Book Review: Close Case

Reviewed By: Carol - SLC - RAM

Close Case     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Alafair Burke
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Legal Setting   Hard Boiled   Police Procedural
Series: Samantha Kincaid # 3
Henry Holt and Company, 2005, 350 pages

Samantha Kincaid is deputy district attorney for Multnomah County, which includes the city of Portland, Oregon. Book three of the series wastes no time plunging the reader right into the beating death of a well-known reporter, Percy Crenshaw. But from here on out, all bets are off. Was Percy the victim of a carjacking gone bad (as it appears), or is there something more sinister at work (as up-and-coming reporter Heidi Hatmater suspects from Percy's notes).

While the Crenshaw murder case seems to be wrapping up nicely, Samantha gets another case dumped in her lap the officer shooting death of Janelle Rogers. The community cries out for justice, and a pound of flesh, but Samantha winds up with more questions than answers as she begins to investigate.

Ms. Burke's experience as a DDA in the Portland area undoubtedly helps bring Samantha Kincaid to life and makes her a very believable character. In fact, all of Ms. Burke's characters are very well developed, including those that aren't in play for very long. This ability to form such full-bodied characters helps to draw the reader inside the story, making the suspense all the more palatable. I loved this book and am anxiously awaiting the next installment!

Carol - SLC - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Carol - SLC - RAM