A former hitman trying to escape his previous life of crime and a woman recently divorced from her abusive husband are both being hunted by people from their pasts. In the midst of it all, they can’t deny the growing romance between them in this riveting romantic suspense novel by Melinda Leigh.
Leigh artfully crafts an exciting story with many complex layers in She Can Kill. I’m always delighted when authors deviate from the societal norms and give us a twist in a story – in this case, the bad guys aren’t all guys. One is a woman – a strong, complex, unyielding, unforgiving and unapologetic badass woman that can and does kill. I reveled in a woman being the cause of fear and mayhem in the lives of others and this aspect was pivotal to the success of the story.
Masterful at weaving storylines, Leigh presents the threats to the main characters separately and then cause them to intersect and ultimately merge into one dangerous situation for both of them. The love story between the main characters is tender and sweet, a perfect contrast to the tension created from the suspense of the danger that is present in their lives. This dichotomy gives a nice balance to the novel. The story builds to a crescendo that will compel you to continue to read to find out how the couple will get free of the threats that have cast a shadow over their lives and their budding romantic relationship
The nonlinear leaps between characters and time periods takes some adjustment to get used to, but once you settle into being unsettled, the story takes you on a nice ride through the lives of these complex characters. I love writers who are adept at creating unique, three-dimensional characters that compel you to want to know more about their psyche and Canales does just that. In the end, though, I longed for more of Marta and find myself wondering whether the book truly satisfies in conveying who she becomes.
