NAZARETH CHILD

The key to a field operative’s past may be in her current investigation.

Locating missing people is what Del Shannon does best. The tough and efficient field operative has never been given a case she couldn’t crack, which is why the folks from Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives show up at her Tucson door. It seems one of their own has recently disappeared, and they need her help to find him. Daniel Cole, the vanished agent, was supposed to infiltrate the Nazareth Church to investigate the cultish community led by faith healer Silas Rule. Special Agent Darius Lemon hasn’t heard from Cole recently and isn’t sure whether this means he’s been accepted as a Trojan horse or something much worse. While Lemon has little incentive that would induce Del to lead her own investigation, she discovers some motivation when she realizes that the church may hold the key to her missing mother’s secret past. Del’s missing mother was the one case she could never crack. Now, teamed up with the tough but sensitive Agent Frank Falconet and sent into the potentially unstable community of Nazareth Church, Del has what may be her only chance to discover the truth about her roots, all the while guarding against what appears to be mounting danger.

The fast-flowing story line will engage readers and may distract their attention from some characters who are painted in rather broad strokes. It’s nice to see James (Body Count: A Killer Collection, 2006) present a woman in control in the leading role.