Hearts

Stewart's sluggish new romantic thriller (following Brown-Eyed Girl) hops on the coattails of writers like J.D. Robb and Tami Hoag in an attempt to create chilling villains and spine-tingling suspense. This rather clich d tale, however, falls well short of its aim. Genna Snow is an FBI agent specializing in child abuse and pornography who is plagued by a dark past. As a child, she was attacked by a trusted camp counselor intent on ""consecrating"" her body and then reviled by her family for reporting ""Brother Michael"" and bringing chaos to their smalltown Pennsylvania congregation. Now, over 20 years later, Genna is paired with her on-again/off-again boyfriend, serial killer specialist John Mancini, to track down a murderer who preys on young women. As the investigation drags on, Genna slowly learns what readers have already figured out from the beginning--that the killer is connected to her own childhood terrors and she is next on the victim list. In two equally predictable turns of events, Genna is reunited with her estranged sister, and the issues that have kept her relationship with John from becoming serious are resolved. Although Stewart has her modest following of devotees, they will likely be disappointed by this lackluster read. (Feb.)