Book Review: Dirty Laundry

Reviewed By: Ruth Jordan - RAM

Dirty Laundry     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Paula L. Woods
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Woman Main Character   Ethnic
Series: Charlotte Justice # 3
July 2003, Ballantine, 272 pages/$23.95

Dirty little secrets...Dirty little lies.... Protagonist Charlotte Justice is a breath of fresh air in the mystery field. A black and female officer working in L.A.’s Robbery -Homicide division during tempestuous years has a distinct voice in our favorite genre.

Dirty Laundry opens with a shooting in an alley in L.A.’s Koreatown. One of the city’s prominent young Koreans lies dead next to a dumpster. On the first case after a suspension Justice catches a stink-bomb that requires more than good policing. Woods delivers. New partners. Old enemies. Dirty politics. Charlotte knows that this is a case that demands quick closing for the potential for new riots is there.

In the volatile post King L.A. there is no room for the L.A.P.D. to make mistakes. The stakes are raised when there is another high profile death across town. Both seemingly have everything to do with the upcoming mayoral primary. Soon the department loses one of its own and there is no room for error.

Woods weaves this tale with the skill of a writer on her tenth novel but with the imagination of someone on her first. As the many tentacles of the story begin to intertwine and temporary allegiances between often warring factions within the department are formed the suspense builds. In the end though this book is all about good policing and Justice is da*#ed good police. If you haven’t yet read this series beware. I had to go back and buy the first two.

Ruth Jordan - RAM

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