Joanna (Jo) Sutton is coping with the loss of her husband and son in her family home, a lodge deep in a rural community in Montana. The impact of a fierce winter storm does not hold any fear for her and she is very ready to help others caught up in the blizzard, including a strange lodger who has arrived from out of town. One group who urgently needs her help is a boy scout troop containing the local Sheriff’s son, as they are stranded near to the lodge with an injured boy.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff worrying about his son, and about his relationship with Jo is dealing with the news of three escaped convicts. According to an anonymous tip off, one of these escapees is looking for Jo.
In the bleak backdrop of the Montana winter, the story unfolds with some interesting characters (including the bad guys) and some surprising outcomes. The thoughts and agonies which Joanna goes through constantly reviewing her husband and son’s death and her feelings towards others since that day, seem to enhance her character and support the plot lines and twists. As the story develops, her loyalties and those of the people around her are explored and the introduction of two dangerous convicts into the mix force issues out into the open for Joanna and her sister Trixie.
This is the second in a three part of a prison break series, but for all this can be read with no need to have any knowledge of the previous book. Allison Brennan is an engaging writer, her landscape is well drawn and her characters and dialogue believable. In Tempting Evil, some elements of the plot appear to be left open and unexplained, which is potentially a clever device to draw readers to the final book of the trilogy, Playing Dead. Readers will not, however, be disappointed by the climax and I look forward to reading where Allison Brennan goes next.
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Amanda Brown