There are a few things that earned a high rating for this novel. York’s work consistently contains solid stories and good style. What sets this one above is the way the shared background of the protagonists sets up the dynamic for the romantic part of the plot, and also the details that go into making the suspense part of the plot seem vivid and real.

Katie is a research physician, currently working at 43 Light Street. Eight years ago she was in medical school with Mac McQuade, and well on her way to being in love and probably happily ever after with him. But when tragedy struck and Mac was injured in an accident, he told Katie that he needed to take some time off from school and stopped communicating with her. When they meet again over the apparent suicides of his best friend and her half-sister, Mac, now a partner in a successful bioresearch firm, is sporting a stainless steel hand.

Generally, when you have a couple who comes together too early in a novel, or when one of the protagonists (generally the heroine) decides that she’s in love and goes after the hero, it’s just not handled well, tension fades, you’re up to your elbows in mush, all manner of lousy reading ensues. But not here. York manages to maintain tension throughout the story without having characters that are too combative nor too lovey-dovey.

The suspense part of the plot centers on a mysterious virus. What is it? Where does it come from? Is it a weapon? And, if so, who’s wielding it, and who’s the target? At different times, it seems likely that each of them has been exposed to the virus, and since it is so particularly nasty and the cure is unknown, this adds a good element of suspense at these times. The way the couple acts at these times adds to the romantic part of the plot. As they investigate, the characters are placed in harm’s way more than once which also serves to drive the action and suspense. The aspects of the lab work involved contain enough detail to make those scenes very believable, but not so much detail that they bore the reader or slow the story.

I often find that an author will have good ideas for certain aspects of a novel, but lack either the skill or the will to deal with them in a way that makes for enjoyable reading. That is definitely not the case here. While I wouldn’t say that it had a really high WOW factor, it was skillfully and solidly well done. Definitely recommended.

This book is the 4th in the 43 Light Street series. Other books include: #143 Life Line ISBN 0-373-22143-6, #155 Shattered Vows ISBN 0-373-22155-X, and #167 Whispers in the Night ISBN 0-373-22167-3. The next title is #193 Trial By Fire ISBN 0-373-22193-2. ( )