EXCERPT

"Richard bounced across the rough field on his motorcycle toward home. He peered in the direction of the front door and wondered why his mother hadn't poked her head out and waved as she usually did when he arrived.

She must be busy over the stove, he thought, wheeling into the barn yard. He jumped off the bike and glanced up at the roof of the house. No smoke curled out of the pipe vent connected to the wood burning stove. That worried him.

Quickly pushing the bike into the barn, he dusted off his jeans and hurried toward the back door. Sniffing the air, he thought it odd that he couldn't smell any food cooking. Mom always had something going on the stove that made his mouth water.

His dog Ruffy hadn't run to greet him either. As he raced up the rickety wooden steps, he glanced quickly under the raised back porch for his large Golden Retriever, but didn't see him. Giving his seat one more dusting, he opened the squeaky screen.

Richard had no more stepped into the kitchen than he staggered backwards against the door jam. He sucked in his breath as he stared in horror at his mother's body sprawled on the floor in a pool of blood. And Ruffy's furry body lay beside her, blood still flowing from the slit in his throat.

He swallowed hard, then forced himself forward, stretching out his arm so that only the tips of his trembling fingers touched his mother's cold, lifeless body. As the smell of death invaded his nostrils, the taste of bile bubbled into his throat.

Richard clutched his stomach and stumbled back outside where he leaned over the wooden railing and vomited until his insides ached from the dry heaves. Tears blurred his vision and sobs wracked his whole being. Who would do this horrible thing to his beautiful mother and gentle dog?

He took a deep breath and turned back toward the entry. Maybe what he'd seen was no more than a horrible figment of his imagination. He eased open the door, shot a quick look inside, then slammed it shut. His breath came in ragged spurts as he leaned his forehead against the hard wood. No, dear God. . .it really had happened. His mother and dog were motionless.

Fear slithered down his spine. Could the killer still be in the area?"

© 2001 Betty Sullivan La Pierre

REVIEW

Fans of Ms. La Pierre's will be delighted with this third novel in her Hawkman series. True to Ms. La Pierre's form this book is full of edge of your seat action. When a young boy returns home to find his mother murdered, he sets out to avenge her death. This proves to be a dangerous undertaking and the young man (Richard) doesn't realize that it is his life that might be added to his mother's. Can Hawkman and Jennifer (his mystery writing wife) protect Richard from the hatred and anger that threatens to destroy him?

This story is packed full of suspects from a crazy mountain man, hell's angel bikers, a missing uncle, to a cop who wants pen the murder on Richard himself. As always, there is a race against time with lots of unexpected twist and turns. And by the way, did I mention that the young man is deaf?

This is a MUST read for all of Hawkman's fans and I personally think, La Pierre's best work so far.

-- Jonathan David Masters,www.booktrees.com