"Stephen Gallagher's tense melodrama (is) spun from the mysterious disappearance of auto dealer Frank Tanner's wife Carol, the stalled police investigation into Frank's possible guilt-and the complications ensuing from the obsessive actions of Carol's burnt-out, former drug-taking younger sister Molly, who knows Frank did away with his wife, and devotes her dwindling energies to protecting the children now in his care and bringing him to justice." The Washington Post

"Cold-blooded murders follow in the race to the climax. Chalk up another winner-brief, merciless and punchy-for Gallagher." Publishers' Weekly

"The pace of the story becomes frantic, breathtaking and electrifying. Gallagher is a master in building suspense, making literally impossible to put The Painted Bride down. His narrative style is, as ever, solid and extremely vivid, with a movie-like character which makes you feel like you're watching events taking place under your very eyes" SF Site featured review