Blunt Impact (Theresa Maclean)
Cleveland forensic cop Theresa MacLean is called to investigate the brutal death of a young woman, who either jumped, fell, or was pushed from 20 stories up in an unfinished building in Cleveland’s slowly regenerating downtown. Even though she’s not normally squeamish, Theresa finds the sight of the woman’s decimated body gut-wrenching. At first, the death appears to be a suicide, but the more Theresa and her partner investigate, the more convinced they are that it’s murder. The dead woman had plenty to live for, including her 11-year-old daughter, Ghost. Theresa soon discovers that Ghost witnessed her mother’s horrifying death and might be able to identify the killer, so now Theresa not only has to find the killer, she also must make sure that the killer doesn’t come after Ghost. As the pressure to solve the case and keep Ghost safe mounts, Theresa senses the killer is close, but she is completely unprepared for his silent and deadly assault when it comes. An intense plot, knuckle-biting suspense, a likable heroine, and a shock ending make for a thoroughly satisfying read. --Emily Melton