First there were roses and the notes in her mailbox signed simply, "Admirer." Then, the accident. One minute Chris Callaway was one of Hollywood's brightest rising stars, starting a new picture that could send her career skyrocketing; the next, she was falling from the unfinished deck of her beautiful new Malibu beach house . . . waking up blind, uncertain whether she would ever see again.
An optimist and a fighter, Chris is determined not to let anyone know she can barely see. But neither Danny Devere, her hairdresser and confidant, nor Jon Larsen, the handsome young detective from LAPD's special stalker squad, can stop the notes that escalate into a chilling obsession. And only a clever trap can stop the madman from stalking her—with beautiful Chris Callaway as the deadly bait.
From Publishers Weekly
"The first letter arrived on a Monday." So begins the masterfully paced thriller from the author of Palindrome , Santa Fe Rules , etc. Young Hollywood actress Chris Callaway is poised at the brink of stardom when her world collapses. Shortly after she begins receiving disquieting letters signed "Admirer," she is nearly blinded in a fall at the construction site of her new Malibu home. As Admirer becomes a menacing stalker, sending gifts and a gruesome photo and calling on the phone, Chris is stoutly guarded by her best friend and confidant, hairdresser Danny Devere. Also on duty is Beverly Hills police detective and stalker expert Jon Larsen. The Admirer soon targets the threesome in escalating attacks that become grisly and, then, murderous. Meanwhile, Larsen races to investigate the sinister suspects that emerge from the cadre of subcontractors on the Malibu construction team. Woods's style is lean and staccato, if unsubtle, and he's a pro at turning up the suspense, which is increased here as romance blooms between the cop and the rising star. 100,000 first printing; major ad/promo; author tour. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
YA-Rising movie star Chris Callaway has it all: youth, good looks, a blossoming career, and a generous income. She also has an increasingly ardent fan whose anonymous attentions are beginning to alarm her. They take the form of daily deliveries of roses and little notes. After being temporarily blinded in an accident at the construction site of her unfinished new house, she contacts the police about the mysterious watcher. Enter Beverly Hills Police Detective Jon Larsen, an expert on stalkers. Almost simultaneously, Chris's admirer becomes more aggressive. As she struggles to maintain a sense of normalcy, she also discovers a growing attraction between herself and Larsen. The tension builds as the emboldened stalker moves against both Larsen and Chris's best friend. The exciting conclusion is reached when a trap is set for the villain with the actress herself as bait. Employing skills learned both before and after her accident, she contributes significantly to her own rescue during the climactic fight scene. YA mystery lovers will enjoy the plot twists and Woods's energetic writing style. Carolyn E. Gecan, Thomas Jefferson Sci-Tech, Fairfax County, VA Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Description:
First there were roses and the notes in her mailbox signed simply, "Admirer." Then, the accident. One minute Chris Callaway was one of Hollywood's brightest rising stars, starting a new picture that could send her career skyrocketing; the next, she was falling from the unfinished deck of her beautiful new Malibu beach house . . . waking up blind, uncertain whether she would ever see again.
An optimist and a fighter, Chris is determined not to let anyone know she can barely see. But neither Danny Devere, her hairdresser and confidant, nor Jon Larsen, the handsome young detective from LAPD's special stalker squad, can stop the notes that escalate into a chilling obsession. And only a clever trap can stop the madman from stalking her—with beautiful Chris Callaway as the deadly bait.
From Publishers Weekly
"The first letter arrived on a Monday." So begins the masterfully paced thriller from the author of Palindrome , Santa Fe Rules , etc. Young Hollywood actress Chris Callaway is poised at the brink of stardom when her world collapses. Shortly after she begins receiving disquieting letters signed "Admirer," she is nearly blinded in a fall at the construction site of her new Malibu home. As Admirer becomes a menacing stalker, sending gifts and a gruesome photo and calling on the phone, Chris is stoutly guarded by her best friend and confidant, hairdresser Danny Devere. Also on duty is Beverly Hills police detective and stalker expert Jon Larsen. The Admirer soon targets the threesome in escalating attacks that become grisly and, then, murderous. Meanwhile, Larsen races to investigate the sinister suspects that emerge from the cadre of subcontractors on the Malibu construction team. Woods's style is lean and staccato, if unsubtle, and he's a pro at turning up the suspense, which is increased here as romance blooms between the cop and the rising star. 100,000 first printing; major ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
YA-Rising movie star Chris Callaway has it all: youth, good looks, a blossoming career, and a generous income. She also has an increasingly ardent fan whose anonymous attentions are beginning to alarm her. They take the form of daily deliveries of roses and little notes. After being temporarily blinded in an accident at the construction site of her unfinished new house, she contacts the police about the mysterious watcher. Enter Beverly Hills Police Detective Jon Larsen, an expert on stalkers. Almost simultaneously, Chris's admirer becomes more aggressive. As she struggles to maintain a sense of normalcy, she also discovers a growing attraction between herself and Larsen. The tension builds as the emboldened stalker moves against both Larsen and Chris's best friend. The exciting conclusion is reached when a trap is set for the villain with the actress herself as bait. Employing skills learned both before and after her accident, she contributes significantly to her own rescue during the climactic fight scene. YA mystery lovers will enjoy the plot twists and Woods's energetic writing style.
Carolyn E. Gecan, Thomas Jefferson Sci-Tech, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.