Evil Without a Face (34 page)
I used to live in Anchorage, Alaska (ten years), and I love that
Evil Without a Face
weaves in and out of that setting. Alaska will always hold a special place in my heart. And as is usually the case, the plot was influenced by a real crime that happened 2004 in Florida. This is my take on it. I’m particularly fond of the main character in this book, my Fugitive Recovery Agent Jessica Beckett. She’s scarred both physically and mentally by her past, yet her inner strength is resilient. Her scars are the imperfections in us all. But one of her most endearing traits is that she’s a real smart-ass. Normally, I fall in love with my male characters, but this woman has stolen my heart on many levels. I hope you take her under your wing and show her some love.
And if my whiz kid Seth Harper had to rely on me for his computer savvy, he would have been assigned to a remedial class. But thanks to the Mystery Writers of America loop and Patrick Murray, Harper could fake it. And special thanks go to a real computer genius, Tom Radcliffe, who had the good sense to marry well.
For me, living in Alaska was the adventure of a lifetime. I’ve been to the charming town of Talkeetna many times for
softball games, Moose Dropping Festivals (to honor the many uses of moose poop) and winter cross-country skiing. And Talkeetna’s Roadhouse is a special place to hang out and grab a great bite to eat. But two wonderful friends from Anchorage helped remind me that when you get out of your car in Alaska, you are fair game—just another part of the food chain. Special thanks to Alaskan residents David Boelens and Janet Rodgers for sharing their logistical expertise and sick humor. And for the fictional purposes of this book, I ignored the fact that the St. Lawrence Island has no trees and blessed it with evergreens near the NE Cape.
And for those who know me, you know that blowing up stuff on paper is a blast for me, especially with the help of my murder and mayhem buddy, weapons expert Joseph Francis Collins, a talented aspiring author. Joe, thanks for being my “tail-end Charlie.” And for the best friend a new author (or anyone) could ever have, I’d like to publicly declare my heartfelt thanks to Charlotte Worsham, owner of the Around the Corner Restaurant in Edmond, Oklahoma, for her unflinching support. When she says she cooks with love, she means it.
Finally, I’d like to thank some special folks in my life. To my husband and best friend, John—you never cease to amaze me. To my family circle—thanks for weathering my influence all these years and keeping me thoroughly entertained. To my agent, Meredith Bernstein—you are a savvy businesswoman with a classic sense of style. But it’s your never-ending appetite for life that I admire most. And to my editor, Lucia Macro, and everyone who contributed to this book from the talented staff at Avon Books/Harper Collins—thanks for your commitment to excellence in all things. You have touched my life and I’m so very grateful and blessed to know you.
Avon Books/HarperCollins launched
JORDAN DANE
’s debut suspense series in a back-to-back publishing event in Spring 2008. Ripped from the headlines, Jordan’s gritty plots weave a tapestry of vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor.
Publishers Weekly
compared her intense pacing to Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag—romantic suspense that “crosses over into plain thriller country.” Pursuing publication since 2003, she received awards in thirty-three national writing competitions, including her 2005 Golden Heart final.
Formerly an energy sales manager in the oil and gas industry, she is now following her passion to write full time. Jordan and her husband share their residence with an intelligent canine and two cats of highborn lineage. For more, visit
www.jordandane.com
.
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for
NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM
“A dynamite debut! Plain thriller country!”
Publishers Weekly
“A compelling page-turner! Pulling no punches with this exciting debut, Jordan Dane quickly establishes her credentials as a promising new star.”
Romantic Times
magazine
“Terrific debut. Jordan Dane has got the goods and she delivers them with a knock-out ending. A great new author to watch.”
Crimespree
magazine
“Jordan Dane has crafted a debut novel with thrills, chills, and emotions. She’s not to be missed!”
Heather Graham,
New York Times
bestselling author
“Jordan Dane’s debut romantic suspense sizzles. Intense and satisfying.”
Allison Brennan,
New York Times
bestselling author
“High stakes romance, riveting, gritty suspense, and engaging characters. A fabulous new voice!”
Cindy Gerard,
New York Times
bestselling author
“Jordan Dane is a brand-new star on the horizon of women’s fiction. Her style is gritty—her writing sharp and concise. A roller-coaster ride of nail-biting suspense and heart-stopping emotion.”
Sharon Sala,
New York Times
bestselling author
Praise for
NO ONE LEFT TO TELL
“Rising star Dane really showcases her talents. The characters in this gritty tale are vivid and real, with emotions that range from love to twisted evil. Riveting reading!”
TOP PICK
Romantic Times
magazine
Praise for
NO ONE LIVES FOREVER
“Rarely does an author make such an impact in such a short span of time.”
TOP PICK
Romantic Times
magazine
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This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
EVIL WITHOUT A FACE
. Copyright © 2009 by Cosas Finas, LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
Microsoft Reader December 2008 ISBN 978-0-06-176194-2
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