Middle of Nowhere
A brutal attack that leaves a young woman paralyzed is horrifying  enough, but when it happens to one of Seattle police lieutenant Lou Boldt's own  officers, and all the suspects wear the same uniform as the victim, it's much  worse. The SPD has been struck by a not-very-mysterious case of the "blue flu,"  a labor dispute that's turned cop against cop. Frustrated by the work slowdown  in the department, Boldt is working almost on his own, except for forensic  psychologist Daphne Matthews and detective John LaMoia, familiar characters in  Pearson's popular series (The  Pied Piper,The First  Victim). Despite not-so-veiled warnings from some of his colleagues, Lou  is determined to unmask Maria Sanchez's attacker, even if it turns out to be a  fellow cop. And if that's not enough, the piano-playing lieutenant with a  devoted wife--and a lingering yen for his coworker Daphne--has to deal with a  crime wave that's increasing every day as the blue flu fells more of the  force.Investigating a string of robberies, Lou and Daphne follow the evidence to a  telemarketing operation in a Colorado prison and question an inmate who may have  used inside information to set up the robberies for his brother in Seattle to  carry out. When the inmate dies, his brother goes after Lou, who isn't sure who  to blame when violence hits too close to home--the brother or the striking  policemen.Middle of Nowhereisn't Pearson's best outing: the plot is  thinner than usual and the pacing somewhat slower, although the detailed  explanation of how to catch a criminal using new telecommunications technology  is fascinating. Still, Lou Boldt is an always interesting character whose inner  conflicts are well drawn and whose essential decency makes up for a lot. His  understated romance with Daphne deepens in every new adventure; the real mystery  is what's going to happen to the two of them.--Jane Adams