Constantly keeping you on your toes, this mystery is unpredictable until its final pages. Jane Larsen, a recurring character of this husband and wife writing team, is a tough as nails corporate attorney who achieved her position thus far in life by thinking ahead and playing life smart. However, the path she's taken to achieve her success continues to introduce a few pitfalls along the way. One of these is a background in matrimonial law, enabling her to take on the case of a legal assistant's friend. Another is her history of offering low-cost legal services, meaning she's obligated to take on this case free of charge.

What is anticipated to be a fairly quick intervention and hand-off to another attorney escalates into a city-wide investigation, potential tie-ins with the mob, unexpected dips into the world of drug dealing, illegal legal practices, and more than one murder. Had she known all this would be part of the "simple" case, Jane would never have taken the job to begin with. And just when she thinks it's getting to be too much, her own life is threatened. While she never had a death wish, now that she's finally met someone she'd consider starting a family with, dying right now would definitely put a crimp in her plans.

As she simultaneously attempts to keep herself alive, her friends out of trouble, and determine who her enemies might be, Jane discovers she cannot simply pull herself off of the case nor, with a conflict of interest with her client, can she completely dedicate herself to it? As the danger draws ever closer, knowing who to trust may be the only thing capable of keeping her alive.

The Hicks' use of prescient engagement and a sprinkling of interiority not seen in most series characters—many tend to be hard-boiled and jaded—help lend the narrative a realistic edge and keep motivations genuine. This is another strong entry into this series as well as the lexicon of murder mysteries.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

Return to USR Home