Low Pressure

July 16, 2012
In this breathless romantic thriller from bestseller Brown (Lethal), Bellamy Price hopes that her debut novel, the pseudonymous Low Pressure, will be therapeutic. Instead, Low Pressure reopens many old wounds in Austin, Tex., after Bellamy’s identity becomes known, and the public learns the novel is based on the murder of her sister, Susan, 18 years before. Among those most upset is pilot Denton Carter, Susan’s one-time boyfriend and a prime suspect until his alibi proved convincing. Another is Ray Strickland, the brother of the man convicted of the crime and later killed in prison. When both Bellamy and Denton are targeted in attacks, digging further into Susan’s murder becomes imperative for both. As they re-examine the unsavory roles played by officials involved in the case, Bellamy must face new truths about Susan and other members of her family. Sexual tension fueled by mistrust between brash Denton and shy Bellamy smolders and sparks in teasing fashion throughout. Agent: Maria Carvainis, the Maria Carvainis Agency.

September 1, 2012
A bestseller about an old homicide that once dominated the headlines brings a family back together in Brown's thriller set in Texas, Atlanta and New York. Bellamy Lyston Price returns to Austin to see her dying father and comfort her stepmother, Olivia, in the wake of a media circus brought on by Bellamy's novel, Low Pressure. The book fictionalizes the murder of Bellamy's rich, spoiled and beautiful older sister, Susan, who was strangled with a pair of her own panties on a company picnic nearly two decades before. Bellamy wrote the book to exorcise demons that had been tormenting her since she attended the picnic as a child, hoping that it would stir forgotten details of the day her sister was killed. Instead, the book, which shoots to the top of the bestseller list and attracts the attention of a muckraking reporter, brings the real-life cast involved in the homicide and its investigation back together, and Bellamy, along with Dent Carter, her sister's former boyfriend, are thrown together to find the answers. Along the way, they meet some pretty nasty characters, including the deranged brother of the man who was convicted of killing Susan, a cop whose investigation had more holes than a sieve and a soulless former prosecutor. The novel is fast moving and entertaining, although the occasional foray into soft porn may distract some readers, but there are a few flaws. Brown's biggest sin is that she makes her bad guys evil all the way through, without any redemption, and that includes much of the Austin Police Department, which she paints as corrupt and inept at best. The unrelenting nastiness takes her characters a little too far over the top to be believable, but she ultimately redeems herself and the book because, unlike many writers of popular thrillers, Brown skillfully combines strong characterization with plots that keep the reader guessing all the way. A good old-fashioned thriller and a winner, even though the bad guys are sometimes just a little too bad for plausibility.

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September 15, 2012

Bellamy Lyston's promiscuous sister, Susan, was murdered 18 years ago, right before a tornado touched down. As part of her therapy, Bellamy used a pen name and wrote a best-selling novel based on the terrible experience. However, someone unhappy about the renewed attention to the case begins to stalk Bellamy, who turns to Susan's old boyfriend for help. VERDICT Brown, one of the queens of romantic suspense, earns another A+ for the suspense portions of her latest novel. As always, she does a great job managing a large number of characters and keeping her readers guessing. Unfortunately, the romance seems forced and unnecessary. Maybe it's time for Brown to recalibrate that part of her very successful formula. Recommended for fans of Brown and modern suspense. [See Prepub Alert, 3/21/12.]--Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2012
An author whose (pseudonymous) debut novel is an instant best-seller is revealed to be the survivor of a horrific family tragedy. Now, her identity no longer a secret, she's forced to revisit the events she's spent so many years trying to bury and to find out, finally, who murdered her sister almost two decades ago. Brown's latest thriller should appeal to her many fans. It has a solidly constructed story, with just enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing; a strong and engaging protagonist; and some very effective writing. Readers who are well versed in the thriller genre might see some of the author's surprises coming, but even if you know what's going to happen, it doesn't ruin the enjoyment of the novel. Brown is a proven entity, a big-name writer who reliably delivers the goods, and demand for this title should be high.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)