Tampa Homicide Detective Karen Sweeney is at the crime scene of a Jane Doe when the call comes in for her to change venues as a second murder at the estate of US Senator Grant Lawrence has been reported. Karen arrives at the second homicide scene where she finds the slashed throat of beloved elderly nanny Abigail Reese. Karen interviews Grant's special counsel Jerry Connally, who insists he was seeking papers for his boss when he found the corpse.

Karen believes Jerry is hiding something. Jerry informed Grant that he removed a second victim, stripper Stacy, a former girlfriend of the Senator, from the estate to the alley where she is catalogued as Jane Doe. Grant returns to Tampa to help with the investigation into the murder of his beloved nanny, but feels guilty covering up Jerry's rash action. As Karen falls in love with Grant, he reciprocates her feelings. However, she believes he knows more about the case than he has told, but she has yet to find the smoking dress even as a killer wants to do more than just abort his presidential run.

WITH MALICE is an exhilarating police procedural romance with political implications that readers of the three genres will enjoy, but requires acceptance from fans that an "amateur" could successfully remove a corpse from a crime scene. Karen is a good cop while Grant is an intriguing politician who compromises on some items, but refuses to budge on loyalty to those he loves even if it costs him the White House. The mystery, political thriller, and romance audiences will take immense pleasure Rachel Lee's suspenseful novel.

Harriet Klausner

Two murders turns up the heat for famous female detective, Karen Sweeney of Tampa. Close family friends ends up killed. Karen and the Senator make their own heat. There are many suspects, but the perp will be a total surprise to the reader. Children's lives are in danger and Karen puts her life on the line. A wonderful suspense story and has lots of twists and turns.

Tampa homicide detective Karen Sweeney is investigating the murder of a Jane Doe when she is called to the home of US Senator (and presidential hopeful) Grant Lawrence, whose nanny was brutally murdered at his palatial estate. The two murders seem unrelated, but Grant soon learns that his aide, Jerry removed the second body belonging to Stacy, a stripper once romantically linked to Grant and placed her in the alley to be classified as an unrelated Jane Doe. It is only a matter of time before Karen puts the clues together or the culprit leaks the connection to the media.

As Grant returns to Tampa and is involved in the investigation, he finds himself attracted to Karen, and she appears to return his feelings. But his guilt over Stacy is overwhelming and he will work overtime to protect his two daughters from the storm of controversy in which the murders have embroiled him. All is not what it appears to be, as suspects pile up, and the motive could be linked to one of Grant's many legislative decisions.

More a political suspense thriller than a full blown romance, Lee's potboiler is sure to please readers of multiple genres. Both of the leads are tortured and flawed heroes, and unlike most wham, bam, I love you romances, this one starts slow and takes its time to develop the characters and plot as opposed to the romantic aspects of the story.

This was an interesting book in more ways than one. The plot was good- and there was an interesting twist. The romance was nice- it didn't go too fast and it didn't feel forced. The romance was only a small part of the book and some of the actions and words of the characters implied the gwowing attraction without going into detail. The only part that I found a little disappointing was that the lead detective didn't do enough investigating. It seemed like the leads just fell into her lap and she didn't have to work for them. Otherwise I really enjoyed the book!

Suspense and romance winds up swift in Rachel Lee's latest politick thriller as detective Karen Sweeney undertakes investigation on a double murder of nanny Abby Reese and dancer Stacy Wiggins, both connected to hot-shot senator Grant Lawrence. Jerry Connelly, his aide has moved the body of Stacy to mitigate suspicion but the truth is ferreted out soon when the murderer slips evidence of their connection to the media. Suspects and enemies turn up as Grant's resolution-52 on environmental protection may spell agro-economic gloom as well as Stacy's spurned lesbian lover. Rachel Lee propels the story with gripping suspense and a drama fuelled by vendetta as morality clashes with deception. She takes readers through grisly procedurals, explosions and heart-rendering human drama which makes With Malice a relentless spree.

I think this is the best political book I have ever read. For once it is based on the good character of a political person instead of the negative. I felt as if I really knew Grant Lawrence and could feel his pain after his childrens nanny was killed in their own home.Now he must fight to save his career and the lives of his children. Settle back with this book and the pages seem to turn without help.
I had not read any Rachel Lee books for some time, now I ask myself......WHY?

Very good read. The author keeps everything going at a great pace and keeps you guessing.

When presidential hopeful Senator Grant Laurence's life is impacted by two murders, agent Karen Sweeney is called in to find out who is trying to ruin the Senator's life. She had not planned on falling for the charismatic politician, but that is what happens. However, the two will have to let their sizzling attraction take second place to the deadly situation that brought them together. A killer is out there, one with a very personal grudge against Grant, and Karen is his only hope of survival, not only for himself, but for his two little girls and their innocence. As the plot moves to its breathtaking conclusion, secrets and lies must be untangled, or two sweet children will die.

***** Once again, Rachel Lee proves why she is among the reigning queens of romantic suspense. In this novel, guaranteed to appeal to fans of such dramas as CSI, 24, etc., readers are taken on a roller coaster ride of tangled lives and murder.

From page one until the end, the action races along with high tension. Even men could enjoy this one, so intense is the drama. Grant is a truly outstanding hero, both ruthless and compassionate, with his first thought ever being his daughters' well being. Karen could be a precursor of Eve Dallas, a savy and capable woman who is never cowed by the danger in which she lives. Polictics and passion interweave so skillfully that you feel you are reading a true story. *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.