Hilary Bonner A Moment of Madness

A Moment of Madness

Hilary Bonner

St. Martin's, May 2006, $24.95

ISBN 0312339488

He was highly regarded by his peers and won many awards for his work, however, the once proud Fleet Street journalist John Kelly let alcohol, drugs and an Angel control his life and destroy his career and marriage, and sever his relationship with his son. He currently works at a paper in Devon praying to have one last chance at regaining all he lost while staying sober.

Opportunity may have come his way when his friend DCI Karen Meadows gives John a tip about a double murder in Torquay. Apparently, a drifter stabbed to death rock superstar Scott Silver. Scott's wife Angel, John's Angel from his days of falling from the mountain, affirms she killed the intruder in self defense, but has no idea who murdered Scott. John knows he must avoid Angel if he is to stay away from the devils that devastated him, but she is also his only ticket back to the big time.

Readers ironically will know who is behind the double killing from the onset, but not care as the investigative tale hinges more on whether Kelly falls into the same angelic trap that led to his personal and professional collapse. Fans will root for him not to plop back into the ooze below the food chain that he barely climbed out of, but the femme fatale temptation is back. A secondary role by DCI Meadows (see WHEN THE DEAD CRY OUT) will elate Hilary Bonner fans and a final clever twist will stun the audience. A MOMENT OF MADNESS is a terrific character study inside a wonderful whodunit.

Harriet Klausner