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David Silver #3
Alien Heat
Homicide cop David Silver and his Elaki partner hunt an arsonist/killer who exterminates humans and aliens alike
Saigo City is caught in the grip of a savage murder spree by a perp who kills without compunction, then eliminates the evidence by torching the crime scenes. After a private residence is set on fire, killing two adults and four children, the hunt intensifies for this monster who seems intent on destroying both humans and Elakis. But there may be something else going on. The arsonist is targeting supper clubs, and afterward, the burned-out real estate is being snatched up by members of a sinister cult.
With the help of an Elaki law enforcer named String and the alluring female psychic Teddy Blake, homicide detective David Silver follows his instincts and uncovers two startling connections between the arson killings: a shadowy mind institute and the disappearance of a Chicago heiress. As he moves closer to the truth, Silver is thrust into the line of fire. His marriage and life are on the line as he races to unmask the killer before the uneasy peace between humans and Elakis is destroyed forever.
Saigo City is caught in the grip of a savage murder spree by a perp who kills without compunction, then eliminates the evidence by torching the crime scenes. After a private residence is set on fire, killing two adults and four children, the hunt intensifies for this monster who seems intent on destroying both humans and Elakis. But there may be something else going on. The arsonist is targeting supper clubs, and afterward, the burned-out real estate is being snatched up by members of a sinister cult.
With the help of an Elaki law enforcer named String and the alluring female psychic Teddy Blake, homicide detective David Silver follows his instincts and uncovers two startling connections between the arson killings: a shadowy mind institute and the disappearance of a Chicago heiress. As he moves closer to the truth, Silver is thrust into the line of fire. His marriage and life are on the line as he races to unmask the killer before the uneasy peace between humans and Elakis is destroyed forever.
- GenresScience Fiction
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1994
3 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Hightower
43 books85 followersLynn Hightower grew up in Kentucky, and graduated from the University of Kentucky, where she studied creative writing with Wendell Berry and earned a degree in Journalism. She also teaches novel writing in the Writer’s Program at UCLA. Survival jobs include writing television commercials, catering waitress, and bartender for one day.
Her books have been included in the New York Times List of Notable Books, the London Times Bestseller List, and the W.H. Smith Fresh Talent Awards. She has received the Shamus Award, and been nominated for the Kentucky Literary Award, the Kentucky Librarians First Choice Award, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Hightower’s books have been published in numerous foreign countries, including Great Britain, Australia, Japan, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Israel and The Netherlands.
Hightower spends ridiculous amounts of time curled up reading, but also enjoys small sports cars and tame horses. She is married to The Frenchman, writes full time, shares an office with her Belgian Shepherd, Leo the Lion, plays bad but fierce tennis, loves to dance and is learning to Tango.
Hightower enjoys canoeing and is witty after two glasses of wine. She has studied French and Italian, but is only fluent in Southern.
Hightower is a Kentucky native, and lives in a small Victorian cottage with a writing parlor.
Her books have been included in the New York Times List of Notable Books, the London Times Bestseller List, and the W.H. Smith Fresh Talent Awards. She has received the Shamus Award, and been nominated for the Kentucky Literary Award, the Kentucky Librarians First Choice Award, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Hightower’s books have been published in numerous foreign countries, including Great Britain, Australia, Japan, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Israel and The Netherlands.
Hightower spends ridiculous amounts of time curled up reading, but also enjoys small sports cars and tame horses. She is married to The Frenchman, writes full time, shares an office with her Belgian Shepherd, Leo the Lion, plays bad but fierce tennis, loves to dance and is learning to Tango.
Hightower enjoys canoeing and is witty after two glasses of wine. She has studied French and Italian, but is only fluent in Southern.
Hightower is a Kentucky native, and lives in a small Victorian cottage with a writing parlor.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 28, 2025
HAD TO BUY THIS ONE
Libby had the first two.
But I’ve enjoyed the characters so much I couldn’t pass this up.
It’s just a crime story. The addition of aliens affects the story very little
But these have been good stories.
Libby had the first two.
But I’ve enjoyed the characters so much I couldn’t pass this up.
It’s just a crime story. The addition of aliens affects the story very little
But these have been good stories.
August 6, 2014
This, the next to last installment in the series, is what definitely flipped me from having issues with Rose and deciding that David Silver is a frakking (being polite here) jerk. Rose has issues, there is no getting around that. As readers we can wonder if she and Haas are just good friends or FWB. I understand that she appears to have significant PTSD issues from her time with the DEA (which is more military than law enforcement in 2040), and apparently part of her way of dealing with it is to hire out to militant animal rights activist groups.
What I personally will not tolerate is what has become David's indifference to the situation, the damage he is doing to Rose and their three children. and spoiler space...
Cheating on Rose just tops it off. I mean David has a pretty good life. A job he cares about, friends on the job, his children love, if not adore, him and Rose loves him and is trying to deal with life despite her emotional problems. And, David falls, and it appears our of stupidity, for Teddy the psychic working on the murder and arson case David, Mel, and String (their Elaki partner) are working on. Teddy represents an ideal to him, and you know what? As much as we want an ideal existence, life is messy and if you're married and have children often difficult. There are some easy times, but you know its messy.
David doesn't deal well with messy, and really he never has since climbing from the ghetto into his current respectable job.
The procedural portion of the story is well executed by Hightower. We are introuduced to Yo, the city's top arson investigator and her mentally disabled son, both charming characters, and from an emotional view I mourned Yo's death.
As for the arson, got to give the perp credit for covering his tracks so well using phony psychics and hate groups.
What I personally will not tolerate is what has become David's indifference to the situation, the damage he is doing to Rose and their three children. and spoiler space...
Cheating on Rose just tops it off. I mean David has a pretty good life. A job he cares about, friends on the job, his children love, if not adore, him and Rose loves him and is trying to deal with life despite her emotional problems. And, David falls, and it appears our of stupidity, for Teddy the psychic working on the murder and arson case David, Mel, and String (their Elaki partner) are working on. Teddy represents an ideal to him, and you know what? As much as we want an ideal existence, life is messy and if you're married and have children often difficult. There are some easy times, but you know its messy.
David doesn't deal well with messy, and really he never has since climbing from the ghetto into his current respectable job.
The procedural portion of the story is well executed by Hightower. We are introuduced to Yo, the city's top arson investigator and her mentally disabled son, both charming characters, and from an emotional view I mourned Yo's death.
As for the arson, got to give the perp credit for covering his tracks so well using phony psychics and hate groups.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews