When Cindy Decker finds a new-born baby in a rubbish bin, she can''t imagine who would commit such a crime. Surely abandoning a baby is the biggest taboo of motherhood? The usual suspects - prostitutes, homeless women and drug abusers - aren''t responsible. In fact, the culprit is a woman who appears almost as vulnerable as her own baby. As the case continues, Cindy realises she''s in deep - her own life in danger - and there''s only one person who can help, her father and boss, Lieutenant Peter Decker. They both know the key to a successful investigation is keeping a cool, professional head, but with a father and daughter detective team, can it ever be anything other than personal?
Industry Reviews
The latest Decker/Lazarus thriller brings back the hero and heroine in full throttle but this time the story focuses more on the couple's daughter, Cindy. Like her father, Cindy is an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, but unlike Dad she is a rookie cop who doesn't believe in following protocol. When Cindy finds an abandoned baby in a dumpster, she is determined to find the troubled mother. That irritates the LAPD detectives, not to mention her father, who feel she is overstepping her authority. But Cindy has a caustic way with words and a fiery temper that mean she will go her own way, no matter what effect it might have on her career. Soon, however, she finds there is more to this case than a missing mother. Attempts are made on her life, run-ins with drug barons follow, and there is a killer rapist also to be added into the equation. The pace really hots up when Cindy and her father get involved in the same inquiry. Their relationship is never smooth anyway, and it becomes fraught in the complexities of a criminal investigation - especially when Dad turns over-protective. Meanwhile, ghosts of Rina Lazarus's past surface to reveal the difficulty of maintaining a Jewish identity in today's secular world. Kellerman has created a gripping story with greater social depths than most, and in Cindy she has the perfect foil for Lieutenant Decker. They make a formidable team. Those new to Kellerman's work may be confused by references (without explanation) to previous books, and even devoted fans may find some of the timely coincidences a little too contrived. Even so, this is storytelling with a good moral bite. (Kirkus UK)
