Rapid Fire

Bear Claw Creek Crime Lab #3

by Jessica Andersen

A Killer She Could Handle...
With her badge and her reputation on the line, criminal psych specialist Maya Cooper vowed to catch the serial killer whose attacks plagued Bear Claw Creek. She had no choice - she was his next target!

But Not the Return of the One Man Who Knew Her Deepest Desires
Now, to catch the madman, she'd need Thorne Coleridge's help. But trusting Thorne had never been easy for Maya. Her former police academy instructor was the one man who knew the secrets of a past she'd worked hard to forget. And remembering what they might have had together threatened the safety of Thorne's protection. Protection that was the only thing keeping her from falling prey to the killer's deadly scheme.

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Romantic Suspense, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Suspense

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jessica S. Andersen is an American writer of mystery and medical romances. She obtained a PhD in Genetics, but when she finally settles on a single career, she will have been many things: a doctor of molecular genetics, a patent agent, a freelance editor, a professional horse trainer and riding coach, a fiance and the proud owner of a pair of corgis. But if you ask her who she is, Jessica will say, "I'm a writer. The rest is all background research."

Jessica lives in a smal farm in eastern Conneticut with her own personal hero, Brian, as well as the corgis, two cats and a handful of young horses, who she claims are investments but never seem to get sold.

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars! ~ Psych criminologist, Thorne Coleridge is called in to Bear Claw Creek to help the task force find the Mastermind, the madman behind the murders and kidnappings that have plagued the city for months. Only when he arrives at the precinct, Thorne’s thrown for a loop when he learns he’ll be taking Maya Cooper’s place in the Forensic Dept. Five years ago, he and Maya had a very brief encounter when he’d been her Academy instructor; he’d been a changed man ever since. Maya’s badge and her credibility are on the line and being suspended from the force is making her nuts when she knows who the Mastermind is. It was trying to prove it that got her the suspension, and because of a memory blackout she can’t defend her apparent out of control actions. The Chief has ordered Thorne to practically babysit Maya, something that’s intolerable for both of them until the Mastermind decides it’s time to up the tension and makes an attempt on Maya’s life.

What a great ending to this riveting trilogy! I love all the twists and turns this trilogy has taken. Great unraveling of the identity of the Mastermind. I had my suspicions but was still amazed at that turn. Maya tortures herself with guilt over her rebellious past and doubts her present state of mind when she blacks out. The attraction to Thorne is different now, before it had been the lure of a good party, now he’s a man that sees deep inside and knows the dark secrets. And the chemistry is stronger. Thorne can’t keep Maya at arms length; she’s his salvation from himself. I love how both Thorne and Maya are flawed, and find the strength to face their demons. Awesome series!

[TinaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

She's been suspended and he's been called in as her replacement to help find the mastermind to Bear Claw's murders. They have a past and he see's visions which have him pushing her away, even as they keep getting drawn back together. I didn't like the on and off conflict but was a decent romance.

[Marie-Antoinette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ek het die boek baie geniet. Wie sou ooit kon raai dat die hoof die eintlike "baddie" is...

[Christy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rapid Fire is the third book in a nine book series, but it is also the last book in a trilogy inside the book series about Bear Claw Creek Crime Lab. I started this book last December, but I just didn't finish it. I put it on my book shelf and never got back to it until two days ago. This past year had been crazy and I didn't feel like reading.


In this book Maya Cooper is the main character along with Thorne Coleridge. Thorne was her instructor back in the academy until she transferred five years ago. Maya has a bumpy past that her best friends don't even know about and she has to open herself up for the first time in a long time if she wants to keep not only her job, but her life.


The Mastermind from the previous two books is still out there and now he's gunning for Maya. She's been put on suspension because of an incident that she doesn't even remember happening. She had been in a coma for a while because of the reaction from a drug she was dosed with. The biggest problem she's having is trying to put together what happened before she went to question Wexton Henkes.

I was suspicious of one person most of the way through this book and my guess was dead on. I figured out who the bad guy was before he was shown to be the Mastermind. He did a lot of things just to get Maya and her friends at the Lab. He was the reason that Maya's ex showed up because he knew about her past. They always figured it had to be an inside job, but the level of inside might be a shock to some.

This was a great ending to the trilogy inside the Bear Claw Creek Crime Lab's first 3 books. Can't wait to read more of them down the line.

[April Robertson-Ring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best of the first three in this series. The author definitely finds her stride by this one. The back story for Maya is the most interesting (to me) of the forensics dept. I really enjoyed how the big twist, which I think most people would see coming after Fitz is met, is an enjoyable conclusion to the ongoing Mastermind mystery. Sweet series. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story line transitions out of the forensics dept.

[Stephanie Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending to a series

I loved reading these books. Heart thumping gripping tale. Loved every second of it. Definitely worth the read. These characters leaped from the ones and stole my heart!!! ;)

[Erotic Horizon]

Rapid Fire (Silhouette Intrigue) by Jessica Andersen (2007)

[Jamie Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and didn't see the "real" guilty party until the send.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too original, but I enjoyed this book and the action. It waas a quickly read and I was engaged by the story. This is the only one of the series that I've read, but I would like to read more.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very late in catching this one up.... I know that I enjoy Ms. Anderson’s writing and that I loved this series as it was one u was defiantly going to read again!