DiAnn Mills has yet again written a lollapalooza of a suspense thriller. From the first victim to the last, we are kept guessing as to motive and perpetrators. Deadly Encounter is just that—and could be deadly for the person discovering the body!
Veterinarian Stacy Broussard volunteers as an airport ranger volunteer. She and her compadres ride the border of Houston’s airport to ensure no one has breached the fences and endangered flight operations. On a Saturday morning, she starts her usual rounds albeit absent her usual partner and discovers a dead body, an injured dog, the dead man’s motorcycle, and a drone armed with a laser that could easily take down a 747.
Stacy immediately calls in the discovery; the FBI involves itself in the case. Special Agent Alex LeBlanc sees a clear-cut case of terrorism, but he’s leery of everyone—including witnesses. Burned badly by a former female witness, he’s extra-suspicious of Stacy.
Strange incidents begin occurring around Stacy and her serene life becomes chaotic. People in her community become ill; a seedy salesman tries to buy up properties in the area; her clinic is broken into. Alex begins to think she may have been targeted for some reason.
In addition to her vet and ranger duties, Stacy cares for a young boy ill-treated by his parents. Whitt is brilliant and old beyond his years. His intelligence and charm keep Stacy both on her toes and amused. By far the most developed of the characters in Deadly Encounter, I wanted to bring Whitt home with me. Stacy and Alex are also believable, although they are predictable. Whitt is the keeper.
Just when you think you’ve figured out the plot, DiAnn throws in another twist. I couldn’t put Deadly Encounter down once I started reading the story. Five stars—well-done, DiAnn!
DiAnn Mills has many bestselling novels—she’s won two Christy Awards and has finaled for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, and Carol Award contests. She’s a frequent teacher at writers’ conferences and teaches/researches at the FBI Citizens Academy. She and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Find out more about DiAnn at DiAnn Mills.
Tyndale House Publishers gave me a copy of Deadly Encounter in exchange for my unbiased review.