"Carol O'Connell police procedural is always great"
It has been many months since New York homicide detective
P. Riker was shot in the chest four times by a psychopath
who was found not guilty of homicide in a trial in which
Riker was the key witness. Although he has healed
physically, the psychological trauma prevents him from
going back to work. He currently runs his brother's
business Ned's Crime Scene Cleaners where he meets the
Hunchback Joanna Apollo. Joanna is a psychiatrist who was on the jury that found
shock jock radio host Ian Zachary not guilty in a Chicago
homicide case. Now a serial killer known as the Reaper is
murdering the Zachary jury members. Zachary, who relocated
to New York, eggs on his listeners to find out where the
remaining jurors live. Joanna comes to New York to stop
the killings but she doesn't count on Riker's growing
feelings for her or the complicated plan, Kathy Mallory,
Riker's partner, puts in motion to bring him past the
crisis point. Mallory, Riker and Apollo become pawns in a
game they may not survive. Kathy Mallory is one of crime fiction's most unusual
heroines, a sociopath who works in the NYPD and is able to
stay within the law (usually) to solve a case. There are
several sub-plots that tie into the main story line in a
complex but realistic fashion. The heroine meets her match
in Joanna, a woman and a doctor who not only understands
her but also is able to stay one step ahead of her. A
Carol O'Connell police procedural is always great and DEAD
FAMOUS provides proof of that axiom. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted July 24, 2003
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