Russell Andrews, Aphrodite

Aphrodite

Russell Andrews

Warner, Jan 2004, $23.95, 339 pp.

ISBN: 0892967846

In East End, Long Island local reporter Susanna Morgan dies in what seems to most of the police department as an accident. The one hold out who knows a murder was committed is former big city homicide cop Justin Westwood. However, Justin would prefer to ignore his gut and keep writing silly traffic tickets and drinking alcohol as he never recovered from a family tragedy.

Still once one a homicide cop one is always a homicide cop (sort of like the marines). Justin begins scrutinizing what he realizes was set up to look lie an accident. His inquiries lead to wealthy mad scientist Douglas Kranston who works on developing a Fountain of Youth elixir to arrest the deterioration of aging. Justin also finds the Feds seem to hinder his investigation and any one he finds remotely linked to the reporter's death is killed. He begins to believe that a powerful conspiracy to control the Aphrodite project is planning to make him the next victim if he is not ultra careful.

Not just conspiracy buffs will appreciate this delightful police procedural as the investigation is top rate and the support cast well written to make the town seem real and more important the anti-aging project genuine. However, the key to the tale is Justin, who might be dead before he finds redemption. His actions keep APHRODITE from turning banal and turn the novel into a powerful and enjoyable story.

Harriet Klausner