DEVIL IN THE DETAIL

A crime run in the West Midlands of England culminates in a murder that leaves the police scrambling when the clues don’t add up.

A series of six attacks on cars in Birmingham escalates when the latest victim is shot and her husband killed. Molly and Michael Lawrence were over the moon in their determination to share their joy about Molly’s pregnancy with their family, but on their way back home, something goes terribly wrong when their Mercedes is attacked in what looks like a carjacking turned bad. Molly, disoriented by the attack, remembers few details when Police Constable Chloe Judd interviews her at the hospital. DI Bernard Watts, who wants to balance being sensitive to Molly with solving a case that’s now being played up by media outlets, suggests bringing in criminologist Dr. Will Traynor to help make sense of the crime. Watts knows that his boss, Superintendent Brophy, is reluctant to have Traynor on the case, but what choice does he have when the clues about Michael’s murder seem inconsistent with the pattern of the earlier attacks? Sure enough, Traynor’s insights lead the department to a conclusion far more sinister than any of the characters had imagined, though canny readers will have guessed it early on.

Though the absence of twists may disappoint seasoned fans, all can share the fun of watching the detectives get there.