XO

Kayleigh Towne is a beautiful country-pop star whose career is just reaching new heights with her huge hit single "Your Shadow" - but increased fame is also bringing unwanted attention to the young singer. An innocent exchange with one of her fans, signed with an "XO," leads Kayleigh into a dangerous and terrifying realm of obsession. Edwin Sharp mistakes Kayleigh's friendly signature as a code, and thinks her songs contain messages that speak to him directly. Despite her clear rejection and threats from lawyers and law enforcers Edwin remains convinced that Kayleigh loves him and believes that "Your Shadow" was written just for him. He announces he's coming for her.As she is preparing to give a major concert in her home town of Fresno, California, Kayleigh is nearly injured in what may or may not be an accident at the rehearsal hall, and she is convinced somebody—perhaps Edwin—was there watching her. Special Agent Kathryn Dance, a friend of Kayleigh's, is using her vacation to pursue her hobby of collecting and recording indigenous music and plans to attend Kayleigh's concert. Edwin soon makes an ominous appearance in town, knowing frightening amounts of information about Kayleigh and those close to her. Dance, not on duty but still a California law enforcer, intervenes, drawing the stalker's attention herself. That night Kayleigh gets an anonymous phone call from a payphone; it's "Your Shadow" playing. Just afterward, one of the crew—a man whom Kayleigh dated—is murdered. The death echoes an image from the first verse of the song.Kayleigh begins to receive similar phone calls with other verses of the haunting song, and more potential deaths loom. Kathryn Dance must use her considerable skills at investigation and body language analysis to stop the carnage before more people die. . . and she learns in the process that, like many beautiful, talented celebrities, Kayleigh is the object of many people's obsession, not just Edwin's. Stalkers come in many guises, including family and those we think are our friends.Jeffery Deaver stays true to form with this nail-biting thriller that speeds along over just three short days, filled with deadline after deadline and twists that keep the listener held in rapt suspense until the final shocking revelation.