Sunday, August 1, 2010

Body Heat-Brenda Novak

Body Heat
Brenda Novak
Mira, Aug 31 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778328032

Twelve and counting as someone is killing illegal Mexican immigrants as they cross the border into the desert near Bordertown, Arizona. New Chief of Police Sophia St. Claire knows she lacks the experience to deal with such a cruel insidious serial killer as she sees the bodies of the latest young pair rotting in the heat.

Department 6 sends agent Roderick Guerrero back home to Bordertown, a place he loathes due to his childhood of being mistreated as the illegitimate unwanted son of an affluent rancher. However, his mom was a Mexican immigrant so he wants what looks like a vigilante stopped as the scenario is already ugly.

Sophia welcomes the help, but wishes it was anyone but Rod. Still the case comes first, but town cooperation is negative especially from officials. As the pair digs deeper, they begin to unravel a human trafficking business but the entrepreneur seems always one step ahead of the cop and the private security specialist.

The latest Department 6 thriller (see White Heat and Killer Heat) is a superb timely investigative tale that takes on the illegal immigration problem. The story line is fast-paced from the opening quote on racism to the dramatic finish. The key to the exciting story line is the investigative subplot. Readers will relish this solid look at the Arizona border issue although an intelligent felon ends up obsessively thinking with his wrong head. Still Body Heat is a deep police procedural.

Harriet Klausner

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