Book Review: The 37th Hour

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The 37th Hour     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Jodi Compton
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Police Procedural
Series: Sarah Pribek # 1
Delacorte, Jan 2004, $21.95, 324 pp.

Minneapolis Police Detective Sarah Pribek, an expert on missing-person cases, worries about her partner, Genevieve Brown, whose mental collapse is understandable since her daughter was recently raped and murdered. The accused Royce “Shorty” Stewart is free due to a legal technicality, which adds to Genevieve’s stress due to a lack of justice providing her some closure.

Sarah's husband, Police Detective Mike Shiloh, leaves for a four-month training class at Quantico with the FBI, but never arrives at his destination. Sarah investigates the disappearance though her peers and superiors believe Mike walked out on her after two months of marriage. Sarah finds no clues in her spouse’s trek east or in his behavior just before his departure. She looks into Mike’s past, but her inquiries lead to her Utah-based family while also bringing Genevieve back among the living assisting her on her quest. However, the long and winding road seems to have one more twist around the bend, but always returns to Minneapolis, but what will Sarah find at the end of this rainbow?

THE 37TH HOUR is a great police procedural starring complex protagonists who in their way are as dark and foreboding as the odious Shorty is. The story line is solid, intricate, and deep as the audience follows a non-linear trail that makes for a deeper reading experience. Anyone who appreciates a powerful one sitting realistic investigative tale that contains strong convincing characters will want to read Jodi Compton’s debut novel that in turn will lead to everyone hating this talented author for making novel writing seem so effortless.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner