The Perfect Suspect

July 18, 2011
At the start of Coel's so-so second mystery featuring investigative reporter Catherine McLeod of the Denver Journal (after 2008's Blood Memory), rogue police detective Ryan Beckman fatally shoots her secret lover, David Mathews, a leading gubernatorial candidate, when he tells her it's over. An ironic twist puts Beckman in charge of the investigation into Mathews's murder, giving her the opportunity to frame his wife, Sydney. Beckman knows someone saw her leaving Mathews's house. That witness later makes an anonymous call to McLeod, who had covered Mathews's campaign, identifying Beckman as the killer. Then it's a race as McLeod tries to persuade the witness to come forward and tries to find other witnesses linking Beckman and Mathews. Beckman, meanwhile, is also trying to find and eliminate anyone who can connect her to Mathews, including McLeod. An increasingly desperate Beckman and increasingly determined McLeod stay on an easily foreseeable collision course.

September 1, 2011

A reporter and a killer duel over the murder of a political candidate.

The hottest story in Denver is the shooting of gubernatorial hopeful David Matthews. Investigative journalist Catherine McLeod (Blood Memory, 2008, etc.) has been covering the campaign for the Denver Journal. Now a mysterious phone call from a woman who names the murderer launches Catherine into a tricky investigation. Even though the charming Matthews had the election in his pocket, Catherine always felt there was something too good to be true about him. Perhaps it was the many rumors of his infidelity despite his marriage to a wealthy, beautiful woman. His wife was at their vacation home the night of his death, but once the murder weapon is found in a desk drawer, she's arrested for the crime. When one of Matthews' campaign staff becomes the next victim, Catherine realizes she could be next on the list. But she refuses to give up even in the face of opposition from her police officer boyfriend.

Although Coel reveals the killer's identity in the first chapter, the dangerous dance between Catherine and her quarry provides all the tension you could ask for.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

September 1, 2011

Brace yourself for a second breakneck investigative case featuring Denver newspaper reporter Catherine McLeod (Blood Memory). Handsome David Mathews seemed to be a perfect gubernatorial candidate, but his love of women turned out to be his fatal Achilles' heel. We're startled to learn on the very first page that Det. Ryan Beckman killed Mathews in a fit of passion reminiscent of Glenn Close's Fatal Attraction role. And now she is the lead detective on the investigation! Catherine gets an anonymous tip from a witness to the slaying, and as she pursues the killer, her own life is jeopardized. VERDICT "Meeting the deadline" takes on new meaning in this compulsive read. Women as action stars--especially if they have a good dog--make for entertaining reading. This second series from Coel ("Wind River Mysteries") holds great possibilities, what with Catherine's Arapaho background and the myriad news stories still ahead. Consider pairing with Hank Phillippi Ryan or Brad Parks.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.