Julie Garwood’s “Heartbreaker” wasn’t the best thriller that I’ve ever read, but it was a fast read that kept me on the edge of my seat. Predictable? A little. Still if you’re the type that likes a fast moving book, a creepy serial killer and a steamy romance between the lead characters, “Heartbreaker” will keep you engaged.

Garwood traditionally is known for her romance novels and you’ll see hints of that here. Fortunately she paints the characters well and makes them charming and fun to read about (except for the psychopathic killer, of course).

The premise is that a man enters a confessional and asks forgiveness for a crime that he’s going to commit. He’s intending to kidnap and kill a young woman. The woman that he names is the priest’s own sister. Can he save his sister in time?

If you love thrillers and you’re not afraid of gruesome torture/kill scenes, check out any of Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta’s novels (for best results, go back to the oldest ones like “Body of Evidence”“. Her most recent ones aren’t as captivating).