Review - Seeing Red by Susan Crandall

Seeing Red
Susan Crandall
Grand Central
January 27, 2009
ISBN# 978-0-446-17857-0

Book Blurb:
Ellis Greene remembers very little about the night of her cousin Laura's murder, but she does recall the face of the murderer. Ellis was the key witness to the crime, and her testimony helped put Hollis Alexander in jail for a long time. With Hollis behind bars, Ellis should feel safe, but the memory of that awful night still haunts her. Determined to free herself from the fear of being attacked like her cousin, Ellis has become an expert in self defense. However, when Ellis hears that Hollis has been paroled, she feels like a helpless teenager again--and she isn't the only one who notices that he's free.

Laura's boyfriend Nate was one of the prime suspects for her murder. After the court case, many still believed that Nate was guilty and he left town to reinvent himself. Now, fifteen years later, he has returned to protect Ellis from suffering the same fate as her cousin. As soon as Ellis and Nate see one another, sparks fly. But Ellis hasn't let herself fall for a man in a long time, and she isn't sure whether she can trust Nate. As Laura's murderer zeroes in on Ellis as his next target, she must fight to stay alive while she finally discovers her true feelings about Nate.

My thoughts:
At the young age of thirteen, Ellis lost her cousin Laura to a brutal act. Now, fifteen years later, she still has sleepless nights. The life she lives so cautiously is about to get a lot more dangerous. Hollis Alexander has been released from prison and plans to follow through on the threat he made to that young girl who helped to put him away.

Nate Vance had been Laura’s boyfriend, and was considered a possible suspect at the time. He fled Belle Island as soon as he could, but now he’s returned to watch over her. The trouble for Ellis is that he’s keeping secrets and even if he can keep her safe from a killer, she’s not quite sure if she’s safe from Nate.

Seeing Red is well-written and offers so many surprising twists that it will keep you guessing until the very end. Ms. Crandall moves her story along at a steady pace with danger around every turn. The characters are well defined and the chemistry between Ellis and Nate is sizzling. Seeing Red is heartbreaking as the troubled life of a young girl is brought to light, and the suspense of who victimized her will keep you at the edge of your seat.

To learn more about Seeing Red, please visit Ms. Crandall’s website: HERE

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews