LESSER CREATURES

A science reporter barely recovered from the murder of her husband is outraged when a coworker is killed in an explosion meant for her.

After a bombing at the Journal’s office, Sue Bennett learns that fellow reporter Anil Naib, who had borrowed her car, was killed when it exploded. The attacks were arranged by an animal-rights group that’s blackmailing companies with threats of more attacks. Special Branch is trying to figure out why Sue was a target. A crime reporter’s informant gives Sue a tip on the source of the Semtex used in the bombs. Much to the horror of Sam, her boss and occasional date, she starts following Sean Beck, the likely supplier. Things improve when Anil’s brother and his friends take over these duties. Sean, who lives on curry, never suspects that employees of different Indian restaurants are following him while a computer wizard follows the money trail. It looks as if the original group has been forced out by hardened criminals using animal rights as a cover for blackmail. Sue’s police protectors foil a kidnap attempt, but the crooks try again, more successfully this time. Learning why she is a target, Sue is beaten by a sadistic gangster but lives to tell the tale.

Pirnie, aka Freda Davies (Bound in Shallows, 2003, etc.), is known for her solid police procedurals. Here, she tosses romance and adventure into the mix and comes up with a winner.