When Death Intervenes-L.C. Hayden

When Death Intervenes
L.C. Hayden
Five Star, May 7 2010, $25.95
ISBN: 9781594148507

In Two Forks, Wyoming, Linda Randig mourns the deaths of her parents in a car crash. Soon afterward, she receives a call from an anonymous person who tells her to open an envelope that he left her and that he can see what she is doing even inside her house. Inside the large parcel is three other envelops. One is labeled open me first which contains pictures of her parents' car. Another says open me next; inside is a picture of her estranged son Eric with her grandson. The third shows her spouse Mitch lying dead in the garden. She races outside to see her husband is dead. The caller tells her to use her SUV and head to Minnesota to await further instructions.

At the South Dakota Custer State Park, Linda is parked next to retired Dallas police detective Harry Bronson and his wife Carol. He recognizes a troubled soul and gets her to talk about her woes. Unable to resist although Carol warns him not to play cop anymore, Harry with the help of his former police partner Mike Hoover, who remains on the force, begins to piece together the motive behind a serial killer whose lethal signature is that of a dead man.

When Death Intervenes is a great thriller as Bronson cannot stop himself from intervening to save the life of a beleaguered widow who has not had time to grieve. Bronson is terrific with his bowling theory of life as much as his clever investigation. Although the Randig family extended dynamics is dysfunctional to the point of being over the top of the Black Hills, fans will relish this strong tale as Bronson works the case from two angles: keeping his “client” and her son and grandchild alive and identifying the killer.

Harriet Klausner