A Murder of Promise [Hardcover]

Robert Andrews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2002

When legendary Washington Post reporter Mary Keegan is found murdered, homicide detectives Frank Kearney and José Phelps pull up the file on another open case. There as here, the victim was a female who had been hacked to death in a public park. And there is one other link: each was missing a little finger, a grisly souvenir-perhaps the calling card of a serial killer. When, a week later, a third woman is found in similar circumstances, they're sure of it.

Kearney and Phelps are certain the killer will strike again and know they're working against time. Using the best evidence modern forensics and computer science can supply and the good guesswork twenty-five years of homicide investigations have sharpened, they begin to see some patterns, but not enough to connect up the dots. Then the finger of one of the victims is found sealed inside a plastic baggie in a raided crack house. Cutting corners, pulling in favors, they track that evidence back to what they believe will be the killer, only to find he is one step ahead of them. In a climactic nightmare chase, Kearney races to save the person dearest to him as he faces off against a cunning homicidal maniac.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Somewhere between the seedy streets of George P. Pelecanos and the upscale enclaves of such Old Guard novelists as Ward Just lies the Washington, D.C., patrolled by Frank Kearney and Jos‚ Phelps, the veteran homicide detectives introduced in Andrews's memorable A Murder of Honor (2001) and now brought back for a second, equally excellent outing. As before, it's Kearney the erudite son of a judge and a Vietnam vet whose nights are still occasionally haunted by visions of that war who gets the most ink, while his heftier African-American partner seems defined more by his physical attributes and more amusing habits. When Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Mary Keegan is found hacked to death in a Georgetown park, the last thing their supremely political homicide commander wants to hear is that it might be the work of a serial killer. So Kearney and Phelps dig into the subjects of a book about fathers and sons that Keegan was working on: a legendary Kennedy-era diplomat and his less flashy bureaucratic offspring; and a smooth, supposedly retired black drug lord and his straight-arrow son. Keegan's brother, an Irishman with a political agenda, also bears some looking into, as well as a sharply sketched Internet entrepreneur whose signature online game might provide a clue. The author of four thrillers (Last Spy Out, etc.) before he turned to police procedurals, Andrews has drawn once again on his insider's knowledge of Washington to produce a first-rate entertainment. Agent, Robin Rue. (Mar. 4)Forecast: With blurbs from Robert B. Parker and George Pelecanos, as well as his Washington connections (he was once a national security advisor to a senior U.S. senator), Andrews is well positioned to build this series into a winner.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Following A Murder of Honor, this second book in Andrews's new series focuses on the killing of a Pulitzer Prize-winning female journalist in Washington, DC. Recognizing similarities to another case, homicide detectives Frank Kearney and Jos‚ Phelps search for a serial killer especially after a third murder occurs and the press corps goes ballistic. Departmental conflicts, personal sidebars, and vivid Georgetown descriptions flesh out the plot. A logical choice for most collections; fans of police procedurals and George Pelecanos's DC mysteries will enjoy.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; First Edition edition (February 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399148329
• ISBN-13: 978-0399148323
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,992,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Captivating Read, May 1, 2002

By 

William (Middle West) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Murder of Promise (Hardcover)

As an avid reader of good mystery and police work novels, it escapes me how any reader of A Murder of Promise could find it
"boring." Instead, Robert Andrews has done it again: Written an
intelligent, interesting novel, further developing his two main
characters, whose personal and professional relationship alone
would make the book worthwhile. Andrews has supplied a mixture
of creativity and reality, mixing the Fisher King and Holy Grail
plus very wild computer virtuality with real characters, real
situations, and real knowledge of Washington, physically and
politically. Those with any knowledge of the Washington scene
will find the book particularly absorbing. His State Department
characters, father and son, are certainly credible. In sum, this
is a difficult to put down, fast paced, and intriguing mystery;
and I doubt that many readers will figure out the culprit before
the very end. Highly recommended.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fulfilling Promise, April 23, 2002

By 

Stanley Ebner (Arlington, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Murder of Promise (Hardcover)

The promise evoked by Robert Andrews first mystery book, good as it was, is realized even more fully in "A Murder of Promise".
As with his first book, Andrews captures the reader's interest as the book begins and never loses it. Beyond the mystery itself, which unfolds in an intriguing manner and pace, the further development of Detectives Kearney and Phelps both as investigators and as people makes the reading experience more enriching and engaging. I found the depth and breadth of Kearny's style and character not only interesting, but very valuable to the story line in explaining his thought process and actions. Hopefully in the next of this series the author will allow us to spend more time with Jose Phelps as well, getting to know him even better.
The plot is excellent and quite believable, and the sense of place this book creates is even stronger than its predecessor. It also adds depth and meaning to the story line. The dialogue is even more crisp and authentic than Andrews' previous book, which was good indeed.
This is an excellent work of fiction, which goes far beyond the standard police procedural in giving us real characters who act in ways that are human and credible to the reader. Well worth reading.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tremendous police procedural, March 10, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Murder of Promise (Hardcover)

When Susan Boukedes is murdered, hardly anyone takes much notice of the "Greek in the Creek" so not surprisingly it ends up as a "Cold Case". However, when renowned Washington Post investigative reporter Mary Keegan is killed, the media latch on because one of their own was violated. The two most experienced homicide detectives in the Washington DC police department, partners for twenty-five years, Franklin Kearney and Josephus Phelps are assigned the investigation.

The press sees the similarities between the two Georgetown homicides especially the severed little finger on both victims so quickly they howl serial killer. Frank and Jose make inquiries into both deaths, however, though the clues between the two cases seem alike, they never quite fit together. Though diligent and professional, Frank and Jose seem to lag behind the killer. Both know that if Mary were as prestigious as Susan was this investigation would also have been a cold case.

A MURDER OF PROMISE is a tremendous police procedural that enables the audience to not only observe modern investigative techniques, but also failed procedures. Readers see two police teams in action with Frank and Jose kicking over every rock including one involving the Deputy Secretary of State to find the culprit; the original team on the "Greek in the Creek" case just went through the motions before closing the case as unsolved. Robert Andrews provides one of the genre's best tales not because of a complicated twisting who-done-it, but because his cast of characters brings alive law enforcement investigation.

Harriet Klausner