Reviews

Click on the links to read the full reviews.

THE ROOKIE CLUB

Fifteen years ago in a San Francisco bar, the Rookie Club was founded--a tight-knit band of female cops, each struggling for respect from their male peers. Jamie Vail was one of them. So was Natasha Devlin, the woman Jamie caught in bed with her husband.

When Natasha Devlin is murdered, Jamie wants nothing to do with the investigation. A seasoned inspector in the Sex Crimes Department, she’s facing her own terrifying case--female officers brutalized by a serial rapist who leaves no clues to his identity. Members of the Rookie Club are under attack and a sick game turns into a deadly vendetta. When the primary suspect holds the key to Devlin's murder, Jamie must confront her past and hunt a killer who could be one of their own.

Jamie is trapped between two brutal cases and time is running out before she becomes the killer's ultimate prize.

"The eponymous club is a support group for female officers and several of its members figure prominently in this exciting tale. One story line follows Jamie Vail as she tries to catch a vicious rapist who is attacking policewomen and staff. He leaves no forensic evidence, yet Jamie thinks she knows who it is. But proving the suspect's guilt is nearly impossible. The other narrative string is the search for the killer of fellow policewoman Natasha Devlin, who not only stole Jamie's husband but also took her "protect and serve" mandate a bit too seriously by "serving" just about the entire male portion of the force. Potential suspects abound.

This police procedural/thriller is a dark tale, full of violence and damaged people. Initially I was put off by the violence and risqué passages, but once the story got going, I became engaged and flipped pages as fast as I could do get to the resolution. This Barry-Award-winning author is in good form her. "
-George Easter, Editor, Deadly Pleasures Magazine, Summer 2006

"The first book in Girard's series has things going for it. The plot is intricate and the characters are fleshed out...Overall, a fine read, with just the right amount of suspense and twists along the way. "
-Robyn Glazer, Romantic Times Book Review Magazine

"THE ROOKIE CLUB is a police procedural thriller that shows how far women have come in the police department and how far for they have to go. Jamie's life is in turmoil as her ex-husband is arrested in Cassandra's death, a homeless boy sees a police officer knife Jamie's dog and she is playing "mommy" to an alcoholic who struggles to stay sober. She is an admirable role model and the story line is very exciting because nobody will guess the identity of the killer. Danielle Girard is a brilliant crime writer whose works are on a par with Kay Hooper, Lisa Gardner and J.D.Robb. "
-Harriet Klausner, booksnbytes.com

COLD SILENCE

When computer programmer Cody O'Brien's son is kidnapped in broad daylight, Cody's greatest fear is knowing the true motive behind it.

A former FBI agent with a new identity, Cody knows that old secrets -- and vendettas -- die hard. Now she's on the run again to save her son from the man who wants only one thing: cold-blooded revenge.

"In this story of vengeance, lies and betrayal, Girard does a great job ratcheting up the loneliness and terror felt by her main characters. This is nail-biting suspense at its finest!"
-Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times

"Cold Silence is an imaginative, fast-paced and gripping novel. It is a thriller in the true sense of the word -- white knuckles, rapidly turning pages and shallow breathing all are built into the package. The writing is crisp and assured, the plot is tight enough, characterizations are wonderful and the tension is off the charts."
-Russ Isabella, Deadly Pleasures Magazine

"This novel has a dynamic gripping, plot, excellent characters, smooth writing, and enough action and palpable suspense to keep you turning pages well into the night. [If] you're up for something that will really grab you -- go for it!"
-Gayle Wedgeweood, Mystery News

"Readers of suspense novels should already be familiar with Danielle Girard's works. Her graphic and frightening tales of innocents in danger keep readers enthralled until the last page."
-Barbara Sloane, Hills Newspapers, Bookmarks column

"Danielle Girard is a superb thriller writer who never disappoints her audience... [R]eaders will finish the book in one sitting."
-Harriet Klausner, booksnbytes.com

CHASING DARKNESS

The acclaimed author of Ruthless Game and Savage Art returns with a chilling new novel about a female agent, a serial killer, and the secret past that links them.

A tough special agent with the Department of Justice, and a dedicated single mother to her orphaned nephews, Sam Chase is unbreakable. Until two women, both from the shadows of Sam's past, are discovered strangled. For Sam, the most unnerving detail is the eucalyptus branch tucked behind the victims' ears -- the signature of a notorious serial murderer already convicted and executed for his crimes.

To detective Nick Thomas, the only link to the copycat killings is Sam herself. And when she becomes the target of threats -- each one more menacing than the last -- his feelings for her just might jeopardize the case. But to understand the killer's twisted motive is to explore Sam's past -- and a crime she's spent a lifetime trying to bury.

"Girard portrays the effects of child abuse with clarity and honesty... [she] maintains the novel's swift pacing and high tension... a compelling thriller and a skillful treatment of a difficult topic."
-Publishers Weekly

A Romantic Times Top Pick!
"...[a] real thriller, a tantalizing story with an ending that packs a punch. Ms. Girard spins a tale that will surprise all."
-Toby Bromberg, Romantic Times

"[A] very well written venture into the dark side of human nature... For a riveting read, chilling and heartrending at times, but with an overall faith in the existence of good, I highly recommend Chasing Darkness."
-Jane Bowers, Romance Reviews Today

"Danielle Girard is a name to watch because she's rapidly reaching the level of a Nancy Taylor Rosenberg or a Sandra Brown..."
-Harriet Klausner, booksnbytes.com

RUTHLESS GAME

Danielle Girard's debut novel, Savage Art, garnered unprecedented praise from her New York Times best-selling peers. Girard does it again with the gripping thriller Ruthless Game -- a tale following cop Alex Kincaid through the harrowing experience of being framed for murder and then stalked by a killer.

When the rookie awakens on a strange street, she thinks the stress of the job may just be getting to her. But when her first call of the day takes her and her partner back to the same street and the scene of the murder of a man Alex recognizes, she begins to discover there are things about her past that she doesn't know. And to stay alive, Alex has to find answers before someone gets to her.

"Ms. Girard may be new to me, but she is moving up to my list of favored authors. I will not be missing her books in the future. The passionate, believable characters grabbed me from the first page and kept my attention riveted to the final word."
-Tracy Farnsworth, The Romance Reader's Connection

"Girard has done it again -- a gripping thriller."
-Barbara Sloane, The Montclarion (Oakland, CA)

"Danielle Girard knows how to keep the suspense so high the audience never leaves until the book is finished."
-Harriet Klausner, booksnbytes.com

SAVAGE ART

In the New York Times best-selling tradition of James Patterson and Tami Hoag comes an unforgettable and heart-pounding debut suspense novel about a former FBI agent and a serial killer from her past.

Casey McKinley has left Virginia and moved across the country to San Francisco to try to forget her worries. But she will never be able to forget her last case -- one that ended in a serial killer's brutal attack and prompted her resignation from the FBI. Finally on the mend, both physically and psychologically, she has no intention of re-entering the world she left behind. But when Police Inspector Jordan Gray comes to her for help in tracking a killer who mutilates his victims, Casey finds the case so eerily familiar that she can't turn her back.

"Danielle Girard makes a very promising debut with this extremely intense and frightening novel. Definitely an author to watch."
-Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times

"[A] skillfully written first novel...a fast-paced page turner that will be hard to put down...a tautly written thriller."
-Jennifer Monahan Winberry, The Mystery Reader

"The heroine is a fascinating character... This serial killer tale is so good fans will want sequels."
-The Midwest Book Review

"Savage Art is tense and fast-paced, a book that keeps the reader turning pages. The cast of characters is... true to life and sympathetic... Savage Art is frightening and sometimes gruesome, but it compels the reader... Thanks to likable players, lots of action and solid deductive reasoning, the story rushes to the inevitable climax. Savage Art is a thriller that looks deep into madness and still entertains -- no mean feat."
-Janet Dugan, The Mystery Review

"Danielle Girard has done an amazing job with her first novel, Savage Art. It's fast-paced, suspenseful, and gripping. I couldn't put it down! I could hardly believe this was a first novel."
-Jennifer Dittenhofer, about.com Mysteries

"Fans of the serial killer genre will find something new in Danielle Girard's debut Savage Art...Along with the forensic detail and the thrill of the chase, Girard works in an excellent subplot involving Casey's recovery from her horrifying injuries with the help of a tough-minded rehab therapist. A compelling debut."
-Richard Goldman, Mystery Lovers Bookshop, Oakmont, PA

"I couldn't tear myself away. Danielle knows how to write a suspense so you are not just a reader, you are a participant."
-Nancy K. Jones, The Bookshelf, Grand Prairie, TX

"Danielle Girard knows how to rivet your attention with the very first page and keep you reading all night long."
-Michael Prescott, New York Times bestselling author of Comes the Dark

"Savage Art is a gripping first novel that is not for the faint of heart. Vivid characters and a very scary villain kept me reading until the end."
-Phillip Margolin, New York Times bestselling author of Gone, But Not Forgotten

"A terrific read, guaranteed to keep you up late at night and make you sleep with the lights on!"
-Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Daughter

"A chilling and suspenseful debut, Danielle Girard's Savage Art explores one of the dark places: the soft underbelly of vulnerability. But Savage Art isn't just about jeopardy, it's also about hope and resourcefulness and perseverance in the face of terror. Girard writes her compelling tale with the authority of a woman who knows what it takes to survive."
-Stephen White, New York Times bestselling author of Cold Case

"Danielle Girard's debut novel, Savage Art, is so compelling it is impossible to put down. A wonderfully suspenseful novel. Our realm of mystery readers should not pass this one by. I hope to see more from this truly talented author."
-Pat Frovarp, Once Upon a Crime Bookstore, Minneapolis, Minnesota

"Savage Art has a well-paced and very clever plot, with excellent protagonists and supporting cast, as well as a horrific villain. I enjoyed Savage Art very much."
-Carolyn Lane, owner, Murder by the Book bookstore, Portland, Oregon

"An intense read from beginning to end. Danielle Girard has written a winning debut sure to haunt you."
-Sheri, Alibi Books, Glenview, Illinois



			Click on the links to read the full reviews. THE ROOKIE CLUB Fifteen years ago in a San Francisco bar, the Rookie Club was founded--a tight-knit band of female cops, each struggling for respect from their male peers. Jamie Vail was one of them. So was Natasha Devlin, the woman Jamie caught in bed with her husband. When Natasha Devlin is murdered, Jamie wants nothing to do with the investigation. A seasoned inspector in the Sex Crimes Department, she’s facing her own terrifying case--female officers brutalized by a serial rapist who leaves no clues to his identity. Members of the Rookie Club are under attack and a sick game turns into a deadly vendetta. When the primary suspect holds the key to Devlin's murder, Jamie must confront her past and hunt a killer who could be one of their own. Jamie is trapped between two brutal cases and time is running out before she becomes the killer's ultimate prize. "The eponymous club is a support group for female officers and several of its members figure prominently in this exciting tale. One story line follows Jamie Vail as she tries to catch a vicious rapist who is attacking policewomen and staff. He leaves no forensic evidence, yet Jamie thinks she knows who it is. But proving the suspect's guilt is nearly impossible. The other narrative string is the search for the killer of fellow policewoman Natasha Devlin, who not only stole Jamie's husband but also took her "protect and serve" mandate a bit too seriously by "serving" just about the entire male portion of the force. Potential suspects abound. This police procedural/thriller is a dark tale, full of violence and damaged people. Initially I was put off by the violence and risqué passages, but once the story got going, I became engaged and flipped pages as fast as I could do get to the resolution. This Barry-Award-winning author is in good form her. " -George Easter, Editor, Deadly Pleasures Magazine, Summer 2006 "The first book in Girard's series has things going for it. The plot is intricate and the characters are fleshed out...Overall, a fine read, with just the right amount of suspense and twists along the way. " -Robyn Glazer, Romantic Times Book Review Magazine "THE ROOKIE CLUB is a police procedural thriller that shows how far women have come in the police department and how far for they have to go. Jamie's life is in turmoil as her ex-husband is arrested in Cassandra's death, a homeless boy sees a police officer knife Jamie's dog and she is playing "mommy" to an alcoholic who struggles to stay sober. She is an admirable role model and the story line is very exciting because nobody will guess the identity of the killer. Danielle Girard is a brilliant crime writer whose works are on a par with Kay Hooper, Lisa Gardner and J.D.Robb. " -Harriet Klausner, booksnbytes.com COLD SILENCE When computer programmer Cody O'Brien's son is kidnapped in broad daylight, Cody's greatest fear is knowing the true motive behind it. A former FBI agent with a new identity, Cody knows that old secrets -- and vendettas -- die hard. Now she's on the run again to save her son from the man who wants only one thing: cold-blooded revenge. "In this story of vengeance, lies and betrayal, Girard does a great job ratcheting up the loneliness and terror felt by her main characters. This is nail-biting suspense at its finest!" -Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times "Cold Silence is an imaginative, fast-paced and gripping novel. It is a thriller in the true sense of the word -- white knuckles, rapidly turning pages and shallow breathing all are built into the package. The writing is crisp and assured, the plot is tight enough, characterizations are wonderful and the tension is off the charts." -Russ Isabella, Deadly Pleasures Magazine "This novel has a dynamic gripping, plot, excellent characters, smooth writing, and enough action and palpable suspense to keep you turning pages well into the night. [If] you're up for something that will really grab you -- go for it!" -Gayle Wedgeweood, Mystery News "Readers of suspense novels should already be familiar with Danielle Girard's works. Her graphic and frightening tales of innocents in danger keep readers enthralled until the last page." -Barbara Sloane, Hills Newspapers, Bookmarks column "Danielle Girard is a superb thriller writer who never disappoints her audience... [R]eaders will finish the book in one sitting." -Harriet Klausner, booksnbytes.com CHASING DARKNESS The acclaimed author of Ruthless Game and Savage Art returns with a chilling new novel about a female agent, a serial killer, and the secret past that links them. A tough special agent with the Department of Justice, and a dedicated single mother to her orphaned nephews, Sam Chase is unbreakable. Until two women, both from the shadows of Sam's past, are discovered strangled. For Sam, the most unnerving detail is the eucalyptus branch tucked behind the victims' ears -- the signature of a notorious serial murderer already convicted and executed for his crimes. To detective Nick Thomas, the only link to the copycat killings is Sam herself. And when she becomes the target of threats -- each one more menacing than the last -- his feelings for her just might jeopardize the case. But to understand the killer's twisted motive is to explore Sam's past -- and a crime she's spent a lifetime trying to bury. "Girard portrays the effects of child abuse with clarity and honesty... [she] maintains the novel's swift pacing and high tension... a compelling thriller and a skillful treatment of a difficult topic." -Publishers Weekly A Romantic Times Top Pick! "...[a] real thriller, a tantalizing story with an ending that packs a punch. Ms. Girard spins a tale that will surprise all." -Toby Bromberg, Romantic Times "[A] very well written venture into the dark side of human nature... For a riveting read, chilling and heartrending at times, but with an overall faith in the existence of good, I highly recommend Chasing Darkness." -Jane Bowers, Romance Reviews Today "Danielle Girard is a name to watch because she's rapidly reaching the level of a Nancy Taylor Rosenberg or a Sandra Brown..." -Harriet Klausner, booksnbytes.com RUTHLESS GAME Danielle Girard's debut novel, Savage Art, garnered unprecedented praise from her New York Times best-selling peers. Girard does it again with the gripping thriller Ruthless Game -- a tale following cop Alex Kincaid through the harrowing experience of being framed for murder and then stalked by a killer. When the rookie awakens on a strange street, she thinks the stress of the job may just be getting to her. But when her first call of the day takes her and her partner back to the same street and the scene of the murder of a man Alex recognizes, she begins to discover there are things about her past that she doesn't know. And to stay alive, Alex has to find answers before someone gets to her. "Ms. Girard may be new to me, but she is moving up to my list of favored authors. I will not be missing her books in the future. The passionate, believable characters grabbed me from the first page and kept my attention riveted to the final word." -Tracy Farnsworth, The Romance Reader's Connection "Girard has done it again -- a gripping thriller." -Barbara Sloane, The Montclarion (Oakland, CA) "Danielle Girard knows how to keep the suspense so high the audience never leaves until the book is finished." -Harriet Klausner, booksnbytes.com SAVAGE ART In the New York Times best-selling tradition of James Patterson and Tami Hoag comes an unforgettable and heart-pounding debut suspense novel about a former FBI agent and a serial killer from her past. Casey McKinley has left Virginia and moved across the country to San Francisco to try to forget her worries. But she will never be able to forget her last case -- one that ended in a serial killer's brutal attack and prompted her resignation from the FBI. Finally on the mend, both physically and psychologically, she has no intention of re-entering the world she left behind. But when Police Inspector Jordan Gray comes to her for help in tracking a killer who mutilates his victims, Casey finds the case so eerily familiar that she can't turn her back. "Danielle Girard makes a very promising debut with this extremely intense and frightening novel. Definitely an author to watch." -Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times "[A] skillfully written first novel...a fast-paced page turner that will be hard to put down...a tautly written thriller." -Jennifer Monahan Winberry, The Mystery Reader "The heroine is a fascinating character... This serial killer tale is so good fans will want sequels." -The Midwest Book Review "Savage Art is tense and fast-paced, a book that keeps the reader turning pages. The cast of characters is... true to life and sympathetic... Savage Art is frightening and sometimes gruesome, but it compels the reader... Thanks to likable players, lots of action and solid deductive reasoning, the story rushes to the inevitable climax. Savage Art is a thriller that looks deep into madness and still entertains -- no mean feat." -Janet Dugan, The Mystery Review "Danielle Girard has done an amazing job with her first novel, Savage Art. It's fast-paced, suspenseful, and gripping. I couldn't put it down! I could hardly believe this was a first novel." -Jennifer Dittenhofer, about.com Mysteries "Fans of the serial killer genre will find something new in Danielle Girard's debut Savage Art...Along with the forensic detail and the thrill of the chase, Girard works in an excellent subplot involving Casey's recovery from her horrifying injuries with the help of a tough-minded rehab therapist. A compelling debut." -Richard Goldman, Mystery Lovers Bookshop, Oakmont, PA "I couldn't tear myself away. Danielle knows how to write a suspense so you are not just a reader, you are a participant." -Nancy K. Jones, The Bookshelf, Grand Prairie, TX "Danielle Girard knows how to rivet your attention with the very first page and keep you reading all night long." -Michael Prescott, New York Times bestselling author of Comes the Dark "Savage Art is a gripping first novel that is not for the faint of heart. Vivid characters and a very scary villain kept me reading until the end." -Phillip Margolin, New York Times bestselling author of Gone, But Not Forgotten "A terrific read, guaranteed to keep you up late at night and make you sleep with the lights on!" -Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Daughter "A chilling and suspenseful debut, Danielle Girard's Savage Art explores one of the dark places: the soft underbelly of vulnerability. But Savage Art isn't just about jeopardy, it's also about hope and resourcefulness and perseverance in the face of terror. Girard writes her compelling tale with the authority of a woman who knows what it takes to survive." -Stephen White, New York Times bestselling author of Cold Case "Danielle Girard's debut novel, Savage Art, is so compelling it is impossible to put down. A wonderfully suspenseful novel. Our realm of mystery readers should not pass this one by. I hope to see more from this truly talented author." -Pat Frovarp, Once Upon a Crime Bookstore, Minneapolis, Minnesota "Savage Art has a well-paced and very clever plot, with excellent protagonists and supporting cast, as well as a horrific villain. I enjoyed Savage Art very much." -Carolyn Lane, owner, Murder by the Book bookstore, Portland, Oregon "An intense read from beginning to end. Danielle Girard has written a winning debut sure to haunt you." -Sheri, Alibi Books, Glenview, Illinois
			© Danielle Girard, 1999-2006