Book Review: First Do No Evil by Carey Baldwin

First Do No Evil
Author: Carey Baldwin
Publication: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (June 26, 2012)


Description: One killer is in her blood. The other is in her house.


There's a killer lurking in Dr. Skylar Novak's family tree: the gene for breast cancer. That's why her brilliant brother invented the Bella vaccine. But even if the miracle drug protects her from the cancer that took her mother's life, it can't save Sky from the flesh and bone evil stalking her in secret. 

When the killer strikes, detective Daniel Benson finds himself in the wrong place at the right time. The bold detective manages to save Sky's life...just in time for her to return the favor. Survival leads to seduction, and Danny risks everything--his career, even his life, to keep Sky safe. But will the buried sins they uncover cost him her heart?
Danny's strong arms may hold her close, but only Sky can stop the terror that's coming next...

Warning: Contents include: One heart-melting hero--good luck getting this delicious detective out of your head. One reluctant heroine--wielding a Glock was never on her to-do list. One crazed villain--an entire flock of baa baa black sheep won't be enough to put you to sleep. And a lifesaving vaccine with one deadly side effect--murder.



My Thoughts: This is a fast-paced medical thriller that begins when single-father cop Danny Benson finds himself in the middle of a robbery at a diner that results in the death of Sky Novak's fiance and almost results in his death too. When he recovers he discovers that the investigation has been closed even though he still has questions about it. When he goes to see Sky, he quickly learns that the attack in the diner mirrors a robbery attempt at her home when she was seventeen that killed her father. Both happened on the same day. She was saved when she was seventeen because her adopted brother Garth came home in time and strangled the man who killed her father and was trying to rape her.


Garth is now famous for inventing a vaccine that repairs a damaged gene that causes women who have it to develop breast cancer. He has named the vaccine Bella for Sky's mother who rescued him from an abusive foster home situation, adopted him, and then died of breast cancer. Sky has also become a doctor and runs a free clinic. She has the gene but refuses to take the vaccine until there is enough in production for everyone who needs it. Her brother is both frustrated and angry with her because of her decision. Sky runs her clinic on a shoestring and, when her former fiance and partner is served with a malpractice suit, she has to prove that the the Bella vaccine is not the cause.

We learn who the villain is early in this one. He is a complete psychopath who always has a rational reason, at least to him, for all the murders he is committing. I personally find this kind of villain the most chilling because he doesn't see himself as evil. All of the horrible things he does are fully justified and even necessary in his mind.

I also liked the romance in this one. Both Danny and Sky have suffered losses. Sky is still letting hers influence the rest of her life. Danny has managed to come to grips with his loss at least partially because he has had to be strong for his thirteen-year-old daughter. He helps Sky come to terms with her losses too as they fall in love.

I recommend this one for fans of quick-paced thrillers. Romance lovers will also like the relationship between Sky and Danny.


Favorite Quote:

As he gazed out onto the streets, an elderly woman slipped on the ice and hit the frozen concrete face first. Entertained by the way her arms flailed in a fit of panic, he laughed and yanked the drapes shut. He crossed the room to his antique desk and dropped into the fortifying comfort of his wingback chair. His appointment was late, and he was growing impatient. Tonight he would set his plan in motion, and soon all his problems would be laid to rest. Then a few less vermin would clutter the planet.

I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. You can buy a copy here.