Jillian Talbot has it all: a beautiful home in New York's Greenwich Village, a string of bestselling suspense novels, a handsome and adoring lover.

She has something else, too. A silent stalker. A secret admirer who sends her pink, heart-shaped messages-with an unmistakable threat in blood-red letters. His motives are as cryptic as the name he goes by: Valentine. But his intentions are deadly clear. He has stalked other women in the past, and he has killed them. Now he's ready to add Jill to his list, to carry out the punishment he has chosen for her, retribution for a long-ago crime that only he remembers. For Valentine, vengeance will be complete.

For Jill Talbot, the terror has just begun. Wherever she runs, he will find her. And soon she will meet him on his terrible day of judgment. His triumphant day. Her darkest day.