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FOOTSTEPS IN THE BLOOD by Jennie Melville

FOOTSTEPS IN THE BLOOD

by Jennie Melville

Pub Date: Nov. 19th, 1993
ISBN: 0-312-09813-8
Publisher: St. Martin's

Chief Superintendent Charmian Daniels—settled in her cozy Windsor house (Dead Set, etc.) and about to climb yet another rung of the police corporate ladder—has made enemies along the way. One of them is out to get her, on the cryptic word of sad young Nedda Fisher, who wants money from Charmian's goddaughter Kate to name names. Nedda comes from the benighted Cheasey district, home to a heavy criminal element and hangout of vicious, slippery Jake Henley, king of several rackets, pornography among them. Nedda is shot to death soon after her approach to Kate and Sergeant Dolly Barstow. There are rumors of police corruption; some very personal problems for Charmian to deal with; incidents directed at her that escalate from anonymous phone calls to arson; plus a new murder and an old one uncovered before Charmian, acting on instinct, confronts her enemy. Red herrings abound, and Melville's style is more than a bit precious—but enough tension is generated to hold you to the finish of this woman-focused police procedural.