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Medico Kathryn Fox demonstrated a wonderful ability to tell a story with her first novel, MALICIOUS INTENT. She made the most of her forensic knowledge in writing that opus and now, in WITHOUT CONSENT, she produces yet another enthralling read. Geoffrey Willard is being released from prison, where he has spent 20 years for the ghastly rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl. The reception he is likely to receive from the public is demonstrated by the people who watch his release, having been alerted to it by the press, as well as from one of the detectives given the task to deliver him to a safehouse. Willard is struck by one of the onlookers and abused by the detective. On arrival at the safehouse, Geoff is presented with a pup by his cousin Nick, but someone obviously sees the pup as an extension of Geoff himself and does unto it what they would like to do to Willard. Forensic pathologist Anya Crichton, protagonist of Fox's previous book, suffered after her earlier adventure since people who might put work in the way of her private practice feared that the publicity she received from the press might have an adverse effect. Fortunately, her practice still has work so that she is able to continue paying alimony to her feckless ex-husband, as well as keep up payments on her mortgage, if only barely so. She remains the non-custodial parent of her young son, Ben. Anya is exceedingly taken aback when coroner Morgan Tully requests her help in assessing a fellow forensic pathologist whose work, it seems, cannot stand up to close scrutiny. It appears that there is a serial rapist operating in the area. Anya examines a victim, noting that the criminal used a knife to threaten the woman, a knife which left an obvious impression on the woman's skin. The rapist, too, has a catchphrase which he repeats to all his victims. Meanwhile, Geoffrey is not making a good impression on his mother. She obviously fears he might repeat the behaviour that got him jailed. It is apparent to the reader that Geoffrey has psychological problems but is his profile truly consistent with that of a sadistic murderer? Anya has restrictions imposed on her that she finds repugnant and counter-productive. The authorities have decided that all rape victims must have their injuries photographed. Anya feels that will make the women reluctant to proceed. As the case proceeds, Geoffrey becomes the suspect in the succession of rape/murders. Anya, initially suspicious of the convicted killer, soon begins to doubt his guilt. Fox has, in this work, overcome her earlier tendency to wax didactic concerning her specialty. The tale proceeds at pace, not slowing down by being bogged in forensic detail. The characerisation is, as before, well done and the plotting excellent. Readers can hope that it won't be too long before Fox produces yet another gripping tale.
Reviewed by Denise Pickles, March 2007
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