cover image Desperate Girls

Desperate Girls

Laura Griffin. Gallery, $16 trade paper (368p) ISBN 978-1-5011-6241-1

Griffin (Touch of Red) weaves just enough romance into this intensely suspenseful novel of murder and passion. Defense attorney Brynn, about to begin a trial to save her client’s life, hears that her former colleague has been murdered. The main suspect is a man she helped put in jail, who’s now free and looking for revenge. Brynn’s boss promptly hires private security to protect Brynn and her cocounsel. At first Brynn is furious about her activities being dictated, but the more she gets to know her guard, Erik, the less she minds. Erik, former military and Secret Service, does everything by the book: no distractions, not even caffeine on the job. But the more time he spends with Brynn, the harder it is to follow the rules. As they embark on the dual thrill rides of the trial and the search for the killer, fire builds between Brynn and Erik. Griffin pulls out all the stops in a phenomenal twist ending that will leave readers stunned. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Aug.)