Catherine Sampson Out of Mind

Out of Mind

Catherine Sampson

Mysterious, Aug 2005, $23.95

ISBN: 0892968141

Following maternity leave to raise her twins now three years old as a sole parent, journalist Robin Ballantyne has returned to work as a TV reporter. Her current assignment focuses on a series of missing persons. When camerawoman Melanie Jacobs vanishes without a trace, Robin promises the distraught mother of her peer to investigate this as part of her work.

Robin's inquiries lead to the killing fields of Cambodia but quickly link back to London. She particularly researches what she can about Mike Darling, who allegedly is the last person to have seen Melanie. As she gets closer to the truth, her lover DCI Finney and the Corporation's bosses tell her to back off for her own safety. Before she can decide what to do, someone kidnaps Mike's baby. Though no one else agrees with her assessment, Robin believes that there is a link between the infant abduction and the disappearance of Melanie; she is determined to find it even if it means angering two highly regarded military families who prefer secrets remain hidden.

OUT OF MIND, the sequel to FALLING OFF AIR, is a strong journalistic investigative tale starring a wonderful protagonist struggling between raising her three years old twins alone and doing her reporting work. The story line is superb especially when everyone tells Robin to drop this particular inquiry, but the obstinate mother feels she survived the terrible twos so how bad can this case be. Though sometimes her supermom efforts seem off kilter, fans will appreciate this strong mystery and look forward to more of Robin in future books.

Harriet Klausner