The Morning After

News reporter, Nikki Gillette, senses that the story she has found is a big one, so she begins investigating with tips from her late brother's best friend who is in the Savannah Police Department. Detective Pierce Reed refuses to give Nikki the time of day because she has always been a pain whenever he has tried to investigate cases, but once Nikki labels this new killer, "The Grave Robber," the killer's interest in her seems to grow. Nikki knows that Reed is the key to the case, so she sticks to him like glue but as they get closer to finding the killer, it becomes clear that they are now both in danger. The Morning After begins with the intense premise of a serial killer who buries his victims alive along with a corpse already occupying a coffin. While the two protagonists are not the most likable of characters, the first three quarters are a taught thriller, focusing on the killer and his victims as Nikki and Reed try to piece together clues to lead them to the murderer. However, the book begins to fall apart when the unlikely romance between the two protagonists starts to take shape and the characters begin to act illogically. The clues draw the plot into a tighter and tighter circle, bringing attention to who the killer might be, but by this point, the reveal is a letdown. Overall, The Morning After is a strong thriller with many interesting elements, but falls a bit short at the end. 3 1/2 stars