The Cold Kiss

Nate and Sara are a couple of young lovers who are driving to Reno. They're trying to leave their past behind them. When they stop for food, a man tells them his car has died and offers them $500. to drive him to Reno. Strapped for money, they accept. On the way, the man appears ill and nervously tells them that a woman named Lilith is after him. They hit a snowstorm and stop at a run down motel. Nate gets a room and when he returns to the car, the man, Syl, is unconscious. When Nate checks, he sees that the man has been shot and is wearing a money belt. Thinking that the man won't last the night, Nate takes the money belt and drags the man out of the car. This is the kind of story I would imagine Alfred Hitchcock would have enjoyed. It's a noir novel where the other guests at the motel learn that Nate has taken a large sum of money from Syl and begin conspiring how to get their hands on the money. This is a quick read and would be just right to take on a vacation. The action is nicely described and the story is packed with tension. All that's needed is the creepy music.