Book Review: The Edge of Justice

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

The Edge of Justice     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Clinton McKinzie
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Legal Setting   Thriller   Sports
Series: Antonio Burns # 1

A newcomer on the mystery scene. He sets this impressive debut novel in southeastern Wyoming. Antonio Burns is an investigator in the state Division of Criminal Investigation as well as an avid rock climber.

As the book opens, he has been called to work as a special investigator into the death of a young woman who fell during a rock climbing incident. But Burns also works under the suspicion of being a killer himself. An undercover assignment 18 months earlier has resulted in the death of three young gang members. Burns' inquiry into the young woman's death and the internal police investigation of his alleged murder of the young mem begin to intertwine and impact each other.

As Burns investigates, we are treated to a number of vivid descriptions of various rock climbing techniques. A local climbing groups becomes the focus of both investigations and a particularly vicious villian emerges as a personal and professional threat to Burns. The reader's credulity is strained not quite to the breaking point, but close, as Burns receives a number of vicious physical attacks, but remains capable of startling and precarious climbing forays to local rock formations.

The paperback edition includes praise from a number of well known authors of mystery fiction. I would concur. McKinzie is an author worth following.

Woodstock - RAM

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