Vicki Pettersson wastes no time getting into the thick of the plot with her new book, Swerve. Within the first dozen pages, I knew I was hooked. My nights grew longer as the book got better and I was unable to adhere to my self-administered lights-out policy.

Swerve begins with Kristine Rush and her fiancee, Daniel, driving from their home in Las Vegas across the Mojave desert to visit Daniel’s mother, Imogene, at her high-end home at Lake Arrowhead in California. The couple is forced to pull into a closed rest area along the highway after Daniel nearly crashes the car. As Kristine changes in the women’s restroom, she hears strange noises and calls for Daniel, but he doesn’t answer. Instead, she sees a pair of work boots outside her stall. She tries to fight her attacker, but is knocked out. When she awakens, she stumbles to the car to find that Daniel is gone but his cellphone was left behind. The attacker contacts Kristine through this phone to say that he has Daniel and if she wants him back, she must prove herself.

What Kristine thinks of as a “treasure hunt” begins and she is forced to face her fears along the way. Malthus, the kidnapper, makes it clear to Kristine that this is his game and the rules will be followed. Anyone who gets in the way will be killed. She must complete five stops in 24 hours or she will lose Daniel forever.

It quickly becomes obvious that the “treasure hunt” is really just a sick game of cat-and-mouse when what began as a fight to save the love of her life turns into a fight to save her own life and the life of her 10-year-old daughter.

For readers looking for a thrill, this page turner will have you on the edge of your seat and will keep you up far past your bedtime.

Swerve by Vicki Pettersson (Gallery Books | 9781476798578 | July 7, 2015)