Onyx, June 2003, 7.50, 368 pp. ISBN 0451410912 New York Police Sergeant April Woo organizes the retirement party for Lieutenant Alfredo Bernadino leaving after almost four decades on the force. He plans to live simply though his beloved wife over fifteen million dollars in the lottery after taxes just before she died. Alfredo slips out quietly during the party but an assailant kills him. April notices he left and races after her mentor in time to see him murdered. April tries to catch the killer but he almost overpowers her. Jack Devereaux, who just inherited millions from the father who never acknowledged him, saves her life and once again becomes a media sensation. April and her partner and lover Mike Sanchez work together to find the perpetrator. When a second person, who has inherited a fortune is killed, the police think they have a culprit who targets people who suddenly have gained plenty of publicized money. To make matters even more curious, phone records show someone has called both the deceased lieutenant and Jack, two people who have never met and have nothing in common except they attended the same university, one that the second victim was being courted for a donation. In A KILLING GIFT April and Mike have finally gotten their act together and are living together, making plans to buy a house, get married and have a baby. Both are more open about their feelings and that adds another personal dimension to the story line. This is one of the best installments in the series because readers see the police slowly but surely build a case. Leslie Glass writes some of the best procedurals on the market today and her latest will embellish that reputation. Harriet Klausner | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues Time/era of story: What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60% Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot? descript. of violence and chases - 10 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - money/treasure How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting United States Yes The US: - Northeast Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript |