Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* When Spencer retired her Charlie Woodend character, her fans were no doubt concerned that she could top the series featuring the beloved chief inspector. But Spencer has come up trumps. Woodend's protege, DCI Monika Paniatowski, is more complex, more curmudgeonly, and more damaged than Woodend, and she's well on her way to becoming just as brilliant a detective. Her latest case could be her breakthrough, or it could end her career. Chief Superintendent Tom Kershaw is one of Whitebridge's most respected and successful cops. He's solved hundreds of cases and mentored dozens of young bobbies. So when his wife is kidnapped, the entire police force is keen to nab the culprit. Then a teenage prostitute is murdered, and Monika finds herself resenting the fact that this poor girl's case is virtually ignored so that the cops can focus on finding Mrs. Kershaw. When Monika decides to concentrate on the prostitute's murder, she draws the wrath of her superiors and colleagues. But when she discovers a possible link between the two cases, she realizes this could be the key not only to solving both cases but also to saving her career. Spencer's deft writing and skilled plotting combine with an intriguing mix of all-too-human characters and a shocker ending to make for another outstanding entry in this excellent series.--Melton, Emily Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Det. Chief Insp. Monica Paniatowski is still fighting for respect in a man's world in Spencer's entertaining fourth police procedural set in 1970s Whitebridge (after March 2011's Echoes of the Dead). When Monika's former boss, Chief Supt. Tom Kershaw, is involved in an auto accident and informs the responding officers in a panic that his wife, Elaine, is missing, Monika is amazed at the overzealous police response. She and Kershaw have a rocky history that's evident from her initial handling of the case, which appears to be a kidnapping and could be a career maker or a career breaker. When prostitute Grace Meade also disappears, Monika finds enough similarities to widen the investigation, though she's warned to concentrate on finding Elaine. Solid ensemble police work narrows the search, including an unusual contribution with a kinky angle from Det. Sgt. Kate Meadows, while some subtle misdirection keeps the reader guessing. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
DCI Monika Paniatowski (Echoes of the Dead) usually follows the beat of her own drummer, but she's stuck when the chief's wife is missing. We've starred this fine series in the past, so come investigate the fourth entry. [See Prepub Alert, 4/22/11.] (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
