Blue Valor

Kay Delaney #2

by Illona Haus

With the same unflinching eye and nonstop suspense that marked her acclaimed debut, Blue Mercy , Illona Haus presents her second Kay Delaney novel -- a twisted journey into the dark recesses of a killer's mind. A crime that defies imagination.... The killer doesn't leave a body. Only a heart -- a human heart -- savagely ripped from an unknown victim and left on the snowy grounds of an elite private high school. Is it a calling card for the Baltimore police or a demented message for someone else? A hunt that must defy all odds.... Uncovering tenuous ties to previous unsolved murders, Homicide Detectives Kay Delaney and Danny Finnerty are drawn into an investigation unlike any they have ever worked. As a series of brutal crimes unravels and the clock ticks -- too fast -- on a new victim, Kay and Finn are called upon to brave the darkest side of human nature and obsession. Can they put a stop to a madman's terrifying spree?

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Fiction

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 31, 2006

About the author

Illona Haus announced her arrival in the world of crime fiction in the spring of 2005 with her acclaimed debut Blue Mercy - a gritty, edge-of-your-seat psychological-thriller featuring tough and savvy Homicide detective Kay Delaney. Set in Baltimore, Maryland, Haus's novels are populated with compelling characters, made genuine by her personal connections and experience with the city's Homicide Unit over many years.

It is Haus's bold and unique voice, her unflinching eye for detail, and her cutting-edge research, that make the Kay Delaney series a world that is both intensely authentic and horrifyingly dark.

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series featuring Kay Delaney as the heroic, yet semi-dysfunctional (aren't we all?) detective. The story started out a little slow and I had some trouble staying interested. Once the final climax started building though, I could not put the book down!

This is one of those mysteries where you don't really know who the killer is and then when it's revealed - WHAM! - it hits hard! As I neared the end, I thought she was going to leave some loose ends concerning the murder cases that were the focus of the plot, but all the sudden there was a twist and things fell into place. Not exactly what I expected, but very interesting.

Can't wait to read the next book in the series! Should be interesting to see what lies ahead for Detective Delaney!

[ReBecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of characters and a lot going on. There were times when I was so confused about who was who and what their purpose was in the story. It wasn't until the very end did I understand why Illona Haus made such a big deal with Antwon. I definitely didn't see the ending turning out like it did. There were a few twist and turns and the story in the end did all tie together, however it was a slow beginning and unless you were reading on through the first 100 pgs in one setting (which I did not); I seemed to loose track of who was who and what their role was. This would be a perfect beach /pool book! Or a long trip!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one just as much as the first one in the series (Blue Mercy)

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written police procedural with memorable protagonists and a very clever twist at the end.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me in suspense almost to the end. Even when I figured it out I still had to read to the very end to see how everything turned out. Looking for the next.