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Mystery crime novels are frequently conventional. This one is unconventional. Often, novels in this genre are written via the first-person voice of the protagonist or the villain. This novel has virtually every character speaking via the first person. The downside of this approach is occasional repetition. The upside is a cacophony of points of view that supercharge the narrative by offering multiple perspectives on events and behavior—events that are disturbing, and behavior that is bad.
Michelle is a detective with the Santa Fe Police who is trying to do two things at once: she’s attempting to bring a current rapist to justice while endeavoring to solve a thirty-year-old murder case. The victim of the homicide was an old college mate of hers. The author has the action jump back and forth from the present to the past, where seeds were sown among Michelle’s college crowd that may finally bear fruit some three decades later.
The plot is intricate. Too much detail would spoil the fun of unraveling it with the detective. Just be apprised that the story is awash with sex and perversion plus violence and viciousness. Crude language abounds. Horrific acts are depicted unflinchingly. This tale is definitely not for the squeamish. Author Reichwein paces her novel well. The read is fast and frequently furious. Her character development is strong. You’ll find yourself hating the dastardly, pitying the injured parties, and pulling for the few actually trying to right egregious wrongs. Dialogue, while coarse, is appropriate based on the types of individuals mouthing it. Reichwein’s novel is more a descendant of Jim Thompson than Raymond Chandler. It’s a walk on the decidedly wild side.