Review: Liz Dawson is a character.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 18, 2012
She eats like a linebacker, swears like a sailor, and has a fiery temper. Her partner, Matt, is her best friend, and the chemistry between the two hints at something more. However, there are murders to solve in the unlikeliest of places: an Amish community.The writing isn't absolutely perfect, but it would be a challenge to stop paying attention to the fast-paced plot and start counting commas. The plot and the characters work so well, that the story just flies by. I did not even notice when I got to the end.There are no cliches to be found: at no point in time in the story could I guess at the ending. I had my guess as to who the killer wars. I'm happy to report that I was completely wrong.Liz is no caricature. She's a strong woman, but she's definitely a woman. She couldn't do what she does without a healthy dose of empathy, and without caring for her partner or the people she tries to help. It's rare to see such a strong female character not lose her essential femininity. It's even rare to see a book dealing with violence against women, starring a strong female character, where men don't become caricatures -- Matt, Liz's partner, is a strong, competent agent. He's truly her partner and in no way a sidekick.This is an excellent book for anyone who loves a good crime story, or a good thriller. I would highly recommend!