Amazon.com Review
Miami crime reporter Britt Montero, the Cuban American with Latin passion and Yankee perseverance, gets involved with members of the Cold Case task force that's reopened an old case involving the murder of a high school senior and the rape and near-death of his girlfriend, who's now a sculptor with an unusual specialty--ice carving. Unmasking the killers requires Sunny Hartley's cooperation, but even Britt's blandishments can't convince her to help the task force bring her attackers and her boyfriend's murderers to justice. And it doesn't help any that the head of the force, who has her own reasons for pulling her men off the investigation, seems to have something romantic going with homicide cop Kendall MacDonald, Britt's old (but hardly forgotten) lover. As usual, Edna Buchanan delivers a denouement that's full of bittersweet tricks and turns in this latest outing for her popular series heroine. --Jane Adams
From Publishers Weekly
Buchanan's alter ego, Miami crime reporter Britt Montero, returns as the protagonist of an eighth fast-paced detective thriller (after You Only Die Twice). The Miami police's cold case squad (which investigates long-unsolved crimes) catches a break when an electrocuted burglar proves to be a vital link in solving a 14-year-old murder. Two affluent teenagers on their first date were abducted, assaulted, shot and left for dead. Despite a massive reward and a multi-state manhunt, the police were never able to find the attackers. The girl, Sunny, survived and has become a reclusive sculptress unwilling to revisit the past. But the reopening of the case attracts the attention of some who are willing to kill again, and Sunny finds herself pulled back in. As always, Buchanan packs her tale with fascinating secondary story lines, including a baby trapped in a well, a friend involved in domestic violence and Britt's on-again/off-again romance with detective Kendall McDonald. The somber shadow of September 11 hangs in the air throughout (Britt is plagued by nightmares; McDonald volunteers at Ground Zero). In addition to clever plotting, Buchanan's strong suit is once again her empathy: she always focuses on the devastated family and friends who survive each murder victim. Few will guess the final triple-twist ending of this exceptionally dark and moving entry in a series that never fails to please.achievement in journalism-in addition to an earlier Pulitzer Prize for crime reporting.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
