Combining explosive suspense with sensual interest, the bestselling author of Carnal Innocence and The Reef turns up the heat in this classic tale, designed for the very first time in hardcover-the sizzling story of a man and woman around the trail of a demented killer… and on the verge of surrendering to an unhealthy love.

In the last lazy days of summer, the merciless two-week heat wave may be the biggest story in Washington, D.C. But the climate is definitely finally knocked off leading pages whenever a about Sacred Sins young woman is available strangled to death-a priest’s white silk amice taken taut around her throat. Pinned near the shawl is a note that simply reads her sins are forgiven her. It is a chilling crime, made a lot more terrifying when it’s then another murder… and a third. Instantly every headline is devoted to the killer the press offers dubbed “the Priest.”

The slayings have piqued the interest of Dr. Tess Court, a top-notch psychiatrist focused on treating the problems of the human being mind.

And when the authorities make little headway in solving the crimes, Tess is reluctantly thrust into the very heart from the analysis. Called directly into create an in depth psychological profile of the murderer, she arises with a troubling and frightening family portrait of a twisted spirit who believes he is not murdering-but ministering.

Detective Ben Paris doesn’t provide a damn on the subject of the killer’s soul or his psyche, and he makes it apparent that he thinks calling in a psychiatrist is on the par with calling up a psychic hot line.

What he can’t dismiss so readily is his immediate and irresistible attraction to Tess. High, dark, and good-looking, Ben includes a reputation with women that is renowned, and with good reason. However the coolly elegant Tess doesn’t respond to Ben like any other woman he’s ever known-and he discovers the challenge appealing. Now, as both are thrown together inside a perilous mission to avoid a serial killer, the flame of white-hot enthusiasm flares. But someone else has his eye on the stunning blond doctor… somebody who dreams of conserving her and cleansing her soul along with his particular make of absolution. Even though Tess is assured she might help him, Ben can only just pray that when the madman strikes, he’ll be able to quit him before it’s as well late….