Takeover by Lisa Black

Reviewed by Laura Goodwin

This novel starts out at the site of a grisly homicide where a male is found with his head bashed in. Our main character is Theresa MacLean, a forensic scientist who is engaged to Paul Cleary a homicide Detective. His partner is Theresa’s own cousin, Frank Patrick. While at the crime scene, Theresa aka Tess discovers that somebody went to great lengths to clean up the inside of the residence. We learn that the victim is a Federal Reserve Bank Examiner named Mark Ludlow. We also learn that Tess has a daughter named Rachel and that she and Paul are to be married in two months.

While at headquarters, Tess learns that the bank where Mark Ludlow worked was robbed and hostages were taken. One of the hostages was her fiancé Paul and there is a standoff going on inside the lobby. As this unfortunate turn of events unfolds, we are introduced to the Hostage Negotiator Chris Cavanaugh. Tess is summoned to check out a vehicle belonging to one of the masterminds behind the bank robbery. We later learn there are two people behind this robbery, Lucas and Bobby. More of the hostages are introduced; a female named Jessica and her child, several bank employees, and security guards. The robbers try to get information from the employees on specifics on where the bulk of the cash is kept. In the meantime, Tess is frantic because she cannot call Paul and is worried that the robbers will find out he is a cop.

One of the female employees is taken away and does not come back. Later we learn that she was shot and killed by the robbers and Tess uses her investigative skills to determine how and why she was killed. The entire length of this saga, Tess is using her investigative skills and finally figures out why the first man was murdered and who is in on the bank heist with the robbers. Tess figures out that Jessica is having an affair with Lucas and they are planning to run away together. In the end, Tess and Cavanaugh break free from Lucas and Jessica as they are trying to flee in the vehicle and Lucas ends up getting killed. As predicted, Paul also dies from his injuries.

The entire novel takes place in a day and I love the writing style of Miss Black. Her words are so descriptive and you literally are on the edge of your seat. As a fan of mystery and suspense, I highly recommend this novel. This book is like CSI meets Crossing Jordan, with the main character full of spunk. I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series.