Without A Trace (Berkley Sensation) [Paperback]

Lynn Erickson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Berkley Sensation | Publication Date: November 4, 2003

Four words and suddenly Jane Russo can no longer hide from their duty. A rapist and killer is preying upon young girls in western ski towns-- and he has so far eluded cops in four states. His latest victim has disappeared from Aspen, and if he follows the same pattern, in days she will be dead. The FBI needs Janes' help-- and sends agent Ray Vanover to lure her back into the game. But, Jane, a police sketch artist, is burned out. Her extraordinary ability to delve into the minds of victims and witnesses has failed her. Because deep in her subconscious lies a night she can't forget-- and a face she can't remember.

Editorial Reviews

Review

WITHOUT A TRACE is a remarkably intriguing romantic suspense. Compelling page turner. -- Romantic Times November 2003

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Berkeley Sensation Edition edition (November 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042519325X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425193259
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,228,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars solid police procedural romance, November 6, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Without A Trace (Berkley Sensation) (Paperback)

In Denver police sketch artist Jane Russo needs to get away from the pressure of failure that could mean the death of an innocent. Her last case has destroyed her psyche as she has failed to obtain a drawing of a serial rapist-killer from the survivors. Jane does not follow the book and is usually able to coax the information so that she can sketch a portrait, but this time she has failed though the culprit has struck several times.

FBI Special Agent Caroline Deutch and survivor rights advocate Alan Gallagher pressure Jane to try one more time. The rapist abducted twelve-year old Aspen resident Kirsten Lemke from the Snowmass slopes. Reluctantly, Jane works with skeptic Ray Vanover to save the life of Kirsten and bring a nasty felon to justice. As they struggle with the case and Jane with Aspen being the home of her somewhat estranged family, they fall in love, but the preadolescent's safety comes first.

Fans of police procedural romances will enjoy WITHOUT A TRACE, a solid suspense thriller. The story line is action-packed in a low key level as Jane and Ray interview witnesses in an attempt to save a life. The estrangement with her mother seems off kilter especially when Jane is easily coaxed into dinner. Her sister's cavalier attitude towards Jane's work feels too selfish for a mom. Still the investigation is top rate and the romance as good.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a good book, May 14, 2004

By 

Butterscotch (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Without A Trace (Berkley Sensation) (Paperback)

This was not a good book, despite the positive reviews it has received. As with Erickson's other books the dialogue is painful. The dialogue is filled with "Um." "Huh." and "Uh-huh." and those fillers are used as complete thoughts and sentences. Obviously the characters have very little sucbstance if that can be the extent of each exchange. Is it so hard for two writers to come together and create a fluid sentence?? I guess so, because these 2 women are hopeless writers. This was the second book I was given by Erickson, and both books suffered from the Um and Huh problem. I cannot understand how writing like that is deemed interesting or engaging by other readers. In any case, the plot is about a woman who was once raped but cannot remember the face of her rapist. She is now a police sketch artist and is called in to assist on a case similar to her own, and it drudges up memories about her own rape. The authors did manage to keep the suspense going (not about the lead character Jane's rape) about the current case she was working on. However, there were a lot of shortcuts taken with this book. The relationship between Jane and Ray (the lead detective) was forced and very rushed at the end, leading to a unrealistic and unbelievable conclusion. The relationship Jane had with her family wasn't well developed and the character interaction was weak at best. The story could have been lengthened to explain the relationship more between Jane and her family, Jane and Ray, Jane and Alan, and even Ray and Kathleen. The authors cramed the story into just over 100 pages and left too much unsaid and undeveloped. The story was just that, a story, with no genuine substance or anything that will leave you wanting more from this/these authors. I am so glad to be done forever with Erickson books. NOT recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect 10, November 4, 2003

By 

Vicky Gilpin (Old Book Barn Gazette) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Without A Trace (Berkley Sensation) (Paperback)

Completely captivating, WITHOUT A TRACE is one of the best books I have read this year. Jane's insecurity in her ability to help the victims of these horrific crimes is heart wrenching, as she struggles with her inner demons to help each witness/victim remember the minutest detail of a memory they just want to erase. Ray, tortured by his own nightmares, is a true doubting Thomas, but is perfectly portrayed as the dark, brooding hero needed for a romantic suspense.

Secondary characters round out the story nicely, and Ms. Erickson's creativity allows evil to exude when the murdering rapist plays center stage. Once I picked up WITHOUT A TRACE, I never put it down until the last word was read. Strong, earthy characters, vivid imagery, and a suspense-filled plot, weld together to make WITHOUT A TRACE a top contender for best book of the year, and I am pleased to award it Romance Review Today's Perfect 10.

Catherine McHenry