Sunday, October 4, 2009

The Killing Hands-P.D. Martin

The Killing Hands
P.D. Martin
Mira, Nov 2009, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778326397

Because of the odd wound at the victim’s throat LAPD asks the FBI for assistance on this homicide. Los Angeles based agent Sophie Anderson is assigned to help resolve how the person died. The Austrian expatriate profiler agrees with the assessment no knife was used as the forensic evidence is lacking. Finally, Sophie concludes the predator is a grandmaster martial arts black belt who literally ripped open the throat of the deceased.

The corpse’s identity also proves a puzzler as Saito Jun has been in hiding for about fifteen years. His appearance begs more questions than his vicious murder as he had ties to an Asian mob. Sophie fears his death means more than just a simple murder.

The latest Sophie Anderson FBI police procedural (see The Murderer’s Club, Fan Mail and Body Count) is a refreshing entry due to who the victim is, why he suddenly resurfaces after a long hiatus and how he dies. Sophie is at her best as she puts together the how and ultimately struggles with the who and why, especially proving the actual person behind the murder and not just the Killing Hands of the hired gun.

Harriet Klausner

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