Instead of Jane Tennison immortalised by Helen Mirren in PRIME SUSPECT, think Anna Travis in ABOVE SUSPICION, Lynda's wonderful new creation of a female detective for today. A rookie detective, Anna is about to embark on her first murder case - and it couldn't be a more serious, more gruesome series of murders. The killings began eight years before; now the body count is up to six. The method of killing is identical, the backgrounds of the girls very similar - all of them prostitutes. As the book opens, a seventh body is found, same modus operandi but the victim this time is a young student, sweet, innocent, with 'the face of an angel'. Anna stumbles on a vital piece of information which links one man to the killings. But that man is a household name, a well-known and much-loved actor, with charm, good looks and the gift of the gab. Denial springs easily and confidently to his lips; his protestation of innocence is convincing. What if he is arrested, in the face of huge publicity, and he is the wrong man? This is Lynda La Plante at her best, creating a compelling, charismatic new detective in Anna Travis, and bringing to vivid life on the page a completely gripping crime thriller,
This was an odd book in a lot of ways. The procedural aspect was strong and I enjoyed how the case was investigated. The romance sucked and would've been better for either excluding it or giving her someone unattached. The characters weren't as developed as I would've liked considering the 400 odd pages to slog through.
Langton was a hot mess and for all he was a good detective I just plain didn't like him. Anna was not a hot mess exactly, but she was also not very strong in her mental fortitude or resilience. I kind of expect my female protagonists to be more badass.
The rest of the office is pretty much ignored beyond there are other officers working there. So I never really felt I got to know any of them and they were barely distinguishable from each other. One female can't get a sandwich without tomatoes, the other female isn't made to get lunch, one male has a newborn baby and the other male does not.
Overall, it's not a bad start to a series - just depends on your expectations. I'll likely pick up the next one - I did really enjoy the procedural part - and hopefully the romance either gets better or goes away. 3.5 stars.
