In the Shadow of Evil

Romantic suspense writer Caroll (Fear No Evil) combines detective work ethics with construction site surroundings to build suspense and tension between two unlikely love interests. Homicide detective Maddox Bishop is an emotionally scarred man after entering a crime scene in his own home some 18 years earlier and finding his mother's dead body. Set on never opening his heart to a woman, Maddox can't seem to fight the growing bond developing between himself and a potential wrongdoer, Layla Taylor, a contractor and recent victim of heartbreak. Strong wills clash as the two discover they have to work together to unravel the escalating crimes of violence involving every one of Layla's personal and professional contacts. It takes loss of lives and relinquishment of everything, including significant past grievances toward parents, to move Maddox and Layla beyond bitterness before either can embrace a hopeful future. Caroll's work unfortunately does more telling than showing, and the result is a rather clumsily done wannabe love story that gives readers the facts but no feelings for the characters' plights. (Mar.)