Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Ransom for a Killing
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Fred W. Hunter
Class/Genre: Mystery Classic
Series: Ransom / Emily Charters # 5
St. Martin's, Dec 1998, $22.95, 228 pp.
In Chicago, nine years ago, Laura Shay accuses Ben Harvey of raping her. Ben was convicted and sent to prison. Recently, DNA testing proves that Ben never committed the crime. He is released from jail, but the idealist who entered prison is a lifetime away from the person being freed. However, matters for Ben turn worse when his accuser is murdered on his first day of freedom. Law enforcement officials believe Ben, out of vengeance, committed the act.
However, police officer Jeremy Ransom refuses to rush to judgment, thinking that the original rapist might be the killer. With the help of his partner, septuagenarian Emily Charters, he begins to search for the unknown assailant, who he thinks is the killer.
The fifth Ransom-Charters novel, like the previous four tales, is a great blending of a police procedural with an amateur sleuth story, even though Emily's role is a bit less than usual. The dark story line is first rate but tempered by the warm, respectful, and devoted relationship between the lead characters, normally found in a pure cozy. With RANSOM FOR A KILLING, Fred Hunter continues to provide readers with a marvelous mix that turn his tales into a fun time.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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