The Practice of Murder

Pauley wants a family. As an infant, he was left on the doorstep of the police station in Mesalinda, Texas where he is now a homicide detective. He was never adopted. He likes his job and he worked hard to get where he is. However, his pregnant wife Marty wants him to quit the police force; if he doesn't, she will leave him. His dilemma deepens when he is faced with the biggest challenge of his careera bloody murder with no apparent motive that leads to an increasingly complex and baffling case. As the solution to the mystery grows more elusive, he must make a decision: appease his wife, or solve the crime.

Elizabeth Jordan was raised to believe she is special. And she is. She is focused and tidy and thorough, and she is beautiful; she looks like a pretty, soft little thing. However, as Pauley says, "So does a thistle, but when you touch one, you get a hand full of nasty little quills." Elizabeth's quills come fast and often. She must find a bloodless way to kill someone, and she wants to enjoy the effort, so she plays a clever game and the body count rises, along with the suspense.

Seen through the viewpoints of the cop and the killer, The Practice of Murder is an exciting, readable, fast-paced book. Those who like mystery/crime novels will love this one. It is a gripping story with a tense plot, vigorous prose, and three-dimensional characters. Elizabeth is unforgettable. She is appealing and repelling at the same time; she is the kind of person that if you met her in real life, you would want to know her for what she is. And you would be well advised to do so. Filled with subtle fastidiousness, she gave me chills. Pauley, a young, ambitious homicide detective, is on the case early, but nothing makes sense; he is working on one facet while Fable concentrates on another and Smith faces yet a third. There seem to be no connections to link the crimes. But after Pauley puts the clues together, he gets on the trail of the killer in an unsettling, suspense-packed race against time. When you read this book, and I highly recommend that you do so, you will want to be certain the doors and windows are secure so you will be safe -- and you will double check the locks in case someone is out there. Waiting.

Hack Taylor Book Review Editor, bleepthem.com

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