Sassy by Gloria Mallette

Sassy Davenport is a successful romance novelist who lives her romantic fantasies through the books she writes. While conducting a book signing her world is turned upside down when Norris Yoshito walks up with a bag of books for her to sign. Not only is he good looking, but he is polite and mannerly. Sassy agrees to deliever the signed books to him in the restaurant across the street. Predictably they start seeing each other. We know this is how most romance novels go. This book is different. The prologue starts off with Norris' assistant being brutally murdered. She can't understand while she is slowly dying, why Norris, whom she has secretly been dating, is the one killing her. At this point I began to wonder why the author would give up the killer before chapter one had begun unless she wanted to terrify the reader with gruesome details of other murders that would culminate in the killers capture. I was so glad that I was so off base.

Sassy and Norris develop a relationship whereby they fall in love. To add to this new confusion, Sassy's cousin is dying of aids and want nothing to do with his son or the mother of his son who happens to be one of Sassy's friends. Once again in steps the charming Norris to bring everyone together.
Sassy has become confused by his Jekyll and Hyde personality. It scares her to see his dark side. Norris convinces her it was not him but someone who looked like him.
From this point on things get bizare. More people associated with Norris are murdered and Sassy wants to defend him from the cop who is bent on sending him to jail. His refusal to tell what he knows to the cops has her scared and confused. If he were innocent he would surely defend himself and yet there is no way he would have killed those people. When Sassy finds herself the next victim of the killer all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

This is a definate must read. The twists and turns are so quick you don't see them coming at you. It kept me on my toes the entire time. About the time I thought that I had it figured out something else was thrown into my path.

I guess it would be important to say at this point that I don't usually read romance novels. I don't like all of the mushy, fluffy stuff. I will definately check out more of Gloria Mallette's books. I also have a list of friends I know will love this book. It will definately be recommended.

Sassy by Gloria Mallette
312 pages
Gemini Press

Romance, Thriller, murder, illness, family