Review: A killing touch
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 21, 2013
A journalist is hot on the trail of a story - a vicious killer is at large, and she suspects he uses unorthodox means. Lana Quinn explains to federal agent Aidan Burgess that she thinks the smallpox-type deaths in Miami are triggered by an allergic reaction to the killer's touch. She needs protection while she investigates and Aidan, who fascinates and repels her, provides it.A holistic trial medical study has been carried out and the records are dubious - a young man managing the files has died. Lana works all her sources who are surprisingly forthcoming. Despite the fact that the obvious presentation of the disease is smallpox, nobody at all treats the dead persons as biohazards, asks if Plum Island has lost a sample or if bioterrorism is at work.Aidan distrusts journalists. However the pair are swiftly having what seems like gratuitous sex when they should be investigating. Later, Lana changes into sexier clothing when she wants to get information from a restaurant owner - I find this offensive to women. And for all she knew, the owner could have been gay. The heavy sexual overtones continue even when Lana is lying in hospital after a serious assault - which just feels inappropriate; if I were lying damaged I'd like to think my partner could keep it in his pants.In the 'Sensory Ops' series the women in the FBI office, far from having to prove themselves by working harder than the men, are mainly concerned with setting up their girl pals with dates so they can all be in couples. There is already some edgy history between Lana and Aidan. It doesn't help my impressions that Lana keeps wondering if she is the one journalist Aidan could live with, rather than the one woman.Nikki Duncan does give us a strong female character - who seldom notices her editor's existence or deigns to mail in copy. I thought a lot more work on the realism of journalism was required - and on the realism of policing and disease control.