Jane Haddam, The Glass Houses

The Glass Houses

Jane Haddam

St. Martin's, Apr 2007, $24.95

ISBN: 0312343078

In Philadelphia, the media calls this serial killer the Plate Glass Killer as he carves up the faces of his middle-aged female victims. His count has surpassed ten as he holds the city in fear. However, the police make an arrest as they have caught alcoholic Henry Tyder by the latest crime scene alley with blood all over him that came from the victim. He also confesses to the crimes though his blue blood family and their lawyer say he is harmless and could not murder anyone.

The defense team hires retired former chief of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit Gregor Demarkian to help prove their client is innocent. With assistance from his long time lover Bennis Hannaford, Gregor ponders why Henry confessed and if his lawyers and loved ones are right about his inability to kill. If this is so, then the Plate Glass Killer still roams the back alleys of the city seeking prey. As he develops a profile of the killer over the jealous objections of the lead PPD detectives, Gregor concludes that the predator remains loose with middle age women at risk.

Fans of the series will enjoy the latest Demarkian investigative thriller as the now-retired civil servant takes his skills and experience into the private sector. His convoluted relationship with Bennis is handling deftly so that long-time readers will appreciate their caring and nurturing of one another while newcomers will understand the tender rapport between them. Though the ending is twisted more than a Philadelphia pretzel with mustard making it feel implausible even to this gullible reviewer, the audience still will enjoy the deepness on several levels of GLASS HOUSES.

Harriet Klausner