Cross and Burn by Val McDermid

Last time I read about Tony and Carol, she had walked away from him, her job, her previous life and threw herself into her grief.  The loss of her brother and his wife was too much to take and she blamed Tony for not understanding the felon well enough to stop him.  Life goes on, no matter how sad it is.

Atlantic Monthly Press and Edelweiss allowed me to download and read this ebook for review (thank you).  It will be published October 22nd, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Ms. McDermid writes excellent books.  This story was over 400 pages and I managed to read it in a single day.  Her stories are tight, and filled with lives of her characters as well as the crime investigation.  It's part police procedural and part psychological analysis.  The story flows well, it keeps your attention and her killers are always creepy.

Since Carol walked away from her job, Paula is now working for a new boss.  That's not going too well because Fielding wants the case closed and accepts the evidence found without asking why it might be there.  That's how Tony ends up in jail.

Tony's friends know he's not a murderer and he'd never abuse the women in that manner.  But proving it might be hard to do.  The worst part is that the victims look a lot like Carol and she might be in danger.

This book ends with some hope for the future for all parties but the killer.  I liked that.  I also liked introduction of a dog to Carol's life.  She needs a friend.

Happy reading.