Book Review: Nothing Like the Night

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

Nothing Like the Night     Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada HC
David Lawrence
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Noir   Serial Killer   Police Procedural
Series: Detective Sergeant Stella Mooney # 2
Thomas Dunne Books, 2005, 325 pages

Stella Mooney is a homicide cop in London - working the trendy area near Notting Hill and Kensington. As in the case in cities the world over, trendy areas often provide every variety of attraction, from the most glamorous up to date restaurants, apartments and shopping opportunities all the way to sleazy take out fast food joints and "girlie" bars featuring scantily clad women dancing atop pedestals.

A serial killer is working this same area - young women from all sections of the economic spectrum are found brutally slashed in their beds. Lawrence expertly combines the classic police procedural with its painstaking analysis of the most minute trace evidence and a superb pscychological portrait of his protagonist.

Mooney is like no other main character I can think of, and the sheer originality of Lawrence's creation leaves me hoping for more, and soon.

Woodstock - RAM

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