DEATH OF A BUTTERFLY

by Margaret Maron ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 7, 1984

Cool, reserved Lieutenant Sigrid Harald of the N.Y.P.D. is the debut detective here--in a nicely plotted procedural revolving around the murder of Julie Richmond, found bludgeoned to death in her apartment. Julie's ruthless, edgy character provides lots of suspects: handsome, shallow ex-boss George Franklin, her longtime blackmail victim; Franklin's new girlfriend, jealous of Julie; Julie's ex-husband Karl, hated and feared (thanks to Julie) by their three-year-old son Timmy; neighbors Luisa and Vico Cavatori, who abhorred Julie's abuse of little Timmy; plus Julie's psychopathic brother Mickey Novack. And Lieut. Harald's intuition and doggedness eventually combine to produce the murderer . . . and a kind of justice. Despite the heroine's stiff personality and sterile private-life: a brisk, competent first outing.

Pub Date: Dec. 7, 1984

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1984

Categories: FICTION