From Publishers Weekly

In this thin and clumsy thriller, a serial killer captures Det. Regan Pescoli, the smart, strong-willed star of 2008's Left to Die. The Star-Crossed Killer, plague of Montana's Bitterroot Mountains, kidnaps injured women, tends them until they are healthy again, then photographs them and leaves them to die of exposure. With time, it becomes clear that he is spelling out an obscure message with the women's initials. After a slow first third, the book settles down somewhat and focuses on Pescoli's efforts to escape her captor's maze-like lair and survive the deadly cold outside, with glimpses of her partner, Det. Selena Alvarez, attempting to track her down. Jackson spends too much time outlining the complicated plot and too little exploring the mind of the generic B-movie antagonist or the smarts and strengths of her heroines. (Aug.)
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Review

'A fast-paced and surprisingly complex story... . The depiction of the protagonist... reaches an unusual depth, and the crisp, skillful language infuse every sentence with suspense...will keep readers riveted.' -- Publishers Weekly- DEEP FREEZE 'Spine-tingling ... turbo-charged.' -- Publishers Weekly - ABSOLUTE FEAR 20090102 'Suspenseful ... shocking ... will leave readers on the edges of their seats.' -- Booklist - ABSOLUTE FEAR 20090202 'In a word: clever' -- The Herald Sun 20090202 '[ALMOST DEAD contains an] excellent subplot revelation that few readers will see coming' -- The Sydney Morning Herald 20090202 'ALMOST DEAD holds the reader's attention from page 1 - a very readable thriller.' -- Launceston Examiner 20090202