Judith‘s review of Killer Designs by Sherre Pratt.

Fashion designer Sunny Benning’s world has been torn apart. Her lead designer has been murdered. Sexy Detective Jake Chess makes Sunny’s heart throb, but he’s got his eye on Rick, Sunny’s brother, as the main suspect. Now she’s got to control her desires for the detective while convincing him of Rick’s innocence. When clear evidence comes to light revealing the real killer, Jake and Sunny have to move fast to save Rick from a vicious killer-turned-kidnapper, even as they fall in love in the process.

Imagine what it would be like to return to one’s home only to find that the life partner of a sibling had been murdered and mutilated in his bed. Such was the experience of Sunny Benning. She only became aware of the bloody massacre when her hands became red and sticky after picking up her cat. Now the police are investigating and their eyes fall first on the victim’s life partner, Sunny’s brother. Somehow, the brother and sister begin the long and odious journey through the investigation with its many visits from the detectives working the case as well as trying to go on with one’s daily responsibilities to work and family. As owners and operators of a clothing design firm, Sunny and Rick are pressed to keep faith with their clients while trying to endure the questions and inuendoes for the police.

One bright spot for Sunny was the growing presence of Jake, the detective assigned to the murder investigation, and a man whose physical presence excites and attracts Sunny. That acting on that attraction could seriously harm Jake’s objectivity while working the case is not lost on Sunny and Jake both. Yet, in a way that testifies to their strength of character, both are willing to put aside their emotional desires in order to find the killer.

Ms Pratt has given us a combination story that is a very nice love story interwoven with a murder mystery. Neither suffers and both are so well-written as to have balance in the telling. There are surprises, a multitude of clues and hints to the identity of the criminal, and characters that are strong and real. All are trying to work in spite of the pressure brought to bear by the police. Several are involved in some of the business of the design firm in such a way that the reader could hop from character to character in the search for the perpetrator. I thought the ending was a surprise.

All in all, this story is about some incredibly strong people. Sunny has always been the support for her younger brother–for his creativity which she has supported and nurtured as their business grew. She has supported his life partnership with Kevin and has accepted their being together fully. She is strong enough in her own self-awareness that she can allow her employees to do their jobs without micromanaging them. Her brother Rick has come into his own as a designer. Together with Kevin and with Sunny’s support, Benning design was “on the map” and gaining ever-growing respect in the fashion design world. Jake is one of those men who is happy in his skin–able to be who he is and yet be open to the presence of other significant people in his life.

So I recommend this novel as a very good read–one that is worth the time to read and enjoy. Romance fans will find a beautiful love story here; mystery fans will have plenty to puzzle over with all the clues and hints the author has embedded in the story. The plot is a good one and the story-line is developed well. The presence of the characters is balanced without one become more “present” than another.

I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

This book is available from Breathless Press. You can buy it here in e-format.

You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place.