2003-04-15 Deserved all the kudos

Robin Burcell in her debut mystery novel, nominated for an Anthony Award and and winning the Barry Award as best original paperback, has written a totally engrossing, complex mystery thriller that thoroughly deserves the kudos it has garnered since its release.
Homicide Inspector Kate Gillespie is skillfully drawn: a feisty woman - she's smart, sassy, independent but has a likeable vulnerability that saves her from being hard. The first person narration is faultlessly carried off - we get to know Kate well. The author is herself a cop so the atmosphere of the working relationships and the investigation depicted is totally authentic. Although the story opens with an investigation into a series of gruesome slasher murders, there is more danger lurking under the surface.
This is definitely not one of the now fashionable serial killer yarns, but a well constructed plot of many layers. As the story races on and Kate uncovers one truth after another, her relationship with Torrance builds up to something explosive as well. From hiding, Sam seems to be helping her but is he? What is the importance of the seeds found in a dead PI's pocket? Who is sending Kate death threats? And who ordered the pizza? Kate doggedly follows every lead she can with Torrance on her heels, trying to dodge personal danger and put the pieces together. Eventually all the threads come together in one of the best denouments I have read in a long time. This is one hell of a novel with not a false step.
Kate's relationship with Torrance is a gem of subtlety - this is no "wham, bang, thank you ma'am" graphic "one investigation" stand for either of them - it leaves the reader impatient for the next book to find out how it's going to work out. Best of all, it is no ordinary sub-plot thrown in for a bit of romantic interest to round off Kate's character, it is an integral part of the storyline.