THE MAZE

Popular historical romancer Coulter (Rosehaven, 1996, etc.) takes on serial killers, the FBI, and a wholly implausible cast in her latest venture. When Lacey Sherlock (supposedly a world-class musician, although this is mentioned only in passing) becomes a special agent at the FBI, it is the culmination of an obsession that has lasted for seven years—the amount of time that's passed since her older, half-sister Belinda was one of seven San Francisco women murdered by a serial killer. At the time, Lacey pledged to find him, and now she's prepared to use her insider status to do just that. She's far less prepared, however, for the feelings stirred up by her new boss, computer-genius/stud Dillon Savich, who's more than willing to help her on her quest. When the pair track down the String Killer, Marlin Jones, they think their troubles are over. Unfortunately, the case then takes a major turn for the overcomplicated. Marlin may not have killed Belinda; at the same time, Lacey's family—her father, a judge, her mother, who's housebound and "crazy," and her former brother-in-law, Douglas—also come into the picture. The fast pace will hold some appeal, but the cartoonish villains and the comic-book storyline may not. Overall, not Coulter's finest.