Book Review: Above Suspicion

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Above Suspicion     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Lynda La Plante
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Woman Main Character   Serial Killer
Touchstone Books, 2006, 392 pps.

“Watch the eyes. Wait for the fear.” Anna Travis, rookie female detective, receives this advice from Barolli, a detective on the murder squad. Anna is assigned to work with the Murder Squad and soon finds herself deeply involved in the murders as well as with the suspected killer. The first victim on file was strangled twelve years ago. Detective Chief Inspector Langton having cross-referenced the case came up with more murders, which he believed, were all connected and that they had all been killed by the same person.

Anna Travis is called in due to a shortage in staff and immediately after her assignment another victim was found but this one was not like the others. The previous victims had been prostitutes and women that lived on the edge but the new victim was a young innocent girl.

Langton takes Anna under his wing as the investigation proceeds and soon a relationship forms between the two. Anna is confused – sometimes she is attracted to Langton and sometimes she would like to shoot him.

Soon the police begin to believe that Anthony Duffy son of the first victim may be connected to the murders. Anthony is now known as Alan Daniels. Alan Daniels fame has spread as a movie star so the police need to tread carefully because of the media coverage. When Alan is questioned he is attracted to Anna and soon Anna finds herself in the position of working undercover to get more information from Daniels.

I totally enjoyed this book and loved the characters. I hope that there will be another Anna Travis book published soon I look forward to seeing how she progresses as she gains experience in her job with the Murder Squad.

I also intend to find more Lynda LaPlante novels. I very much like her writing style.

Pat Reid - RAM

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