Sex, Lies, and Online Dating

What's a homicide detective to do when tracking down a female serial killer who targets her victims via online dating sites? In Gibson's breezy, formulaic new romance set in Boise, Idaho, said detective—handsome Quinn McIntyre—logs online and goes out on numerous first dates until he pinpoints the woman wacko enough to have committed the crimes. So begins the relationship between Quinn and Lucy Rothschild, a well-educated, 30-something professional who fits the killer's profile. Quinn isn't the only one with an agenda, however. Lucy, a mystery writer, is doing research for her next novel, which coincidentally features a female serial killer and Internet dating. Mutual lust impedes both Quinn and Lucy's plans, and miscommunication and the real serial killer serve as speed bumps on their path to love. While Gibson's fast-paced romp is mildly entertaining, her flimsy plot doesn't hold up to scrutiny, and her protagonists—the capable detective who's married to his work and the smart female who's been burned by a parade of Mr. Wrongs—never grow beyond their prescribed roles. (Feb.)