Herndon, Virginia, a Suburb of Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Illinois

It all began when millionaire businessman Ron Raven disappeared from his Miami, Florida hotel room. Evidence led the police to conclude that he and an unknown woman were murdered and their bodies taken out and dumped in the sea. Raven's death led to astonishing revelations. He left behind a wife, Ellie Raven, who kept the home fires burning for him on their Wyoming ranch and two grown children. There is nothing particularly astonishing in that until you add the fact that Avery Fairfax Raven, wife number two, did the same in a Chicago penthouse overlooking Lake Michigan.

Many months have passed since Raven vanished along with several millions of dollars. He's since been declared dead, but even though his second marriage is invalid, his two wills are still in probate. Much has happened to the two families (see MISSING, 9/07 and SUSPECT, 10/07). Liam and Megan Raven have gone though the fires and come out winners. Their mother Ellie is coping well; her strongest feeling toward her husband now is anger. Avery Fairfax (Raven), daughter of a prominent Virginia family, is finding an inner strength no one believed she had. Perhaps the person still most devastated by Ron Raven's betrayal is his Chicago daughter, Kate Fairfax, formerly Kate Raven.

PAYBACK begins in an Italian restaurant in Herndon, Virginia, where Luke Savarini is having dinner with his sister Anna. Luke is a master chef and owner of three restaurants of his own in Chicago. He and Kate, an award winning pasty chef, had a loving relationship going until their breakup seven month ago. Luke and Anna chatting about family when Luke suddenly hears a familiar laugh coming from a man with his back to their table. When the man turns, Luke is sure...the man is Kate's father...Ron Raven! Luke gets up; Raven notices him, throws money on the table and hurries his companion out the door. Luke gives chase, but loses him in the parking lot when Raven almost runs him down. But not before Luke gets the make of the car and the license plate number.

Luke reports his sighting to both the Chicago and Miami police, but they are adamant that Raven is dead and write Luke off as just another kook. After hiring a private investigator friend who looks further into the matter, he wrestles with his dilemma and finally decides he must notify Kate's mother, Avery. Despite all arguments to the contrary, Luke is convinced he saw Ron Raven. And when his PI friend is murdered, he's determined to carry on with the investigation himself. By this time, he and Kate have met again, and she insists on going with him.

After much suspense, danger, and emotional upheaval, PAYBACK ties up all the loose ends in the Raven/Fairfax affair. As to the romance between Luke and Kate, some of the stumbling blocks in their former relationships still exist, but perhaps this time they can manage to deal with them, for the attraction is still strong. However, unlike in the more balanced prequels, this plot line takes second place to the mystery. If a certain spark is missing from PAYBACK, the fault lies in the necessity to recap so much of the backstory. In any case, it's a carefully constructed and satisfying conclusion to a riveting series.

I highly recommend the Raven/Fairfax trilogy for its suspenseful and exciting plots and strong, realistic characterizations.

Jane Bowers