Linda Ladd Dark Places

Dark Places

Linda Ladd

Pinnacle, August 2007, $6.99, 584 pp

ISBN 9780786017188

After recovering from injuries sustained in the line of duty (See Head to Head) Cranton County detective Claire Morgan of Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri is ready for a stimulating case. It begins when she is called to investigate a missing person Simon Classon. She finds him up in a tree his mouth and hands taped together dying from the bites of recluse spiders. The police think he was hanging there for three days where he could see the school The Dome of the Cave Academy for the gifted where he taught.

When Claire starts interviewing at the school she finds out Simon was universally hated with just about every staffer and students having a reason to kill him. Another body is found that of secretary to the director Christie Foxworthy, in teacher Stewart Rowland's home. Claire was directed there by psychic Joe McKay on her boss's orders but he thought Stewart was the one dead from twelve snake bites. The body was in a box and taped in the same manner as Simon's body except Christie wore a red devil's mask. Claire's lover, wealthy psychiatrist Nicholas Black believes that they have a serial killer working the area one who has been murdering a long time. Claire is determined to hunt him down but before she can he strikes again.

DARK PLACES is an exciting thrill a minute police procedural that spends at least a third of the time showing how the killer was created, honed his craft and found his victims. The protagonist is a determined woman who is resolute to get her man. There are some light moments in this dark thriller mostly dealing with romantic scenes between the millionaire and his cop. They have a great relationship as both understand it is all business when it comes to the killer.

Harriet Klausner