Review: Unpaid Dues

When the unidentifiable body of a woman is discovered in the storm drain of a ritzy country club, homicide detective Mace St John is called in to lead the investigation. Luckily, prior criminal convictions mean that the woman's fingerprints are on record and she is quickly identified as Jane Ferrar. She was arrested 10 years before in St John's division and, when he calls up the file, the face on the mug shot is that of one Miranda 'Munch' Mancini. Munch - clean, sober and now a hardworking mother - has left her previous life of drugs and crime behind her, but it seems she just can't escape her past. It looks as though there are some unpaid dues to be accounted for.

As if murder and mayhem weren't enough, Munch is having trouble with her current boyfriend - cop Rico Chacon, and, for a change, a welcome face from the past turns up on her doorstep - little Boogie, her friend Deb's son, now a strapping 14 year old who's all grown up and prefers to be called Nathan.

Unpaid Dues is a wonderful entry in an excellent series. Barbara Seranella does a great job of bringing characters from Munch's past into each book, and describing episodes that help to tell a little more of Munch's hellish life prior to her sobriety - the place Munch was at at the start of the series. All of this is told in a matter of fact way - no 'poor me', no excuses, no 'it wasn't my fault'. Munch is honest, down to earth and very real. Things happened - she's not proud of them, but they're part of what made her the person she is today. And the person she is, is a character that I love to spend time with.

This is one of my favourite series - it's gritty, realistic and pulls no punches, but it's also warm, funny and engaging - the two sides of Munch herself, in fact. The plot is enthralling and the tension never lets up. Barbara Seranella has outdone herself with this one. Great stuff.

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

Book Review: Unpaid Dues