LAST SEEN ALIVE

5 stars out of 5

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed another book by this author - but not in this series - I didn't hesitate when I got a chance to read a pre-release copy of this one (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley). Now, the only thing that disappoints me is that I missed the first four, although this one stands on its own quite well. It was so good, in fact, that I put off making dinner for an hour and a half so I could get to the exciting finish.

She was the one who got away: Abigail Ellery Hathaway, now a Boston detective, managed to escape serial torturer and killer of women Frances Coben. He was caught and has been languishing in prison for a couple of decades; the man who found and saved her, FBI agent Reed Markham, later became her lover. Still traumatized by the horrific treatment she endured at Coven's hands, Ellery, as she now calls herself, recently called things off with Reed. But now, out of the blue, Coben claims he's remorseful and wants to come clean by revealing the location of some of his victims' bodies (minus the body parts he keeps as trophies) - but only if he can confess to his "Abby."

Reed objects, but a TV crew gets into the act as well and puts some pressure on the powers-that-be. Just because the confrontation might bring closure to families of the victims, Reed and Ellery agree to meet Coben in prison. It's arranged, but Coben does little more than confuse the issue. Confounding things even more, a new body turns up with a too-similar M.O. - but Coben couldn't possibly have done it from jail. Or could he?

Amid all this, the impossible happens (no, I won't say what) - and from that point on, I was on the edge of my seat even though some of the happenings were predictable. Besides that, I really liked Ellery and Reed (him in particular), so I had my fingers and toes crossed that they'd get back together again (no, I won't reveal that, either). All in all, a most engrossing novel very much recommended.

Last Seen Alive by Joanna Schaffhausen (Minotaur Books, January 2022); 320 pp.

MERCY

4 stars out of 5

For openers, this is a difficult book to review; while FBI agent Atlee Pine grows closer every day to finding her long-lost kidnapped twin sister Mercy - with lots of help from Atlee's older and more sensible administrative assistant, Carol Blum - describing whether or not they succeed in this fourth book in the series (and how and what happens next if she does or does not) would be too revealing.

What I can say is that Atlee has found proof that Mercy escaped those who captured and imprisoned her many years earlier. What became of her after that remains a mystery to Atlee; it's entirely possible that she's no longer alive. Just knowing that she escaped, though, is more than enough incentive for Atlee and Carol to take a leave from the FBI to concentrate even harder on tracking her down.

Needless to say, their journey is fraught with roadblocks, several of which are life-threatening (overdone, IMHO, to the point at which I said, "Whoa, nobody could survive this." But then, I suppose it was a cake walk for Mercy, whose captive years are described in even more horrific detail. Put another way, if explicit barbarian-style torture isn't your cup of tea, you'll want to skip parts of this one. It's also heavier on melodrama than usual, which was a bit of a turn-off for me as well. 

Overall, though, while I won't say this, the fourth book in the series, is my favorite, it was entertaining as always. It certainly brought the series to full circle - wrapping up several loose ends and leaving  me with only the question of what happens next. So hey, I've followed the series from the beginning, so if there are other chapters to follow, count me in!

Mercy by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing, November 2021); 417 pp.

A THOUSAND STEPS

5 stars out of 5

Dr. Timothy Leary's "Tune in, turn on, drop out" is a mantra I well remember from the late 1960s; even though I was a happy housewife with two small children, the colorful, free-thinking counterculture of California was in many ways appealing to me - and definitely helped change my somewhat sheltered Midwestern thinking. If nothing else, this engaging book brought those old memories to life and provided insights into what really went on back then. 

But it's much, much more than that; it's an up-close-and-personal look into the bittersweet life of 16-year-old Matt Anthony, who tries to make sense of things in Laguna Beach in 1968. It's not easy; most days, Matt has to make do with peanut butter on taco shells or fish he's caught for dinner because his mother is high as a kite and his father is missing in action. Happily, his older brother isn't - he's seeing action in Viet Nam, hoping to stay alive for the last few months of his tour of duty so he can return home. Matt earns a pittance delivering newspapers and tries his best to stay out of the drug scene; but then, his older sister Jasmine disappears without a trace.

His mother deals with the issue by moving into the heart of hippie land, living and working on a commune-style tomato-canning production line. That leaves Matt mostly on his own, having to decide almost on an hourly basis whether finding something to eat or looking for his sister takes precedence. Many of his "friends" straddle the fence between the police and the hippies, and some are willing to slip Matt some munchies (no, not THAT kind) or a job that earns him a few much-needed bucks. As for the cops, a couple seem sympathetic to his sister's disappearance, but Matt doesn't trust that they're really doing anything to find her. And on the other side, some of his best friends are hippies, but since their main focus is on "enlightenment," he doesn't fully trust them, either. So for the most part, he, too, is straddling the fence - all the while growing into a young man for whom life somehow can never be the same.

I'd love to say the story is heart-warming - and in a sense, it is; throughout many of the pages, all I really wanted to do was give Matt a big hug and tell him everything would be all right. In spots, I was near tears; in others, I chuckled. In the end, I think, I was satisfied. To the author, I say thanks for a totally engrossing story that will, like memories of my young-adult years, stay with me for some time. And more thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. This one for sure is a don't miss.

A Thousand Steps by T. Jefferson Parker (Forge Books, January 2022); 368 pp.

THE DROWNING GIRLS

4 stars out of 5

Small-town Denton, Pennsylvania, detective Josie Quinn is enjoying holiday time with her husband, Noah (a police force lieutenant), her twin sister and TV show host Trinity and other family members when a co-worker, Detective Finn Mettner, knocks on the door. He's been dating Amber Watts, the department's press liaison, and he frantically insists she's gone missing. He convinces Josie to come with him to Amber's home; when they see a reference to a nearby dam written in the ice on Amber's car windshield, Josie heads out. What she finds is a woman's hand, but she manages to grab it too late to stop it and the rest of the body from being washed away. The good news? It's not Amber.

The only real clue is Amber's diary - with Josie's name on it - containing a set of numbers that no one can decipher. The cause of death is determined to be murder, but when the dead woman finally is identified, the investigative waters become even more muddled. Some leads point to a possible connection with a wildly popular preacher-man who, with his wife, is building a mega-church at the outskirts of town. But that, too, goes nowhere fast. A couple of Amber's relatives who turn up turn out to be quirky as all get-out, but there's no hard evidence that they're connected to the murder. And Finn's almost stalker-like behavior toward Amber doesn't help, instead pushing him to the top of the suspect list despite Josie's initial insistence that he's innocent.

The fact is, Amber remains missing and feared dead. But hope springs eternal, so Josie, Noah and the rest of the team keep looking for her while trying to solve the murder at the dam. Still, time is of the essence; If Amber has been kidnapped and is still alive, can they find her before the searchers' worst fears come true? The only thing I'll say is that the last handful of chapters makes for the most frenzied, twisted-up ending I've read in a long while. All told, it's another solid entry in this enjoyable series (this is the 13th book), and I'm pretty sure it will please old fans and create new ones as well. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy.

The Drowning Girls by Lisa Regan (Bookouture, December 2021); 391 pp.

THE DARK HOURS

5 stars out of 5

As an avid reader, it's been interesting to me that authors of many of the books I've read over the past couple of years that are set in the present somehow manage to totally avoid what's going on in the world - most notably, the COVID-19 pandemic. A couple have set the time frame slightly before or slightly after, while others simply avoid the issue and carry on with their stories as if it didn't exist. Now comes a story that hits it - and other political goings-on - square on the nose (or more accurately, on the mask that's covering the nose). If I appreciated nothing else in this book, I'll give kudos for that.

That said, it gets my vote for many other reasons, including an intriguing and attention-holding plot and competent, well-developed characters. That I've come to love them over previous books helps, of course, but overall that doesn't matter much; even if there's an occasional clinker amid the series (to which no author is immune), the characters are strong enough to carry the plot and result in a positive rating. For sure, though, this one's no clinker.

Detective Renee Ballard is assigned to the West Hollywood Police Department's Sexual Assault team; checking out a homeless area under an overpass is where this story begins - as do the references to the vagaries of vaccinations and masking (Renee actually contracted the virus, which knocked her out of action for three weeks; now, she's been vaccinated and is very careful about wearing a mask herself). Most recently, she's been on the trail of a "tag team" of rapists who have struck twice. Here, a man is shot - perhaps accidentally - and it turns out the bullet came from the gun that was used in one of retired Detective Harry Bosch's cases back in 2011 (interestingly, while Harry has some health issues, he says he's not been vaccinated "yet," so Renee wears a mask when they interact in person).

Although Harry's murder book seems to have inexplicably disappeared from the department, he saved enough information for them to hit the ground running with their investigation. And then, Renee gets a call saying that the "Midnight Men" rapists have struck again. Now she's got two cases to worry about, but as the murder investigation with Harry heats up, she gets the order to turn it over to a different unit. Never one to follow the letter of the law (on occasion, she's been known to stomp on it), Renee refuses to let go, although she and Harry try to stay under the radar while they try to find a link between his 2011 case and the current shooting.

Much more than that I can't say without revealing too much, except that it's a thoroughly engrossing adventure that I didn't want to put down until I had to - and even then, I polished it off in two days of spare time. In short, another one well done and highly recommended!

The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown and Co., November 2021); 401 pp.

THE MAID

5 stars out of 5

If nothing else, I'll give this one 5 stars for originality, not to mention grabbing my attention from the beginning and holding it throughout. The focus is on Molly Gray, who is employed as a maid at a fancy hotel. But she's neither typical nor run-of-the-mill; I'd describe her as someone who is seriously socially deficient with OCD. Her whole life is wanting to please and going to extremes to follow instructions to the letter from those she respects - her boss and, until her death a few months ago, her grandmother, with whom she lived.

Now, one of her two life's compasses is gone - her Gran - leaving her to fend for herself with nothing but memories of things the elderly woman used to say to keep her grounded. More than ever before, Molly's work becomes her life; nothing makes her happier than making a guest's room spotless - just as she continues to make her home that way even though Gran is gone. The slightest rule infraction by others or upset in her routine drives her almost over the edge; imagine, then, her reaction when she starts to clean the hotel suite occupied by wealthy Charles Black and his beautiful wife Giselle and discovers the man in his bed - quite dead.

As the subsequent investigation proceeds, Molly finds herself moving from person of interest to prime suspect. In her naivete, Molly is, if nothing else, a trusting soul - totally unable to see the bad in people or comprehend that anyone would ever even think about taking advantage of her. That attribute cost her dearly in the past, and it stands to do her in now as she turns to for help to people who may not be on the up-and-up. On the plus side, she's certainly not devoid of real friends - people who understand her quirkiness and social shortcomings and want to help. Eventually, everything gets sorted out, with a couple of twists I didn't see coming (though they're not as serious as I'd expected to see happen).

Bottom line? If you're looking for a story that's thoroughly entertaining and a bit different, I suggest giving this one a try. I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Well done!

The Maid by Nita Prose (Ballantine Books, January 2022); 304 pp.

ABSENCE OF MALLETS

4 stars out of 5

This is the ninth book in the author's "Fixer-Upper" series; my acquaintance - and love - began with the sixth, and I've remained a loyal and happy reader ever since. It's refreshing to find a cozy mystery heroine, in this case professional contractor Shannon Hammer (yep, that's her real last name), who isn't oblivious to anyone other than herself and actually listens to reason. Growing up with a father who could build and/or repair just about anything, as did Shannon, gives me yet another way to relate - I just wish he'd taught me more than how to drive a nail and paint fence boards.

This one brings a happy circumstance: Shannon and hunky thriller writer Mac Sullivan are cohabitating. Shannon, who specializes in Victorian style, is working on a project to build 50 tiny houses for homeless or needy veterans, with half - plus a community center- already in place and occupied. In addition to writing his next book, the wealthy Mac has turned the historic lighthouse mansion into a retreat for writers. Still another project, started in a previous book, is restoration of part of a former insane asylum to become a posh hotel for Shannon's friend Jane. Shannon's sister Chloe, also a contractor but one who hosts a popular TV show on the West Coast, is married to local police chief Eric and commutes on occasion to visit Shannon (and, of course, her husband). 

As this one begins, work is progressing on the veterans' project, and Shannon is about to start teaching a class on building basics for women. Mac is hosting a small group of writers, one of whom turns out to be a boorish loudmouth named Lewis, who rankles just about every human he meets, including Mac and Shannon. Chloe is home for a visit, and everything seems to be going along swimmingly until the unthinkable happens: Shannon's new friend, a female veteran who's agreed to lend her talents to the housing project, turns up dead near Mac's shuttered-for-restoration lighthouse. The weapon appears to be one of the mallets the woman used in her art projects (hence the title of the book, I assume).

It's pretty clear there's a murderer among them all, but no one wants to think it's one of the veterans. Could it be one of Mac's guests at the writers' retreat? Or even Shannon's old nemesis from back in high school, who's beyond obnoxious to everyone? Everyone, from Shannon to Mac to Chloe and Eric, start investigating - but their efforts don't turn up much except the possibility that one or more of them may be the killer's next target.

Of course, all the details get hammered out in the end, but not without a bit of breath-holding on the part of this reader, at least. I have to say a couple of the characters in this one seemed borderline silly, but the whole thing was a treat as always (I love reading details of the construction trade) so I don't hesitate to recommend it. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Absence of Mallets by Kate Carlisle (Berkley, December 2021); 304 pages.

HEAD SHOT

5 stars out of 5

Last year, I had the privilege of reading the first book in this series - The Reflecting Pool - and not only did I enjoy it thoroughly, I was delighted to find a new series "hero" to love. Well, here we go again - and if it's possible, I love him more.

Marko, it seems, isn't totally content to work as a detective with the Washington, D.C., Metro Police; on the side, he takes on top-dollar "assignments" that, well, just may cross the line between legal and criminal (oh heck - sometimes obliterate it). Shortly after someone takes a potshot at him, Marko gets a request - make that demand - from one of his underworld contacts that he protect Nina Voychek, the beautiful visiting prime minister of politically in turmoil Montenegro. His police partner Lucy Tanakar calls him to the Capitol Theater, where a murder has occurred. Turns out the victim is well-known actress Victoria West, and there's a bit of a complication: she and Marko once had a brief, but serious (at least to Marko) fling.

The political protection detail quickly turns complicated as well when Marko is ordered to meet with the Secretary of State, who in turn orders him to serve on the protection detail for the Montenegro PM. Now, he's got two "bosses" to juggle on that score, and his heart keeps urging him to find out who murdered the love of his life. That urge turns into a passion when two more people involved with the theater unexpectedly end up dead. Things get even more complicated when Marko learns that (gasp!) one of the baddest of bad guys will stop at nothing to add him to the kill list.

While I can't say I reached the edge of my seat throughout this one, I didn't miss it by much. There's plenty of action and concern over who would bite the dust next (although I always figure that the star of the show might get roughed up a bit but isn't likely to get bumped off unless the author is really, really tired of writing about him). The whole thing is exciting and fun to read, and I highly recommend both books - noting that they stand alone just fine). Until next time, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for once again allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Well done!

Head Shot by Otho Eskin (Oceanview Publishing, December 2021); 352 pp.

CITY OF THE DEAD

5 stars out of 5

Is it possible to find a book in this series not to love? Of course, some plots are a bit less appealing than others - this is the 37th, after all - but police consultant and psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware and his friend, LAPD police officer Milo Sturgis, never disappoint. And with this entry, nothing's changed.

This time out, Milo and Alex visit a scene at which a moving van appears to have hit a naked man. An accident, perhaps - until one of the neighbors points to a nearby house he believes is being rented by a "suspicious" woman. When Alex and Milo go inside, they get a surprise - a woman inside has been brutally murdered. Alex, though, gets a double whammy: He once tangled with the woman, Cordelia Gannett, who at the time was posing as a psychologist.

Although she got caught, she failed to cease and desist; but as Alex and Milo investigate, they learn her earlier life was far more complicated. From there, several other familiar characters get involved, including Detective Moses Reed, Alex's guitar-repair expert and live-in love, Robin, and even Milo's physician husband Rick (always nice to hear from him, even if it's more of a cameo than a full-blown performance).

The details are what make the story take on a life of its own, but as always, everything gets sorted out in the end. This one, I think, will please most series fans like me. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of it.

City of the Dead by Jonathan Kellerman (Ballantine Books, February 2022); 336 pp.

THE NAMELESS ONES

5 stars out of 5

I swear that every time I read a book in the Charlie Parker series - this is the 19th - my jaw drops open early on and doesn't close till I get to the end. The writing is almost mesmerizing - not an easy accomplishment given the complexity of the plots - the detail is mind-boggling and every sentence is precisely crafted. This one, like the others, absolutely blew me away.

It's not like the others, though, in a way some readers may not appreciate: Charlie himself is almost nonexistent, except for a couple of brief phone conversations and equally brief in-person encounters. Front and center this time are Charlie's gay-couple friends Louis and Angel (mostly the former, an accomplished assassin) - actually fine with me because I love both characters. Accompanied and on occasion assisted by Angel, Louis is out for vengeance; in Amsterdam, the patriarch of a family of four - a man who was a close confidante of Louis, have been tortured and killed (the other three in the family, a young man and two women, for no apparent reason other than to make a statement). The two main killers are brothers and Serbian war criminals who hope to return to their native soil.

Louis, of course, has other ideas, but executing them (pun intended) proves more than a little challenging. In fact, he's gunning for five Serbian criminals; little does he know there's a sixth out there gunning for him. There's a lengthy cast of characters, all with names unfamiliar to me from countries even less familiar, but it all begins to make sense in fairly short order. There's even a supernatural element involving two young girls - a one who consorts with the brothers and seems to be in a sort of dead-but-still-living state similar to Charlie's late daughter Jennifer, who also makes a few appearances. 

I was on the edge of my seat with every finger crossed except the one swiping the pages of my Kindle throughout as Louis plans his assassination strategies - often working with people he's forced to trust even though it's a pretty sure bet they're untrustworthy. One of the planned encounters resulted in one of my favorite lines from the book, coming as Louis waited for one of his targets in a hotel lobby: "He found a bench, removed a book from his pocket and commenced not reading it."

In addition to the otherworldly elements, I will note that there's an abundance of grisly murders (for the benefit of those who aren't much into blood and guts stuff). The ending, while satisfying, leaves the door open to some intrigue I predict will show up in the next book. I'm up for it - bring it on!

The Nameless Ones by John Connolly (Atria/Emily Bestler Books (October 2021); 428 pp.

AUTOPSY

5 stars out of 5

When ace Medical Examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta is at her best - using evidence to determine all manner of dead body things like what caused the demise and not spending page after page feeling that she's being put upon - she's hard to beat. And in this book - the 25th in the popular series - I'd say she's there. No, her paranoia hasn't disappeared, but it's noticeably less obtrusive, allowing me, at least, to fully appreciate her skills. And here, she's taken on a new job that's brought her sort of full circle: The forensic pathologist has returned to Virginia as chief medical examiner.

She and her husband, Forensic Psychologist Benton Wesley, have moved to Old Town Alexandria amid political turmoil, some of which can be attributed to fallout from the recent pandemic. Living in a guest house is Scarpetta's technologically gifted niece, Lucy, and nearby neighbors are longtime friend and investigator Pete Marino and his wife, Dorothy (Kay's far-from-beloved sister Dorothy, also loosely defined as Lucy's mother).

It all sounds quite civilized; but Scarpetta's office is quite another story. Amid her regular responsibilities, she's expected to do clean-up duties resulting from some 20 years of mismanagement (or worse). Giving her grief every step of the way is her secretary Maggie, who was a devoted assistant to Scarpetta's incompetent predecessor and seems intent on making trouble for her new boss (making Scarpetta's paranoia totally justified in this instance). No reason was given, so I'll assume the woman can't be fired because she's a government employee; otherwise, I can say for sure she'd have been sent packing after my first day in office - and I have to believe Scarpetta would have done the same.

Soon after Scarpetta takes over and is getting to know her co-workers, she's called to take a look at what appears to be a rather gruesomely murdered woman lying near railroad tracks. That, in turn, raises suspicion of connections to a previous crime. And in the midst of all this, she gets a nasty surprise that temporarily sidelines her, after which she and Wesley get summoned to the White House (she's been appointed to a highly classified national Doomsday Commission). There they learn of possible murders aboard a secret laboratory that's orbiting Earth. Back at home and work in Virginia, the focus turns to the local murder or murders and trying to find out who is behind the aforementioned surprise before he or she strikes again (and worse, is successful). 

For me, this one was a better balance of characters, with a fair amount of interaction with Wesley (quite an impressive guy in his own right), some with Marino and less on her sister and niece (a plus in my book because I've never been fond of either one, although I did work up some sympathy for her niece and what she's been through of late). My only disappointment came at the end, when things seemed wrapped up far too quickly for my liking. On the other hand, I suspect some of it will carry over to the next edition. Overall, a well done story that I always hated to put down - a big thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell (William Morrow, November 2021); 400 pp.

COUNT TO THREE

4 stars out of 5

Somewhere I read that this is the first in what will be a series. If that's true, it's off to a pretty good start. The lead character, neophyte private investigator Dani Callahan,  started down her career path a few years after her kindergarten-age daughter, Tinsley, was abducted. Intent on one day finding her still-missing daughter - or at least finding out what happened to her - she's divorced Tinsley's father Matthew and is trying to make a living in the real world.

Finding out what happened to Tinsley has turned into borderline obsession, but Dani is otherwise likable. Her younger assistant, Quinn Sullivan, not so much. She, too, comes from an emotionally charged background; but unlike Dani, she's often loud, strong-willed and a person I'd probably keep around for half a day before telling her I'm the boss and if she can't accept that, hit the bricks. Together, though, they make a competent team; that said, I'd have loved it more if Dani had just once stood her ground when Quinn started to go off the deep end instead of rationalizing that the behavior comes as a result of Quinn's prior life experiences.

In Sacramento, teenager Ali Cross goes missing. Not long thereafter, a 12-year-old boy comes in wanting to hire Dani to investigate; it seems he witnessed the abduction, although he didn't see enough to be helpful to the police. But he's upset that he did nothing to try and stop the abduction at the time (he, too, has a history of being thought of as a "troubled" youth - it seems that emotional baggage is a must for characters in this book). He's also upset that, in his view, the police have done little to track down the culprit.

Except maybe for one; the detective who worked on Tinsley's case got to know Dani very well and since has served as a kind of mentor to her. Although he's about to retire, he's willing to listen to Dani's accounts of the newly missing girl, offering advice and, when necessary, some real help with the case. As one might expect, the investigation into Ali's disappearance unearths clues about Tinsley's as well. But while that's helpful to Dani - maybe - the first order of business is finding Ali before something terrible happens.

There's no shortage of action along the way (as well as some fairly gruesome scenes). If I have a complaint, it's that the whole thing too often reads like a cozy mystery. It's got all the ingredients, not the least of which is an overabundance of melodrama - plus characters who fit the role almost perfectly: A female character who tries to stick to the straight and narrow but often ignores advice - usually resulting in her life being in danger. A partner/friend/roommate who's headstrong to the point of totally annoying and often leads said private eye into situations a rational person would avoid like the plague. A seasoned law enforcement official who feigns annoyance at said private eye but humors her, possibly at the risk of his or her own career. A character - usually a very young or very old buttinsky - who noses around, often at inopportune times. And finally, an ending that demonstrates that God's in his heaven and all's right with the world.

Overall, though, the story was intriguing and enjoyable and one I recommend, especially for fans of this author (as I am). I do, though, wonder if, in future installments, Dani's detective will continue working with her after he retires. My bet's on yes, and if I'm right, I'm looking forward to reading it - he's a solid guy with Dani's best interests at heart who is able to keep her grounded (and happily, more than once preventing her from crossing that cozy mystery line). Between now and then, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get in on the action early on with a pre-release review copy of this one.

Count to Three by T.R. Ragan (Thomas & Mercer, December 2021); 283 pp.

THE MIDNIGHT LOCK

5 stars out of 5

I've read and loved every single book featuring criminalist Lincoln Rhyme (this is the 15th), and I'm pretty sure of one thing: I probably wouldn't like him a lot - he's more than a little bit on the arrogant side. That said, there's no one I'd rather have investigating a case in which I'm an innocent suspect than the master of evidence. This book did nothing to change that opinion and maybe enhanced it given the restraints that are placed on him and his team of experts.

Testifying for the prosecution in a case involving a known gangster, the defense attorney drills holes in Rhyme's evidence-collection skills and the accused is acquitted. When that happens, the powers-that-be put the blame squarely on Rhyme and declare that the department no longer has need of his consulting services. That presents a bit of a dilemma since his current case - involving a break-in artist known as the Locksmith, a person who slips into residences and rearranges things while the victims are sleeping - is just starting to get interesting. 

Needless to say, Rhyme and his team, which includes police Detective Amelia Sachs (also his wife), have no intention of shutting down, but they do need to be careful not to run afoul of the police muckity-mucks. For those who have followed the series for a while, there are several references and comparisons to the Watchman, another Rhyme nemesis, who is believed to still be "out there" somewhere.

I will say that the story has several threads that make it a little harder to follow than some of the others (including an incognito conspiracy theorist and a mega-wealthy family that owns a highly successful "sensationalist" newspaper), and some of the explanations - such as how locks work - tend to get a little tiresome at times. But Rhyme's thought process, and Sachs's instincts, more than make up for those transgressions. One scene in particular is one of the most nail-biting I've experienced in many, many books (thank goodness it didn't last longer than it did - I couldn't have held my breath much longer).

In the end, most things are resolved with a few surprises thrown in, setting Rhyme's team up for their next adventure (for the record, I'm hoping that one character new to this book gets tapped for more). I'm more than ready, so bring it on. Meantime, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for once again allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Good job!

The Midnight Lock by Jeffery Deaver (G.P. Putnam's Sons, November 2021); 448 pp.