Book Review: The Devil and Lieutenant Hilderbrand

Reviewed By: Webspinner - RAM

The Devil and Lieutenant Hilderbrand     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
J. W. Kerr
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural
Series: Lt. Hilderbrand # 1
Lions Head Publishing; 2001; $12.99; 278pp

Lt. Anson Hilderbrand is a Texan without a cowboy hat and boots, but with a very large problem . . . he thinks there is a contract killer in operation, seemingly at will, but he has no way to prove it, and no way to tie the killings together . . . yet.

This is the first novel, in what appears to be a new entry in the police procedurals genre, featuring the Houston, Texas police department, its Homicide Division, and Lt. Anson Hilderbrand. NOT a western, this is an urban setting that in its opener creates a classic confrontation between good and evil. There is no "high-tech mumbo-jumbo", but a clean, clearly written novel that concentrates on standard police procedure and human psychology. Mr. Kerr is not so much concerned with "who-dun-it", but "are the detectives going to be able to catch him, and how".

Although the identity of the killer is known to the reader, this remains an interesting conflict between a cold-blooded killer and the lieutenant determined to stop him, once and for all. It's also an well-written illustration  that evil can wear many faces, even a handsome one, and remain evil; and that those who do not want to face evil can be dragged in by it as well. While not the genre I normally gravitate toward, I enjoyed this book, and look forward to more from this author.

Webspinner - RAM

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