Double Take (FBI Series #11)

by Catherine Coulter Narrated by Sandra Burr, Phil Gigante

Overview

FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are joined by one of their own and a Virginia sheriff in an extraordinary case that immerses them in the world of psychic visions, mind benders, and communications with the dead

It's been more than six months since her husband's brutal death, and Julia Ransom is just beginning to breathe again. She loved her husband, renowned psychic August Ransom, but the media frenzy that followed his murder sapped what little strength she had left. Now, after dinner with friends, strolling along San Francisco's Pier 39, she realizes that she's happy. Standing at the railing, she savors the sounds around her-tourists, seals on a barge-and for a moment enjoys the sheer normalcy of it all. And then it comes to an end.

Out of nowhere she's approached by a respectable-looking man who distracts her with conversation before violently attacking her and throwing her the railing. If it hadn't been for Special Agent Cheney Stone, out to stretch his legs between courses at a local restaurant, Julia would have vanished into the bay's murky depths. Not only does he save her from a watery grave, but he senses a connection between her assault and her husband's death, and sets out to serve as her protector while reopening August Ransom's murder investigation.

Meanwhile, in Maestro, Virginia, Sheriff Dixon Noble-last seen in Point Blank-still mourns his wife, Christie, who vanished hree years earlier. His life, too, is just getting back to normal when he learns of a San Francisco woman named Charlotte Pallack, whose shocking resemblance to Christie sends Dix across the country. Though he knows in his heart that she can't possibly be his wife, Dix is compelled to see her with his own eyes. Once in San Francisco, Dix and Cheney's paths inevitably cross. With the help of agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock, whose San Francisco connections prove essential in unlocking the mystery behind Charlotte Pallack's identity as well as the forces behind Julia Ransom's attempted murder, Sheriff Noble and Agent Stone push deep into a complex world of psychics and poseurs. As the stakes and the body count rise, Savich, Sherlock, Dix, and Cheney fight for answers-and their lives.

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

With this romantic suspense novel, best-selling author Coulter returns to her FBI series, last visited with Point Blank. Most of the characters from the previous books return, including Sheriff Dixon Noble, from Maestro, VA. The story has two separate plot lines. In the first, the FBI, led by Special Agent Cheney Stone, investigates an assassin's multiple attempts to kill Julia Ransom, a widow whose professional psychic husband, August, was recently murdered. Trying to locate Julia's stalker, Cheney is drawn into the August case, as well as into the world of psychics. The second plot concerns Sheriff Noble's wife, who has been missing for three years. He is investigating Charlotte Pallack, a San Francisco woman who strongly resembles his wife, but Charlotte denies any connection. Inevitably, the FBI crosses paths with the sheriff, and they work together to solve both mysteries. Sandra Burr and Phil Gigante read the female and male voices, respectively. The large number of characters and the switching back and forth between the two stories can be somewhat confusing. Still, this will be popular in public libraries; recommended.
—Mary Knapp

From the Publisher

Starred Review. At the start of bestseller Coulter's gripping 11th FBI thriller (after Point Blank), Julia Ransom is enjoying a liberating stroll on San Francisco's Pier 39 after having been suspected of the brutal murder of her renowned psychic husband, Dr. August Ransom, six months earlier and hounded by the media. When an unknown assailant throws Julia off the pier, FBI Special Agent Cheney Stone rescues her. Stone later senses a link between the attack and the death of Julia's husband. Meanwhile in Virginia, Sheriff Dixon Noble is finally feeling his life is getting back to normal after his wife went missing three years earlier. When Noble comes to San Francisco to pursue a lead into his wife's disappearance, he gets involved in a harrowing investigation with Stone into both mysteries. As usual, the author conjures strong visual images, particularly a wild car chase through the streets of San Francisco. Credible characters and a fascinating look at the world of psychics and thieves help make this one of Coulter's best. —Publishers Weekly

OCT/NOV 07 - AudioFile

Beautiful young widow Julia Ransom is saved from being murdered on Fisherman's Wharf by FBI Agent Cheney Stone, who quickly becomes involved in investigating the recent murder of Julia's husband. Meanwhile, Sheriff Dixon Noble in Virginia learns about a woman in San Francisco who bears an uncanny resemblance to his long lost wife. Noble's inquiry in California overlaps with Stone's work as the cases become entwined. The use of two narrators allows for well-paced dialogue. Phil Gigante's cool intonation helps to clarify the narrative and provides credibility to the FBI agent who becomes smitten with the woman he is protecting. Sandra Burr handles the women's voices with a light touch, especially that of Julia, who maintains remarkable calm and confidence, given the frightening circumstances. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169875355
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	06/12/2007
Series:	FBI Thriller Series
Edition description:	Unabridged

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