Tina Wainscott In Too Deep

In Too Deep

Tina Wainscott

St. Martin's, Oct 2005, $6.99, 384 pp.

ISBN: 0312933711

When Dazzle Society Magazine columnist Winslow Talbot hears of the boating incident on Biscayne Bay, her heart goes out to the badly injured and disfigured American-Cuban child Elena Garcia, whose Uncle Luis died when a speed boat ripped through their fishing vessel. As a teen, Winslow underwent construction surgery following a devastating car accident.

Over the objection of her step-father to stay away from them, Winslow believes strongly she needs to help the child. She investigates the incident, which takes her deep inside the Cuban exile community. Her family demands she back off; her boss says her inquiry has nothing to do with her society column so she must stop, the Miami police investigating the incident warn her to desist even visiting the neighborhood that is dangerous for a wealthy outsider; only a killer wants her to continue because the plan is to murder her soon.

Though a journalist, when it comes to hard boiled investigation especially of a crime, Winslow is an obsessed amateur, who knows she should heed the advice she gets but feels an affinity with Elena that makes her want to help the child and uncover the truth. Winslow's obstinacy makes the who-done-it fun to follow as she agrees with her sisters, her editor, the cops, and others that she is making herself a target, but her gut refuses to let go as she knows first hand what the trauma of Elena's injuries does to the psyche. Fans of amateur sleuth tales will appreciate this strong South Florida crime thriller.

Harriet Klausner