A profiler haunted by one mistake. A killer who hasn't forgotten. Sleep? Optional.
Obsession falls into the "I dare you to put it down" category. I lost that dare. I finished it in the wee hours of the morning, and that pretty much tells you what you need to know.
Special Agent Jess Harris was once one of the FBI's top profilers, but one devastating mistake derailed her career. Back in her Alabama hometown, she's helping investigate a string of missing girls while trying to figure out what comes next for her professionally. As if that isn't enough, the serial killer connected to her career-ending failure hasn't forgotten her, now stalking Jess from the shadows. And that, folks, is really creepy.
The mystery hooked me almost immediately, but it was Jess who kept me invested. She's intelligent and highly skilled, knowledgeable and stubborn, yet she's constantly questioning herself because of her past. Instead of feeling like the all-knowing profiler who always has the answers, she feels human. Every decision carries the weight of wondering if she'll make another mistake, and that vulnerability made her easy to root for.
Then there's Police Chief Dan Burnett.
Jess and Dan have a romantic history, making this a romantic suspense novel, but thankfully the romance never overshadows the investigation. Dan was actually my favorite character. He's protective without becoming controlling, supportive without trying to sideline Jess, and Debra Webb strikes that balance beautifully. Their relationship adds another layer of tension without slowing down the story or turning it into something overly sentimental or sweaty. And we all know how I feel about those sweaty scenes.
The suspense never lets up. Between the missing girls investigation and the ever-present threat of the serial killer watching Jess, I kept telling myself, "Just one more chapter." Clearly, that strategy failed.
My only complaint was the ending. It ends on a cliffhanger that left me equal parts frustrated and eager to start the next book. Fortunately, the main investigation reaches a satisfying conclusion, but the larger story is just getting started. If you're someone who dislikes cliffhangers, you'll definitely want to have the next book ready.
Content Warnings include violence against women, kidnapping, murder, and disturbing scenes involving a corpse.
If you enjoy fast-paced romantic suspense with a flawed but capable heroine, a respectful romantic lead, and enough twists to keep you reading long past your bedtime, Obsession is an easy recommendation.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go see if my library has Impulse.
