Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
The First Victim
Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Ridley Pearson
Class/Genre: Mystery Police Procedural
Series: Boldt / Matthews # 6
Hyperion, Jul 1999, $23.95, 416 pp.
Due to Typhoon Mary, the Visage lost one of its crates that it was transferring to another ship in the sea. The Coast Guard picks up the "metal iceberg" that threatens to harm ships in the Seattle area. Hearing human screams from within, they call the police and the INS. Nine Chinese women crawled out of the space with some help. Three were placed in bags.
Law enforcement officials Lou Boldt and John LaMoia investigate the case with a gritty determination due to what the smugglers did to these humans. Reporter Melissa Chow convinces her "brother" TV news anchor Stevie McNeal to investigate a small lead. However, she goes undercover, only to vanish somewhere inside the Chinese brothels. Meanwhile, the two police officers keep losing their witnesses as if someone in authority is leaking information to the criminal masterminds. Time is running out for Melissa.
Ridley Pearson is renowned for his action-packed police procedurals and his latest thriller will not disappoint his myriad of fans. The story line is filled with action and Lou remains a wonderfully frustrated individual. However, the novel falls victim to its own premise that centers on the cruelty of humans towards one another because that aspect never takes hold, leaving readers with little concern over the fate of Melissa. Mr. Pearson scribes an excellent police thriller that could have been a classic novel on human conditions.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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