Teaser (Hallie Ahern Mysteries)
Troubles abound for Hallie Ahern in Brogan's satisfying third mystery starring the intrepid Rhode Island reporter (after 2007'sYesterday's Fatal). A chance viewing of an online teaser featuring two teen girls on Rhode Island Buzz, a social networking Web site, prompts Ahern to pitch a story to her newspaper, the ProvidenceChronicle. She receives initial support from her bosses, who see it as an audience-catching exposé: Online Dangers: Your teenager is prey. That promising start is quashed when the investigation puts her in conflict with boyfriend Matt Cavanaugh, an assistant attorney general, and when the paper's editors unexpectedly decide to drop her story in favor of another. The death of one of her young contacts transforms Ahern's quest from news story to crusade, setting her on a course that could cost her job and her life. Brogan's newspaper background serves her nicely in the setup of Ahern's sleuthing, and readers should welcome further entries in the series.(Dec.)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.