Disclosure: I *live* on First Avenue - the very one in this book so it was fascinating to read a story about my own neighborhood! That aside, this book was great regardless. Clausen is a first time author and this is a wonderful effort. Seattle police - not the big shots, not the homicide guys… the regular beat cops are the center. A baby is found dead in a seedy hotel. She died from being left there on her own. The solving of the case involves a tour of my neighborhood and inspection into the people here. The story is credible and the characters are really interesting. I really hope this is one of many more for Clausen. ( )

Officer Sam Wright finds a dead infant in a run down hotel on First Avenue. He learns that the child died of neglect and the mother, who worked at the Donut Shop, has disappeared.

A young woman comes to Seattle looking for Sam. When he's not at the police station, she walks by the Donut Shop and gets a job there.

Sam's favorite place on Frist Avenue is Silvie's Restaurant. He has seen the young woman and learned that her name is Marie although she has not told him she was looking for him.

Sam asks Silvie if he would be willing to hire Marie since Sam doesn't think that the Donut Shop is safe.

I waws moved by the author's excellent characters. The evil characters are people that the reader feels deserve their punishment. A number of others, Sam included, are well meaning people who try to make life a little better for people with their compassionate manner and desire to help.

Realistically told, the story is written by a former Seattle police officer.

Highly recommended. ( )