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DIE FOR YOU by Lisa Unger Shaye Areheart Books, June 2009 347 pages $24.00 ISBN: 0307393976 Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Writer Isabel Connelly is leading the good life: a beloved husband, a successful career, a loving family and a great apartment in New York City, until one day when her world tips over. At face value, it's one of those typical cases where the husband walks out the door in the morning but never returns home. But is Marcus' disappearance as banal as it sounds? The police are reluctant at first to get involved so she decides to investigate on her own by beginning with a search of his office. There she encounters people dressed in FBI garb who go on to ransack the place, kill Marcus' partner and two employees and leave her unconscious on the floor. It soon becomes clear that Marcus isn't who he appears to be and that he left taking with him all their money as well as his in-law's savings. Frustrated and hurt, Isabel sets off on a hunt to find out who her husband really is and understand his actions.

Along with her, the reader embarks on a thrilling chase that will end in Prague - Marcus' birthplace. Through the various events, we get to know the main characters intimately: Isabel, her sister and brother-in-law, her agent and even the two detectives assigned to the case. A lot of focus is directed to their love life and to the creative process, maybe too much for this non- romantic reader. Despite that, the plot is interesting enough and I enjoyed the description of the police work. There were some credibility issues concerning Isabel's motivation, the fem-jep she keeps plunging into, intent as she is to work alone and keep things from everyone, her energizer bunny syndrome. I'm all for strong female characters but found Unger pushed the envelope too far with Emma.

Still, fans of thrillers should enjoy this story centred on betrayals. The writing, if not stellar, flows well and a good rhythm is maintained throughout the book.

Reviewed by Nicole Leclerc, September 2009

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)

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