New park ranger Jo Lockwood (an apt name) combines her scientific expertise and love of the outdoors to make important contributions when she is embroiled in a murder investigation after discovering a dingo with a severed human hand, then the gruesome corpse. Detective Nick Matheson leads the police inquiry, but may be compromised after working undercover with criminals for so many years. While both protagonists show iron composure and matching professionalism, can the spark between them have any future? This seems unlikely when the Mexican drug cartel that is recruiting and training disaffected young Australian men in brutal acts of torture and murder aims to expose and discredit Nick and target Jo for rape and murder.

The action and pace are dizzying. Multiple terrorist acts of home intrusion, sniper attacks, torture and deliberately lit bushfires occur within a short time frame to generate suspense. How much can warrior-protector Nick and ranger-nurturer Jo physically and psychologically endure?

The writing is workmanlike, and Parry eschews subtlety for speed and ease of reading. Dead Heat is aimed at readers who prefer their romance in a hard-hitting crime thriller package.