Lacey Flint is a young detective constable in London. It has taken her quite a lot to reach this point in her life, and her past still haunts her even though she tries to ignore it. But then one night after interviewing a young rape victim at her apartment, Lacey watches helplessly as a woman dies right in front of her eyes in the parking lot.  Suddenly Lacey’s past and her present begin to merge in ways that are both maddening and frightening, motivating her to use everything she has to stop this killer who seems to know everything about her past.

This is the first in the Lacey Flint series by Bolton and it is one of the most compelling books that I have read in a long time!  Lacey is one of those broken but strong detectives that offer so much insight into the human condition and find that their very weaknesses are what make them so good at their jobs. Although it is Lacey’s interest in the historical Jack the Ripper that helps break the case open it is her past that helps her understand this killer and it is that insight helps her the most in the end.

I am thrilled to have found another detective series with a strong female lead character. Bolton crafts the story well, leading you through the clues while keeping you on pins and needles to the end.  Lacey is a complicated character with a lot of baggage, but she is all the more compelling for it and her interactions with her boss, the Scotland Yard detective and her co-workers are funny, poignant and revealing. This would be a great beach read!

Brenda’s Rating: ****(4 Stars out of 5)

Recommend this book to: Ken, Sharon, Marian and Lauren

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