Shiver

by: Lisa Jackson

Published by: Kensington Books

Reviewed by M.K. Dancy

As a child, Abby Chastain watched her mother plunge to her death from a window in a mental institution. This event has shaped her entire life. Her relationship with her family is strained, she's been through a recent bitter divorce that only seems to get more contentious now that it's final, and she's beginning to fear that she's following in her mother's footsteps--and going crazy.

Her ex-husband is a shock jock at the local radio station, and after a nasty confrontation, lambastes Abby over the radio. Abby is naturally mortified and incensed by the attack. A few days later, Luke is found brutally murdered. Detective Ruben Montoya is sent to investigate the case, and identifies Abby as a prime suspect, despite the strong attraction he feels for her. Montoya realizes very quickly that this is the work of a serial killer, and is able to rule Abby out. But as others are killed, he realizes that Abby could be a target--but why?

Shiver is obviously one in a series of books written by Jackson, but was never difficult to follow. The characters are believable, and while Abby occasionally behaved in a way that made me question her intelligence (not her sanity), it was a very engaging read.

The murders are quite grisly, and not for the faint of heart. The mystery is solved, although the killer's motivation isn't really explained until the very end of the book.

Armchair Interviews says: Shiver provides a well-written and diverting read.