Tom Turner (5)

Not as good as the first three in the series, simply because this was way too convoluted. The kidnapping side story just didn't fit with the rest of the book. And that led to too many peripheral characters. It was hard to keep up with everyone and at some point, I just didn't care. Still, I love Crawford and Ott. Such a great duo!

I really like this series. The main characters are so damn likeable. And the plots aren't telegraphed at all. Just a very, very pleasant way to spend a few hours!

This thriller starts out strong, with a convincingly drawn setting and interesting central characters. But it turns very violent pretty soon, both in terms of murder and in terms of sex. And when the lead cop put a female colleague in a situation of extreme risk, I starting skipping big chunks. One reviewer said a later entry in the series wasn't nearly as dark as this one: I might give it a try, since the atmosphere is well done.

I'm really enjoying this series. There's nothing earth-shattering about the books, nothing terribly deep. But they are enjoyable stories with enjoyable characters told well. That makes me happy. With that said, the bodies were stacking up in this one, but Crawford and Ott were on the case and the bad guys got their just deserts. And I got a few hours of escape from the real world.