R. Barri Flowers Justice Served

Justice Served

R. Barri Flowers

Leisure, Aug 2005, $6.99

ISBN: 0843955627

The media has latched on to a new feeding frenzy, the Vigilante Killer targeting abusive males who escaped punishment due to plea-bargains, frightened hung juries, or bogus legal wiggles. Detective Sergeant Ray Barkley and Detective Nina Preston lead the investigation that has two other links besides the so-called victims being abusive male predators. All the dead men walked free after their assault case was heard in the courtroom of Criminal Court Judge Carole Cranston, and their female victims recovered at the Rose City Women's Shelter; coincidentally, vigilante Judge Cranston donates plenty of money to the facility.

Nina believes the circumstantial evidence enhanced by the Judge's attitude towards male abusers, make her the guilty party. On the other hand Ray likes the Judge, and is convinced she is innocent. Nina assumes he is thinking with the wrong head. Is Carole a frustrated judge who has crossed the line, or just the focus of an avenging angel?

The magic behind R. Barri Flowers' terrific suspense thriller is that the serial killer is in plain sight as the clues are laid out for the audience to determine whether Carole is the Vigilante or not. The storyline is action-packed as the two cops follow leads that each interprets differently, as Ray wants Her Honor innocent, while Nina is totally convinced otherwise. Fans of police procedural serial killer thrillers will want to read this fine tale while anxiously waiting to follow the next investigation, the opening tickler being the abduction of the Mayor's daughter.

Harriet Klausner