Victoria Courtenay is beautiful, charming to the core, although this is almost wholly affectation as she has an underlying ruthlessness in which she uses her looks and manner to obtain whatever she wants. Indeed, it goes much further as she has a thoroughly evil streak which drives her to lure people in and then strike, as a praying mantis. She is determined to get her way, with family, friends, and lovers ... This novel is one of psychological suspense at its best and is full of surprises.