The Maze

Catherine Coulter

After her sister Belinda was killed by a serial murderer seven years earlier, Lacey Sherlock studied forensic sciences. Now she is a new FBI agent and has a chance to help discover other serial killers. Perhaps she can even find her sister's murderer, the String Killer.

Special Agent Dillon Savich was impressed with Sherlock's action during an FBI test. He requested her for his new unit, the Criminal Apprehension Unit. The CAU looked for patterns and anomalies in crimes. Along with Savich's special program on his computer, MAX, they often are able to find the unnoticeable. Sherlock is excited to be in the CAU. She is able to start immediately in an area that works with serial killers rather than in the Los Angeles office chasing bank robbers.

Sherlock is able to use the resources of the CAU to look for her sister's killers as well. Her brother-in-law wants her to give up her quest and her job and return to San Francisco. He continues to come to Washington DC to visit her. Her father wants her to give up on looking for Belinda's murderer. Savich wants to build up her strength and learn what she is hiding. He sees the potential of an excellent FBI agent but it's obvious to him that she is hiding something from her past as well.

Then, after a seven year silence, the String Killer strikes again, this time in Boston. Sherlock first tries to investigate in Boston alone. Then Dillon discovers what she is doing. He also brings the FBI resources in to try to identify the man who makes women walk through mazes, then kills them in the center.

There is more going on than Dillon or Sherlock realize. Before they are able to stop the String Killer for good, they may become victims themselves. It's a good thing they can trust each other.

Catherine Coulter uses red herrings and misdirections very well in The Maze. Lacey Sherlock (who has heard all the jokes and prefers Sherlock instead of Lacey) is a focused, strong woman. She is more than able to stand toe to toe with the intelligent Dillon Savich as well as get thrown by him in karate lessons. Savich's character is not as fully developed, although the couple recur through the rest of this series, so I'm sure he is filled out.

The Maze is suspenseful, keeping the reader hooked in trying to figure out what will happen next. It throws the reader when they catch the String Killer half way through the book. But the man isn't done.

If you like good suspense with a touch of sexy romance thrown in, you'll like The Maze.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence, Strong indecent language, Strong sexual content

Sherlock and Savich:

The Cove
The Maze
The Target
The Edge
Riptide
Hemlock Bay
Eleventh Hour
Blind Side
Blow Out
Point Blank
Double Take
TailSpin
Knockout
Whiplash
Split Second
Backfire
Bombshell