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It's lights, camera, action as Miami becomes a movie set and crime reporter Britt Montero falls for a Hollywood hunk in the fast-paced Margin of Error. Buchanan, of course, was a prize-winning crime reporter before she became a novelist, and her experiences with crooks and cops tether the series to reality (although one doubts that Buchanan was ever chased by a killer through the Miami Herald's cavernous press room. Here, though, Montero discovers that it's not just the movies that deal in illusion, and appearances can indeed deceive.
—Nancy Pate
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
To another fine mix of murder and South Florida atmosphere, Buchanan adds a dash of romance as tough-as-nails Miami crime reporter Britt Montero (Acts of Betrayal, etc.) goes gaga for a Hollywood hunk. When superstar Lance Westfell arrives in Miami to play a reporter in his new movie, he tags along with Britt (her boss's orders) to learn about the job. Resentful at first, Britt soon succumbs to Lance's legendary charm. She also learns the nasty downside of stardom, for Lance is being stalked by a delusional fan named Stephanie. Despite the best efforts of Britt, Lance and Niko, the actor's bodyguard, Stephanie always tracks them down and wreaks creative havoc on anyone in her way. Stephanie's viciousness sets Lance's movie far behind schedule and overbudget. And then deadly disasters start plaguing the set. Britt, meanwhile, narrowly escapes death in a drive-by shooting aimed at a mother charged with child abuse. Buchanan's Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter's eye doesn't miss much in Miami. She knows its poshest precincts, its poorest projects and the troubles lurking in both. She also knows how to reveal the vulnerable heart beating within Britt's tough exterior. Audio rights to Brilliance. (June)
Library Journal
In Miami to shoot a movie about a crime reporter, a sexy Hollywood leading man consults series starand crime reporterBritt Montero. The pair soon find themselves stalked by a murderer. A necessary purchase. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/91.]
Kirkus Reviews
There's a new man in Britt Montero's life—handsome, sexy, glamorous, endlessly attentive Lance Westfell. From the moment they meet, Lance follows Britt everywhere, and no wonder: She's been assigned to feed him background for his starring role (government agent turned undercover reporter) in the new film Margin of Error. So Britt gets to squeeze this beefcake puppy dog in along with Darnell Oliver, the divorced dad who wants to get custody of his kids before his wife starves any more of them to death; Monica Atwater, the anti-gun head of the Tourist Development Association whose own AK-47 has been stolen by burglars; Randall Fairborn, the dead Metrorail security guard whose story Britt is determined to uncover; and the anonymous sicko with the shoe fetish who's been heating up her phone lines. It's only a matter of time before Britt falls for Lance, of course, and can add some of the star's rival fans to her reporter's notebook as suspects in the outbreak of sabotage and murder on the movie set: Stephanie Carrollton, who stalks him armed with the fairy tale of being his fiancée; Karen Sawyer, who sprays him with a blinding love potion; Lexie Duran, the supermodel who's come back to costar with him despite their recent divorce. With fans like these, who needs enemies?
So many felonies you may need a map. But Britt (Act of Betrayal, 1996, etc.) stays on her supercharged caseload long enough to winnow the sheep from the goats, pluck a surprising killer from the cast, and even come to warmly convincing terms with her Hollywood hunk.
NOV/DEC 97 - AudioFile
Buchanan’s ace crime reporter, Britt Montero, returns, hot on the trail of another killer. Britt’s assignment places her on the set of a major motion picture being shot in Miami. As usual, she becomes directly involved in a murder investigation, as well as with the leading man. Sandra Burr has created a Britt Montero the listener will want to hear from again and again. She’s witty, sarcastic, smart, suspicious, vulnerable and independent. Burr creates a hardworking, no-nonsense career woman who lives life on the road, pursuing leads and spending late nights meeting deadlines for a Miami newspaper. Buchanan has two winners--this novel and Sandra Burr. B.J.P. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine
