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The Killing Room
Denver detective Jake McCoy is trying to recover—both physically and emotionally—from the shooting death of a young boy that also left her injured. She soon finds herself rehabbing at her cabin in the mountains, soaking in the remote natural springs—which is exactly where Psychologist Nicole Westbrook vacations and soon stumbles across her...
When Nicole leaves the next day, the two women know little more about the other than her first name—yet they are now lovers instead of strangers.
When Jake returns to Denver, a serial murder investigation soon leads her to Nicole. As the investigation develops, their physical attraction threatens to compromise the case. Nicole finds herself struggling to remain in the professional closet that she's been hiding in for so long—a place where an out cop like Jake McCoy simply does not belong.
Once the crimes are solved, will the women go their separate ways? Or will the physical attraction and the gentle tug of love prove that opposites do attract...
When Nicole leaves the next day, the two women know little more about the other than her first name—yet they are now lovers instead of strangers.
When Jake returns to Denver, a serial murder investigation soon leads her to Nicole. As the investigation develops, their physical attraction threatens to compromise the case. Nicole finds herself struggling to remain in the professional closet that she's been hiding in for so long—a place where an out cop like Jake McCoy simply does not belong.
Once the crimes are solved, will the women go their separate ways? Or will the physical attraction and the gentle tug of love prove that opposites do attract...
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First published February 1, 2006
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About the author
Gerri Hill
57 books1,561 followersGerri began writing lesbian romance as a way to amuse herself while snowed in one winter in the mountains of Colorado, and hasn’t looked back. Her first published work came in 2000 with One Summer Night. Many more romances have followed, with the occasional murder mystery in the mix.
Gerri’s love of nature and of being outdoors usually makes its way into her stories as her characters often find themselves in beautiful natural settings. When she isn’t writing, Gerri and her longtime partner, Diane, can be found at their home in East Texas, where their vegetable garden, orchard, and five acres of woods keep them busy. They share their lives with an ever-changing cast of furry friends.
Her favorite pastimes include camping, hiking, birdwatching (though she insists she doesn’t wear funny hats yet!), photography, and cooking. She collects things nature offers, like an unusual pinecone, colorful rocks, or an abandoned bird feather. Dawn is her favorite time of day, the moment right before sunrise...
"I love the morning... the beginning of a brand new day. Because even things that we know are unattainable flutter within our grasp. In the early morning—at that cusp of a new day—everything is possible."
Gerri’s love of nature and of being outdoors usually makes its way into her stories as her characters often find themselves in beautiful natural settings. When she isn’t writing, Gerri and her longtime partner, Diane, can be found at their home in East Texas, where their vegetable garden, orchard, and five acres of woods keep them busy. They share their lives with an ever-changing cast of furry friends.
Her favorite pastimes include camping, hiking, birdwatching (though she insists she doesn’t wear funny hats yet!), photography, and cooking. She collects things nature offers, like an unusual pinecone, colorful rocks, or an abandoned bird feather. Dawn is her favorite time of day, the moment right before sunrise...
"I love the morning... the beginning of a brand new day. Because even things that we know are unattainable flutter within our grasp. In the early morning—at that cusp of a new day—everything is possible."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
January 1, 2020
I specifically chose a classic/old Gerri Hill read to start the year on a good note! And thank god Gerri Hill didn’t fail me :) hello 2020 :)
This was exactly what I needed.. a fast paced, thriller, romantic and very entertaining read!
Yes I had a small issue with how closeted and ridiculous one of the MCs acted, but overall this is a book I totally recommend!
4.5 rounded up to 5!
This was exactly what I needed.. a fast paced, thriller, romantic and very entertaining read!
Yes I had a small issue with how closeted and ridiculous one of the MCs acted, but overall this is a book I totally recommend!
4.5 rounded up to 5!
June 16, 2022
I’m still working on reading Hill’s entire back catalogue. I liked the crime/mystery part of this book as I usually do with Hill’s books. It’s fast paced and not predictable. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance though. It’s an older book and it felt a bit dated with all the closeted high power women and the class differences (cop vs. doc) being in the way of a romance (not that that doesn’t happen now, but I think it’s not on the same scale anymore).
June 20, 2017
Great read! enjoyable,well paced,intertwined leading characters,tension filled,good storytelling and a side of romance..recommend (paperback!)
September 12, 2019
Special Victims Unit Detective Jake McCoy is recovering from a shooting that left her physically injured and emotionally scarred. As she is hiking in the mountains of Colorado trying to forget the past, she meets Psychologist Nicole Westbrook, a beautiful and intriguing woman. After sharing a day of passion with her, they part ways without knowing much more of each other than their first names. When Jake returns to Denver, a serial murder investigation soon leads her to Nicole. As the investigation develops, their physical attraction threatens to compromise the case. Can Jake and Nicole solve the case, survive the serial killer and have a happily ever after?
This is a very good mystery novel by Ms. Hill and one of the first few lesfic books I’ve read. Normally, lesbian mystery books have a little bit of love story on the side, but ‘The killing room’ has equal parts of mystery and romance and both remarkably well done. The mystery plot is filled with twists and turns and has an unexpected ending. The romance is very hot and the mains’ chemistry is sizzling, the build-up of the leads’ first encounter is masterful.
Both main characters are very well written and relatable, specially if you came out more than ten years ago. The leads come from very different backgrounds and have very distinctive personalities which makes this a very good opposites-attract story. Despite their differences, Ms. Hill manages to build the romantic and sexual chemistry to very hot levels. The story is entertaining and its twists and turns keep the reader/listener invested until the end. My only critique is that the romance conflict at the ending seemed a bit contrived, but it’s my personal opinion, and it’s so subtle that I’m sure most people won’t mind.
I have to alert readers/listeners about possible triggers. The book deals with the investigation of a sexual predator and serial killer so there are mentions of rape and violence though there aren’t graphic scenes as such. I’m normally quite sensitive to these issues but the way Ms. Hill dealt with them didn’t stop me from enjoying the book.
Regarding the Audiobook, this is one of these cases in which the narration makes the story even better. Ms. Craden sets the different tones of romance, mystery, and action skilfully, she performs the range of emotions perfectly. It’s easy to see what’s happening in your mind’s eye and that’s something I’ve come to value in an audiobook. 4.5 stars for the story, 5 for the narration. Average 5 stars.
Not available on Audible Escape but it’s free with the Scribd subscription.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
This is a very good mystery novel by Ms. Hill and one of the first few lesfic books I’ve read. Normally, lesbian mystery books have a little bit of love story on the side, but ‘The killing room’ has equal parts of mystery and romance and both remarkably well done. The mystery plot is filled with twists and turns and has an unexpected ending. The romance is very hot and the mains’ chemistry is sizzling, the build-up of the leads’ first encounter is masterful.
Both main characters are very well written and relatable, specially if you came out more than ten years ago. The leads come from very different backgrounds and have very distinctive personalities which makes this a very good opposites-attract story. Despite their differences, Ms. Hill manages to build the romantic and sexual chemistry to very hot levels. The story is entertaining and its twists and turns keep the reader/listener invested until the end. My only critique is that the romance conflict at the ending seemed a bit contrived, but it’s my personal opinion, and it’s so subtle that I’m sure most people won’t mind.
I have to alert readers/listeners about possible triggers. The book deals with the investigation of a sexual predator and serial killer so there are mentions of rape and violence though there aren’t graphic scenes as such. I’m normally quite sensitive to these issues but the way Ms. Hill dealt with them didn’t stop me from enjoying the book.
Regarding the Audiobook, this is one of these cases in which the narration makes the story even better. Ms. Craden sets the different tones of romance, mystery, and action skilfully, she performs the range of emotions perfectly. It’s easy to see what’s happening in your mind’s eye and that’s something I’ve come to value in an audiobook. 4.5 stars for the story, 5 for the narration. Average 5 stars.
Not available on Audible Escape but it’s free with the Scribd subscription.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
February 6, 2022
This book was written in 2006!!!! The only giveaway is that Detective McCoy wears her cell phone on her belt. Remember those days? Otherwise, you really don't have any clue. Gerri Hill has this way to make all her books seem timeless. Of course, it helps to have a narrator like Abby Hill bring them back to life as she did this one in 2019.
This book is a Crime/Thriller/Romance. So, if those tropes don't interest you, it may not be a good book for you.
The two main characters, Jake and Nicole, have chemistry that boils off the page. They are fantastic and the journey that Hill takes you on is a wild one. It is full of twists, but still continues to keep the romance at the forefront during the whole thing. The supporting characters are both great and infuriating. I feel that secondary characters can sometimes ruin a whole book. In this case, they help you to understand that main characters much better.
If you are wondering about the sex scenes in this one, I can assure it will not disappoint.
Thanks again to Hoopla for existing and allowing me to access all of Tantor Audio through my library card. This allows me to listen to endless Gerri Hill books with the great Abby Craden.
This book is a Crime/Thriller/Romance. So, if those tropes don't interest you, it may not be a good book for you.
The two main characters, Jake and Nicole, have chemistry that boils off the page. They are fantastic and the journey that Hill takes you on is a wild one. It is full of twists, but still continues to keep the romance at the forefront during the whole thing. The supporting characters are both great and infuriating. I feel that secondary characters can sometimes ruin a whole book. In this case, they help you to understand that main characters much better.
If you are wondering about the sex scenes in this one, I can assure it will not disappoint.
Thanks again to Hoopla for existing and allowing me to access all of Tantor Audio through my library card. This allows me to listen to endless Gerri Hill books with the great Abby Craden.
January 6, 2023
Came here for the romance. Stayed for the murdering rapist. Didn't think I'd ever make that choice...
I'm a bit on the fence about this one because the narration was great, the mystery was great, buuuut the romance was pretty awful.
Now, I do realize that this is an older book and closeted professionals were more prevalent "back then", but if I ever hear someone say "they're not my type" about someone they're crazy about ever again like that's a real obstacle or valid point....well, I'll lose my mind! I think I'll make a drinking game out of this - shots every time someone says "she's not my/your type", "she's out of your league", etc in this book (I'll have to get my stomach pumped for sure). I feel like there were much more plausible obstacles available for the romance, like maybe the fact that Jake was working on a case where Nicole is the suspected target?? Seems like a big no, no to me. Constantly complaining about Jake not being Nicole's type, though...? Nah, that was just ridiculously annoying.
I also didn't care for the rapid-fire POV changes - that made my head spin.
I'm a bit on the fence about this one because the narration was great, the mystery was great, buuuut the romance was pretty awful.
Now, I do realize that this is an older book and closeted professionals were more prevalent "back then", but if I ever hear someone say "they're not my type" about someone they're crazy about ever again like that's a real obstacle or valid point....well, I'll lose my mind! I think I'll make a drinking game out of this - shots every time someone says "she's not my/your type", "she's out of your league", etc in this book (I'll have to get my stomach pumped for sure). I feel like there were much more plausible obstacles available for the romance, like maybe the fact that Jake was working on a case where Nicole is the suspected target?? Seems like a big no, no to me. Constantly complaining about Jake not being Nicole's type, though...? Nah, that was just ridiculously annoying.
I also didn't care for the rapid-fire POV changes - that made my head spin.
December 9, 2022
Kudos to Gerri Hill and her ability to write a fantastic Romantic Thriller. I was not expecting that twist at the end. Reading it the second time I can enjoy the brilliance of it even more. Not only do the murders keep you reading, but the romance is page turning as well. Another of my favorite Gerri Hill books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2025
As in all Gerri Hill books - the Mcs' chemistry is top notch, I didn't want the book to end. This hits all the right spot with the murder mystery and romance.
May 28, 2021
5 stars
I really liked this one, just enough suspense and action without it getting to be too much (I get bored when it's all action and no time to breathe and collect my thoughts).
Hell, the story was generally good, but that's what I was expecting from a Hill book. It didn't disappoint. I also liked both MC's very much, and there was a dog, so I was very happy.
I really liked this one, just enough suspense and action without it getting to be too much (I get bored when it's all action and no time to breathe and collect my thoughts).
Hell, the story was generally good, but that's what I was expecting from a Hill book. It didn't disappoint. I also liked both MC's very much, and there was a dog, so I was very happy.
May 14, 2022
Older book (2006) so the one main’s hesitation to stay on the closet didn’t bother me as usual. The crime/mystery was good.
December 19, 2019
Gerri Hill is the queen of thrillers in a law enforcement. Read this book a couple of years ago and now listened to the audiobook. Still loved it, really decent storyline, exiting and a nice romance weaved through the story.
October 29, 2019
4 stars - This was quite a nice surprise. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. This was first published in 2006, so some of the ideas are a bit dated. Like how a semi-closeted therapist can't date a cop? The idea of lesbian caste irks me greatly...
October 4, 2016
I love Gerri Hill and this is my favorite one so far. It's a perfect blend of thriller and romance. Just the right amount of both and all works out in the end. We all need happy endings, right?
January 6, 2025
Who done it, murder mystery with lesbians?? YES PLEASE. Only thing that would make this better would be a movie adaptation. Excellent read, with extended themes and great characters. Bravo.
August 19, 2025
Still on my Gerri Hill backlist binge, and once again Abby Craden’s narration was the perfect match. The Killing Room delivered exactly what I was in the mood for: a fast-paced mix of thriller, romance, and suspense that kept me hooked from start to finish. The balance between mystery and romance felt spot on—neither side overshadowed the other—and it made for such an entertaining listen.
Jake and Nicole have instant, toe-curling chemistry, and their opposites-attract dynamic is fun to follow. I’ll admit I got a little frustrated with how closeted and over-the-top one of the characters acted at times, but overall their connection was strong and believable. The romance sizzled, while the case involving a serial killer added real tension and momentum to the story. I couldn’t stop listening once the threads began to tie together.
The mystery itself had some clever twists, and while a couple of the late conflicts felt a touch contrived, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the ride. Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and violence (though not graphic), but Hill handles it with care. Combined with Craden’s excellent narration—bringing both the heat and the suspense to life—this audiobook is one I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for an addictive blend of crime and romance.
Jake and Nicole have instant, toe-curling chemistry, and their opposites-attract dynamic is fun to follow. I’ll admit I got a little frustrated with how closeted and over-the-top one of the characters acted at times, but overall their connection was strong and believable. The romance sizzled, while the case involving a serial killer added real tension and momentum to the story. I couldn’t stop listening once the threads began to tie together.
The mystery itself had some clever twists, and while a couple of the late conflicts felt a touch contrived, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the ride. Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and violence (though not graphic), but Hill handles it with care. Combined with Craden’s excellent narration—bringing both the heat and the suspense to life—this audiobook is one I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for an addictive blend of crime and romance.
January 5, 2026
Another good police procedural. Good mystery. I listened to the audio on this one.
September 7, 2014
I'm totally in love with the story! Likeable characters, exciting plot, right amount of gore to keep the crime/mystery vibe up in the midst of the piping hot romance brewing between Jake and Nicole.
We have Jake who's on vacation while trying to recover physically and emotionally from her last assignment with no one but her trusty canine, Cheyenne, by her side. She finds solace in the secluded Colorado mountains hoping the tranquillity and beauty around her will take her mind off the guilt she can't help but feel.
Nicole, a thriving psychologist, is experiencing a "burn out" from her sessions with abused women and decided that it was time for a break. A break from all the horror stories she's heard and relived with every retelling. She hopes to accomplish this by hiking off the trails and enjoying a soak at the secluded hot springs. Nothing wrong with letting her hair down a bit.
They weren't each other's type but a Secluded hot spring + 2 women in search of peace and time away from their careers = One night of passion. It's all supposed to be just one night and they go their separate ways. However, fate had other plans as they soon find themselves in the middle of a serial murder investigation. One of them a target and the other the figure of authority. From there I just got sucked into a vortex of secrets, passion, betrayal, and murder.
Did I mention that I loved it?
We have Jake who's on vacation while trying to recover physically and emotionally from her last assignment with no one but her trusty canine, Cheyenne, by her side. She finds solace in the secluded Colorado mountains hoping the tranquillity and beauty around her will take her mind off the guilt she can't help but feel.
Nicole, a thriving psychologist, is experiencing a "burn out" from her sessions with abused women and decided that it was time for a break. A break from all the horror stories she's heard and relived with every retelling. She hopes to accomplish this by hiking off the trails and enjoying a soak at the secluded hot springs. Nothing wrong with letting her hair down a bit.
They weren't each other's type but a Secluded hot spring + 2 women in search of peace and time away from their careers = One night of passion. It's all supposed to be just one night and they go their separate ways. However, fate had other plans as they soon find themselves in the middle of a serial murder investigation. One of them a target and the other the figure of authority. From there I just got sucked into a vortex of secrets, passion, betrayal, and murder.
Did I mention that I loved it?
July 6, 2008
Very formulaeic mystery/romance in which I didn't get the attraction between the characters at all. The high-powered lesbian circle of friends seemed fabricated to me and I couldn't relate to the resulting class issues at all. Main flaw: The two main characters didn't really communicate, weak ending in which issues between them are not resolved.
October 31, 2012
I just started reading Gerri Hill this year and she is by far one of my favorite authors! Her many stories are compelling, interesting, dramatic and it keeps you involved throughout the whole book and leaves you wanting more...
The Killing Room brings us two main characters while still having time to involve side characters also. Jake McCoy is at her cabin in the woods recovering from a gunshot wound to the leg, with her faithful companion Cheyenne. Not only is she trying to heal her wound but also emotionally from the turmoil that caused the injury. Being an avid hiker she is trying to rehab by pushing herself more each day. On a two day trek into the woods to visit the hot springs she meets Nicole who was on a journey herself. After getting "lost" trying to find the healing waters she comes upon Cheyenne trying to protect Jake from the unknown woman. As Nicole asks if it is ok to proceed without getting mauled she sees Jake in the water, completely nude and all she can think is that she has perfect breasts. An immediate attraction between the two women is hard to avoid and Nicole is ready to forget her problems at home to lose herself in Jake's arms. After two days together, hiking, soaking, and fucking the women end up in Jake's tent. Everything is wonderful until Jake wakes up screaming about the shooting, Nicole calms her down and she falls back asleep, unfortunately for Nicole she gets scared and can't sleep. A few more hours and Nicole gets up and gets her stuff ready to go convincing herself that Jake is a hired gun. They leave each other awkwardly figuring to never cross paths again. As Jake gets back to work as a detective she comes upon a few murders that lead to a woman's crisis center and one of the doctors that they refer patients. As Jake and her partner, Rick, go to interview the doctor, both Jake and the doctor are surprised to see each other again. The doctor is none other than the woman she spend two wonderful days with in the mountains. Pretending they do not know each other, Jake convinces Nicole to help her with the case and share her files. As things in the case heat up, with a few more murders, all signs (at least to Jake) point to Nicole being the real target. With absolutely no evidence, no leads, and no clue the case starts to reveal itself only to point in the direction of an inside man. As Jake tries to protect Nicole it becomes more obvious that she can't keep her duties as a cop separate from her feelings for Nicole that are steadily growing. Knowing their relationship won't last as Nicole is in the circle of professional women and Jake is a lowly detective.
Profound story that keeps you interested and builds steadily until the climax of the case and the end of their relationship. With neither woman wanting to bare their soul afraid of being hurt they part ways and have to decide what is more important, their image or their love?
The Killing Room brings us two main characters while still having time to involve side characters also. Jake McCoy is at her cabin in the woods recovering from a gunshot wound to the leg, with her faithful companion Cheyenne. Not only is she trying to heal her wound but also emotionally from the turmoil that caused the injury. Being an avid hiker she is trying to rehab by pushing herself more each day. On a two day trek into the woods to visit the hot springs she meets Nicole who was on a journey herself. After getting "lost" trying to find the healing waters she comes upon Cheyenne trying to protect Jake from the unknown woman. As Nicole asks if it is ok to proceed without getting mauled she sees Jake in the water, completely nude and all she can think is that she has perfect breasts. An immediate attraction between the two women is hard to avoid and Nicole is ready to forget her problems at home to lose herself in Jake's arms. After two days together, hiking, soaking, and fucking the women end up in Jake's tent. Everything is wonderful until Jake wakes up screaming about the shooting, Nicole calms her down and she falls back asleep, unfortunately for Nicole she gets scared and can't sleep. A few more hours and Nicole gets up and gets her stuff ready to go convincing herself that Jake is a hired gun. They leave each other awkwardly figuring to never cross paths again. As Jake gets back to work as a detective she comes upon a few murders that lead to a woman's crisis center and one of the doctors that they refer patients. As Jake and her partner, Rick, go to interview the doctor, both Jake and the doctor are surprised to see each other again. The doctor is none other than the woman she spend two wonderful days with in the mountains. Pretending they do not know each other, Jake convinces Nicole to help her with the case and share her files. As things in the case heat up, with a few more murders, all signs (at least to Jake) point to Nicole being the real target. With absolutely no evidence, no leads, and no clue the case starts to reveal itself only to point in the direction of an inside man. As Jake tries to protect Nicole it becomes more obvious that she can't keep her duties as a cop separate from her feelings for Nicole that are steadily growing. Knowing their relationship won't last as Nicole is in the circle of professional women and Jake is a lowly detective.
Profound story that keeps you interested and builds steadily until the climax of the case and the end of their relationship. With neither woman wanting to bare their soul afraid of being hurt they part ways and have to decide what is more important, their image or their love?
September 17, 2025
I made a mistake. I’ve read a few of Gerri Hill’s books and know that I do not like her older books because there’s always something offensive and just unsettling in them. So my rule is avoid her books before 2018.
For this book, I was looking at the audiobook’s pub date which was 2019 so I thought that I was safe, but unfortunately the book itself was published in 2006.
And there were details that made me so uncomfortable but I was like “it’s fine, I’ll just ignore that, it’ll probably get better” but then offensive things kept coming and I was too far in to give up when I realized the pub date.
Usually I don’t mind queer people using the word dyke since usually they don’t mean it offensively. But when Dorothy (Nicole’s friend and colleagues) and Nicole called Jake a dyke, it made me want to throw up. Then there was Rick, he was so whiny for a cop, let alone an adult. The crime plot line was written well, despite the horrifying crime, I prefer reading that over dealing with Dorothy and Nicole’s high society of closeted powerful queer women.
I genuinely only like Catherine and Steve. The two people who have brains and are genuine in this book. Jake was alright. I felt neutral about her while Nicole annoyed me sometimes.
One other thing that bothered was Jake kissing Rick and Nicole kissing Steve on the lips as a “thank you”??? Why? It was weird and just no, given that the men were married and no romantic/sexual feeling was behind the kiss.
Overall I need a palate cleanser book to forget about this book. 2/5.
For this book, I was looking at the audiobook’s pub date which was 2019 so I thought that I was safe, but unfortunately the book itself was published in 2006.
And there were details that made me so uncomfortable but I was like “it’s fine, I’ll just ignore that, it’ll probably get better” but then offensive things kept coming and I was too far in to give up when I realized the pub date.
Usually I don’t mind queer people using the word dyke since usually they don’t mean it offensively. But when Dorothy (Nicole’s friend and colleagues) and Nicole called Jake a dyke, it made me want to throw up. Then there was Rick, he was so whiny for a cop, let alone an adult. The crime plot line was written well, despite the horrifying crime, I prefer reading that over dealing with Dorothy and Nicole’s high society of closeted powerful queer women.
I genuinely only like Catherine and Steve. The two people who have brains and are genuine in this book. Jake was alright. I felt neutral about her while Nicole annoyed me sometimes.
One other thing that bothered was Jake kissing Rick and Nicole kissing Steve on the lips as a “thank you”??? Why? It was weird and just no, given that the men were married and no romantic/sexual feeling was behind the kiss.
Overall I need a palate cleanser book to forget about this book. 2/5.
September 26, 2019
I read The Killing Room back in 2007 and loved it. Gerri Hill excels at writing cop thrillers - and there's usually a delicious romance involved as well. Since Bella Books is releasing her back catalog on audiobook, it's great being able to re-live those stories - this one narrated by the excellent Abby Craden. Jake McCoy, an injured special victims detective on leave while recovering at her place of refuge in the mountains of Colorado, has a chance encounter with Nicole - a lost stranger backpacking on her own. Their attraction to each other is instantaneous and they indulge in a passionate, intoxicating encounter. When awakened by Jake's nightmare about a violent event, Nicole gets spooked and heads out as quickly she can. Fast forward a few months, and the two are stunned to see each other again when a case Jake is working on brings her to Nicole's place of business. Jake is a cop?!? A serial killer is on the loose and somehow the victims have a connection to Nicole. Can they keep it strictly professional? And how can they forget about that toe-curling love making in the woods? Further - what happens after the case is over? This is a fantastic listen. Gerri is SUCH a terrific writer and her collaboration with Craden is a gift from the lesbian gods. Definitely give it a listen - you'll be glad you did!
February 28, 2026
I came for the romance... stayed for the murder mystery. Which says a lot because I don't really read suspense thrillers, and I felt that the romance part was more of a secondary storyline. It was quite a ride! It kept me guessing, on the edge of my seat, page-turning until the very end. It was a nice twist in the end - I like it when the puzzle is not so easily solved.
Now Jake and Nicole - I think their chemistry was hot! The hangup about being publicly "out" or the hierarchy of their professions was crap, but like I said, the romance part was secondary. Glad it all got sorted out!
Now Jake and Nicole - I think their chemistry was hot! The hangup about being publicly "out" or the hierarchy of their professions was crap, but like I said, the romance part was secondary. Glad it all got sorted out!
July 29, 2016
Word of advice, if you're going to read Gerri Hill books, read them in order of publication date. She sometimes likes to throw back to old characters and story lines. So reading Snow Falls first meant I was spoiled on the bad guy in The Target. And The Target gives away the bad guy in this one. But I've learned my lesson now. Reading all the rest of hers in publication date order.
June 30, 2014
Wow, I really liked this story. It's enthralling and captivating until the very end. It's a first class murder mystery/thriller with lots of twists and turns and at the same time a blossoming romance. I really liked the connection and the growing relationship between Jake and Nicole (again two well written characters, thumbs up, Gerri Hill). I#m binge reading Gerri Hill books and I love all of them so far ;) off to the next one!
July 5, 2023
I enjoyed this mystery/romance. Gerri Hill has a knack for writing this genre blend. The mystery was believable with a lovely twist I never saw coming at the end. I was rooting for the cop and the therapist to finally see that not only did they belong together, but they actually could be together. The story was told slowly and deliberately and definitely included a thriller vibe at the end when the author was close to unmasking the killer.
September 11, 2021
The Killing Room was a very exciting read. It had some hot sapphic romance AND a hunt for a serial killer. Keep in mind this book was published in 2006 when you’re wondering about all the “You can’t possibly be seen with a butch dyke” discourse. But this one had me on the edge of my seat and still gets 5-stars from me.
December 8, 2014
Another really great read from Gerri Hill. Loved it. Another great police intrigue/romance mix. Great work!!!!
March 9, 2025
I really liked this story and all the different aspects of the investigation/different relationships etc.
It is an older book so lots of negative 'dyke' references, some homophobia and closeted lesbians looking down on anyone openly gay and not up to their standards!
TW: The serial killer investigation is based on a man r*ping and abusing vulnerable women. Lots of hints at SA but it doesn't go into too much detail on it
It is an older book so lots of negative 'dyke' references, some homophobia and closeted lesbians looking down on anyone openly gay and not up to their standards!
TW: The serial killer investigation is based on a man r*ping and abusing vulnerable women. Lots of hints at SA but it doesn't go into too much detail on it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2026
It’s been a while since I read one of Gerri Hill’s earlier books. She always writes a solid book - good plot, great characters. This is all that. It starts off slowly but picks up in a rush when our MCs end up in the middle of a group of nasty murders. Can our cop keep the doc safe? And, the big question…whodunit?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews