You never know what you’re going to get when you’re asked to review a book, and in this case I was definitely not disappointed. I really enjoyed Mr. Mancheski’s debut novel. Van Waring is a tough detective with a stubborn streak and a little bit of a softer side, and he’s often too smart for his own good. This missing-person mystery had a unique twist that you don’t see often… it wasn’t just about some psycho taking girls (but I don’t want to give away too much). I liked that the book didn’t only focus on the case, but on the relationships between the characters. My only complaint is that I thought the bad guy deconstructed a little too quickly… I would have liked to see a little more cat and mouse once Van Waring got on the right trail. But on the plus side, at the end of the book even the detectives don’t know the full story, and I like the possibility that creates. There’s a lot of competition in the world of suspense, but I think Mancheski has a good shot at success. I, for one, look forward to Cale Van Waring’s second adventure!
