Thicker Than Water

MIRA
Mordecai Young Series, Book 1
November 2003
ISBN 1-551-66737-1

Reissue October 2005
ISBN 0-7783-2243-2

2004 RITA© Finalist for Best Romance Suspense

2003 Romantic Times Nominee for Best Romantic Suspense

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY LOVES MAGGIE SHAYNE'S NEWEST TITLE:  THICKER THAN WATER

It was called a haven for runaway teens. In truth, it was a nightmare, one that ended in fiery violence sixteen years ago. Or so its survivors believed…

Syracuse news anchor Julie Jones is afraid. Her long-dead past was resurrected when a blackmailer threatened to expose secrets that could destroy her. Then the man was found dead — his throat cut with a knife from Julie's own kitchen. Now a new, faceless enemy wants more than money. This time Julie stands to lose the most precious thing of all — her teenage daughter, Dawn.

Julie finds herself with one unlikely ally, Sean MacKenzie. A journalist with a flair for the sensational, Sean covers the worst humanity has to offer. Julie Jones is hiding something that terrifies her, and he's determined to find out what. He just can't decide whether his goal is to expose her or save her.

Julie will do anything to protect her daughter. But someone else is watching, willing to do whatever it takes to avenge a past that cannot be forgotten.

Read an Excerpt

Reviews

"Suspense thrums throughout due to Shayne's seemingly effortless skill at teasing readers with surprising but believable plot turns.  Just as suspenseful--in a different, delicious way--is the snappy sparring between the reluctantly paired co-anchors; romantic sparks fly between them as fast as witty insults, making this a tasty, tension-packed read." -- Publisher's Weekly

"Shayne's gift for telling suspenseful stories is evident in this tale. It is truly gripping, from the relationships to the climactic conclusion." -- Debbie Richardson, RT Book Reviews

"What does family really mean? Maggie Shayne answers that question in Thicker than Water. Love and devotion blend with suspense and secrets in this fast paced story. The reparte between Sean and Julie lightens an other wise deep read. Though Ms Shayne is noted for her paranormal fantasy, she is also capable of creating a world realistically believeable." -- Amanda Killgore, Huntress Reviews

"Thicker than water is romantic suspense that will rock your world.   ...when you read it, you will be guessing every step of the way, surprised with every page turned, and sucked into the story before you even know what hit you! The villain is particularly believable because he has human qualities we can recognize and understand. His intelligence and his ability to surmount obstacles makes him a formidable opponent, and the heroine and hero are that much stronger characters as a result. " --C.D'Allaird, Amazon.com

"The story line is fast-paced as the seemingly prim and proper Julie tampers with a crime scene and breaks the law in an attempt to protect Dawn. Sean is an intriguing hero who cannot believe what Julie has been doing since the discovery of a dead Harry. Though the final twist or two seem odd, fans of exhilarating romantic suspense thrillers will want to read Maggie Shayne's fine tale." -- Harriet Klausner, The Best Reviews