One Deadly Sin    by Annie Solomon Order:  USA  Can Forever, 2009 (2009) Paperback, e-Book     Reviewed by Martina Bexte For most of her life, Edie Swann has chased after a single goal - returning to her hometown of Redbud Tennessee to exact revenge for her father's death. Neither she nor her mother had ever believed that the man they both adored could have embezzled funds from his employer, let alone killed himself after being found out. Edie's mother is so tormented by her husband's death and the lingering accusations that she falls into a fragile mental state that kills her as well. Left alone to be raised by her aunt, Edie's goal never wavers. Armed with a list of names, she eventually returns to Redbud and begins leaving her suspects small plastic replicas of the dark avenging angel that stands guard over her father's grave. Within days, prominent citizens of the town begin dying. Is it coincidence? Is some otherworldly power exacting revenge on her behalf? Or is someone trying to keep a lid on the town's deep, dark secret? Sheriff Holt Drennen is determined to ferret out the truth. The secretive Edie isn't talking and she's soon his prime suspect. But when she becomes a killer's next target, Edie finally comes clean. Together, she and Holt begin unearthing long-buried secrets that reach farther than either of them could ever have imagined. One Deadly Sin could have been Solomon's best romantic suspense to date but unfortunately, she drops the ball at the story's end by running with a hackneyed twist. That unfortunate choice denies Edie what she'd been after most of her life - the satisfaction of confronting those responsible for her father's death. Readers won't fault Solomon's characterizations however, especially her leads, Edie and Holt. Their sexual attraction is immediate and sizzles off the page during their every encounter. Solomon also does a fine job with her cast of secondaries and their various loyalties, even after some key players begin realising that not everything about their vaunted community is golden. Despite a flawed ending, One Deadly Sin is a well-written, fast-paced, character rich and compelling suspense that you'll want to finish in a single sitting. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Romance books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews