L.F. Crawford, Fortune Cookie Karma

Fortune Cookie Karma

L.F. Crawford

Five Star, Sep 2005, $25.95, 260 pp.

ISBN: 1594143110

Beverly Hills detectives forty-two years old Art Murry and twenty-three years old Billy Kidman are working the crime scene of the fifth murder by the Ice Pick killer when they learn they have been added to the regional task force to apprehend this serial killer. The victim is a college professor of parapsychology who called the police to offer her help on the case and seemed to know she was in danger.

Meanwhile Conrad the Ice Pick Killer is stunned that the King of Thieves broke into his home and stole his ice picks. He expects to hear from the thief who he plans to kill when the extortion attempt occurs. He is also making plans for his next victim, medical examiner Mary clair, Art's girlfriend. As Art works the clues and trains a somewhat frustrated Billy, the brass with media and elected officials pushes for quick solutions not necessarily correct ones.

This is one of the best police procedurals of the mid point of the year in spite of the over-used serial killer angle. Art is terrific as he provides on the job training to his junior partner and to readers. Fans of solid investigative tales that also showcases the thoughts of the killer in a Hitchcock manner will want to read FORTUNE COOKIE KARMA and want more works starring these two fine detectives from award winning L.F. Crawford; she is an author worth searching for her backlist.

Harriet Klausner