Detective Anise Porter is the commander of a powerful investigative team tracking the cunning rapist-murderer of beautiful, successful women in South Carolina. From the prestigious suburbs of Charleston to the capital city of Columbia and the beaches of Hilton Head, Anise and the Violence Against Women (VAW) Team doggedly track the ruthless killer across the Palmetto State. Political tensions enter the fray when Charleston's egocentric mayor forms an inexplicable vendetta against the VAW Team and tries to undermine their efforts at every turn. Anise's stress increases when the Attorney General who personally appointed her to the elite position, has infringed on her promised "total autonomy" and sent his protégée, retired Navy SEAL Reese Bay, to monitor the team's progress in the hunt for the elusive murderer. When her best friend Kaye Stiles is brutally attacked and one of the VAW's own is targeted by the killer, Anise knows she's running out of time. She struggles to lead her team to the killer and maintain a strictly professional relationship with Reese Bay while battling her growing feelings for him. She has to overcome these obstacles and come out on top because the violence has escalated and another woman is dead. But Anise's greatest fear is that the killer will continue to evade her and return for Kaye.
About the Author: Mary Beth Pastorino was born in a small town near Mobile, Alabama. The oldest of six children, she discovered her love of literature, fiction especially, at about eight years old, and used books to move beyond her surroundings and into the larger world. At the age of 16 she began to express herself through pen and paper. The summer after she turned 17, Mary Beth accepted a job in New Jersey and eventually settled on Long Island, New York where her first two children, Eric and Tameka were born. She met her soul mate, Stephen Pastorino, in the late seventies and together they moved the family to Mobile, Alabama in 1979 where hurricane Frederick preceded the birth of her third child, Kembirley, by two months. Today, Mary Beth dedicates her time to, Mostly Books, the company she and Steve have owned for over 25 years. Twelve years ago on a visit to Charleston, South Carolina, she was inspired to write her first novel, "Palmetto Blew." She says, "I have always been fascinated by the history of Charleston and the beauty of the city in general." The couple is excited to add "Palmetto Blew" to their inventory. Mary Beth still resides in Mobile with her husband. She enjoys spending time with her three beautiful children and six grandchildren. When she's not writing or selling books, she enjoys traveling the world, creating unusual crafts and gardening.