Even though it was ten o'clock on a Friday night and she had the warning signs of a dawning migraine headache, Brenna Collins was working late. Then, just as she was about to finish up for the night, someone was pursued past her office and then was shot several times. Sitting quietly until the elevator signaled the killer had left, she tried dialing 911. But the phone was dead; and she realized that she was alone in the building with a gunman. Brenna peeked out, saw the Vice President of Overseas Operations, William Jenner, dead outside of her door. She made a run for her life.

She defended herself with nothing more than keys and her wits; and instead of killing her when he had her cornered, the murderer called her "MiladyÓ and allowed her to get away. Somewhere she lost her shoes. When police Detective Pete Michaels questioned her, barefoot, in his police car, she denied having seen the killer's face, because she knew that if she made that known, the killer would come after her. She did not realize that the killer was already planning to come after her--when he had time to "play.Ó

After the police escorted her to the hospital to treat her migraine and then to her home, the killer paid her a visit. She was already knocked out from the hospital's medication, but he gave her more. Instead of killing her, he returned her lost shoes to her closet, dressed her in a nightgown, folded her clothes, put her dirty underwear in the hamper and left. And when he showed up at her door the next day with his partner, she knew she was doomed.

TAKEN BY THE WIND may be a short novella, but it packs a big punch. It has all of the turns, twists and wonderful characterization that Charlotte Boyette-Compo's work exhibits. The language is fluent, the plotting is original, the characters are sympathetic. It is a satisfying read except that this reviewer would have liked to hang around a little longer to find out what happened next.

Reviewed By: Allie B
© July 2004

The review is of a previously published version of this title.