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Detectives Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne are partners in the homicide division of the Philadelphia PD. Their first case after Kevin returns from administrative leave is investigating the murder of a young woman whose body was discovered on the banks of the Schuylkill River – in December. At the crime scene they meet a young police officer who is rotating around the departments and who will work with them in homicide. Detective Joshua Bontrager is young, energetic and enthusiastic. And a rarity – an Amish homicide cop. Most of the murders the police investigate in any big city are fairly run-of-the-mill; either gang-related, domestics or bar fights. But in this case, with the dead woman posed on the river bank, wearing a vintage dress, Jessie and Byrne know that this time it is different. In addition to the murders of the young women (it does become murders, plural) the detectives eventually make the acquaintance of Pastor Roland Hannah and Deacon Charles Waite of the New Page Church of the Divine Flame. These two men have a very unusual sideline which ultimately intersects with the cops and the serial killer. Set in December, the coming holidays and the miserable weather are as much a component of the story as the main characters. The plotting, characterization and suspense are all top-notch; this is a chilling read for a warm autumn’s night. The author has previously written two books about a homicide detective in Cleveland. This is the third book in the series set in Philadelphia. We originally met Jessie and Kevin in THE ROSARY GIRLS. Both of these characters are well developed and their family lives and professional lives are very well detailed. Montanari’s books are well written. Even if the subject is a serial killer the books are excellent and well worth the time spent with them.
Reviewed by Lorraine Gelly, October 2007
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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