Are You Afraid? (Signet Eclipse)
Cassidy's sharp new thriller boasts an easy, masterful balance that's rare and ambitious for a suspense novel. Dr. Jessica "Jessie" Langford, psychiatrist, single mother and Kansas City radio personality, has begun receiving eerie phone calls—not so strange for the host ofAre You Afraid of the Dark?but for the memories they stir up of the serial killer Jessie escaped as a teenager. Against her better judgment, Jessie contacts Det. Jake Merridan, already investigating the brutal murder of two women while juggling his own duties as a single parent. As Jessie's case moves beyond simple harassment, and their relationship moves beyond the professional, the couple combine resources to root out the killer before he catches up to Jessie, "the one who had gotten away." Quiet details make Cassidy's novel work: a shared smile between Jessie and her son; the easy back-and-forth of a good date; the creepy specifics of murder. Cassidy's smooth, simple prose tells a full story that's equal parts romance, family drama and sheer terror. Though the ending is a bit of a stretch, it's Jessie who gives the novel its foundation: an intelligent, mature, accomplished woman who's easy to root for.(Mar.)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.