The Professor by Cathy Perkins. Publisher: Carina Press, January 2012

The Professor presses his palm against her flank, the warmth of her blood, hotter than her skin. Hot, like the life force that he has claimed. The power over life and death is the ultimate thrill.

Someone is murdering women on college campuses. Agent Mick O’Shaughnessy’s mission is simple: stop the killer. Following every lead, he meets Meg, the faculty advisor for one of the victims, who can help him track the killer through her campus connections.

Meg Connelly is focused on getting her master’s degree to show her estranged family she doesn’t need anybody’s help to succeed. There’s something about Mick she can’t resist, but the last time she let someone get close to her, it cost her everything.

As the investigation heats up, so does their relationship. But Mick’s interest in Meg doesn’t just endanger her heart—it puts her in the sights of the killer.

Once he gets her alone, he can take all the time he needs…

I like it. A serial killer is on the loose and an agent gets caught between the killer’s prey and his heart. Meeting Meg, Mick did not expect she would be in the crosshairs of his case and now he’ll have to solve this case before Meg becomes a victim. What a ride! I could not put down this page-turning tale of suspense with a mix of romance. This fast-paced and action-packed drama intensified as the story moved along to its thrilling and heart-stomping conclusion. This was a terrifically suspenseful read and I hope to see more stories from this debut author.