Lois Greiman, Unscrewed

Unscrewed

Lois Greiman

Dell, February 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 0440243618

They met when she was his number one murder suspect in the death of her mentor.. They were together again over another criminal investigation. Los Angeles psychologist Christina McMullen is having her first date with Police Lieutenant Jack Rivera when his cell phone rings; he informs her that there is trouble involving former senator Miguel Rivera, his father.

A suspicious Christina follows Jack to his father's house, where she sees the dead body of Salina Martinez, the senator's fianc e, who happened to be Jack's ex-lover. Jack swears he did not kill her, claiming he was unconscious. Christina does not want to get involved in another murder case, but does so, as Miguel appeals to her to help his son. She does some investigating, even after the police determine an accident occurred due to leaking gas, as Christine thinks a homicide was committed.

Besides five degrees of Rivera, the emotions the protagonists bring out in each other makes the reader wonder whether they will make love or kill one another, or both at the same time. Using humor as a tension reliever, Lois Greiman writes a snappy and sharp whodunit, with a heroine who went from street smart cocktail waitress to brainy psychologist with a thriving practice. Christine is intelligent, brave and steals the show, turning UNSCREWED into a must read for fans of Stephanie Plum.