Blood Rose - Hardcover

This fourth novel by the author of Ritual contains a veritable school of red herrings, which are initially intriguing but ultimately strain the novel's effect. Haunted by an incident in his past--he was forced to kill his partner, who was a serial murderer--former NYC detective Paul Devlin takes the job of police chief in a sleepy Vermont town. Another new resident is Leslie Adams, lately arrived from Philadelphia with her younger brother, seeking a quiet place where she can safely hide from her brutal husband. Blake, Vt., however, offers sanctuary neither to newcomers nor to oldtimers: a serial killer is murdering women, removing their hearts and leaving a single red rose as a "signature." Heffernan's prose is pedestrian--characters are too often "chilled"; when they speak they "hiss" and "stammer." Yet he can construct a devious and surprising plot, and there is enough action to satisfy a devotee of martial arts. But weak characterization and Heffernan 's penchant for telling instead of showing defuse this thriller's sizzle.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Young, attractive Leslie Adams and little brother Robbie move to a bucolic Vermont town, hoping to escape her nasty, abusive husband. They immediately become embroiled in circumstances surrounding the gory, mutilation murder of a beautiful young woman of "sullied" reputation. As the murder escalates into a series, pressure falls on the ex-NYPD sheriff to incarcerate the local crazy Vietnam veteran who roams the woods. Other resident psychos and various punks, including the husband, provide constant consternation for Leslie and nerve-tingling excitement for the reader. Buckets of gore tempered by a touch of romance and humanity. Recommended.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.